THe Night The Moon Turned Black

11:59 PM. Sydney, Australia. Darlinghurst.

Ethan Cole stood on the 12th floor balcony of his apartment, holding his 8-year-old sister Lily in his arms. The air was hot. The city lights below shimmered.

Lily’s forehead was burning. 102 fever. She tugged at Ethan’s t-shirt.

"Eth... the moon's turning black..."

Ethan looked up and felt a cold chill run down his spine.

The Moon.

Half white, half black. Like someone was painting it with ink from the edges inward.

Ethan forced a laugh. "Babe, it's just a lunar eclipse. Go inside."

His phone vibrated. A red alert filled the screen.

`[EMERGENCY ALERT]`

`[NSW GOVERNMENT]`

`[UNEXPLAINED LUNAR ANOMALY DETECTED. ALL CITIZENS MUST STAY INDOORS. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE MOON.]`

"Do not make eye contact?" Ethan scoffed and tossed the phone on the side table. He carried Lily inside and pressed a hand to her cheek. "Sleep, Lil. I'll get you medicine in the morning."

Lily nodded and closed her eyes.

Ethan went to the kitchen and made coffee. Ex-soldier. Two tours in Afghanistan. Sleep never came easy.

11:59... 12:00...

_Bam._

Every light in the apartment died. Fridge off. AC off. Only the faint red glow of the emergency light remained.

And outside... silence.

Ethan walked to the balcony. His breath caught.

The Moon.

Completely black. A hole in the sky. The stars around it looked brighter, like they were highlighting the darkness.

Then a scream.

From far away. Then closer. Then right from the flat below.

"NO! GET OFF! SARAH!!"

Mike. His neighbor from downstairs. The BBQ guy.

_BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!_

Kicking. On Ethan’s door.

"ETHAN! OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR! THEY'RE INSIDE MY PLACE!"

Ethan opened the knife drawer. Pulled out a 10-inch chef knife. His heart was hammering but his hands were steady. The army taught him that.

He pressed his ear to the door. "Mike? What's happening man?"

No answer.

Then... _gurgle_ ... _wet tearing sound_ ... _chewing_

Ethan’s blood went cold.

_CRASH_

The door caved inward. Lock broken.

The corridor outside was dark. Only the light of the Black Moon came through the windows. And in that light...

Mike was standing.

Or what was left of Mike.

His shirt was torn. Blood pouring from his stomach. Eyes completely red. Veins bulging on his forehead. And his mouth...

Blood was dripping from both sides of his mouth. A piece of flesh between his teeth.

"Eth..." Mike gurgled. "Hungry... so hungry..."

Ethan didn’t waste a second. He drove the knife straight into Mike’s throat. All his strength.

_SHUNK_

Black blood. Thick. It sprayed out and hit Mike’s feet.

Mike staggered back. Fell. Then twitched and tried to get up.

"Stay down!" Ethan yelled. And again. 3 times. 5 times. 7 times. Until Mike’s head was almost separated.

Breathing. Only his own heavy breathing.

"Bhai?" Lily’s voice from inside.

Ethan ran in. Lily was standing at the door, shaking.

"Eyes closed, Lil. Don't look." He picked her up. "We’re leaving. Now."

He packed a bag in 30 seconds. 2 bottles of water. Bread. First aid. Flashlight. Phone. Power bank. Lily’s favorite teddy.

The corridor was full of blood. 2 more doors were broken. Screams from inside.

Stairs. Elevator was dead.

On the ground floor, 4 infected stood with their backs to them. Tearing apart a woman.

Ethan pushed Lily behind him. "Close your eyes and don't open them no matter what."

He slit the first one’s throat. Kicked the second. The third grabbed his arm. It hurt. Ethan stabbed the knife into its heart.

The fourth ran.

10 minutes later, they were on George Street.

Sydney was burning. Car alarms. Shattered glass. People running. And some people... hunting.

Lily clutched Ethan’s jacket. "Bro, where are we going?"

Ethan had no idea. Police station? Closed. Hospital? Maybe.

Then a scream from the corner. Sharp. In pain.

Ethan ran without thinking.

