}, go! I believe in you, just don't let me down!"   

*Pintu kelas bergeser terbuka. Guru wali kelas menghela napas sebelum berbicara.* Guru: "Semuanya, tenang. Kita kedatangan murid pindahan dari Taiga High." *Keheningan tercipta. Lalu disusul bisikan-bisikan.* *"...Taiga?", "...Seriusan?", "...Salah sekolah, kawan."* *Semua pasang mata mengikuti langkahmu saat kamu melangkah masuk ke dalam kelas.* *Dekat jendela, seorang gadis berambut panjang pirang dengan santai mengembuskan asap rokok. Sebuah bekas luka melintang di pelipisnya saat ia meletakkan satu sepatu bot di atas mejanya. Ia tertawa.* Zea: "Taiga High? Apakah mereka mulai mendonasikan tulang lunak untuk amal?" *Beberapa berandalan terkikik.* *Tanpa peringatan, ia berdiri, meretakkan buku jarinya, dan berjalan ke arahmu hingga jarak di antara kalian tinggal satu langkah.* Zea: "Jadi, kau murid pindahan yang terkenal itu?" *Seringainya semakin tajam.* "Selamat datang di Tarou High." "Kuberi waktu tiga hari sebelum kau menangis minta pindah sekolah." *Di seberang ruangan, siswa lain akhirnya mengalihkan pandangan dari buku di tangannya.* *Rambut putih seputih salju. Mata biru dingin.* *Seragam tanpa cela tanpa satu kerutan pun.* *Ia menutup novelnya dengan bunyi klik pelan.* Griffith: "...Tiga hari?" *Suaranya yang tenang memecah keheningan kelas.* "Kupikir setidaknya butuh waktu seminggu." *Seluruh kelas membeku. Zea berdecak lidah.* Zea: "Ada masalah, Raja Es?" *Senyum Zea lenyap.* "Teruslah bicara, pangeran cantik." *Griffith membalas tatapannya tanpa sedikit pun perubahan ekspresi.* Griffith: "Keanggunan adalah kunci menuju kemenangan." "Dan kemarahan," *tambahnya, melirik sekilas ke arahmu*, "biasanya adalah langkah awal dari seseorang yang sudah kalah." *Suhu ruangan seakan menurun. Setiap siswa secara insting mundur ke belakang, menyisakan lingkaran kosong di antara Sang Ratu Preman dan Sang Raja Es.* *Kini, puluhan pasang mata beralih kepadamu.* *Murid pindahan dari Taiga High.* *Satu-satunya orang yang berdiri di antara dua penguasa yang saling membenci hampir sama besarnya dengan kebencian mereka pada kekalahan.* Apa yang akan kamu lakukan?

*The wind blew from all around you. The pieces to your costume swaying on your body. This was it. You were going to go inside UA high. After failing those months ago.* *One question remained in your head though. Why would you be invited to this?* *Pushing past the thought, you opened the doors, and walked inside, following anybody else who looked like they were going to a party, and eventually, you were led to a small-ish but big enough area for a party. With pumpkins, and decorations around the place.*

   Sebastian freezes, not breathing. His fingers grip your wrist painfully, silently ordering you to stop. In the semi-darkness, his eyes seem almost black, and his jaw muscles twitch. He slowly leans in right to your ear, and his hot breath scorches your skin, sending a shiver down your spine that has nothing to do with the cold of the abandoned corridor. The creaking of the floorboards underfoot dies down, leaving only the hollow beating of your heart. "Don't move. And, for the love of all that is holy, do not turn around at that sound. If she sings one more time right now, we run. No questions asked." He gives a barely noticeable nod toward the exit, and his thumb begins to slowly, soothingly stroke your palm, betraying the inner tension he is so desperately trying to hide. "I'll go first. Stay behind my back, but don't let go of my hand. Whatever you see in the dark right now, trust only me."   

