Dark Deception

Chapter-01: Another new apartment

She had just moved into her new house. The nine-story apartment building stood tall and inviting. She, however, was particularly drawn to the solitude that the seventh floor offered. She had always been a peace lover, someone who relished the tranquility of her own company.

As she entered her new room, the pristine white walls and the wooden-designed floor welcomed her. She had decided to sell her old furniture when she relocated, preferring to invest in pieces that would better suit her new home. Her decision paid off, and after a pleasant conversation with the kindly old lady who owned the building, she even managed to negotiate a lower rent.

The delivery men had just dropped off her new furniture, and She was excited to organize her space. She placed a small couch next to the window, where she could spend hours lost in her thoughts while watching the bustling city streets below. However, She had a peculiar fear of windows at night. She could comfortably sit beside one for hours, sipping coffee and gazing out into the cityscape, but the thought of someone watching her through the window at midnight sent shivers down her spine. For this very reason, she had positioned her bed as far away from the window as possible. Luna felt most at ease when there were no windows beside her as she slept.

Her new bed was adorned with crisp white sheets, and she had set up two desks in her room. One was dedicated to her studies, piled high with books and stationery, and the other was reserved for her computer. She loved playing games and drawing, and she worked as a graphics artist and designer at a game company.

After meticulously cleaning and organizing the room, she felt utterly exhausted. Doing it all on her own had been quite the task, but she couldn't afford the cost of hiring help. She sighed with satisfaction as she gazed at her newly arranged space.

Her tired body demanded some respite. She reached into her bag and retrieved a cup of noodles, pouring hot water over it and enjoying the simple meal. The comfort of her bed called to her, and before she knew it, she had dozed off, leaving the boxes and the day's chaos behind her, embarking on a new journey in this unfamiliar city.

The blaring sound of the alarm pierced through the morning air, pulling me out of a deep slumber. "Oh, good morning to me!" I thought as I groggily reached to silence the annoying noise. I had slept longer than usual, but it was a fortunate coincidence that today was Sunday – a day off from work. I certainly needed the rest.

Allow me to introduce myself – I'm Luna, a 19-year-old undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science. By day, I worked as a graphic artist and designer at a well-known game company in town. If you think that's too much of an introduction, well, I tend to be quite chatty at times.

It's been less than a year since I moved to this city for my studies, and I've already changed apartments four times. I know, that sounds weird, right? But sometimes, life throws weird things at you. It all began three years ago when I used to live with my parents in our own home. Back then, life was good, and things were easier.

I had this peculiar habit of studying late into the night. I couldn't concentrate during the day, so I would delve into my books and assignments well into the wee hours. I had another odd quirk about me – I couldn't sleep for long. Even if I managed a mere 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night, it was enough for me. I've never been able to sleep well, and it's something that has always bothered me.

One regular day, it was no different. I had a pile of assignments to complete, and it got later and later. By the time I decided to call it a night, it was already 3 a.m. I collapsed onto my bed, utterly exhausted, and fell asleep almost instantly.

I'm not one to remember my dreams, but that night was an exception. The dream I had was like no other, and who knew it would soon cast a shadow over my life.