" What the hell is that? "

Viola’s voice cracked like shattered glass, the sound piercing through the oppressive silence. Her wide, gorgeous blue eyes darted past Jian, fixated on the far wall where shadows writhed and twisted unnaturally. They slithered against the cracked plaster, pooling into a vaguely humanoid shape with flaming pure white eyes. From the dark, a faint, guttural growl emerged, low and feral. Whispers accompanied it, disjointed, layered, and filled with a venomous malice that didn’t belong in this world.

Jian didn’t move.

Her deep yellow eyes like that of a miniature sun, unblinking and mysteriously calm, remained locked on Viola. She leaned back slightly in her chair, her calm demeanor like an anchor in the storm of fear enveloping the room. Viola’s gaze flickered between Jian and the growing monstrosity behind her, her trembling lips mouthing words that refused to come out.

“C-can’t you see it?” Viola stammered, her voice trembling like a leaf caught in a gale.

Jian tilted her head, her expression unreadable, and for a brief moment, an oppressive quiet overtook the room. The only sounds were Viola’s erratic breathing and the soft creak of the old chair Jian sat on.

And then Jian burst out laughing.

It wasn’t a chuckle or a snicker. It was a full-bodied, unapologetic laugh that echoed in the dimly lit room. Jian doubled over, clutching her sides as if Viola’s terror was the most absurd thing she’d ever witnessed.

Viola’s jaw dropped. Her eyes, already wide from fear, now filled with confusion and disbelief. " What...what are you doing? ". She managed, her voice tinged with frustration and embarrassment.

Jian straightened up, wiping a stray tear from her eye, still chuckling. “Oh, Viola,” she said, imitating her earlier panicked tone. “‘What the hell is that!?’” Jian exaggerated the words, her voice high-pitched and theatrical. “You should’ve seen your face!”

Viola’s cheeks flushed crimson. " It’s not funny! " she snapped, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “I know I saw something!”

" Oh, I know you did " Jian grinned mischievously, leaning forward in her chair. " Out of all the books I've read. Your reaction was priceless " ...

The tension in the room eased ever so slightly as Viola found herself suppressing a smile. Against her better judgment, a soft laugh escaped her lips, and she shook her head. " You’re impossible ". she muttered, lying back down on the makeshift bed.

For a while, silence reigned, broken only by the distant hum of the camp’s generators. The flickering lantern cast wavering shadows on the walls, creating shapes that seemed alive in the dim light.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Viola broke the quiet, her tone more subdued. “Jian,” she said softly, “did you really see it?”

Jian didn’t answer immediately. She dipped a cloth into the basin of cool water beside her, wrung it out, and gently placed it on Viola’s forehead. The dampness provided a momentary relief, and Viola closed her eyes.

“Yes,” Jian said at last, her voice low.

Viola’s eyes snapped open. A mix of vindication and unease swept over her. “I knew it,” she whispered, her fingers clutching the blanket tightly. “You saw it, but you pretended not to. Why?”

Jian leaned back, crossing one leg over the other calmly. “Because if I’d acknowledged it in that moment, your blood pressure would’ve spiked, and your emotions would’ve spiraled out of control ".

Just like how mine spiraled about after reading 'Romeo and Juliet' ending....... Jian lampooned inwardly...

“My emotions?” Viola’s brow furrowed.

Jian nodded. “You’re already infected by the Lunar Dust. Strong emotions, traumas and desires, can amplify its effects. And besides,” she added, her tone casual, “those shadows? They’re just the last fragments of the people who died in this madness.”

Viola shuddered, her breath hitching. “Fragments? What do you mean?”

Why do I have to explain this....... Jian sighed, her gaze distant. “The Lunar Dust... it’s complicated. Think of it as a mysterious substance released from the moon during its peak, scattered by the moon’s influence. It infects everything, nature, objects, even people. Once it takes hold, it doesn’t just alter the body; it seeps into the soul, warping it, breaking it.”

Viola listened intently, her fear momentarily replaced by curiosity. Jian continued, her voice steady but tinged with a faint bitterness.

“The shadows you saw,” Jian explained, “are remnants of those who succumbed and have died. Their bodies are gone, but their anguish lingers, trapped between worlds.” She paused, dipping the cloth into the basin again. “They’re harmless, mostly. Just a reminder of what happens when you let the dust consume you.”

Viola’s lips trembled. “Is that... what’s going to happen to me?”

Jian didn’t answer right away. She pressed the cool cloth back onto Viola’s forehead, her movements slow and deliberate. “Not if you keep your emotions in check,” she said finally. “And not if you trust me.”

For a moment, Viola was silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She stared at Jian, her gorgeous blue eyes glinting with unshed tears. “Jian,” she began hesitantly, “while we were talking earlier... I blanked out, didn’t I?”

Jian nodded, her expression unreadable.

Viola bit her lip, struggling to put her thoughts into words. “Then why...” She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why did I see you while I was unconscious? It felt like... like you were real in my head.”

Jian froze.

The silence that followed was suffocating. The air grew heavier, the shadows on the walls seeming to stretch and loom closer. Jian’s calm facade faltered, if only for a split second.

And then, as if on cue, the distant growl returned, echoing through the room like a predator circling its prey.

Viola’s breath quickened. “Jian,” she whispered, “what’s happening outside?”

Jian didn’t respond. Instead, she stood calmly, her movements slow and deliberate. She turned her head slightly, her deep yellow eyes gleaming like a sun has just descended..

“Rest,” Jian said, her voice a soft command as she pressed down on her half top hat. “We’ll talk later.”

But Viola couldn’t rest. Not when the shadows seemed alive, not when the growls grew louder, and not when Jian’s presence felt both comforting and terrifying all at once.

As Viola closed her eyes, a single thought burned in her mind.... What is Jian hiding?

Viola opened her eyes, her voice a whisper against the dark. " Jian... are you a part of this too? "

And silence fell......