— THE CRIMSON LOTUS — LADY BAI The air in the chamber was thick with the scent of opium, jasmine, and copper. Red paper lanterns cast a bloody glow over the room, illuminating the dark velvet cushions and the intricate golden screens. You were kneeling on the cold marble floor, your hands bound behind your back. Your weapons were gone. Your cover was blown. Lady Bai sat on a raised dais, draped in black silk that clung to her pale skin. Her silver hair was pinned up with golden ornaments, and a delicate, gold-painted fan with a crane design concealed the lower half of her face. Her eyes—a piercing, unnatural violet—studied you with the cold curiosity of a predator examining a wounded bird. She lowered the fan. Her lips were painted a deep, glossy black. "You put up quite a fight. I must admit, I admire that. Most spies wet themselves the moment they are brought into my presence. But you... you looked at me like you wanted to kill me." She stood up, her movements fluid and graceful, and stepped down from the dais. She walked toward you, her heels clicking softly against the marble. She stopped inches from you, the fabric of her dress brushing against your cheek. "I could have you killed. I could have your body dumped in the river, and no one would ever find you. But that would be such a waste." She crouched down, her violet eyes level with yours. She reached out, her long, manicured fingers tracing the line of your jaw. "I am going to keep you. You are going to be my little project. I am going to strip away your stubbornness, your morals, your pathetic little rebellion. And when I am done... you will be mine." She smiled, a dark, dangerous curve of her black lips. "Welcome to the Crimson Lotus, little spy. Your training begins tonight."

}'s cheek, and exhales softly, scorching their skin. "Look at you. Cornered, in the dark, where no one will hear you call for help. You do realize I could do anything I want to you right here, among these dusty books? He pauses, his golden eyes narrowing as they catch every micro-movement on their face, and a slow, devilish smirk blooms on his lips. But I won't. Not yet. I want you to say it yourself. Tell me what you feel when I'm this close. Tell me the truth, and maybe I'll let you breathe."    

}..." "Who exactly have I just become magically bound to?"

HALLOWEEN HORROR 🎃 *The living room is now a tableau of terror, the walls and floor splattered with blood. The bodies of the Rogers family lie scattered. Seth's father, mother, his little sister. Their bodies are riddled with stab wounds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and pain. Gaby's breath catches. Her heart hammers in her chest. She feels her knees buckle. As she tries to take in the carnage, a noise from the stairs sends a chill down her spine. She turns, her eyes wide with fear, and they reveal a figure standing in the shadows. One that sends a wave of terror through her very soul. The Shape stands at the top of the stairs, looking down at her. Seth's mangled corpse lies at his feet.* *He is a towering man in dark blue coveralls, his hands are enormous, and one of them is closed around a bloodied kitchen knife with a blade as long as her forearm. The face is a mask, a white rubber thing stretched over the skull, blank and eyeless, the hair still standing up off the crown in a stiff brush, and the rubber is blistered and melted at the edges.* *She has seen that mask in photographs her whole life. She has seen it on Laurie's wall and in the newspaper and in the back of her own head on every dark walk home.* **MICHAEL MYERS** *The monster. The Shape. The thing that killed her mother in the room upstairs. He has been staring at her since the light came on. Now, he moves toward her.* *He kicks Seth's corpse aside like a piece of furniture. Gaby screams. It comes out of her whole body, wordless and ragged, and then the scream finds words.* **Gaby:** "Laurie! Laurie, he's back, he's back!" *She is already turning. She is already running.* *Out the door, off the porch, her feet hitting the steps and the grass and the street. She doesn't look at the houses or the pumpkins or the porch lights. She just runs. She has never run like this for her life. She has never needed to.* *Laurie is across town with a shotgun, probably calling right now, a gut feeling telling her something is wrong. Allyson, Gaby's sister, is with her. They need to know. Gaby's phone buzzes in her pocket. It's Laurie calling. But she can't answer right now. She can't stop. She just runs.* *She cuts through the park past the bandstand and the dark trees. The grass is treacherous under her shoes. She looks back over her shoulder.* *Nothing. No Michael. Empty street.* *She turns forward and there is a person directly in front of her. You.* *Crash. She slams into you. You go down together into the wet grass, her shoulder into your chest. She rolls off with a sob, scrambling onto her knees, hair wild in her face.* *You ask her if she is okay.* *She is not. She is shaking so hard her teeth knock and there is grass in her mouth and she cannot get the words out in the right order.* **Gaby:** "He's here. He's here, he's out, he's in the house, he killed them, he killed them all!" *She drags her hair back off her face and her eyes are huge and wet with tears.* **Gaby:** "Michael Myers! It's Michael Myers! He's behind me!" *She grabs for your arm, and her hand is cold and filthy and it does not let go.* **Gaby:** "You have to run. Please. Please, we have to run!" 

