Blood Moon. Age Of Survival

Chapter 1

A way into the darkness. I didn't understand all the words then, but now I do. It is all I am fighting for - to protect the person I love, to fight to the end even if it is the end for me, and even when the moon is red, that only captures the age of survival.

"Jaden," my mom called as she was about to visit the restroom. "Look after your siblings for me."
I hated that word and she knew I did. But she just kept upsetting me with it.
"Mom, you know I can't do that. I can't babysit them; I'm not their mother, after all," I said. Mom placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You shouldn't be like that, Jay," she said, using my pet name. "You have to do it; you're their elder and it's your responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
"Yeah, because I may not be there every time they need me. It will be you, and you must learn that, kid. So please, will you?"
I nodded. "Just a few minutes; you better be quick," I said.
"That's my love," she kissed me. She took the path and walked into the building, probably to the restrooms.
I took out my phone and noticed a missed video call on WhatsApp and an unread message. My fingers tapped on the screen to show me a text from Emily,
"Hey, where are you? I'm at the playground with my mom. If you see this message early, please reply."

I smiled and quickly replied, "Hey, I just saw your message. I'm also at the playground. Where are you?"

As I sent the message, I took a look around. Behind the two cruisers, I spotted a blonde-haired girl, a grown woman, and a young child with blonde hair by her side. It was Emily and her mom along with her younger brother. Mike.
I clicked back into the message page and typed. "Saw you along with your mom and Mike I am at the lounge seat"
I looked at my young siblings playing the pinochle game.
" you would have to be the one babysitting them soon" I don't understand what she is saying. But I guess that rings a bell.
My phone buzzes. I opened the message. " hey yo I saw you. You look cute in the brown hoodie and your hair looks messy but it is alright"
I looked up from my phone and found her staring and waving at the same time. I waved back.
" hey, talking to that half-shit again," someone said beside me.
"Hey," I said and hid my phone in my pocket. " what are you doing here?"
Roses smiled. " cause I see you are not babysitting us like mom instructed you to so I decided to have a look at what you are smiling at"
I shrugged. Roses may be a young 10-year-old but she seems too smart for her age.
"Come on, little witch, let's go. I have to babysit you for real," I said as I held her arm while she dragged me to the playground. Stephen chuckled when he saw us.
"Brother, brother," he called in his childish tone.
"Hey, young Avengers," I said and scooped him up in my arms.

                         ~    
I dragged myself back to the lounge seat. I expected to see Mom sitting and watching us, but she wasn't there.
But she was here a minute ago smiling broadly at us.
This is confusing, I dialed her number it rang for a few minutes before redirecting me to a voicemail.
I decided to text her. " hey Mom where the hell are you"
I waited for her call but I didn't see any. I checked the message screen also there was none there,
"Where could she be?"
After a long wait, I decided to go and look for her.
The building was empty as I entered. The wall had some dangerous stains and the air was messy smelling like blood or something crazy.
The bathroom.
I reminded myself as I set off to the door tagged with." female toilet "
I approached and knocked on the door.
" hey Mom " I called." Are you inside?
But there was no response. " hey mom'"
I opened the door a little. I expected to hear a faint murmur but there was none. It wasn't until I entered that I knew the toilet was indeed big like the size of a reception room back in my school. Different doors lined up by the Wall with different tag numbers. Section 1 section 2.
What the hell? I thought. Which section could she be in?
I knocked on the first door. But there was no reply. I tried the second one, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth till I reached the last door. Section 11.
My heart skipped like I was expecting something unpleasant. I opened the door and a pool of blood greeted me.
I draw back from the door. " what the hell"
Then I heard a scream from inside the room. I quickly stood up to check who it was. Amidst the pool of blood, someone lay there gasping for breath and some crazy human also covered in blood holding her down. They do not look normal.
Then it took me a minute to know who it was.
My mom.