At the corner of the alley: 3 infected. Cornering a girl. The girl was on the ground. Her left leg torn open. A pool of blood.

"BACK THE FUCK OFF!" Ethan yelled.

All three turned. Red eyes. Blood on their mouths.

The first lunged. Ethan sidestepped and cut its throat.

The second came from behind. Ethan felt Combat Instinct kick in. Was it the System? He spun and drove the knife into its stomach.

The third was already on his shoulder—

_SWISH_

A sound through the air. And its head flew off.

Silence.

Ethan turned.

A girl was standing there.

25 years old. 5'8. Black leather jacket, black jeans, combat boots. Black hair in a ponytail. A thin katana in her hand. And her eyes...

Deep red. Like fire burning inside. But controlled.

She flicked the katana clean. Drops of blood hit the ground.

Then she looked at Ethan. Hands raised.

"Easy, soldier. I'm not with them. Not fully."

Ethan didn’t lower the knife. "Who the hell are you?"

"Selena Voss." She knelt beside the wounded girl. A faint red light came from her hands. The girl’s wound started closing. "And that," she pointed at the black moon, "is the Black Moon. Apocalypse started 5 minutes ago. Welcome."

Selena stood up. She looked Ethan up and down. The wounds. The blood. His breathing.

"You fight clean. Ex-military?"

"How'd you guess?"

"Because civilians are dead already." Selena looked at Lily. "She's burning up. I have antibiotics and fever meds in my bag. But we can't stay here. Infected can smell blood from miles away when the Moon is like this."

Ethan held Lily tighter. "Where?"

"Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. 2km. Generator still running. Steel doors. But we have to cross Hyde Park. And it's crawling."

Ethan hesitated. "Why help us?"

Selena paused. Then held out her left arm and cut it with a small blade. Red blood came out.

She licked it. In that second her eyes turned a deeper red. Her breathing got fast. Then she closed her eyes and took a breath. The color went back to normal.

"Because I'm Infected too, Ethan." How did she know his name? Probably the name tag on his bag. "Difference is, I fight it. Every night. Daytime I'm human. Night... I'm a monster."

She held the katana out to Ethan, handle first.

"If I lose control tonight, if I look at your sister like food... you do this. Right here. Promise me."

Ethan looked at Lily. Then into Selena’s eyes. No fear there. Just exhaustion. Loneliness.

"Promise." Ethan said.

Selena gave a small nod. "Good. Now move."

---

`[DING!]`

A sharp sound in Ethan’s head. Like a bell.

`[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]`

`[BLACK MOON APOCALYPSE - DAY 1]`

`[SURVIVOR DETECTED: ETHAN COLE]`

`[SELECT YOUR PATH WITHIN 60 SECONDS]`

`[1. FIGHTER] Enhanced Strength, Stamina, Combat Instinct. Weak to Bloodlust.`

`[2. HEALER] Ability to Mend Wounds, Low Defense.`

`[3. INFECTED] Night Power Boost, Regeneration, Risk of Losing Humanity.]`

`[WARNING: FAILURE TO CHOOSE WILL RESULT IN RANDOM ASSIGNMENT.]`

`[59...58...57...]`

Ethan’s mind spun. What was this? A game?

Lily said, "Bro your eyes are glowing blue."

Ethan looked down. Faint blue light from his hands.

Footsteps in the distance. 10... 15 infected coming this way. The Black Moon behind them.

"Choose fast!" Selena yelled. Katana ready.

Ethan gritted his teeth. "FIGHTER!"

`[PATH SELECTED: FIGHTER]`

`[REWARD GRANTED: Strength +2, Stamina +2, Skill: Combat Instinct Unlocked]`

`[NOTE: Protecting allies grants bonus EXP]`

A wave of heat. Strength in his body. The knife now felt like a feather. Breathing deep. Hearing sharp. He could count the footsteps coming. 14.

Selena smirked and nodded. "Good fucking choice."

She gestured ahead. "Run. Don't stop. Don't look back."

They ran. Ethan in front, holding Lily. Selena behind.

Screams behind them. Infected chasing.

Hyde Park was dark. Tree shadows. Danger in every bush.

