Crimson Fates

Shadows of the past

The sun had barely risen over the dry landscape of Mahalapye when Luna woke from another restless night. She lay still, staring at the cracked ceiling above her bed, heart pounding from dreams she couldn’t fully remember. All she knew was that the faces of the Night brothers haunted her thoughts—Adrian’s playful grin and Alexander’s cold, unreadable gaze lingering like whispers on the edge of her mind.

After a few minutes, she sat up with a groan, raking her fingers through her hair. The room felt too quiet, as if the house itself held its breath. Aunt Helena was nowhere to be seen—again. Luna wasn’t surprised. Her aunt had made it clear from the start that she wasn’t interested in being anyone’s guardian.

Luna shook off the unease curling in her stomach, pulled on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, and made her way downstairs. The house, old and neglected, smelled faintly of dust and dried herbs. A breeze slipped through a c***k in the window, stirring the faded curtains.

"One day at a time," she muttered to herself as she grabbed her school bag and stepped out into the cool morning air.

At Mahalapye High, Luna’s first goal was to stay invisible, but that plan didn’t last long. By the time she reached her second class, the entire school seemed to know who she was—the new girl who’d shown up out of nowhere. Whispers trailed her in the hallways, conversations falling silent the moment she came near. It was as if everyone was watching, waiting for her to make a move.

And then there were the Night brothers.

Adrian and Alexander were impossible to ignore. They seemed to occupy a space of their own, as if they existed just slightly out of sync with the rest of the world. Wherever they went, students stepped aside instinctively, casting furtive glances but never daring to approach. Luna couldn’t figure out whether they were feared, admired, or both.

During lunch, Luna sat alone at the edge of the courtyard, hoping to avoid unwanted attention. She pulled a book from her bag and tried to focus, but her thoughts drifted. She knew Adrian and Alexander were nearby—she could feel their presence like a static charge in the air.

A shadow fell across her book, and when she looked up, Adrian was standing there, hands tucked casually into his pockets. He smiled, the same easy, disarming grin he’d given her in the hallway.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked, already sitting down without waiting for a reply.

Luna raised an eyebrow. “You seem to have a habit of showing up uninvited.”

Adrian chuckled. “It’s a gift.” His silver eyes gleamed with amusement. “I figured you might need some company. New school and all.”

Luna closed her book and studied him for a moment. “Do you always make a point of befriending the new girl, or am I just special?”

“Definitely special,” Adrian said, the grin never leaving his face. “Besides, Alexander and I were curious about you.”

“Alexander doesn’t seem very curious about anything,” Luna muttered, remembering his cold stare.

Adrian leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret. “He’s not as scary as he looks. He just… has a lot on his mind.”

Luna tilted her head, intrigued despite herself. “And what about you? What’s on your mind, Adrian Night?”

Adrian’s playful expression faltered for a fraction of a second, replaced by something darker—something heavier. But just as quickly, the moment passed, and his smile returned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Before Luna could respond, a figure appeared behind Adrian—Alexander. His dark eyes flicked between them, his expression unreadable.

“Adrian,” Alexander said in a low voice, “we should go.”

Adrian sighed dramatically. “You’re always ruining my fun.”

Alexander ignored the comment, his gaze locking onto Luna. “Be careful, Luna,” he said quietly. “This place isn’t as safe as it seems.”

Luna frowned. “What do you mean?”

But Alexander didn’t answer. He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Adrian to trail behind with a half-apologetic smile.

“See you around, Luna,” Adrian called over his shoulder.

Luna watched them disappear into the crowd, a strange mixture of curiosity and unease swirling inside her. Something about the brothers didn’t add up. They weren’t just ordinary students—and she had the sinking feeling that whatever secrets they were hiding, she was now tangled up in them.

That evening, Luna found herself wandering the outskirts of town, drawn to the same patch of forest where she’d first seen Adrian. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the dry grass, and the air was thick with the scent of earth and wood.

She didn’t know what she was hoping to find—answers, maybe, or just a break from the overwhelming sense that her life was slipping out of her control. All she knew was that something about the forest called to her, as if it held a truth she wasn’t yet ready to face.

As she walked deeper into the trees, the air grew colder, the light dimmer. A strange energy hummed in the air, prickling her skin. Luna wrapped her arms around herself and kept moving, her footsteps soft against the dry leaves.

Then, she saw him.

Alexander stood at the edge of a small clearing, his back to her, his posture tense. The fading light made him look like a figure carved from shadow, all sharp angles and quiet intensity.

Luna hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. “Alexander.”

He turned slowly, his dark eyes glinting in the twilight. For a long moment, he said nothing, just studied her with that same unreadable expression he always wore.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said at last, his voice low and rough.

Luna crossed her arms. “I could say the same to you.”

Alexander’s lips twitched, almost like he was fighting a smile. “You’re stubborn.”

“I’ve been told.” Luna took another step toward him. “What is it about this place, Alexander? Why do you and Adrian act like there’s some big secret I need to stay away from?”

Alexander’s gaze darkened. “Because there is.”

Before Luna could ask more, the air around them seemed to shift. A cold wind swept through the clearing, and with it came a sense of danger—an invisible force pressing down on them, heavy and suffocating.

Alexander stiffened, his eyes narrowing. “Luna, get back.”

“What—?”

Before she could finish, a shadow moved at the edge of the clearing—something fast and unnatural, slipping through the trees like a predator stalking its prey. Luna’s heart leapt into her throat.

Alexander was beside her in an instant, his hand wrapping around her wrist. “Run.”

Luna didn’t need to be told twice. She turned and sprinted through the forest, Alexander right behind her. The wind howled through the trees, carrying with it a sound that sent chills down her spine—a low, guttural growl that didn’t belong to any animal she knew.

They burst out of the forest and onto the edge of town, both of them breathing hard. Luna’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing to make sense of what had just happened.

“What was that?” she gasped, clutching her side.

Alexander didn’t answer right away. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his jaw tight with tension. “Something you’re better off not knowing.”

Luna glared at him. “I think I deserve to know.”

Alexander met her gaze, his expression grim. “Some things are safer left in the dark, Luna.”

As the last light of day faded from the sky, Luna realized two things: the Night brothers were hiding something dangerous, and whatever it was, it had just found her.