Blood Moon: The Dark Academy

Episode Seven: The Spindly Woman

Olivia

Birds chirped cheerfully outside the window, their song pulling me from the comforting embrace of sleep. Sunlight streamed into the room, bathing everything in a warm, golden glow. I sat up abruptly, my heart racing for a second as I struggled to grasp my surroundings. But the familiar scent of Hector's dorm quickly reminded me of where I was. Last night's chaotic battle felt like a distant, haunting memory now that the Blood Moon had dipped below the horizon and the sun had taken its place.

I turned to my side and found Hector still fast asleep, his tousled hair catching the light beautifully. He looked so calm and peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil we had faced. Lying next to him, I felt a fleeting sense of normalcy that made the weight on my shoulders a little lighter. We were both lying on the floor and must have passed out in the late hours of the night after watching the battle rage below us.

Hector stirred, slowly blinking his eyes open, a sleepy smile breaking across his face. "Good morning," he greeted, his voice a mixture of warmth and grogginess.

"Good morning," I replied, mirroring his smile, captivated by how vibrant he looked in the sunlight. It was as if he was emitting this soft glow that chased away the remnants of the night's fears.

He stretched, his arms reaching high above his head, and then turned toward the window, curiosity pulling him from our cozy moment. "What happened?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," I said, standing up. "I haven't checked yet."

He stood as well and walked over to the window. I followed, standing beside him as we both peered out.

What lay before us was an unexpected and unsettling sight. The once verdant grass was now marred by patches of black soot, as if someone had carelessly set small fires all over the grounds. Dozens of these dark spots dotted the landscape, stark reminders of the chaotic battle the school had endured. The wall surrounding the grounds was visibly damaged, battered and broken in places—a testament to the fierce conflict that had erupted. I noticed that most of the teachers appeared to have cleared out, and there were no signs of bodies or injuries among their ranks.

"What the hell?" Hector exclaimed, his brows furrowing in disbelief as he took in the grim sight.

I stood frozen next to him, my mind racing to decipher what had transpired overnight. I felt a heavy knot form in my stomach, the answers seeming just out of reach.

Volcan

I stood near the entrance of the school, watching the aftermath of the night's chaotic battle. The scene was like a twisted canvas—remains of creatures scattered everywhere, reduced to nothing more than piles of blackened ash filled with swirling dark smoke. It was bizarre how easy the fight had been; the beasts crumbled at the slightest blow, dissipating into clouds of soot that danced away on the morning breeze. A stark contrast to the Hellhound on the first night. Despite their overwhelming numbers, these monsters were palpably weaker compared to the terror we had faced yesterday. It was hard to shake the unease settling in my chest; I squeezed the bridge of my nose, feeling a sharp pang that rattled through me, as if my ribs were clamping down on something furious within, eager to break free.

I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the fresh morning air wash over me. I'd been waiting for her to emerge last night, but it turned out we were only dealing with her minions. The Hellhounds, Vampires, and Sirens—a vile trio of horrors—had kept us busy through most of the night. The realization hit me hard: Was it possible she only had full control over the creatures tied to souls she collected? If that were true, she was moving alarmingly fast; three out of seven souls were already in her grasp, and who knows how many more were taken during the chaos. I could feel anxiety creeping up on me, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. At this rate, she'd have the entire arsenal around the third nightfall.