Chapter 1: A Night to Remember

The night cloaks the sky filling it with blackness, the poetry of starlight helps to decorate the sky while the ever glow of the moon shown down like a bright crystal bringing tranquility and peace.

The moonlight pierces through the window of a boy comfortably lying on his bed while his mother skims through his hair caressing it with love.

The boy looks at his mom with his innocent eyes, “Mom, I don’t want to go to sleep. I still want to play with dad”

“It’s late you little rascal, you need to sleep or you will get sick” replied the boy’s mother with a smile while still caressing the boy’s hair.

“Okay, Mom… But! tell me a story just like you always do” pleaded the boy.

The boy’s mother glance outside the window, The full moon greeted her as she inhales the night air deeply, “Naughty boy like you should be reminded there are monsters that will eat naughty boy like you who plays in the night”

Hearing this the boy gripped his blanket and pull it up until it covers his face leaving his eyes to see his mother.

The boy’s mother chuckles and after deciding what to tell, the boy’s mother continues, “Let me tell you a story of the monsters that roam the night, long ago there are strict rules to not go out in the night for the fear of the furred monsters we call them Children of the moon”

The boy’s mother pause to see the boy’s reaction before continuing, “Their body is monstrous with furs covers their whole body, claws and fangs decorate them with upright ears that resemble a wolf”

The boy started to get scared while he holds his mother’s hand tightly not intending to let go.

The boy’s mother was amused looking at her child’s cute reaction as she continues, “Some says curse of children who likes to play in the night turns them into these monsters. They prey on children who are not sleeping in the night, a howl will be heard when they wanted to find the naughty children, their red eyes will stalk from the darkness waiting for the right moment to strike, waiting…. And waiting…. When suddenly”

The boy’s mother suddenly makes a clawing motion that startles the boy, “AAAAHHH!” The boy screams horror-stricken covering his whole body with a blanket.

The boy’s mother chuckles and opens the blanket, “Now now, the monster will not eat you if you go to sleep now, besides if the monster comes your father will be there to protect you. You also have the necklace that your father gave you, it will protect you” said the boy’s mother trying to calm the boy down.

After calming the boy down, the boy’s mother gets up and opens the door not forgetting to say goodnight before closing the door shut.

The boy re-position on his bed to make himself comfortable but his eyes start to wander to the window when suddenly he hears a howl coming from the forest just beside his house.

Aooouuuu!

Hearing this, the boy immediately shut his eyes fearing the Children of the moon will come and get him.

The next day,

Rex (The boy’s name) was in the middle of a beautiful dream when he felt a hand shaking his body, he slowly opens his eyes while grumbling because someone has interrupted his sleep.

“Wake up, Don’t you remember today’s your first day of school? Take a bath and then go to the dining room, breakfast is ready” Rex’s mother reminds him and walks out as soon as she finishes talking.

Rex slowly adjusted to his surrounding, he scratches his eyes lazily while walking towards the bathroom.

After finishing his bath, he walks downstairs wearing his school uniform and an oversized bag hanging on his shoulders.

“Good morning son, come eat your food or you will be late for school,” said Rex’s father with a big smile on his face while putting a plate full of food on the table.

“Come I made your favorite breakfast, scrambled eggs with sausage! You will love it. This is a special day” Rex’s mother adds while rubbing Rex’s head.

Hearing his parent, it subconsciously makes Rex more nervous about going to school. His eyes are teary.

Rex’s father notice his stiff expression and said, “Son, as a man you have to be strong. When you are in a difficult moment and feel like crying, just think of happy thoughts and believe that they will go away”

Rex nod his head before starting to eat the love-made breakfast,

After having breakfast his father dropped Rex at school with a smile on his face, Unknown to Rex that a storm is approaching that will utterly change his life.

He glances at the school entrance with a ‘Rainbow Kindergarten’ sign which is already packed with kids, ‘I’m scared’ he thought to himself but he remembers his father’s word and bravely takes long strides towards the school entrance.

He arrives at the class where his names are stated on the door,

At first, he is nervous the same goes for the other kids especially when the other kids brought their parents along but, he starts to calm down when he sees a pretty-looking kid sitting at the front of the class.

It’s like he’s being hypnotized, her long blonde hair and her chubby cheeks somehow calm him down.

But his daze was interrupted when a teacher comes to the room with a friendly smile, The teacher explains the rules and advice the kids to be brave and to come alone to school tomorrow before telling everyone to get along.

During the eight hours of Rex’s first day at school, he makes new friends, and slowly the nervousness he felt is gone.

Feeling that the other kids and their parents are friendly, out of nowhere he finds the courage to talk to the blonde hair girl,

Rex approaches the blonde girl and asked with a nervous voice, “Hello… My name is Rex… Can we be friends?” Rex smile nervously, he looks back and forth towards the blonde girl and her parents.

The blonde girl’s parents chuckle looking at the nervous Rex.

The blonde girl glance at Rex gracefully with a cold look, Rex thought that he will be rejected when suddenly that cold look turns into a smile,

“Hi, Nice to meet you, Rex! The name’s Laura, Laura Frostbrand” replied the girl enthusiastically while bringing her hand forward for a handshake.

Hearing this, Rex smiles blossoms, and shakes her hand. While he shakes Laura’s hand, he caught a glimpse of a blonde boy just beside Laura folding his hand while turning his head away but he decided not to talk to him.

Rex also makes other friends, but he is already content in having Laura as his friend.

RING!!

The bell rang signing the end of today’s class, the other kids didn’t idle along and go straight home with their parents.

