Lunar Conspiracy

Emily Hart had made it her mission to discover all of them, this city which was an endless labyrinth of shadows and secrets. She was like any journalist right out of college who wanted to prove she wasn't just some rookie reporter. She had been on the hunt to break a story about some grizzly murders from parts of the city that one is justified in describing as places with minimal property values. The police were stumped and the world was afraid, but Emily saw something curious that she noticed — an unusual symbol left at each location. Authorities had downplayed it as graffiti of a symbol: a crescent moon looped through with the silhouette of an animal, likely a wolf. But Emily knew this was not all. For hours, she had been researching; looking through old archives and long-since-forgotten records — scouring the nation for a mention of this particular symbol in connection with any sort of secret subterranean society. All very mysterious, and the sort of story that could make her career. She had just needed that one proof to put it all together. Yet here she was, in the middle of a narrow alley somewhere running parallel to what could have passed as the worst section of town with Western sun glaring down upon her. The air reeked of rotting refuse, somewhere in the distance we heard traffic and several suspicious rustlings as rats might scurry across our path. It was afternoon but it still sent a shiver up Emily, who closed her jacket around herself. The hour was very late, longer than she planned to be out but she did not have time. She was near, oh so close to the truth. This had been her day, chasing down the lead from a source who supposedly saw something unusual in the vicinity of the most recent homicide. The source was a nervous man who wouldn't give his name, and he had mentioned some people meeting in the alley during the middle of the night speaking to each other in an unknown language. It was only a few nights ago he remembered seeing them, right before the last victim was found. Emily was aware she was potentially grasping at straws, but had to investigate the avenues all the same. If it is one group who did all these murders — and possibly a part of the symbol for so long, she had to see. She needed proof. The darkness swallowed her alive as she walked further into the alley. The buildings that lined either side were derelict, boarded up with their windows smashed. The city was heavy around her, trying to smother the life from it. But she wouldn’t let it. After all this time, she obviously hadn't been getting cold feet. The only sound other than the echo of her footsteps was that of something moving around behind here — how ironic. She looked over her shoulder, but the alley was bare. But still she had the same old feeling, scared in her belly. She forced herself to breathe effectively. With a job to do she couldn't afford her nerves getting the best of her. By the positions she took while at where-source-told-me-to-go, something wasn't right. Up ahead, there was a barely perceptible light emanating from the corner — a wavering luminescence that had no business being in such an awful place. With her heart beating hard in her chest she edged into the room, wary of being caught. She tiptoed her way across the room and peered around it after being lulled in a false sense of security only to freeze. The core alleyway itself was veiled by shadows of three figures looming within it. They stood in a circle, heads bent low as they whispered among themselves. A small fire burned in a barrel next to them, and its flame crackled while it flickered. However, it was the item which lay on the ground between them that caught Emily's eye -- a piece of parchment with blood smeared and shaped into a crescent moon flanked by wolf heads. And Emily caught her breath. This was it. It was all the proof she needed. Dialing her phone, she hit the camera button and snapped a picture while shaking uncontrollably. When she raised the phone to take a picture, one of the figures for whatever reason suddenly looked up at her and stared right into her eyes. Fear seized her, and she hid once more behind the edge of that hallway with a back against the wall. The ticking of her heart caused a rhythm with which she was trying to cool down, but it was not in her power…her head screamed at her to run and get the hell out of there…but feet were steadily fastened into the pavement that stung like wind addled gravel. She had been seen. She was sure of it. There was a pause — just for an instant. A few moments later, slow deliberate footsteps echoed throughout the chamber and in her direction. Emily’s pulse quickened. She couldn’t stay here. She had to get out. She kicked the wall and ran down the alley, making her boots sound louder in this narrow room. She didn't want to but she could hear the footsteps behind her, getting closer and faster. They were getting closer. She took short-hurried breaths as she turned the sudden corner, looking around frantically plotting her escape. However, the alley was a labyrinth and there was no clear exit. She was trapped. But was able to gain the high ground when she saw a fire escape off on one side of a building that had an attached roof. Without hesitating, she leaped holding onto the cold metal rungs and pulled herself up. Her arms were alight with the effort, but she didn't pause. Opening her eyes one by one, she frantically climbed the steps of an unknown staircase to escape from whoever it was chasing after her. However, as she climbed to the top of that wooden ladder and emerged onto the sloped surface; immediately felt an immediate pain in her shoulder again… A cut from a knife this time…it lit up like white hot magma. He had a horrible croak of inhibition, and she stumbled forward; for an instant he thought she was going to fall. She raised her hand to the wound, and when she pulled it back saw blood. Her vision fogging up, she turned and there he was, the figure lurking at the edge of that roof. There was something of the beast in him and his eyes shone with a fearsome light, teeth bared to snarl. He was half-animal and all-male, a predator coming for her. Emily agonized with her thoughts, scared and muddled. What was he? Why was he after me? As she tried to sprint, they felt as heavy and dense as lead-shot, perforated through her lungs by the feelings of a thousand knives. The form moved forward, coming for him with an unnerving speed. She thought it was all over when suddenly a blur flew into her view. Another figure threw itself in front of it and tackled the monster to the ground. They fought, their movements a blur of activity Emily could not track; and then the monster was free again, fleeing into the darkness. Ragged gasps blowing from her lungs, Emily collapsed to the ground on her knees. Her body trembled with nerves as her mind spun in circles from the scene seconds prior. Her shoulder burned with pain, but she dragged her gaze up toward those who'd rescued her. Huge, obnoxiously tall man with dark hair and beautiful blue eyes standing in front of her. He was ragged and scruffy, his eyes wild but there was something very familiar about him. "Are you okay?" he questioned in a low, gruff voice. Emily nodded, her own weak appearance catching attention. "Who are you?" she managed to whisper. Not now, the man told her and he flicked his eyes from one rooftop to another as if checking for something important. We need to get the hell out of here. Emily tried to voice a protest, demand an explanation or if anything; the pain in her shoulder spiked again and the world started going black. Wait," she gasped, her hand outstretched. "Who was that? What’s happening to me?" The man sat down beside her, softening his demeanor. "You’re in danger, Emily. Get out of this investigation. Go home and put this behind you. Emily began, "but I can't…" and the man jumped in. “You have no idea what… You keep on digging and you're gonna end up like the other ones. "The others?" Emily repeated, her heart sinking. "The victims?" The man didn’t answer. Instead, he rose to his feet and helped her up. ”Trust me,” he urged. "Leave this alone." She wanted to ask instead, Emily shook her head, determination seeping through despite the fear in it. "I can’t do that. I’m a journalist. I have to know the truth." The man stiffened, and for a second Emily thought he would rebuke her. He added a heavy exhale and resignation washed over his face. Turn by turn, "Well then good luck," he murmured. "You’ve been marked, Emily. All that's going to change for you and not in a good way. Emily opened her mouth to ask him what he meant, but the man simply turned and faded away in the shadows before leaving her on the rooftop. She was a bit shocked as she stood there thinking of everything that just happened. The attack, this weird man and then a warning — it was too much. Her shoulder throbbed, she faltered and caught the roof to steady herself “I needed to get home. I needed to think. She said” But on the way back down the fire escape, she found herself distracted by one question: What did he mean when said “marked”? And her vision faded as she hit the ground, barely able to stand. After she waved down a taxi, she told the cabdriver her address before collapsing against the backseat. Emily had a series of questions going through her mind, while the cab zoomed along the city streets. ‘’What creature attacked me? Who was the man who saved me? And what had I gotten myself into.’’ She was positive about one thing, she couldn't just sweep this under the rug. She couldn't back out of this; she was there…….