Rise of the Blood Moon

First Encounter

Under the full moon and neon signs decorating the various store fronts and tall buildings, the rain-soaked pavement glittered beneath Liam's brisk walking work boots.

He knew by this point in the evening, his sister Ariel's dance class had been finished for well over thirty minutes, and she was likely the only kid left standing in the giant window waiting to get picked up. He was doing his best to hold their dinner still in the bag as he moved. Work had kept him late despite his best efforts to leave.

All of the lights inside the dance studio could still be seen illuminating the corner he rounded. Liam began to pick up his speed when he saw her small figure pressed against the glass dramatically. Her teacher, a woman named Melanie, could be seen sitting on a stool beside the wall length mirror from the street outside, waiting right along with the young girl.

When Ariel spotted her brother, she ran through the double glass doors, out into the drizzle to hug him around his uniform tight. "Sorry," Liam said simply.

"It's okay," Ariel replied, then tightened the strap of her dance bag on her shoulder. His job paid well enough, and it was the only reason they had the money to send her to these lessons. She never complained when he was late. After Liam thanked her instructor, the two made their way back in the direction he came.

Even this late at night and with the workout she just had, Ariel was a wellspring of energy. She skipped around him with her shoulder bag swinging and he sighed. He knew she was just scared and eager to return home; it was dangerous to linger in their city at night. If their neighborhood wasn't so close, he would have never agreed to these lessons at all.

"Ariel, stop. I'm not in the mood to run anymore," He called before she got too far.

She quickly made her way back to his side and opted to hold his hand for protection instead.

"How was school today, brat." He smiled at her.

Ariel smiled back hugely at him and the affectionate term he always used to address her.

"Micky is my boyfriend now," She replied.

"Oh, that's great, grandma will be thrilled," He replied with an eye roll. Liam could remember hearing about the boy last week after he'd gifted her some sour candy.

"How was work today, dummy," Ariel mirrored his question with a laugh.

"Fine," He lied.

"Were you bored?"

"Always," He chuckled.

Ariel shivered and pinched the edges of her thick coat shut around her torso and white tutu.

The alleyways they passed were dark and frightening to her, but Ariel felt safe with her brother. She'd never witnessed it firsthand, but she knew he was a fighter. It angered their grandmother endlessly when he was still in high school, coming home with fresh bruises on his body and face every so often. He still made an occasional habit of it on the days he didn't need to pick her up from practice.

"They were ganging up on someone," He'd always say in his quick defense.

Home was minutes away to her relief. The drizzle was lifting just a bit as the chilled night air brushed their cheeks. It gave her a clear view of the strange reddish orange hue the moon was tinted.

"What'dyja make for dinner," She said and grinned.

"Take a guess. Bet you'll figure it out." Liam handed the plastic sack over and she let go of his hand to peek inside.

"It's fried rice. You spilled all the soy sauce when you ran here..." She muttered unhappily.

"We might have some at home. I can run back out if not."