Laura also bids farewell to Rex, Rex waves his hand seeing Laura inside a white jeep driving away while also waving her hand.

Rex sits on the side of the school field waiting for his father to come to pick him up.

Fifteen minutes have passed but there is no sign of Rex’s father, ‘It’s okay, father probably stuck in traffic’ he mutters to himself starting to worry.

After about an hour or so, the sun is starting to fade away and there is still no sign of his father. Rex wanted to cry but suddenly he remembers his father’s words, ‘Son, as a man you have to be strong. When you are in a difficult moment and feel like crying, Think of happy thoughts and believe that they will go away.

With that Rex calm himself down and wait,

Three hours have passed and Rex but is starting to hurt, he started to weep in tears. ‘Father where are you?’ Rex thought sadly.

One of the school teachers notice Rex crying, she went to Rex and tap on his shoulder. “Rex? Why are you still here? Where are your parents?” she asked.

Still in tears, Rex answers with a shaky voice, “Ms. Greene, *sob* I don’t know *sob* Where they are”

Looking at Rex, Ms. Greene felt bad, so she asked, “Where is your home? I’ll take you there,”

Rex got a little hope with brimming eyes he answers, “It’s on Happiness street near the border of Dupok City”.

“Okay it’s near, let’s go” Ms. Greene answers and grabs Rex’s hand. Rex gets on Ms. Greene’s motorcycle and hugs her tightly before Ms. Greene took off.

The day turns to night, Rex looks up to the sky still wondering why his parent doesn’t pick him up.

The bright full moon illuminated the night, in normal days maybe Rex will be afraid especially after hearing his mother’s story about the full moon but now his mind is too occupied.

Rex can’t wait to see his parents, Not realizing that this night will be the night he will remember for the rest of his life.

“Is this your home?” asks Ms. Greene towards Rex with a questioning look.

“Yes, it is” replied Rex happily. Rex got off from Ms. Greene’s motorcycle, thanking her for helping before he walks towards his house.

Ms. Greene stood there, she can feel something amiss from Rex’s house.

Rex walks towards his house with heavy steps, the sadness he felt before turns into nervousness. He arrives in front of the door, his hand tries to knock on the door but the door suddenly opened a little.

Creak…

Rex is confused, ‘Why is the door unlocked? Did mom and dad forgot to lock it?’.

“Mom? Dad?” Rex walks into his house slowly, the living room is dark, devoid of light. ‘Mom and Dad never leave the house as this’ Rex thought to himself.

Rex took a deep breath to calm his nerve and proceed to walk inside, he can’t help but bite his fingernails.

Thud…Thud…Thud….

A low stepping sound was heard from upstairs, Rex walks towards the stair while still biting his fingernails.

He gripped the stairs handle as he walks upstairs when suddenly,

“AAARRGHHH!”

A high-pitched scream was heard, Rex jumped in shock. Instead of looking at what is going on, Rex froze in fear.

“Get back you monster!”

Clang!

Rex got goosebump all over his body, he started to sweat. He is terrified but somehow he arrives in front of the door where the sound came from.

The door is not fully closed, Rex peaked from the outside.

The scene in front of him makes him widened his eyes in shock! He puts his shaking hand on his mouth trying to stop his whimper

Inside the room, Rex saw a bulky black-furred monster standing on two with a chilling black aura. The monster’s back is facing Rex, its claws are long and sharp, and its fur covers from head to toe. Its body is so huge that it almost touches the ceiling, the full-moon light illuminates a T-shaped red glowing rune on the monster’s muscular shoulder.

Rex found it similar to the monster in the story his mom told him, but his gut is telling him that the monster in front of him is a monster among monsters.

“No Stop, Please don’t hurt her!”

The sound of his father’s begging snaps Rex out of his daze, he stands still frozen in place as if the aura of the monsters alone can immobilize his entire body or this is what they call fear.

“AAAAAHHHH!!”

ROAARR!!

Slash!

In front of Rex’s very eyes, his mother’s head was ripped off. His mother’s shocked expression can be seen clearly as her head spins before falling to the ground.

Thud…

“NABILA!!” Rex’s father shouted on top of his lung scattering towards Nabila’s head.

He grabbed Nabila’s head and hug it while crying.

Rex’s father’s eyes become red with anger, he looks at the monster without a hint of fear as he gets up, “WHY? WHY? YOU MONSTER!”

His father grabbed a metal bat and swing it towards the black-furred monster.

BAM!

The metal bat hit cleanly on the monster’s head, but it did nothing!

The monster still standing strong, its head didn’t even budge when hit by the metal bat.

The anger that Rex’s father feel vanished instantly as fear overcome his pale face,

Out of nowhere, the monster grabbed Rex’s father’s neck and lift him off the ground. Rex’s father struggles to break free but the monster’s hand is like an iron that didn’t move at all.

Rex’s father stares straight into the monster’s blue eyes,

The monster reply with a mocking smile that shows its fang, it opens its mouth and bites Rex’s father whole, and started munching on Rex’s father’s head.

The blood spurt around the room like a waterfall, some even splash to Rex’s face.

The five years old Rex watches this scene with cold feet, his eyes turned lifeless as he stares at the monster gulping his parents remain while he stands powerless there.

Crack…

‘Happy Thoughts…’

Crunch…

‘Happy Thoughts…’

Krkkk…

‘It will go away’

‘It will go away’

After eating the recent prey, the monster turns his head slowly towards its back.

The monster’s blue eyes stare straight into Rex’s eyes, the monster then smiles disturbingly while the blood of his parents dripped from its mouth.

This moment will be remembered by Rex for the rest of his life.