Spilled blood

23 September, 2009 A teenage girl, Keira, stood by her bedroom window, gazing out at the horizon. The Sun struggled to peek through the thick, dark clouds that loomed overhead, casting ominous shadows over the landscape. The distant rumble of thunder echoed as a clear sign of an impending storm. She watched intently as the tree branches swayed wildly in the gusty wind, realizing with a twinge of melancholy that summer was officially over. "I guess the season for T-shirts really is done," she mumbled softly to herself, a hint of wistfulness in her voice. Keira had always favored the comfort and style of T-shirts and breezy dresses, but the weather suitable for those light garments was fleeting in their town—most of the year was dominated by chilly winds and frequent downpours. She often resisted her mother’s persistent nudges to dress more appropriately for the colder months, but today felt different. Today, there was excitement on the horizon. She was going on a trip to the aquarium with her friends, a long-awaited outing that she couldn’t afford to miss. If she didn’t hurry, she would be late for the bus. After rifling through her closet, Keira settled on a pair of black jeans, a snug grey T-shirt, and a warm olive-green jacket, perfect for the blustery weather. She deftly pulled her long, black hair into a ponytail, letting a few rebellious strands escape to frame her face. Glancing at the clock, she realized there was no time to waste. She hurriedly grabbed the backpack she had meticulously packed the night before, ensuring she had everything she might need. However, one last look in the mirror revealed something essential was missing. "Something is definitely not right..." she murmured, her eyes scanning the room. They landed on the nightstand where her most treasured possession lay—her grandmother's necklace. This delicate piece of jewelry was a family heirloom, passed down through generations, and it held sentimental value that made it irreplaceable. Without hesitation, she draped it around her neck, its cool metal resting gently against her skin. With a satisfied smile, she inspected her reflection once more. "Now, I'm ready to go." Keira dashed down the hallway to the kitchen, her stomach growling as she remembered her mother’s decree: she must eat breakfast before she could leave. After all, she knew her mother well—skipping meals was non-negotiable. "Good morning!" she greeted brightly as she entered the kitchen. Her mother sat on the couch with her toddler, trying to manage sticky hands and a wriggling child while offering bites of breakfast. "Good morning, sweetie! Breakfast is on the table," her mother replied, glancing up with a smile while juggling the morning chaos. Keira made her way to the table, where a hearty breakfast awaited her. She grabbed a sandwich piled high with fresh vegetables and slices of deli meat, and, feeling the warmth of family, turned to her father. "Good morning, Dad!" she beamed, giving him a quick wave. "Morning, Keira," he replied, his voice rich and warm but tinged with a hint of weariness. Her father—an imposing figure in both stature and presence—was named Herald, and he was not just any father; he was the CEO of 'MLT CORP,' the most powerful company in Stormlight City. As the Alpha of the Blueblood Clan, a formidable pack of werewolves, he bore the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, challenging the desires of both the business world and the historical lineage of their people. Their city, although small, was rich with resources, boasting seven gold mines, three of which were owned by Herald. The Blueblood Clan had established their territory on the fringes of town, bordering Silver City—a sprawling metropolis home to the more powerful clans that had their eyes on Stormlight’s coveted mines. Keira observed her father's demeanor as he took a sip of his coffee, the steam curling around his face like the mounting tension in the air. He scratched the surface of the wooden table absentmindedly, a nervous habit he had developed in times of stress. "What's wrong, Dad? Another threat?