– Ugh, It’s raining… I should pick up the bus instead.

I picked up the bus at the nearest stop and went home. The streets were empty, it was raining so no one was outside. I got out of the bus, and went as fast as possible to my house, the rain was only getting heavier. When I arrived, my clothes were all drenched.

I was about to open the door when I saw the shadow of someone through the entry lamp. Someone was standing behind me. I turned around, but saw no one.

– Is someone there? – I asked, looking at the gate which was still closed.

No one answered. “How strange… I’m sure someone was right behind me…”

I was about to turn back to the door, when I suddenly felt the grip of someone on my neck.

– What the hell?! – I yelled. 

I was scared of whatever was happening. The mysterious person was starting to choke me. I desperately tried to stop them, however, when I grabbed the supposed hand that was grabbing my neck, I realised it wasn't a hand. It had strong stems, like a plant.

– Leave me alone!! – I tried shouting, but I couldn’t.

I felt a stab… Deep in my abdomen. It hurted like hell. 

“Am I about to die…”

I could barely breathe and stand… I fell to the ground. As I fell, I saw a person’s feet. The culprit. I looked up and it was a girl… A blue haired one. She knocked on the door and left a paper near my head, in the bloody ground. The Moon’s Shadow was written on it. The famous murderer’s notes.

– I’m sorry. But don’t worry, you won’t die. – She said.

“How could she… What did I do to deserve this? … Who is she?!”

My vision was getting blank, and I got dizzier each second… The pain from my wound was immense…

~~~

She was unconscious…

After some seconds of the criminal knocking on the door and leaving, Lydia’s dad came out. He was mortified by seeing her daughter like that, he thought she was already dead.

– Lydia! What happened?! – He shouted, scared for his life.

He kneeled down and hugged her body. He noticed she was still breathing.

“She’s alive! My daughter!” He thought, horrifyingly crying.

He didn’t think twice, he picked her up and headed straight to the Goddess’ castle that was about three hundred metres from there. He knew she could save her.

“Please, Lydia, hang in there… I can’t lose you like this!”

~~~

The Goddess opened the door, and saw this man desperately crying, with his daughter in his arms.

– Oh Goddess of Void, please help my daughter, she’s almost dying! – The man was in pain.

Khaos mercifully took the girl’s body inside and using herbs and Dracarus’ powers, they healed her. She was still unconscious after, but she would soon wake up.

– I know this girl. – Dracarus announced, helping Khaos clean her leaked blood.

– Wait really? You know my daughter? 

– Yes, she is studying sculpture right?

– Yes!! I also found this note on the side of her body… Someone did this to her while she was about to enter our house. 

The man handed the note to Dracarus.

“The Shadow? Again?” He sighed.

– Alright so… this may be from the case of the famous murderer. We’ll investigate. – Dracarus told the father.

– Thank you so much for helping us, I’ll do anything in exchange. – The man was more than relieved. He picked up his daughter’s body.

– Don’t worry my dear, you owe us nothing. You can now go home and let her rest, she’ll soon wake up. – Khaos bowed, comforting the man.

The man then went home and Khaos closed the door.

– Wait… I thought this executioner only tried murdering bad people. Why would he attack her? – Han confusedly asked.

Dracarus looked at him, and glanced back at the paper.

– Well, about that, there’s something different about this one. – He said, analysing every bit of the paper. – Khaos, do you still have any other notes left by the killer?

– Yes. – She took out another similar note from her void domain and gave it to Dracarus.

He compared the two papers and noticed something off. The handwriting, and even the texture of the paper.

– Hmm, that handwriting seems different. – Han realised.

– Exactly. I think it was a different person to do it. – Dracarus concluded.

– I mean… If we think about it, it is quite weird the fact he did it in a place where she could easily get help. It was literally at the door of her house, with her parents inside. – Khaos opined.

– I see your point… Maybe he didn’t really intend to kill her. It could rather be a threat to someone or even to Lydia, or… – Dracarus reflected.

– Or someone trying to mess with the ones investigating everything. – Han noted.

– You’re both right. However, I do really think it might most likely be a threat, specifically to the killer himself. If he’s really a different person, why would he do it in his signature? – Khaos aired.

Both boys looked at her. It was probably the most reasonable answer to this.

– Well, since Dracarus knows her, we could try to investigate her tomorrow or her whereabouts. – Han suggested.

– Yes. – He agreed.

~~~

Dracarus and Han went to the studio the next day. On the way there they were chatting about last night’s incident.

– Do you think she’s close to The Moon’s Shadow real identity? – Han asked. 

If Khaos’ supposition was right, he thought Lydia could be someone related to the moon therefore being her the victim.

– Well… Maybe. That kind of makes sense. – Dracarus agreed.

But how did this person know the executioner… And his family or friends?

– Do you think she’ll go to school today? – Han questioned. It was most likely for her to stay home taking care of herself after this crippling happening.

– I don’t know. If she doesn’t, it’s a trip we’ll take.

