Shape of Darkness: The Moonlight's Touch

"The Moon, the Sun and the Storms"

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Eve Ainsley who lived on the land known as Gold Creek - A hill where the sun never dies and clouds never cry. In this city, there's a sun and moon—but not a storm. Never had ever been a storm.

She was pure as a human yet dark beyond the daylight. A blue eye like an ocean, but deep into the abyss, where its pristine colors had been lost, followed by a pale skin—thin as in devoid of sanctity and sunlight. Here is the moon—loathed by many—ignored by many.

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

"Alright. I'm waking up..." Said the girl, leaving her bed after crashing out the alarm.

"What is it now? Oh, it's a bright day, today..." She ponders at the sky - A sun awaits from the window, slowly heading towards the clouds.

"What a warm day to start a school...It's warmer than many months ago..."

"I wonder what changed in this autumn. Maybe its still bright as the summer."

"Let's see...which books can I put to day...? Hm...?" She glares her shelves with a tired eye, checking on section for viable reading material for her morning. 

She is a librarian—more thoughtful and curious about novelties than anyone else. Her mind is filled with the desire to seek and expand every wisdom, which is why books are always in her possession. After all, no one can resist the idea of words more than her.

But for a librarian like Eve, knowledge is not just reading and understanding a paper. For her, knowledge is her effort and form to shape what was shapeless. But for others, it is the sun that shapes and enlightens reason.

"Oh, come on. Again?" She critics at an unfinished chapter. A sun reflected from the window and reaches her book, reflecting to her eyes. A sentence describes a morning right after her eyes was cleared.

"Whoa, that's a glorious explanation for morning. It's always the sun that describes, huh...?"

Sun is the source of life, carrying the vast energy that birthed the green grass into the colors of a hill. But it is also the source of faith, trust, and guidance for all the people who live on this hill. Nothing has ever shone brighter than the sun. That's why this city adores such a star—growing all their fruition away from strife with more seeds and animals.

Down below, she had her breakfast ready on a plate. A half-cooked beef with leek leaves on the side followed by a glass of water on the table. There is a note left under the bowl with a marker ink written on it.

"Sorry we have to leave early. We made you a meal so you don't have to made it yourself. You can also have a cereal on the cabinet if you want."

- Mother.

"Ooh? Again? I don't want this. I need to eat healthier." She denies the fresh meat on the plate for another meal on the cabinet. A fresh cereal.

"And...we're out of milk...good...good...good..." She thought in displease. Her cereal would go dry as fate intended.

So as she puts her bowl into the table, she pours the fresh fruit loops without a milk, ready to start the day with a dry mouth.

"Hm..." She mutters in her insight towards a novel.

She favors books. Novel in such. Every day, a new page and a chapter are opened in the kitchen before the clock hits 8.30 AM. This interest is something that keeps her head focused and full of knowledge. And each chapter teaches her new things. But it never changed her.

"Cliche...I would've expected more. Give me more story to share than this, mom..." She laid the chapter unfinished with a binder.

"Why bother reaching for high if you could stand still at your ground and not fall? I should've given it 1/5 star next time."

"Alright. Time to clean this up." She set the dishes.

"Let's hope I still have a time..."

The reflection of sun blinded her left eye, "Pwah...the sun is going nuts..."

Traveling to school is a challenge for her, even for just an inch for a touch. Her walkway is always a narrow and empty path to get into. The path to school is short and easy. Barely ten minutes would pass.

The librarian does not walk in the same gravel as others, given through her decision. For years, she walked through this narrow, lonely path where others would not find her. It is a shortcut that allows her to walk free but unguided and easy to harm by many. Luckily, that has never happened under the guidance of one person. A priest.

"Hey, Eve!" Said a boy. A voice she would recognize every morning. Hearing such a voice had already made her gag down her throat while her foot tried to leap away.

The light priest—devoted to the ever-gleaming hope and faith, warming the soul with his passion and love for living beings. He has no limitation to whom he can love, for he is merciful but intrusive in his quest for righteousness. Basked in the Gold Creek's light for longer than anyone—he had all the knowledge to make amend with the people, ranging from poor to rich, isolated to fame, and doubtful to believers. Here is the sun— loved by many—supports many.

He knew the librarian better than anyone—being the only one to acknowledge the librarian's life in her abode. He helped her walk through the narrow path with ease, alleviating herself from the loneliness by his words and presence.

But they are different in likes. The librarian does not abide by the priest's belief, and the priest is not comforted by the librarian's skepticism. They find it hard to coexist other than serving their needs.

"Don't think I forget about you." A boy cheered on her with a smile she couldn't bear.

"What do you want, Cyrus...?" Eve glares unamused at him.

"Oh, nothing! Just accompanying you to walk everyday like usual. Still using the same narrow path for 3 years, I see..."

"Tch, never change." He teases.

She crosses her arms, ignoring his comments, "Did you get the book at least?"

"The World Above? Here you go...as I promised. Free...with no charge..." The boy offered as promised. Another novel to add for the librarian's imagination.

