Ja’kari’s POV

It was August 25th Monday morning. The first thing I felt was warmth.

Not fire. Not blood.

Just her — breathing slow against my chest, her fingers tracing absent circles along my ribs.

For a moment, I forgot the world was broken.

Asia stirred, voice half-asleep.

“Where are you going?”

“Run,” I muttered, slipping out of bed grabbing a hoodie and sweatpants. “Need to clear my head.”

She smiled into the pillow. “You mean run away from feelings again?”

I smirked. “You talk too much for someone who snores and can’t keep hands off me.”

She sat up, hair a mess, eyes sharp. “You should take me with you, AND FYI, You couldn’t keep your hands off me. 

“If you want another round say that.” I say looking into her eyes.

“Maybe, but you put ur clothes on already so no.”

“Because one I have to train and two you’ll slow me down anyways.”

Asia stood, tugging on one of my hoodie sleeves. “Then I’ll catch up.”

Her tone wasn’t playful this time — it had that quiet fire I couldn’t ignore.

I looked at her — brown skin glowing in the pale light, eyes unafraid.

“You really want to train with me huh?”I asked.

“I want to understand you, and for you to reward me when I do a good job.” she said softly. She gets up and stands directly in front of me.

She puts her hand into my pants and looked me in my eyes, and bits her lip.

“But I also want you to discipline me when I do wrong.”

Something in me stilled. I should’ve pushed her away. But she knew how to get to me clearly, and surprising. Not just her touch but her voice, her eyes locked me in a place I wouldn’t mind being.  Instead, I nodded. “Fine. But don’t expect mercy.”

She smiled faintly. “Wouldn’t want it.”

⸻

Late Morning

The field behind the mansion was damp with dew.

Kelo and Kylee were arguing again, laughter echoing through the trees.

For a few hours, the world almost felt… normal.

Asia stood across from me, fists raised. Her form was better than yesterday — controlled, confident.

She threw a punch; I parried it easily, she threw 2 more punches; I slip both.

“Too predictable,” I said.

She stepped back breathing hard. “Too cocky.”

She moved faster — a kick this time. I blocked it, but her balance impressed me.

She grinned. “You’re holding back.”

“I always hold back,” I said.

“Then stop.”

I stepped closer — close enough for her to feel the heat rolling off me.

“Be careful what you ask for babygirl.”

Her eyes locked on mine. “I’m not scared of you, Ja’kari.”

“You should be.”

She leaned in just a little and whispers loud enough for me to hear. That’s what makes it fun.” After she kisses me on the lips.

Something in my chest tightened. I turned away before she could see the ghost of a smile tugging at my lips.

Kelo whistled from a distance. “Damn, y’all fucking or fighting?”

Kylee laughed. “Same thing, if you ask me.”

Asia blushed; I didn’t. I’d forgotten how.

⸻

We camped outside that night — a bad idea pretending to be a good one.

The fire cracked between us, warmth and laughter mixing with the sound of the woods.

For a moment, Life was just starting to feel normal. Besides all the extra crap that happened. I started to feel as though I found my family. 

Kelo told stories that probably weren’t true.

Lina actually laughed.

Jayla hummed while sketching faces in her notebook.

And Asia… she leaned into me, quiet, content.

“You think we can stay together forever?” she whispered.

I stared into the fire. “I don’t know .”

“Do you want us to?” she asked.

I looked at her — really looked.

She made the world feel almost alive again.

“Maybe,” I said. “If I deserved it.”

Asia’s hand found mine. “You do.”

Kylee looked over at us and smiled.

“You guys are so cute together,I love itttt.” She says with a smile from cheek to cheek.

The group laughed and awwwed at us, Asia smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder holding my arm. And me I could do nothing but smile as well.

“Ja’kari, in-front of the group just like old times. Promise me something.”

I looked at kylee, “Whats the promise sis.”

She stood up, I stood with her and put our foreheads onto one another after closed our eyes.  The fire cracked and popped. S

“Promise me that no matter what happens, you will fight,take care of yourself and this group like we are family…Promise me you will never leave again…Brother.”

The group went silent,everyone looked at me I felt the eyes…kylee warm hands squeezed mines letting me know she means this she wants this.  

“I promise, I love you sis, we will be out of this soon.”

We opened our eyes and jayla starts shedding tears and smiling.

“WE LOVE SIBLING LOVE!” She blurts.

We all laughed and proceeded to go back to my seat either Asia.

Kelo and lina began arguing about how long smores should be over the fire. Jayla and kylee both noses in their phones on what they will order next from their shein carts. 

And me,well Asia began talking softly on what type of house she wanted.I just listened. 

Then–

For a few seconds, the world stopped spinning.

Then the wind changed.

The fire dimmed, shrinking into embers.

