White Town, nestled at the foothills of the Grande Mountain Range, is a quiet yet lively place. The dim yellow light blankets the sky as hints of snowfall and cold evening winds sweep through the valley. The narrow passages of the town bask in the fading rays of sunlight as the day grows weaker. The whole scene feels calm but carries a touch of sadness. Yet, with a gentle sense of hope and joy, the people of White Town gather at the town square to celebrate the last rays of the sun.

  People of all ages gathered, there was music, food and love in the air. Delicious food was served, beer drums were emptied and people danced like there is no tomorrow. Young men drawn by beautiful women overcrowded the dance floor.

  Children were playing Knight Hunt, a traditional game of the country where they use shields and weapons to act as warriors,attacking and conquering other “knights”. Among the group, one child’s tactics and fighting style impressed the real knights, who watched the game with beer mugs in their hands.“I bet you he’ll be strong, just like his brother”- A knight commented.

  As dusk ended the mayor stepped on a stage at the centre of town square to declare the end of sunshine. The crowd fell silent as he cleared his throat and said - “Mmhhm.. With this we declare the end of the rays of sun and begin the reign of the moon. This is the test of our strength and courage. We need to protect our loved ones from this darkness, winter is here. Sleep well and sleep early, don’t be out if not needed. I hope all of you stay safe and happy…Thank You! ”.

  Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Families called out their loved ones, and slowly left the town square.

  Nights passed, and whispers of people going missing spread.

  People of the town used tunnels, which were unexposed to the surroundings but limited. Tunnels connected places like the mayor’s office which was also a bar, blacksmith and the local doctor chambers.

  But, tunnels were the luxury of the riches. Poor people of the town were not able to get their private tunnels.

  Private tunnels were connected to the mayor’s office which then opened their path towards other facilities. Poor people were forced by the necessities to step outside their house. Once outside there survival solely depends on their fate.

  Sometimes even if they survive, return and knock on the door the family never responds. The family hesitates, they think what if he/she was not someone who left, what if it was something else - something dangerous that could harm them all. Unfortunately, in most cases their fears were justified.

  Only those with a strong magical energy and unshaken courage were trusted to wander out. The White Guards, knights who patrol the streets of White Town, were the last line of defense against the dangers that lurk during the reign of the moon.

  In White town near the river, a small family lived in a small cottage. Twelve-year-old Elio lived there with his two younger siblings, his mother Isabella, who is a tailor. During the reign of the moon her business suffers greatly. Elio’s father, Emiliano who used to be a blacksmith, before he lost his arm in an accident.

  Elio’s brother went missing when Elio was four, during the reign of the moon. He was a White town guard, the family was told he sacrificed himself to protect the town.

  “It has been 23 nights, and yet the guards never came with a ration or contract for my tailor business.”- Elio’s mother said.

  “Remember “- she said firmly, looking at her children. “Do not open the door, unless there are two knocks and two whistles following it.” , the children nodded in agreement.

  “Don’t worry mama, when I grow up, I will be the strongest knight, White town will ever experience”-Elio said with confidence in his eyes, Isabella smiled and patted his head lovingly.

  *****57 nights later….*****

  “I can’t see my children starve anymore” - Emiliano said, his voice trembling with anger.

  He continued- “My son fought for this town - he gave his life protecting it, and yet this is how we are treated? It’s like only the rich and the mayor are the only ones who deserve to live.” - Emiliano said with great anger.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Just then Elio came running, he was not the same as he was before, his eyes were bulging out, collar bones and rib cage were clearly visible. His skin was dry, frozen blood all over his dried and chapped lips. His skin colour was also getting pale, and his fingertips were cracked and nails were blue.

  “Dad! Lucia is coughing blood, she can’t breathe properly. Please have a look at her!”- Emiliano and Isablella rushed towards the living room.

  Lucia was lying on a carpet while their younger boy was narrating a story to her, tears dripping from his eyes making the words blurry.

  He was using his elbow to turn the pages as the cracks on his fingertips similar to Elio’s were making it impossible to turn the pages.

  Lucia coughed weakly, as blood spitted out. A wet towel on her head, dry and tired eyes, her face became blue which once flushed with joy.

  “Mother, am I going to die? Like Enzo did?”- Lucia asked slowly.

  “No! Nothing will happen to you, you’ll be just fine don’t worry.”- Isabella said as she changed the wet towel slowly brushing Lucia’s hair.

  Emiliano stood there feeling helpless, rage arises inside him as he was not able to do anything.