~~~

When they entered the place, the usual students were there, working on their piece, but Lydia wasn’t there.

Dracarus walked over to the group of friends who were gathered at Xavier’s table, and Han followed him. He didn’t know any of them. 

They asked them about Lydia’s whereabouts.

– She said she was going to come to the studio a bit late today. Why? – Eclipse answered.

“Huh? I remember this voice.” Han reminisced as he looked at Eclipse. “She’s the girl from the flower shop!”

He was also surprised by the fact her left eye wasn’t red like the right one. She had it covered by the hair that day, but he still thought it was a pair of red eyes.

– Oh… We just needed to talk with her about something that happened. – Han replied.

Eclipse also recognized him… But she already knew who he was.

– What happened? Is she alright? – Xavier asked, worried.

– Well, uh– she almost got murdered. – Han responded. It was quite brutal to word it that way, but he didn’t care much.

Her friends’ eyes widened in disbelief. 

– She what?! How did that happen? – Eclipse asked, agitated. Lydia was her best friend since high school.

– We’d rather not get into details, but it was at the door of her house. The culprit also left a note the same as this new famous executioner. – Dracarus voiced.

– You mean… the same that assassinated my dad? – Catherine was worried.

– Yeah. 

They didn’t even know how to properly react. The famous murderer tried to kill someone again, and this time it was their friend? What an unpleasant occurrence.

“The shadow?! How so?” Eclipse, unsettled.

~~~

During lunch, they were leaving the university to go eat at their usual place, when Lydia appeared.

– Lydia! – Eclipse ran towards her and hugged her. She was worried sick.

Xavier and Catherine also joined in the hug.

– How are you? Are you feeling well? – Xavier asked. He was almost crying of how worried he was.

– I’m fine now, don’t worry. – She muttered.

Everyone was happy to see her again and in a good state. She was a kind soul who never deserved such a thing to happen. They kept on walking to the destination, and Dracarus and Han were talking to her along the way.

– Lydia, this might be a bit too forward but do you remember anything from yesterday? – Han asked.

– Huh– wait, you’re Han, right? – She wondered.

– Yes… Nice to meet you.

She gently smiled.

– Well, I do remember a few details about it. But first of all, I want to thank both of you and the Goddess for helping me and my father. We’re very grateful.

– You don’t need to thank us, but I’m glad you feel better now. – Dracarus comforted.

– So… I was about to enter my house when suddenly I felt someone stabbing and choking me. I remember dropping on the floor and seeing a blue haired person vanishing, looking like a girl. The person also knocked on the door before leaving and apologised. It was very strange. 

– She apologised? – Han asked, confused.

– Yes… I also noticed the same note saying The Moon’s Shadow. – She added.

“Blue hair?! No. It can’t be her!” …

– Thanks for explaining this to us, it will help us in the investigation. By the way, do any of you know any blue haired girl? – Dracarus asked. He didn’t expect them to know her, but it was worth asking anyway.

– Not really, we have never seen someone with that hair colour, not even at school. – Catherine responded.

– Yeah, me neither. – Lydia stuttered.

Eclipse and Xavier were quiet. 

– Wait, but… Doesn’t she only exterminate bad guys? Why would she do that to Lydia? – Catherine aired. 

– Hm, about that, we think this person is faking its identity. – Dracarus explained, as they entered the restaurant.

– What do you mean? – Lydia, confused.

They sat on a table and kept chatting while waiting for the menu.

– We noticed something in this note that is different from the others, Khaos thinks that person is trying to threaten someone or the real executioner. – Dracarus clarified.

– But still, what does Lydia have to do with this? Was she a random choice? – Xavier asked, concerned.

– She might be close to the killer, we suppose that’s why she was the victim here. – Han informed.

They were very shocked and confused by this, and Lydia was terrified. 

“What do you mean I’m close to them?” She thought.

The waiter went to their table and left the menu for them, along with some usual entries. Xavier put them all in front of Lydia.

– You should eat well, take them all. – He was still worried about her health and mind, he wanted to help her with anything.

– Thank you. – She stuttered, blushing. The person she was crushing on was worried about her.

After some minutes of ordering their food, the waiter returned with it and they started eating.

Dracarus kept stealing some glances at Eclipse… She was sitting across from him and he couldn't help but look at her unawarely. 

She was always quiet or reserved but her presence was certainly notorious.

~~~