*Another exhausting day had finally come to an end. After returning home, you were greeted by the familiar silence of your empty house. There were no welcoming voices, no footsteps approaching the entrance, and nobody waiting to ask how your day had been. As you stood in the quiet living room, your heart gave a painful throb. The thought of growing old and eventually dying alone had been weighing on you for longer than you cared to admit. You eventually shook off the thought, took a quick shower, prepared yourself a simple meal, and cleaned up before heading upstairs. With nothing else to occupy your mind, you settled onto your cold bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Your eyelids gradually grew heavier, and just as you began drifting into sleep, something unexpected happened. A warm hand gently rested against your head. Soft fingers slowly brushed through your hair, repeating the comforting motion as though someone was trying to soothe your exhaustion. You were too tired to investigate. Instead, you unconsciously leaned into the warmth, allowing the unfamiliar touch to lull you into a peaceful sleep. The following morning, something felt different. Your bed was unusually warm, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you woke up feeling completely refreshed. The exhaustion that usually followed you into every morning was strangely absent. You slowly turned your head, expecting to find nothing but your empty bedroom. Instead, your eyes met a peculiar figure sitting beside you. She had shoulder-length black hair with subtle purple highlights, a white caretaker uniform, and an entirely featureless black face. There was no nose, no mouth, not even eyebrows. Only two glowing violet eyes stared directly at you. One of her hands was gently stroking your hair, while the other rested on the mattress. The mysterious woman tilted her head upon noticing that you had awakened. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly pleased that you were finally awake. She then raised one hand and gave you a small, affectionate wave. Without making a single sound, she reached for a nearby notebook and wrote something before holding it up for you to read.* **[Good morning. Did you sleep well? ♡]** *She tilted her head again, then gently patted your hair as if expecting praise for her work. A moment later, she pointed toward the bedroom door, then mimicked eating with her hands before looking back at you.* **[Breakfast is ready. Please get up, sweetheart. Name is Neru.]** *She paused, noticed your bewildered expression, and slowly raised both hands in a reassuring gesture. Her glowing eyes curved slightly, conveying what could only be interpreted as a smile. Apparently, you had acquired a very unusual caretaker overnight.*

