ECLIPSE

Episode 9—Something in the Air.

The next week, I decided to stop paying attention.

It was easier that way.

If I didn't look for strange things, maybe I wouldn't find them.

For three days, it worked.

No voices.

No mysterious notes.

No wolves staring at me.

No strange dreams.

Nothing.

I began to relax.

Maybe I really had been imagining everything.

Then Wednesday happened.

It started during combat training.

I wasn't supposed to participate.

I was sitting beneath the same tree I'd claimed as my usual spot when Mr. Hale suddenly called my name.

"Luna."

I looked up.

"Yes?"

"Come here."

I stood.

Maya immediately looked worried.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

I walked toward the training ring.

Mr. Hale handed me a wooden practice blade.

"Hold this."

I stared at it.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I took it.

It felt strangely familiar in my hand.

I frowned.

Mr. Hale noticed.

"You've used one before?"

"No."

"Then why are you holding it like that?"

I looked down.

My grip was different.

Tighter.

Balanced.

Almost automatic.

I loosened my fingers.

"I don't know."

He studied me.

Then took the blade back.

"That's enough."

I walked away.

Maya followed.

"What was that?"

"I have no idea."

"You looked like you knew what you were doing."

"I didn't."

She smiled.

"Maybe you're secretly a warrior."

"Maybe."

We laughed.

But I noticed Mr. Hale watching me from across the field.

He didn't laugh.

---

That afternoon, something else happened.

I was walking down the corridor when I suddenly stopped.

There was a strange smell in the air.

Smoke.

I looked around.

Nothing was burning.

I walked toward the science wing.

The smell became stronger.

I opened the door.

Nothing.

The room was empty.

I looked around.

No smoke.

No fire.

Nothing.

Then a student ran past me.

"Everyone out!"

"What happened?"

"Chemical spill!"

The alarm began ringing.

Students rushed through the hallway.

I stepped outside.

A teacher came running from the science wing.

"Everyone stay back!"

I stared at the building.

I'd smelled the smoke before anyone knew there was a problem.

Again.

I hadn't heard anything.

I hadn't seen anything.

I'd simply...

known.

I felt a strange chill.

Maya grabbed my hand.

"Come on."

We moved away from the building.

She looked at me.

"You knew."

"No."

"You smelled it."

"Maybe."

"Luna."

I sighed.

"Okay. Maybe I did."

She stared at me.

"That's not normal."

"I know."

Neither of us spoke for a while.

---

That evening, I went to Ethan's house.

He was sitting outside with his younger sister.

She was trying to teach him how to braid hair.

He was failing spectacularly.

I laughed.

"You're terrible."

"I'm learning."

"You're losing."

His sister looked at me.

"Luna, help me."

I sat beside her.

She handed me the brush.

While I worked, Ethan watched me.

"You've been quiet."

"I'm tired."

"You've been saying that a lot."

"Maybe I'm tired a lot."

He smiled.

Then his expression became serious.

"Do you ever feel like something is different?"

My hands stopped.

"Different how?"

"I don't know."

He looked toward the trees.

"Like something is coming."

My stomach tightened.

"Why would you say that?"

He shrugged.

"I've just felt strange lately."

I looked at him.

For the first time, I wondered if I was the only one noticing things.

"What kind of strange?"

"Like the pack is waiting for something."

I looked toward the forest.

The trees were completely still.

"Maybe it is."

Ethan laughed.

"You're not helping."

"Sorry."

He smiled.

We went back to talking.

But I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.

The pack is waiting for something.

That night, I stood by my bedroom window.

The moon was almost full.

I watched it through the glass.

Nothing happened.

No voices.

No wolves.

No strange lights.

Just the moon.

I smiled.

Maybe everything really was normal.

Then I noticed something.

The reflection in my window.

For a split second...

there was someone standing behind me.

I spun around.

Nobody.

My heart hammered.

I slowly turned back toward the glass.

My reflection was alone.

I stared at it.

Then I noticed my own eyes.

For just a moment, in the reflection, they looked darker than they should have.

Almost black.

I blinked.

They were normal again.

I stepped away from the window.

"Okay."

I laughed nervously.

"Definitely losing it."

I turned off the light.

And went to bed.

I didn't see the shadow pass across the forest outside my window.

I didn't hear the quiet footsteps beneath the trees.

And I didn't notice the single pair of eyes watching the house until morning.