The school courtyard buzzed with life as students milled about during the lunch break. The sun sat high in the sky, its warm rays casting long shadows of trees on the ground. Aira sat alone on a stone bench under the banyan tree, her quiet spot where she could escape the chaos of the school. She gazed absentmindedly at the sky, her thoughts tangled with questions that had no answers.
But peace never lasted long, not here.
“Hey, freak!” shouted one of the boys from across the yard. His voice carried over the chattering crowd, followed by the laughter of his friends. Aira flinched but didn’t look up. She clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms. She’d learned to ignore them, but it didn’t make it hurt any less.
Another voice joined in, a girl this time. “What are you staring at, huh? Got some secret werewolf powers to summon the moon or something?” More laughter. This was her life now—constant taunts, relentless jeers. Ever since rumors about her strange behavior spread, Aira became the school’s favorite punching bag.
“Cut it out,” a firm voice suddenly interrupted. 
Aira blinked and looked up. Luna stood in the middle of the courtyard, her arms crossed and a challenging glare leveled at the group of bullies. The group hesitated, exchanging uneasy looks. Luna wasn’t exactly someone you wanted to get on the bad side of. She was popular, confident, and had a way of making people feel small with just a look.
“Seriously, what’s your problem?” Luna continued, her voice sharp. “You don’t have anything better to do than bother Aira?”
The bullies muttered something under their breath before slinking away, their laughter fading as they disappeared into the crowd. Aira stared at Luna, unsure what to think. Luna never spoke to her, let alone stood up for her. 
“You okay, Aira?” Luna asked, her expression softening as she approached. 
Aira nodded stiffly, still unsure of Luna’s motives. “Yeah… thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” Luna said breezily, brushing her long hair over her shoulder. She sat down next to Aira, her presence both comforting and unnerving. “I just hate seeing people get treated like that. It’s not fair.”
Aira studied Luna’s face, searching for any sign of insincerity. But Luna’s smile seemed genuine, her tone warm. For a moment, Aira allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, Luna meant it.
---
The next few days, Luna stayed close to Aira. She walked with her to class, sat with her during lunch, and even helped her with homework. It felt strange—Aira wasn’t used to having someone who wanted to be around her. Most people avoided her like the plague. But Luna? Luna was different. She was kind, understanding, always quick to defend Aira when someone said something cruel.
“You’re always so quiet, Aira,” Luna said one afternoon as they sat together in the library. The room was quiet except for the soft rustling of pages and the faint hum of the air conditioner. “Why don’t you talk to people more?”
Aira shrugged, her eyes fixed on the open book in front of her. “People don’t exactly make it easy.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Luna said, leaning back in her chair. “But, you know, not everyone’s like them. You just need to find the right people.”
“Maybe,” Aira replied. She wanted to believe that, but experience had taught her otherwise.
Luna tilted her head, studying Aira with a curious expression. “You know, you’re… different. In a good way, I mean. There’s something about you.”
Aira’s heart skipped a beat. Did Luna know? No, she couldn’t. Aira forced a small smile and shook her head. “I’m just… me. Nothing special.”
Luna didn’t press the matter, but her gaze lingered on Aira a moment longer before she returned to her book. Aira tried to focus on the words in front of her, but her thoughts kept drifting. Why was Luna being so nice to her? And why did it feel like there was something she wasn’t saying?
---
Unbeknownst to Aira, Luna had her own agenda.
Late that night, Luna sat in her room, her phone glowing in the dim light. She scrolled through a series of messages, her lips curving into a sly smile. The group chat was buzzing with activity, filled with plans and ideas.
“She’s definitely the one,” Luna typed, her fingers flying across the screen. “I’m sure she’s connected to Kaela. There’s no way she’s just a regular girl.”
The replies came quickly.
“Are you certain?” one message read. 
“Positive,” Luna replied. “I’ve seen her lose control. She’s dangerous, but she doesn’t know it yet.”
Luna leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. She’d stumbled upon Aira’s secret by accident, but now it was a weapon—a way to finally gain the recognition she deserved. The group she was working with had one mission: to eliminate anyone tied to Kaela’s bloodline. Aira was their key, and Luna was determined to use her.
---
The next morning, Luna greeted Aira with her usual bright smile. “Morning, Aira! You ready for class?”
Aira nodded, still groggy from a restless night. She’d had another dream about the forest—dark, endless, with shadows that seemed to move on their own. She hadn’t told anyone about the dreams, not even Bu Santi. They felt too personal, too strange.
As they walked to class together, Luna kept the conversation light, chatting about homework and weekend plans. But Aira couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Luna was too perfect, too eager to please. It didn’t feel real.
“You okay?” Luna asked suddenly, breaking Aira’s train of thought.
Aira blinked. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”
Luna nodded sympathetically. “Let me know if you ever want to talk about anything, okay? I’m here for you.”
“Thanks,” Aira said quietly, though she wasn’t sure she believed it.
---
That afternoon, as they sat under the banyan tree, Luna’s tone shifted.
“Aira,” she began hesitantly, as if choosing her words carefully. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Aira replied, though her stomach twisted with unease.
“Do you ever feel… different? Like you don’t belong?” Luna’s voice was soft, almost vulnerable.
Aira stiffened. “Why would you ask that?”
Luna shrugged, her eyes fixed on the ground. “I don’t know. Sometimes I feel that way. Like there’s something about me that doesn’t fit.”
Aira didn’t respond. Her mind raced, trying to figure out what Luna was getting at. Did she know? Did she suspect?
“If you ever feel that way,” Luna continued, her voice barely above a whisper, “just remember you’re not alone. Sometimes being different is what makes us special.”
Aira forced a smile, but her heart was pounding. She wanted to trust Luna, but something deep inside warned her to be careful.
---
That night, Luna met with the group in secret. They gathered in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of a single bulb.
“She’s starting to trust me,” Luna announced, her voice filled with confidence. “It won’t be long before I have everything we need.”
“And then what?” one of the men asked. His face was shadowed, his voice cold. “You think she’ll just hand herself over?”
Luna smirked. “She won’t have a choice.”
The group exchanged knowing looks, their plan coming together piece by piece. Aira had no idea what was coming, and Luna intended to keep it that way.
---
The next day, Aira noticed something strange. Luna seemed distracted, her usual cheerfulness replaced by a subtle tension. She caught Luna glancing at her when she thought Aira wasn’t looking, her expression unreadable.
“Is everything okay?” Aira asked during lunch, her voice laced with concern.
Luna blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. “Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?”
“You just seem… different today.”
Luna laughed, but it sounded forced. “I’m fine, really. Just tired.”
Aira didn’t press further, but the unease in her chest grew. Something wasn’t right, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that Luna was hiding something.
---
That night, Aira stood by her bedroom window, staring out at the moonlit sky. The air was cool, the silence heavy. She thought about Luna, about the way she’d been acting, about the things she’d said. Part of her wanted to believe Luna was genuine, but another part whispered that she couldn’t be trusted.
Aira’s thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise outside. A rustling, faint but distinct. She froze, her heart racing. Slowly, she moved toward the window, her eyes scanning the darkness.
And then she saw it—a figure standing at the edge of the woods, watching her. It was too far away to make out any details, but the presence was unmistakable. Aira’s breath caught in her throat as the figure turned and disappeared into the trees.
Whoever it was, they were waiting for her.