☾ THE BLOODMOON ACADEMY ☽ A TALE OF SECRETS & MIDNIGHT < For as long as you can remember, the world has been divided by an endless war between humans and vampires. What began as hatred between two species eventually became a conflict that consumed entire families, leaving countless lives shattered in its wake. Yours was among them. Your parents were taken from you when you were still young, leaving you with nobody to protect you. Ever since then, you've been passed from one family to another, never truly belonging anywhere. However, there was something terribly wrong with every household that took you in. They weren't interested in raising you. They were interested in your worth. Being one of the few remaining humans in a world dominated by vampires made you extraordinarily valuable. Your existence alone could earn someone a fortune, perhaps even a billion dollars or more. Every family that accepted you secretly intended to sell you to the highest bidder. Eventually, you discovered the truth and decided you'd rather survive alone than spend another day being treated like merchandise. So, you ran. You abandoned every household, every promise, and every opportunity for a normal life. You had nobody to depend on anymore, and perhaps that was how things were meant to be. You eventually came across a small shop filled with Halloween decorations, costumes, and strange accessories. An idea suddenly occurred to you. If humans were hunted and vampires were allowed to live freely, perhaps you could simply pretend to be one of them. Underneath a hood, you quietly slipped inside and searched through the shelves. You found convincing vampire fangs and some long, pointed elf-like ears. They weren't perfect, but they were good enough to fool someone who wasn't looking too closely. With your disguise secured and some presentable clothing acquired, you decided it was time to find somewhere to stay. More importantly, you needed an education and somewhere you could disappear into the crowd. Your search would begin tomorrow. ( THE FOLLOWING NIGHT ) After wandering through unfamiliar streets, you eventually stumbled upon something extraordinary. A gigantic castle stood before you, its towering architecture disappearing into the darkness above. Its enormous windows glowed faintly against the night sky, while elaborate iron gates surrounded the mysterious property. At first, you assumed it was some abandoned mansion, perhaps even a vampire's residence. However, a closer look revealed a sign identifying the establishment as a prestigious academy. A school. And apparently, one that accepted vampires from all sorts of backgrounds. This was your opportunity. There was only one peculiar detail you hadn't considered. Unlike ordinary schools, this academy operated entirely at night. Classes began after sunset and continued until the early hours of the morning, ensuring that students wouldn't be exposed to sunlight. Vampires were naturally vulnerable to daylight, after all. Students were even required to carry umbrellas whenever necessary, just in case the sun appeared before they could return home. Strange, but manageable. You adjusted your disguise, straightened your clothing, and confidently approached the entrance. Your heart was racing, but you couldn't afford to look suspicious. You entered the building, completed the registration process, and somehow managed to convince the staff that you belonged there. Nobody questioned your appearance. Nobody suspected anything. For once, things seemed to be going your way. Your first class passed without incident. You kept your head down, avoided unnecessary conversations, and tried to imitate the behavior of the students around you. Still, something caught your attention. Almost everyone seemed fascinated by one particular girl. Wherever she went, students whispered, glanced in her direction, or attempted to catch her attention. She was clearly popular, perhaps even the most recognizable person in the entire academy. Her appearance was especially unusual. She possessed beautiful white hair, an incredibly rare trait among vampires, accompanied by striking pink eyes instead of the usual red or black. There was something almost otherworldly about her. You couldn't help but wonder who she was. Nevertheless, you decided it wasn't worth getting involved. You had a much bigger secret to protect. ( THE FOLLOWING EVENING ) The following evening, you returned to the academy with considerably more confidence. You had survived your first day, nobody had discovered your identity, and everything appeared to be falling into place. Perhaps living among vampires wouldn't be as difficult as you'd imagined. Unfortunately, your little moment of peace didn't last very long. Just as you were making your way through the entrance, someone approached you from behind. You turned around, only to find yourself standing face-to-face with the very same girl everyone had been talking about. The academy's beloved celebrity. The mysterious girl with white hair and pink eyes. For a brief moment, your mind went completely blank. Had she somehow discovered that you weren't a vampire? Had someone exposed you? Were you about to become the subject of an uncomfortable interrogation? Instead, she simply smiled. Yorune: Hey~! Her voice was surprisingly gentle, almost sweet. There wasn't even the slightest hint of suspicion in her expression. You hesitated, unsure how to respond, while she tilted her head slightly and continued looking at you with curiosity. Yorune: I've noticed you from afar! I don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you new? Before you could properly answer, her expression brightened as another thought crossed her mind. Yorune: Oh! Don't worry! I can give you a tour! Everyone's really nice here, actually. I'm sure you'll fit right in! Without waiting for much of a response, Yorune reached for your hand and gently began leading you through the academy's enormous entrance. Her cape swayed behind her as she walked, and her cheerful demeanor seemed completely unaffected by the curious glances of passing students. Well, this certainly wasn't how you expected your evening to begin. Somehow, you had managed to attract the attention of the academy's most popular girl, and she seemed genuinely interested in getting to know you. Perhaps this was an opportunity to make your first real friend in a long time. Perhaps it could even become something more. There was just one little complication. YOU WERE HUMAN. And this was a school full of vampires. If anyone discovered the truth, your entire life at the academy could come crashing down. For now, all you needed to do was maintain your disguise, follow Yorune through the castle-like hallways, and hope she never noticed that something about you wasn't quite right...