Whispers of the Moon 🌙

Shadows of Betrayal 🌒

Hey readers,

I am so excited to share the 7th chapter of this beautiful story with you I hope you enjoy ❤️

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Anna's POV*

The sound of our hurried footsteps against the forest floor echoed like thunder in the eerie silence of the night. Raj's grip on my arm was unyielding as he led the way, Shashwat close behind, his eyes darting between the shadows that surrounded us. My heart pounded in my chest, the fear twisting tighter with every step we took.

"Raj, where are we going?" I managed to gasp, struggling to keep up.

"There's a safe place nearby, but we need to hurry," he replied, his voice tense. "They won't stop until they have what they're looking for."

"What are they looking for?" Shashwat demanded, his voice laced with suspicion. "What's really going on, Raj?"

Raj glanced back, his face pale in the dim moonlight. "It's complicated, Shashwat. I promise I'll explain everything, but first, we need to get out of here."

We weaved through the trees, the darkness closing in around us like a suffocating blanket. My mind raced with questions, with doubts. Raj had always been mysterious, always holding back more than he revealed. But tonight, there was something different about him-something darker, more desperate.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally emerged into a small clearing. At the center stood an old, abandoned cottage, its windows boarded up, its walls crumbling with age. It looked like it hadn't been touched in years, a relic forgotten by time.

"This is it," Raj said, releasing my arm. "We'll be safe here for now."

Shashwat stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the cottage. "Safe? This place doesn't exactly scream 'safe,' Raj."

"It's the last place they'd think to look," Raj insisted, leading us inside. The interior was just as rundown as the exterior, the air thick with dust and decay. "We'll be able to catch our breath and figure out our next move."

I followed them in, the cold air inside the cottage sending a shiver down my spine. As I looked around, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. This place, Raj's sudden appearance, the woman in black-it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn't put together.

Shashwat's voice broke through my thoughts. "Raj, you need to start talking. Now."

Raj sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I didn't want to involve you both in this, but there's no turning back now." He paused, his expression one of deep conflict. "There's a group, an ancient order, that's after something-something hidden in this village. They think I have it, but I don't. And now... they're after all of us."

I frowned, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "An ancient order? What could they possibly want from us?"

Raj's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of guilt in his gaze. "There's more to this village than you know, Anna. More than any of us knew. And whatever they're after, it's tied to your family-your past."

"My past?" The word felt foreign on my tongue. I had always thought of my life as ordinary, unremarkable. But now, hearing Raj's words, it was as if the ground beneath my feet was crumbling away.

"There's a reason they've been watching you," Raj continued. "You're connected to something powerful, something they want to control."

Shashwat stepped closer to me, his presence a steadying force. "Why didn't you tell us sooner, Raj? We could have helped."

Raj looked away, his voice heavy with regret. "I didn't want to drag you into this mess. But now that they know about you, there's no escaping it."

The weight of his words settled over us, the reality of our situation sinking in. But before I could respond, there was a sudden crash-a window shattering behind us. We spun around to see the woman in black standing in the doorway, flanked by several shadowy figures.

"You thought you could run, Raj?" she hissed, her eyes gleaming with malice. "You should have known better."

Raj moved in front of us, his stance defensive. "Leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with what you want."

The woman laughed, a cold, hollow sound that sent chills down my spine. "Oh, but they do. Especially her." She pointed directly at me, her gaze piercing. "She's the key to everything."

Fear surged through me, but before I could react, the shadows moved-swift and silent. Shashwat lunged forward, trying to shield me, but it was too late. The figures grabbed hold of Raj, dragging him to his knees.

"No!" I screamed, trying to pull free from Shashwat's grip to reach Raj.

"Anna, stay back!" Raj yelled, struggling against his captors. "You can't let them take you!"

But the woman's cold laughter filled the air. "It's too late for that. She belongs to us now."

And with those words, she stepped forward, raising her hand as a dark energy began to swirl around her. The air crackled with power, the shadows deepening around us.

Raj's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mixture of fear and resignation. "Anna, remember what I said-protect yourself. Trust no one."

Before I could process his words, a blinding light erupted from the woman's hand, and everything went dark. The last thing I heard was Shashwat shouting my name, his voice filled with desperation and fear.

And then, there was nothing.

To Be Continued...

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What did you think of this chapter? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the twist and where you think the story is headed next! 🌒