An infected jumped from a tree. Ethan threw the knife without looking. Straight into its throat.

`[+10 EXP]`

Second. Selena took its head off.

`[+15 EXP]`

Third group. 5 of them.

Selena yelled "Circle me!"

Ethan put Lily down. Stood back to back with Selena.

The fight started.

10 minutes of hell. Blood. Breathing. Pain.

When the last infected fell, Ethan was on his knees. Gasping.

Selena was exhausted too. 3 cuts on her jacket.

She pulled out a water bottle. Gave it to Ethan. Then gave Lily an injection.

"Fever will break in 30 minutes." Selena said. "You're good with a kid."

Ethan drank the water. "She's all I have. Parents died 3 years ago. Car crash."

Selena was quiet. Then said, "Me too. Just me and my brother. He... didn't make it through the first night last year. In Melbourne."

Ethan looked at her. Her red eyes were fading back to normal.

"So you... you've done this before?"

Selena nodded. "The Black Moon comes every year. Before it was only in Melbourne. This year... the whole world."

She looked at the sky. "3 hours left. While the moon is black, they’re stronger. After 5 AM they get weaker."

Ethan stood up. "So hospital?"

"Hospital." Selena nodded. "We’ll be safe there. And maybe... treatment."

They started walking again. Slower this time. Quieter.

On the way Ethan asked, "You have a system too?"

Selena nodded. "Infected class. Level 7. My skill is Blood Healing. But every time I use it, the hunger gets worse."

She looked at Ethan. "What did you get?"

Ethan clenched his fist. "Combat Instinct. Feels like time slows down when someone attacks."

Selena gave a small smile. "Useful. Keep me alive tonight and I'll keep you alive tomorrow."

They reached RPA Hospital in 20 minutes. Big building. Lights on inside. 2 guards at the gate with guns.

"Stop! Who are you?" A guard yelled.

Selena stepped forward. "Survivors. We need in."

The guard looked them over. Ethan’s blood. Lily’s fever. Selena’s red eyes.

The guard lowered his gun. "Hurry. Inside."

Inside. Generator humming. 30-40 people. Wounded. Scared.

A nurse took Lily. "We'll take care of her."

Ethan breathed for the first time.

Selena stood by the window. The black moon was still outside.

Ethan walked over. "Thanks."

Selena turned. "Don't thank me yet. Night's not over."

She suddenly looked at Ethan’s neck. At his pulse.

Selena’s eyes started turning red again.

Ethan stepped back. Hand on his knife.

Selena closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. "Fuck... the blood... I can smell it on you."

She cut her own arm. Drank her own blood. Gained control.

Then opened her eyes. Normal again.

"See?" She said. Her voice was shaking. "This is every night for me."

Ethan swallowed. "So we’re partners?"

Selena nodded. "Partners. You keep me human in the day. I keep you alive at night."

Outside, the Black Moon was still there. But morning was close. 4 AM.

Selena put a hand on the window. "2 hours. Then this ends."

Ethan looked at Lily. Her fever was down. She was sleeping.

He looked at Selena. Tired. Wounded. But standing.

"So again tomorrow night?" Ethan asked.

Selena smiled. The first real smile. Tired.

"Again tomorrow night. As long as the Black Moon is here, we’re together."

`[QUEST COMPLETED: SURVIVE NIGHT 1]`

`[REWARD: 100 EXP, ITEM: Basic Medkit]`

`[NEW QUEST: FIND THE SOURCE OF THE BLACK MOON]`

[WARNING: BLOODLUST 89%]

Selena was looking at Ethan's neck. Her eyes fully red now.

"Ethan... chain me. Before I..."

Ethan saw Lily sleeping. He saw Selena shaking. He understood.

If he chains her, she will suffer whole night. If he doesn't, Lily will die.

Ethan took out his knife. He cut his own hand. Red blood came out.

Selena's eyes went wide. "What are you doing?"

"STEP 1 was you cutting your hand. What's STEP 2?" Ethan asked.

Selena whispered, "Press... press them together..."

[SYSTEM: BLOOD BOND RITUAL INITIATED - 50% COMPLETE]

Lights in the hospital flickered.......