  “That’s it!...I am going out, I am not losing anyone.”-Emiliano decided to go out.

  “Remember, two knocks followed by two whistles, only then you open.” Isabella nodded, but fear was written all over her face–to never see her husband again.

  Emiliano grabbed his coat and stepped outside to seek help. The town was fully covered in snow, strong cold winds were blowing and could freeze anyone to death. It was very hard to breathe, the cold wind was freezing up Emiliano’s lungs.

  After wandering through the cold towards the mayor’s office, Emiliano felt tired and weak with every step. He was already half-dead from hunger, and now direct exposure to the cold was killing him.

  Just then Emiliano spotted someone wearing a white robe with the White Town logo engraved on the back. He screamed “Help!..Help!”

  The knight turned and came running towards him. “What are you doing here? Are you out of your mind?”- The knight asked.

  “Please it’s my daughter, she's dying—come and help!.”- Emiliano begged.

  Both of them hurried towards Emiliano’s cottage. When they reached the door- Knock! Knock!, Whistles twice.

  Isabella opened the door, sighed in relief as she saw Emiliano.

  “Sir, please come in and see, my daughter, we don’t have time.”- Emiliano said.

  “Who are you talking to?”- Isabella asked.

  Emiliano turned around, but there was no one. “Quick, close the door!”- He shouted.

  As they were closing the door, a hand came in between preventing the door from being fully shut. A hand with small but sharp nails covered in blood. Veins popped out and looked unnaturally strong.

  Emiliano and Isabella pushed with all of their strength. But, the door was not bulging an inch. Suddenly another hand came crushing the half closed door, scratching Emiliano’s left eye. Emiliano covered his eye in pain, and in that moment the door burst wide open.

  The creature behind the door was fully visible. It was of height as an average human, with long hair, and sharp and long canine teeth. It had deep yellow eyes, a small nose and a very bulked up body, and a sword hung on his waist making it look like a warrior.

  The creature leaped towards Emiliano and buried his sharp nails into his throat. Dark, thick blood came out from Emiliano’s neck, the creature used his strength and tore away Emiliano’s throat. Emiliano fell on the ground with a hole in his neck, expressionless, one eye opened while other bled, and in a blink of an eye Emiliano was dead.

  Isabella froze, and screamed in terror. Hearing her cries Elio and his brother came out. Isabella turned to them and screamed- “Run! Hide! Save yourselves— I’ll be oka—”.

  Before she could finish, the creature jumped on Isabella's shoulders, and bit off her head, ripping it from her torso and threw it away like a piece of fruit. Her head, along with the spinal cord attached, rolled near Elio’s feet.

  Elio’s brother started panicking and crying. He could only stare at his mother’s head lying lifeless. Elio pulled his brother’s hand and ran towards the living room, shutting the door behind, while the creature was busy eating the flesh out of his mother’s body.

  Fear was in Elio’s eyes and his brother started puking on the ground.

  “What’s happening brother?” Lucia asked, with a soft voice.

  “Nothing, you rest, everything will be okay, don't you worry”.

  Elio started looking for a hiding spot, he saw the attic where he used to play hide and seek with his siblings.

  Suddenly the locked door busted open. The creature kicked it down as it jumped towards it, with Elio’s brother getting crushed by the weight of the door and the creature, and getting his head smashed which popped out his eyes and tongue, all the fluid inside his brain were on the ground now.

  The creature didn’t stop. It jumped and smashed Lucia’s head open with his strong legs, the young girl was so weak that only a few drops of blood spilled out when she took her last weak breath.

  Within a moment Elio lost his father, saw his mother’s head rolling on the ground, his brother’s and sister’s head smashed. The shameless creature feasted upon the bodies as Elio was hiding in the attic watching his siblings become fodder to the creature.

  The creature sniffed the air, it smelled Elio’s presence. Elio started to think of the ways the creature will kill him.

  The thoughts of cowardness blurred Elio’s vision, as he wanted to be a White guard, but was not able to save his family, even her little sister. “ I am nothing but a coward”. - Elio thought as the creature gazed towards the attic.

  The creature smiled, as he confirmed the presence of Elio, and started moving towards him.

  Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped sharply. Elio delt shivers down his spine, even the creature froze where it was, its expression tense.

  “Sorry, I should have knocked, but the door was already open, so I let myself in. Is something wrong with you sir? Few people are dead here, are you the reason for it?” - a voice enquired.

  Thanks for reading the chapter.

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