djtenku | [writing] Project Chaos

Title: Fall of the Moon
Word Count: 907
Summary: Changes. Snow. Questions.
Author's Notes:

This is the one of the few times that I write in first person, let alone in anything else. I actually did write this in the 3rd, but, I felt it didn't have as much impact as I'd like. So, why not from the man's pov? It's a short piece; and a little rough around the edges. Oooooh, foreshadowing?

I gaze out to the city below me from my balcony, the lights sparkling like the stars in the sky. This time though, the stars aren’t out, to my dismay. I could see the large red moon start to rise over the valley.

I absolutely hate it. I can’t escape it no matter what. It makes me a freak of nature for a couple of hours and a day. Not like the werewolf in those old horror movies were someone would transform into a slobbering beast out for blood, no, but I do change. My hair, instead of sable, is pure white, and my left eye is green instead of blue.

It’s called Lunar Dementia. It’s…a rare disease that I have and it was dormant until my eighteenth birthday. So rare, that only one in three billion are born with it. I’m such a lucky bastard, huh? I’m glad that I wasn’t put in a asylum, since I can hide it so well, but it’s hard to suppress the urge to kill.

To keep myself sane, I took up boxing even though I am rather ungraceful. There’s something comforting about it, pummeling a bag full of sand; been many a time I wore myself into pure exhaustion after a half a day session, and three times that I cracked it open. I have so much rage within me; I don’t know what to do with it.

Maybe it’s just from stress that built up over time, who knows. It really didn’t start until I…

I slump to the ground, back against the wall, tired. I can feel the attack coming on. The nonsensical whispers start, drowning out any thoughts I had previously, urging me to kill. Sweat started to form on my forehead, stinging my eyes and I forced them shut. Colors started to dance. I can barely breathe and my head feels like it’s in a vice...

I don’t know how long this goes on but I don’t make a single sound; eventually stop all together and there is almost a deafening roar. I open my eyes.

I’m in a snow covered forest, trees towering over me and the snow falling without a sound. The full moon is still off in the distance, only it is white. I don’t feel cold at all, in fact, I’m very warm and...serene. Is this a hallucination?

I watch intently as a woman suddenly appeared in front of me within a single blink. She was shrouded in white garment that seem to flow freely, like a robe or even a gown, but it tapered to her tall and slender frame. I could barely make out her face, covered by a hood but I saw green eyes that glittered, but at the same time, they were dull. She had something in her hands, like a retractable yumi with a metal arrow. Is she going to shoot me?

“Rowan,” she said in a wispy voice.

I don’t question her about knowing my name right away...but there’s something weird about this, like I’ve met her before. “Yes?” I answer, curiosity piqued.

“No matter what happens, do not fall into the Devil’s hands,” she tells me, “In order to save yourself, you must not wear your armor and carry your weapon.”

What does that mean? Fall into the Devil’s hands? I’ll figure it out later. “What should I do after that?”

She moved closer to me and kneeled in front of me. I smelled a sickly sweet aroma and cringed. There’s something wrong about all this, I just know it.

“Cast away your shell and release your emotions. It only furthers the cause to achievement.”

I try to move but my limbs are heavy. I could only stare at he as she rose, metal arrow pointed at me, at my heart. I don’t say anything and she doesn’t either. I close my eyes and wait for it. It’s no use pleading for my life. She’s just going to snap me back into reality, whatever that is.

I hear a faint noise of the yumi and something jars me. I open my eyes again and I’m back on my balcony, looking at daylight. I sigh and run my hands through my hair, which is now raven again. That spell lasted a lot longer than I thought; in fact it was the longest. I hear another sound, something ringing. I look down beside me and there was the phone, squawking.

“Yeah?” I answered. “Oh hey, Maria. I’m alright...I think. Listen, we need to talk. In thirty minutes? Alright...” I hang up the phone and get up, sliding the door shut as I walked in. For all I know a bird could’ve flown in here. I head for the closet and pull out my katana and a small box.

In order to save yourself, you must not wear your armor and carry your weapon. Those words...did she want me to get rid of this? I’m not sure if I should listen to a simple hallucination.

I should tell Maria about it all. She’s one of the only few people I talk to, besides the members in the squad I’m in. I glare at the box that contained my suit. I’ve had it for almost four years; some of my worst spells occurred while I wore it.

I sigh again. It was time to get rid of it.