Present Day...

I wasn’t sure if the reflection in the mirror truly belonged to me.

Tired eyes.
Strands of hair falling from stress.
Fine lines that had no right to appear this early.

Life had chewed me up and spat me out.

Maybe it was because I kept working a job I hated just to survive.
Or maybe because I’d wasted years believing the sweet lies of a man who never truly loved me.

Whatever the reason, this was who I’d become.

My dreams had faded long ago.
No dream job.
No love story.
Just… me.

“Are you coming? We should start,” my roommate called from the living room.

Nevin — bright, colorful, full of faith in things the world had long forgotten.
If I was gray, she was fire.

Tonight was her big night: The Blood Moon.
According to her, a ritual performed beneath its light could open the door to our past lives.

Even if that were true, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see mine.
If my previous life was anything like this one… it wouldn’t be pretty.

I stepped into the living room.
Candles. Tarot cards. Strange symbols drawn on the floor.

“You do know,” I said, pointing at the circle, “that we’re probably going to get cursed for this, right?”

Nevin lit a black candle. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “It’s just a harmless ritual. I just want to know who I was before.”

“Maybe a janissary,” I teased.

She laughed. “Doubt it. Maybe a traveler. Or a merchant.”

“Sure,” I grinned. “I’ll picture you with armor and a mustache.”

She rolled her eyes. “If that’s true, you were probably a rock.”

I chuckled—then paused.
The air shifted.

The crimson glow of the Blood Moon spilled through the window, mixing with candlelight. Shadows moved like smoke.

Nevin stood at the center, chanting softly. Her voice was… different. Deeper. Almost ancient.

“The Blood Moon opens the path of the soul,” she whispered.
“Breathe with me… let the door to your past open.”

I wanted to laugh — but my heart was racing.
The scent of herbs filled my lungs. The air grew heavy.

“Now,” she said, meeting my gaze. “What do you feel?”

“I feel…” I smirked. “Like this is completely stupid.”

But before she could reply—
The light in the room seemed to pulse.

The shadows trembled.
The moon burned brighter.
And something unseen brushed past my ear.

A whisper.
A sob.
Distant… and human.

Nevin’s voice became distant.

“It’s all right. Just breathe. The past is calling.”

I tried to open my eyes—
But I couldn’t.

Then—

Light.

I blinked. Nevin was standing over me, arms crossed.

“You fell asleep, didn’t you?”

“What? No, I was just—”

She sighed. “You were out for twenty minutes. I even cleaned up.”

I rubbed my face. “Guess your ritual worked. I feel... strange.”

“Good,” she said, smiling faintly. “Then don’t you dare leave tomorrow before telling me your dream.”

I saluted lazily and stumbled toward my bed.
The moonlight painted everything red.

My eyelids fell shut.
And when I opened them again—

The Dream

A forest.
Mist curling around the trees.
The earth damp beneath my feet.

Above, the Blood Moon — glowing red and gold.

Then—
A sob.

It echoed softly, breaking the silence.

Through the fog, a figure appeared.
A woman.

Long, wet hair clinging to her skin.
Blood streaming from her eyes like tears.

She stood beside a river glowing crimson under the moonlight.

Her lips moved, but I couldn’t hear her—
Until she looked directly at me.

“I want to live…”

The words hit me like ice.

I stumbled backward—
She vanished.

Then—

She was behind me.

Her face inches from mine.
Those bleeding eyes locking onto me.

The scream that left my throat never reached the air.

My foot slipped.
Her twisted smile was the last thing I saw—

Before the river swallowed me whole.