It was a quiet evening at 7:00 PM on Friday.
The garden at Haul Academy lay bathed in the soft, silvery light of a waxing moon. The air was thick with the sweet scent of blooming moonflowers, their faint glow pulsing gently, as if breathing in sync with some unseen energy.
Rossie Carter stood alone among the twisting vines, her bracelet warm and humming softly against her wrist.
The memory of the eerie greenish glow that had flickered in her eyes earlier, and the sudden burst of speed that had saved her moments ago, weighed heavily on her mind. She could still feel the adrenaline buzzing beneath her skin.
A golden mist swirled suddenly before her, coalescing into the familiar shape of Eli, the Gardener. His luminescent bloom cast a gentle radiance, lighting up the shadows of the garden.
His presence was both comforting and solemn—a stark contrast to the unease that churned inside Rossie.
She took a deep breath, steadying her voice despite the knot in her chest.
"Eli, I need to talk. There are rumors—strange things happening at the neighboring schools."
Eli's glowing eyes fixed on her, patient but alert.
Rossie hesitated, then plunged ahead.
"First, there was a boy in the town square. Found unconscious, but his eyes were wide open, and his arms were spread out like he was… frozen.
Then yesterday, another boy at Westridge Academy did exactly the same thing. And today, someone broke out of a hospital glass cube—like it wasn't even locked."
She swallowed hard. "It's spreading. And it feels connected to what we've faced here."
Eli's expression darkened, the light of his bloom flickering with concern.
"The entity's reach extends, child. Its tendrils seek new vessels, feeding on the chaos it creates."
Rossie's heart pounded. "So, what does that mean for me? For us?"
Eli nodded slowly. "You are the Moonlight Bearer. The only one capable of eliminating this evil.
You have been chosen to wield the garden's power and banish the shadow."
Rossie's breath caught.
The weight of his words settled heavily on her shoulders. She shifted uneasily, her mind racing to the occult teens they'd encountered before.
"What about the occult teens at school? Some might still be hiding, waiting."
Eli's gaze hardened, his voice dropping to a cold, unyielding tone.
"Stop them before they stop you. Kill them before they kill you. No emotions. Those you pity do not want you to live.
They are vessels of the entity's will. Mercy will only weaken you."
His words hung heavy in the air, a stark command that clashed violently with Rossie's instincts.
She swallowed hard, unease flickering in her chest.
"That's… hard to accept. I don't want to hurt anyone unless I have to."
Eli stepped closer, his golden bloom pulsing with intensity.
"This is your burden, Rossie. When I am gone, you will be betrayed by many of your friends. Do not panic—hold your ground.
The moonlight will guide you, but only if you stand firm against the darkness, both within and without."
Rossie's breath caught, the faces of Michael, Ethan, Becky, and Angela flashing through her mind.
"Betrayed? By my friends? I can't believe that."
Eli's expression softened just a little, but his resolve remained firm. "Belief is not the test—strength is.
Prepare yourself, Moonlight Bearer. The entity grows bolder, and your path will demand sacrifice."
Rossie's hands trembled as she touched the bracelet, feeling the faint pulse of energy beneath her fingertips. The garden's silence seemed to amplify the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind—the rumors, the entity's spreading reach, and now this chilling warning of betrayal.
She looked up at the moon, its pale light washing over the garden like a protective shield.
For a moment, she wanted to scream, to cry, to run away from the impossible burden placed upon her.
But deep inside, a spark of determination ignited.
"I won't let it win," she whispered to herself.
"I'll protect my friends… even if it means standing alone."
I know you want to ask about your glowing eyes' Eli said as he smiles.
It's part of your new identity
Eli's form began to fade, the golden mist dissolving into the night air.
"Remember, Rossie," his voice echoed softly,
"the garden's power is yours to command.
But power without resolve is nothing. Stand firm. The moonlight will guide you." you become more instinctive under full moon...hence you need to be careful so you don't get consumed by your own powers.
As the last trace of Eli vanished, Rossie remained rooted to the spot, the bracelet glowing faintly.
The garden felt different now—charged, alive, and dangerous.
She thought of Michael, always so loyal and brave. Ethan, whose quiet strength had helped her more times than she could count.
Becky, with her fierce loyalty, and Angela, whose laughter could light up the darkest days.
Could any of them truly betray her? The thought was unbearable, yet Eli's warning echoed in her mind.
Rossie clenched her fists.
"If they do… I'll have to be stronger."
The night deepened, and the moonflowers' glow brightened, as if responding to her resolve.
She took a step forward, her bracelet humming louder, and whispered, "I'm ready."
The Search in the Woods and the Mysterious Symbol
It was 03:45 PM on Wednesday, 2025, five days after the initial weird occurrence at Westridge Academy.
The strange phenomenon...teens standing with unblinking eyes and spread arms—had spread like a contagion, with over ten students now missing, their whereabouts unknown despite exhaustive searches by police and vigilantes.
The tension in the town near Haul Academy had thickened, whispers of the supernatural growing louder.
Rossie Carter, determined to uncover the truth, rallied her friends - Ethan, Becky, and a new classmate, Lila, a quiet girl with a keen eye for detail—while Michael and Angela stayed behind, citing the need to coordinate with others.
The group trekked into the dense woods beyond the school, the afternoon sun filtering through the canopy in dappled patches. Their footsteps crunched on leaves, exhaustion weighing on them after hours of searching for any sign of the missing teens.
Rossie's bracelet pulsed faintly, a reminder of her encounter with Eli, while Ethan scanned the underbrush, his expression grim. Becky, clutching her Vine Codex, panted as she kept pace, and Lila trailed slightly behind, her curiosity piqued but her energy waning.
"We've been at this for hours," Ethan said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"No tracks, no clues. Maybe they're not here."
Rossie shook her head, her resolve unshaken. "They have to be. The woods are the only place that makes sense—where it all started with the artifact. We can't give up."Lila nodded, adjusting her glasses.
"I've heard stories about these woods—old legends. Maybe there's something we're missing."
As they turned to head back, fatigue pulling at their limbs, Rossie's flashlight caught a glint on a gnarled tree trunk. She paused, stepping closer. Carved into the bark was a symbol—a jagged circle with radiating lines, faintly glowing with a greenish hue.
"Becky, what's this?" she asked, her voice tinged with unease.Becky hurried over, flipping through her Codex, her brow furrowing.
"I… I don't know. It looks familiar, but I can't place it. It might be tied to the entity, though." She snapped a photo with her phone, the flash illuminating the symbol's eerie glow."Let's get back and figure it out,"
Rossie said, her mind racing with possibilities. The group nodded, turning toward home, their exhaustion now mingled with anticipation.
.....Not long after they started their retreat, the sky darkened abruptly. A heavy rain began to fall, fat drops pelting the leaves and soaking them within moments.
"Run!" Ethan shouted, and they broke into a weary sprint, slipping on the muddy path.
The rain blurred their vision, the symbol's image burned into their minds as they hurried back, the mystery of the missing teens and the woods' secrets deepening with every step.