Dark Moon: The Awakening Vol.1

Chapter 10: The Unveiling

The night had fallen heavy over Decelis Academy, the shadows deepening as Sooha lay in her bed, still clutching the journal. The eerie events of the day replayed in her mind-the dreamlike encounter with the mysterious figure, the boys' glowing red eyes, and the unsettling words about the Blood Altar.

She barely had time to process everything when a loud crash outside her dorm room snapped her out of her thoughts. Startled, Sooha jumped up and peered out of her window. The courtyard below was cloaked in darkness, but she could make out several figures moving swiftly, their cloaks billowing like specters in the night.

Her heart pounded. Before she could react, her door burst open, and the boys rushed in, their expressions tense.

"Sooha, we have to go-now!" Heli urged, grabbing her hand.

"What's going on?" Sooha stammered, fear gripping her.

"There's no time to explain," Shion said, his voice unusually sharp. "Just trust us!"

The group hurried out of the room and down the corridor, but they hadn't made it far when they were confronted by the same hooded figures Sooha had seen from her window. The figures moved with a supernatural speed, surrounding them in a tight circle.

The air crackled with tension, and Sooha felt a chill run down her spine as she sensed the danger. The boys instinctively formed a protective barrier around her, their eyes now glowing intensely red-no longer concealing their true nature.

"Stay behind us," Jakah commanded, his voice steely.

Before Sooha could fully comprehend what was happening, the boys unleashed their powers. Heli moved with lightning speed, his fists glowing with a fierce energy as he struck down one of the hooded attackers. Shion's movements were fluid and deadly, his strength easily overpowering his opponents. Jaan, Jino, Jakah, and Noa fought with an intensity that left Sooha in awe and terror.

The courtyard erupted into chaos as the boys battled the mysterious figures, who fought back with dark, twisted magic. Sooha stood frozen, unable to process the sight of her friends wielding such unimaginable power.

The fight was fierce, the boys clearly outnumbered but holding their ground. Sooha's fear mounted as she realized that these weren't just ordinary assailants-they were after something, or someone, and she had a sinking feeling it was her.

One of the hooded figures broke through the boys' defenses and lunged at Sooha with a knife gleaming in the moonlight. She barely had time to react before the blade slashed across her arm, sending a searing pain through her body.

Sooha screamed, and as the pain took hold, everything around her started to blur. Her vision dimmed, the world spinning out of focus as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. The last thing she saw was Heli's desperate face as he reached for her, his voice calling her name before everything went dark.

When Sooha finally awoke, the battle was over. She was lying on the cold ground, surrounded by the boys, who were all breathing heavily, their clothes torn and bloodied from the fight. The hooded figures were gone, chased away by the boys' relentless defense.

"Sooha, can you hear me?" Heli's voice was frantic, his face inches from hers.

She nodded weakly, her head spinning with confusion. "What... what just happened?"

The boys exchanged worried glances. Solon, who had been unusually quiet, knelt beside her, his expression softening. "You're safe now, Sooha. We took care of them."

"But... who were they? And how... how did you do all that?" Sooha's voice trembled with fear and confusion.

Heli hesitated, glancing at the others before answering. "There's a lot you don't know, Sooha. Things we've kept hidden to protect you."

Sooha's eyes widened. "Protect me? From what?"

Jino placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "From them. Those figures-they're part of something much bigger, something that's been after you for a long time."

Sooha struggled to process everything, her mind racing. "But why? Why me?"

"We'll explain everything," Shion said softly, his tone filled with regret. "But for now, you need to rest. You're hurt, and we can't afford to lose you."

Sooha nodded, her strength fading as the pain in her arm pulsed with every heartbeat. The truth, whatever it was, would have to wait. As she slipped back into unconsciousness, the last thing she saw was the boys' worried faces, their red eyes glowing softly in the darkness.