Often, the priest had the librarian wonder about life and dreams. He will share some visions and thoughts, expecting the librarian to share hers. Often, he showed her the idea of reaching above, struggles, and rewards.

"Two creatures going around the city to seek the adventure of a lifetime with a life-changing lesson? Now that's a new kind of story for a reader. But I had to check for another book after this..." The girl reads diligently.

"Oh, come on. It couldn't be that bad! Don't you ever wish to be a part of that story? Here, you can make it happen with others." Cyrus calmly comforts. But she was not impressed.

"With whom?"

"With others, Like me! I've always been here for you." Cyrus comforts.

"The others are always here for you, Eve. They wanted to shine like you do, and so they prove it. Eve, you should've seen what I have done with the art team yesterday with their paints. Now, they knew me!"

"Knew you? Is that ever been special?"

"As in achievement. I didn't work hard for nothing in this school..." He flexes his muscles.

"Sports like basketball and soccer would help you strengthen those bones, allowing others to pick you for something you could prowess."

"Even better, you may get a spotlight like I do!" Cyrus patted her head, brushing off her hair and making it messy. It forces Eve to comb them back with her hands.

"Shine? In the same light? I would walk in a beggar's shoe than walking by you right now if I want to shine like people here..." She was insulted. Her eyes roll away, watching the flock of doves passing through the east before they fade into the sunlight.

"Why not? People are nice here..." Cyrus was concerned.

Often, the librarian would think about reality, doubt, and aspiration. She thought of a concept of seeing things not with the will of lights and walking somewhere where others don't. Often, she showed him the idea of straying, descent, and trials.

"Because why can't I? I expect more than this. We could've had a better thing than this for sure..." She closes the book.

"Maybe something that more about turning the world into a better place or worse? Who knows?"

"Isn't that too dangerous to live upon? Why would we need to feel that high?" The boy was filled with doubt about her choice.

"Because that's cool. Living regularly like this is boring. In a city like this, we could've done more than just going to school everyday..."

"What's so boring about this place? I find everything cool here!"

"Oh, you'll get bored someday, Cyrus. I tell you what...having friends around here is not as good as travelling abroad."

"Then, why don't you go travel elsewhere? Fulfilling your need?" He snatched the book from Eve's grasp.

"Because I can't. I'm stuck here...financial issue and people like you."

"Oh, Eve. Why is it so hard for you to understand the beauty of friendship and altruism?" He teases her.

"The same reason I'm still a highschooler eventhough I'm 19 and should've graduated to university." She grunts with displease.

But here, the people desire paradise rather than to dig down when they can live happily in the warm air and an abundant hill above. For her to act differently than the others, the librarian was shunned and never taken seriously.

"Well, well...if it isn't the silent girl Eve trying to get early to school today, and hi there boy, you get another class today?" A cheerleader team approaches the two from an intersection, seemingly an unsurprising turn of an event.

"Look at that face. Still as gloomy as my ex..."

"You're okay, boy? I hope the girl didn't give you a jab on the face."

Eve bitters, "Thank you for reminding me my strength. But Cyrus came for a reason..."

"Ooh...a reason? Always been a reason. What's never been a reason for you, Eve?"

"Well, everything that isn't involving your faces in my book. Now, if you excuse me, I had to go..." She stepped away from the group, heading west as the school's entrance grew closer.

"Cyrus. You better be at school in 30 seconds." She yelled.

"Alright, Eve. I'll catch you later!" Cyrus left her to her own.

"So, anything new on the house lately? I heard you were moved to music class?"

Cyrus was flattered, "Thanks, but I'm not a swimmer expert. I took a "less physical" training because I didn't want to risk my health. You know, because of..."

"Oh, yeah! We get it. Hope you had it better now since the last time you picked that band..."

"I know. Turns out Jeremy wasn't lying about the school's drum band. If you mind, can I join you at the stadium tomorrow? Just want to help your performance whatsoever..."

"Obviously! I guess now it's Kenneth's time to shine!"

"Aw, come on! I don't want to do the pyramid again! You guys forgot I have a diarrhea..."

"Yeah, a hard way for Connie to find out. Sorry, friend..."

"I'll never eat brownies again..."

The Gold Creek High School, the central education in this city and the only high-established institution in the Great Stone district, stands for decades and has become a well-known educational place with expensive tuition and qualified one. The secret lies with the new curriculum set exclusively in this city.

"I can't believe I'm about to be a worker without a diploma because I'm graduating from highschool..." Cyrus stares at the clock sharply, interrupting Eve's silence towards her attempts to enter.

Eve hisses, "Can you step off for one...fucking...second? I'm trying to get in..."

"Why? You always did this every day, Eve. Nothing really changed here...the teacher always took a long bathroom session every 8.30-9 in the morning. So, what's really changing from that?"

"That almost everything I face in this school had to start from you..." She walks off to the entrance.

"Wow, you don't have to..." It breaks my heart for Cyrus.

[Classroom 3E]

"Alright, as usual? I'll go first," He made the first visit to the class and received so many greetings from boys and girls inside that the whole class felt like a party. With many people giving a high-five and fist bump, he was a soul that brought life to the room.