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. Herald's expression shifted, and his brow furrowed deeper. "Another threat, and yet another attack. They are becoming bolder with every passing day. It’s only a matter of time before they invade us. The other Alphas are still hesitating to extend a hand of assistance," he vented, frustration lacing his words. "Those scoundrels! We pay them regularly to maintain this so-called harmonious relationship, but the one time we truly need help, they choose to cower and hide behind the accords!" Keira's heart sank at the weight of her father's words. She longed to offer him words of reassurances and comfort, but the severity of the moment left her speechless. Herald's thoughts echoed in her mind—a fear that loomed over their family, one that threatened not only their safety but that of the entire clan. The Losborne Clan's Alpha had become increasingly ambitious and dangerous, dismissing the Golden Accords that had ensured a fragile peace for decades. The heightened tension surrounding their lives made Keira acutely aware of the shadows lurking just outside their doorstep, and she knew deep down, the sense of security they had once possessed was slipping through their fingers like grains of sand. A bleeding man rushes through the doors, shouting for help. The family jumps to their feet, alarmed by the man, but before they can say anything, the man's head is cut off, and they watch as it falls on the floor, wearing a terrified expression. "Get out of here!" the desperate father shouted, his voice filled with panic as he rushed towards the encroaching enemies. Fear etched across his face, he charged forward, his heart racing with adrenaline, determined to protect his loved ones at all costs. Each step felt heavy, weighted by the urgency of his plea and the danger looming before him. Unfortunately, there are too many enemies. Herald's life is cut short when another wolf uses its claws to rip his chest open. Keira watches helplessly as her father's corpse falls to the ground while the enemy is holding his still-beating heart. Keira's mother falls to her knees, overtaken by grief. But her grief is short-lived because a hunter used a silver blade to cut her throat. Everything happened so fast, and Keira is having problems processing the events. Her little brother's cries echo in the room, and her parents' bodies lay lifelessly on the floor, right in front of her watery eyes. Keira tries to run to her brother's side, but a sharp pain in her leg stops her. The hunter threw the silver blade, and it stabbed Keira's leg. Keira is quick to react. She pulls out the dagger and throws it back, stabbing the hunter's heart, and he falls dead. But another wolf is now pinning Keira down, and another hunter has got her little brother up in the air by the collar. Seeing her little brother staring death in the face, Keira gathers all her strength and manages to push the wolf away. But by the time she's back on her feet, the hunter has already broken her brother's little fragile neck. "No..." Keira's limbs went numb. Her heart crumbled, and her world collapsed. She didn't even try to avoid the blade that cut through her dying heart. And she fell to the ground, her eyes never leaving her little brother. Keira woke up a while later. The hunter had missed her heart. But her heart was still dead. She slowly opened her eyes, breath ragged and piercing pain all over her body, and she looked around the empty room. She would've thought it was just a nightmare had it not been for all the blood and the scent of death lingering in the air. She lay there in silence with her eyes closed until she felt someone grab her hand and drag her away. And in that moment, a thousand different thoughts rushed through her mind. They were all different, but all her thoughts focused on one thing only. Revenge. With anger felt like never before and a rush of adrenaline, Keira kills that wolf. She sprinted away, her heart pounding in her chest, not daring to glance back even once. She pushed herself onward, her feet pounding against the earth, not stopping until the silvery glow of the Moon hung directly above her, casting an ethereal light across the landscape. Breathless, she collapsed onto the cool ground, her body weary and spent. As she lay there, she fixed her gaze upward, the luminous Moon illuminating her face in a haunting glow. The silence enveloped her, heavy and suffocating, as she tried to find comfort in its presence. She searched for tears, but they wouldn’t come; her eyes felt dry and empty, as if all her sorrow had been exhausted. Keira couldn't find her voice to scream—its echoes had vanished, swallowed by the overwhelming solitude that surrounded her. A wave of dizziness washed over her, a cruel reminder of the price she had paid. The loss of blood coursed through her, weakening her limbs and clouding her thoughts. Yet, in that moment, she felt no physical pain, as if her body had given in to a numbness that overshadowed all else. What truly tormented her was the vacancy within; her heart and soul lay shattered somewhere far behind her, remnants of a life once vibrant and full. The stark realization struck her like a cold breeze—she was utterly alone now. No more warmth, no more companionship. It was just Keira, adrift in the vastness of the night, with only the Moon to bear witness to her solitude.