RENA : Shadows Awaken

The party was in full swing in the spacious hall decorated with sparkling garlands and vivid neon lights. Music pulsed through the air, drawing everyone into an frenetic dance. Glasses clinked, and the intoxicating aroma of cocktails mingled with laughter and animated conversations. In this festive universe, Maddie, brimming with energy, kept dragging Rena onto the dance floor.

"Come on, Rena, let loose! Tonight, we're here to have fun!" Maddie shouted as she gently pulled Rena by the arm.

"Trust me, tonight you're going to shine like never before!" she added with a mischievous smile.

Rena, dressed in her dress that accentuated her natural beauty, could not help but attract all eyes. Despite her habit of wearing old, loose clothes for comfort and security, on the dance floor she transformed into a true goddess. Jealous glances from other girls were inevitable, with some whispering that their dance partner was literally drooling over her. As for the boys, many couldn't stop showering her with compliments, so mesmerized were they by her allure.

Derek, always on the lookout for Rena's attention, incessantly stuck to her. He danced close by, his hands persistently trying to caress her arm or waist at every opportunity. He repeatedly showered her with compliments, which gradually made Rena feel increasingly uncomfortable.

"Rena, you look sublime tonight. You light up the floor, I swear!" he repeated insistently, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

But for Rena, these advances soon became too much. She felt overwhelmed by his presence, and despite the warmth of the atmosphere, a shiver of discomfort ran down her spine.

Meanwhile, in a discreet corner of the room, Lucas stood apart. With a nervous, focused air, he observed the scene with a troubled intensity. At first, his gaze seemed empty, detached from the surrounding frenzy, but it abruptly changed when he caught sight of the bracelet adorning Rena's wrist. That ancient bracelet, embellished with mysterious symbols, was exactly the one he had seen countless times in old manuscripts and forgotten legends.

He then understood with painful clarity that Rena was indeed the one he had been searching for all along. All these years, he had believed his mission was centered on Maddie, but he now realized his error: he had been mistaken from the start. Frustration and bitterness welled up within him, as he recognized not only that he had misdirected his mission, but also that his own allies had been equally misguided. In his mind, thoughts whirled: he had to act quickly, think fast, and take measures before the full moon unleashed forces he so dreaded.

As the evening continued, Rena decided to take a short break from the tumult and head over to the bar for a drink. No sooner had she taken a few steps than she felt Derek's insistent presence following her. He approached her with an overly bold smile.

"Rena, come on, let me buy you a cocktail. You know, nothing is more enjoyable than savoring a good drink with someone as fascinating as you." he said, placing his hand on her shoulder a bit too closely.

Already tired of Derek's repeated advances, Rena made a gesture to free herself from his touch.

"Derek, please, give me some space. I just want to grab a drink in peace," she replied, her tone calm yet firm.

Derek, visibly disappointed but not ready to give up, pressed on:

"But Rena, you are incredible tonight! I just want to be near you, to show you how unique you are. Let me prove to you that I can be different."

Rena felt the tension growing unbearable. She forced a strained smile before finally finding an excuse to extricate herself from this stifling situation.

"Listen, Derek, I... I really need to get some air. Excuse me, I'm going to the restroom, alright?" she declared firmly, hoping that the distance would grant her some respite.

Derek paused for a moment, visibly frustrated, then muttered something unintelligible as he walked away. Rena quickly made her way to the restroom, her heart still pounding from the discomfort of the encounter.

In the hushed privacy of the restroom, Rena paused in front of a worn-out mirror. She looked at herself, trying to catch her breath and calm her troubled mind, still haunted by Derek's overbearing advances. Without really knowing why, she gently placed her hand on her shoulder where her mysterious tattoo was hidden beneath her blouse. That tattoo—depicting a crescent moon accompanied by seven stars—had always been for her a painful reminder of the past.

As she softly caressed her skin, she suddenly felt a strange tingling sensation, as if the tattoo were coming to life under her touch. To her astonishment, a golden-yellow glow began to emanate from the tattoo, gently illuminating the room with an almost supernatural light.

Rena stood speechless, mesmerized by the sight. Never before had she seen her tattoo shine like this, and the image evoked memories long buried: the night of her twelve years, the burning pain, the incomprehensible whispers, and the terror of a destiny beyond her control.

Meanwhile, in the grand hall, Lucas, still apart from the throng, clenched his fists as a dull, persistent pain surged in his chest. He murmured to himself with grave finality: "It's almost time..." The countdown of the full moon was accelerating, and he knew he had to act before the forces he dreaded were completely unleashed. The tension was palpable—not only in the charged atmosphere of the party, but also in Lucas's own heart, burdened with the urgency of his mission.

Hours slipped by, and the ambiance in the hall grew increasingly electric. The full moon, majestic and imposing through the large windows, bathed the room in a silvery glow. The guests appeared entranced by this mystical light, oblivious to the impending changes brewing in the shadows.

Rena, still in the restroom, fixed her gaze on the tattoo that pulsed under her hand. The tingling sensation gradually transformed into a comforting warmth, almost benevolent in nature, awakening in her forgotten memories. She recalled that moment from her childhood—the excruciating pain and the eerie whispers that had forever marked her. A solitary tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. The magic now emanating from her tattoo seemed to herald an inevitable transformation.

Back in the main hall, Lucas leaned against a wall, his eyes fixed on the unfolding scene, his mind a tumult of conflicting emotions. He realized he had been mistaken all along in thinking Maddie was his target. Everything was converging around him: the choices made, the errors, and the undeniable truth that Rena, albeit inadvertently, was now at the center of it all. The full moon ascended high into the sky, and with it, the pressure to act grew ever heavier.

For a few moments, time seemed to stand still. The raucous sounds of the party faded into the background, and Lucas's heart pounded relentlessly. He closed his eyes, acutely aware that the moment to make a decision—one that would alter the course of his mission, and perhaps the lives of everyone involved—was imminent.

Meanwhile, having calmed herself in the restroom, Rena took a deep breath and emerged. She felt shaken by what had just transpired, yet oddly liberated, as if the illuminated tattoo had revealed a hidden part of herself. She did not yet know how to interpret that golden light, nor the mysterious force it signaled, but deep down she sensed that the full moon had triggered something powerful and unexplainable.

The party continued unabated, its energy undimmed by the secrets unfolding in its midst. The music roared, laughter and conversation resumed, yet for Rena everything had changed. She was now aware that the night was not solely about joy and dancing, but also about unexpected revelations and latent powers.

As Rena prepared to rejoin her friends, she cast one last glance at her tattoo, which still shimmered with an ethereal light. A mix of apprehension and hope filled her; she understood that the magic of this full moon had unlocked a door to her past—and perhaps to an unimaginable future.

The night advanced, and destinies intertwined in a tangled web of mysteries and hidden truths. Lucas, with a heavy heart and a mind in turmoil, knew he must act quickly. The full moon was at its zenith, and every passing second drew him closer to that fateful moment when everything would change.

In the midst of the revelry, as Derek lingered in the shadows with his unreciprocated advances, Rena knew she had to protect herself and listen to that inner voice urging her to remain vigilant. The party, with its intoxicating laughter, pulsating music, and vibrant dances, was the stage for a silent drama. The magic of the full moon, the illuminated tattoo, and Lucas's intense gaze all promised a night of revelations and pivotal decisions.

And in the quiet before the storm, Lucas repeated to himself with a tight-lipped resolve:

"I must act—and quickly—before everything is lost."

Thus, as Rena timidly stepped back into the crowd, the echoes of the past and the promises of the full moon intertwined in a mesmerizing dance, heralding the dawn of an inescapable and transformative destiny for them all.