Birds fell silent.

And the moon — it disappeared.

I stood and everyone froze.

Darkness swallowed everything.

I heard something break in the trees from the left if me. 

Chains slithered from the trees like living things, cold metal biting into my wrists and legs before I could react.

“GET DOWN!” I shouted, but it was too late.

Figures poured from the treetops — white masked, mercenaries with black hoods military grade vests, and weapons humans think that wouldn’t last in this time. The worst kind to be dealing with. 

Nothing but skilled killers in packs of 8-12. Guards and soldiers, mercenaries, who work under the 7 Masters. 

Kelo fought, breaking one chain before another wrapped around his throat.

Jayla screamed.

Asia reached for me, but a figure pulled her back.

Lina trying her best to run away but is caught by the leg, and yanked upside down from the nearest tree. Smacking her head on the ground cause her to go unconscious.

“Enough.”

That voice.

That tone.

My body went cold.

A smaller figure walked through the black mist, a white skull mask with red tribal markings glinting faintly before she peeled it off.

“Star…”

Her smile was the same — cruel and calm.

But her eyes… they weren’t human anymore.

“Miss me, love?” she said.

Asia froze. “Ja’kari… who is that?”

I couldn’t answer. My chest felt hollow.

Star stepped closer, and kneeled at my level slow and graceful, like death wearing perfume.

“They told me you went soft on me babe.” she whispered. “But I see you found… a replacement.”

Asia tensed. “He doesn’t need you.”

Star tilted her head. “Bold words. Do you even know what he’s capable of? What he’s done? Who made him?”

Asia’s voice wavered. “I know enough.”

Star smiled, almost pitying. “Then you don’t know anything.”

In a blink, she vanished — reappearing behind Asia, blade grazing her throat.

“STOP!” I roared.

“Relax,” she purred. “I wouldn’t kill her… not yet.” She let go and paced around her. “Shes cute, have you told her about who you are yet?”

Her fingers brushed Asia’s neck, and I saw red.

I looked at asia as she was ready to fight but also fearing what star could do to her.

“How did they bring you back?”

“Don’t worry about that I’m here right, I told you baby, I’m never going to leave your side.”

“They killed you star I watched with my own eyes. They burned you and chained me down to watch and listen to your screams…You’ve changed,” I said, voice low.

“Death does that,” she whispered, stepping closer. The markings on her skin shimmered faintly under the shadowed moonlight.

“The Seven Masters gave me purpose again. They gave me power. They gave me you.”

“I’m not yours,” I growled.

She laughed softly. “You always were and always will be mines.”

Her soldiers tightened their hold on the others.

Star’s blade turned toward Kylee.

“This one,” she said, pointing lazily.  

The masked men grabbed kylee and dropped her at stars feet.

“STAR NO!” I yelled trying to break free, but the men held their ground and tightened a chain around my neck forcing me to watch.

Kylee spat. “You think killing me makes you strong? You’re just another lost soul wearing scars like trophies.”

Star’s grin widened. “Maybe. But you’ll be the prettiest one I hang. Hey babe, remember this?”

Before anyone could move, she drew her blade from her back. In one swift clean motion she slices hearing the blade through the air— deliberate, cruel, precisely, cutting off Kylee’s head…

Kylee, drops to the ground, and her head…rolled to my knees.

I looked down frozen…

Jayla screamed.

Kelo thrashed, his roar echoing through the woods.

Asia collapsed beside me, sobbing.

Lina,still unconscious 

Star looked at me — eyes sharp, almost playful.

“Feel that pain again Ja’kari.” she said softly. “That’s what happens when you go soft.”

she walked to me and leaned down enough for her whisper to burn my ear.

“You can hate me later, love. I’ll be waiting. I love you Ja’kari.”

And just like that, her laugh echoed through the forest and she and her men was gone — their shadows vanishing into the night.

The clouds shifted.

The moon returned — red as blood.

The Blood Moon.

Kelo held Kylee’s body, shaking. Jayla was screaming prayers she didn’t believe in. But also getting lina down to wake her up. 

Asia stared at me, eyes full of hurt.

And I…just felt…something. 

Silence.

Many tears.

Regret.

Something broke in me that night — or maybe something old finally woke up.

I looked at the moon, voice low, hollow.

“She’s gone.”

Asia grabbed my arm, shaking. “Ja’kari— say something! Please!”

I met her eyes, but mine were already gone.

Cold.

Empty.

“She died because of me.”

Blood moon: The eye of death, The night the grim reaper himself stalks, waits, and takes one person you fear losing the most. The blood moon is an ancient symbol that tells the living. After this night, death is coming…and Star, what the group doesn’t know. Star is deaths right hand man. Star is what they call…The Blood Moon Princess.