The Moon Rot

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Weight of Power

The red moon path led us higher into the hills as night fell again. The ancient orb I carried in my pocket felt warm against my thigh, pulsing softly like a second heartbeat. Every time it glowed, the patterns under my skin answered with a faint orange light.

We moved carefully through the thinning trees. The Dead Zone was slowly changing — the twisted, dark forest giving way to sharper rocks and steeper slopes.

“You’ve been quiet since the temple,” Zara said, walking close beside me. Her long dark hair was messy from the journey, but her golden eyes still shone with that same steady warmth.

I glanced at her. “The orb showed me things. Possible futures. In one of them… I was alone. Standing on a battlefield covered in silver and blood. You and Max weren’t there.”

Max, walking a few steps ahead, looked back. “Futures can change. We’re still here. Still with you.”

I nodded, but the doubt lingered. The ancient being’s words kept repeating in my head: *true power always demands sacrifice.*

We reached the top of a ridge just as the moon rose fully. It hung huge and blood-red in the sky, bathing everything in crimson light. The red path on the ground brightened, pointing toward a narrow pass between two mountains.

“That’s our way north,” Max said. “If we make it through that pass, we should be out of the worst of the Dead Zone.”

We started down the slope. The orb in my pocket grew hotter. Suddenly, sharp pain shot through my head. I stumbled and dropped to one knee.

“Arian!” Zara was beside me instantly, holding my arm.

Images flooded my mind again — faster and more violent than before. I saw the Silver Order’s headquarters, scientists in white coats cutting open wolves. I saw Zara lying motionless on cold metal. I saw Max chained with silver collars burning his skin. And I saw myself… standing over them, eyes completely silver, power radiating like a god.

I gasped and clutched my head.

“It’s getting stronger,” I whispered. “The power. It’s trying to show me what I could become… or what I might do.”

Max crouched in front of me. His silver-gray eyes were serious. “You’re in control, Arian. Not the power. Not the ancient thing. You.”

Zara gently touched my face, turning it toward her. “We believe in you. Whatever comes, we face it together.”

Her touch helped. The pain eased. The glowing patterns calmed.

We continued toward the mountain pass. The red moonlight made the rocks look like they were bleeding. Halfway through the narrow path, we heard engines in the distance — faint but growing louder.

“The Order,” Max growled. “They found a way around the Dead Zone.”

Zara’s eyes flashed. “They’re closing in again.”

We picked up speed, moving as quickly as we could through the rocky terrain. The pass narrowed until we had to walk single file. The orb grew even hotter in my pocket.

Then the ground gave way.

A section of the path collapsed under Max’s feet. He fell fast, grabbing onto the edge at the last second. Rocks tumbled down into a deep ravine below.

“Max!” I shouted.

Zara and I dropped to our stomachs and reached for him. I grabbed his wrist with both hands. The glowing patterns flared brightly as I pulled. Strength surged through me, and I lifted him up with surprising ease.

We lay on the ground for a moment, catching our breath.

“You saved me,” Max said, gripping my shoulder. “That power… you’re learning to use it.”

Before I could respond, headlights appeared at the entrance of the pass behind us. Black vans. At least four of them.

“They’re here,” Zara said, voice tight.

We ran.

The mountain pass opened up ahead into a wide valley. The red path continued straight across it toward the distant northern mountains.

As we ran into the open, the vans burst out behind us. Gunshots rang out. Silver darts whistled past our heads.

I turned and roared, letting some of the power loose. The sound created a shockwave that cracked the windshield of the lead van and sent it swerving off the path.

Zara smiled fiercely despite the danger. “That’s my Arian.”

We kept running toward the valley, the red moon watching over us like a bleeding eye.

The Silver Order was closing in.

But for the first time, I felt like we might actually have a chance.

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To be continued…