"Woo! Cyrus, you've come again for the 423rd time."

"You got it! Come on, give me a high!" The boy raises his right hand.

*Slap* *Slap* *Slap*

"Woo! So, who was the girl I heard winning the international Creek-con competition again?"

"Ehehe, that's me...!"

The librarian had thought of herself down and deep within the society—feeling different—both mind and body. Often, a curious and doubtful mind like hers would grow restless, weary of questioning every day. Waiting for the time to pass, she would always turn to her book—expecting an answer to her prolonged question in the far daylight.

"Pass off, everyone. I need to sit." Eve walks through unbothered by the crowds. 

"Look who came late as usual? Still waiting for that chapter, Eve?" One boy pokes at her with a taunting face.

"Still waiting for how long you haven't had your fingers cracked yet..." She glares sharp at the boy.

"Uhm...okay..."

*Crack* A pebble is flung towards her head.

"Sorry! It bounces! I was just trying to test my..." A student yelled.

*Crack* "Aaah!" She throws back with a stronger force, causing the girl to fall on her chair.

"You're forgiven..." She uttered.

The backseat at the corner is never occupied by anyone other than her. Some students had even left two more chairs on the front, with not even Cyrus sitting near her.

"Alright, I'm back!"

"Aah! Teacher's back! Get back to the chair! Get back to the chair!" All soldiers retreat to their base.

"Yeah, yeah. You must have enjoyed my 30-minute session in the bathroom. Aren't you? But I can tell any of you who have walked off your table to play some phones or do drugs."

"God, why can't we just have a university in this city? Am I not tired enough to be put on you every day?" The man rants.

"Open your book on page 13 because we're about to learn on rising action. Remember that you have to focus your story by creating a perfect tension on the plot otherwise your story is nothing but a short end."

"We don't want to have a short end, are we?"

"I beg to differ..." Eve mutters. She wasn't wrong when the teacher started the lecture without any more rants.

"Ugh, this is so hard. I can't understand anything..." Eve struggles.

"I can't read this anymore..." She puts up her novel instead. An adventure on the moon seems interesting. It was dark, cold, and mysterious enough to start your life from bricks. But there is too much conversation that Eve can't relate to. A conversation with a talking being other than her.

One day, it changed. An unexpected occurs in the broad daylight. The air feels tense, as if the cloud had grown darker. The sun shines dimly, leaving the ground cold with vivid light penetrating the clouds. A grunt can be heard lightly—indicating an omen to come.

*Stop* A limousine stops on the parking lot.

"He's here!"

"He's here?? He's here!!"

"Oh, finally! Kids, walk out now and greet your new student! Don't want to miss this chance, are you?" The teacher rushes out with a metal cup in his hand.

It is a call that made everyone go insane. They rushes out of their tables and carries numerous products with "Carven.io" logo in the center. Whoever lies in the car seems to be a star.

"Hey, don't leave us!"

"Yeah!"

"I'm going to get him first! Watch me, everyone!"

"Wait, you guys can't leave me mid-conversation!" Cyrus follows from behind.

"The prince has come!" Yelled someone.

"Prince? What are we? Peasant?" She critics in confusion. But in her curiosity, she never stay on the table and miss the chance.

"This better be worth a visit."

***Ringing***

[Entrance]

Something has arrived in a glittering look—turning the eyes into the new lights. The librarian glances at the anomaly as her books stops moving to another page. She found a man walking from afar, greeted by the people as god-like. A pride covered in gold and glory

"Woo! He's here!"

"It's him! It's the Carven himself!"

"Dion! Notice me! I buy all your products! Did you see me??"

"Dion, we love you!"

"Oh, I know! Who wouldn't?" The boy walks calmly through the corridor. The entrance was filled with the crowd cheering on him, as he was cheered with them.

"Can't have enough of me, can you?"

"The son of British famous entrepreneur. And now he's here!"

"I don't get it? Why was he famous? Who is he?"

"You don't know him?? He's Dion Carven! Son of Carven Enterprise!"

"His father would made this city a better place! Better than whatever our mayor is up to!"

"So...? Said many investors coming around here...or am I missing something?"

"His father made the Carven.io products. The one making your favorite cash app..."

"Aah! Noo! Sorry! Dion, we love you! Please forgive me!"

"Ugh..."

"Make some manner, everyone! He's a man with a status! Don't let him see us like a beggar! Come on!"

Eve stares confused at the crowds, "What is wrong with you people?"

"And where is he? I can't see!" She pushes a boy aside with her hand, to who knows where he fell.

"There he is! There he is!"

The prince, draped in robes of fine russet wool with threads of gold entwined, walked through the streets as though the sun followed his every step. A golden sash gleamed around his waist, reminiscent of the vast treasures his family's name had built, of a kingdom he is associated with and blooded by birth. His trousers shimmered in the deep blue sea on a clear day. Wherever he went, crowds gathered—drawn not only by his name but the charm that seemed to swirl around him.

The wind changes around him, and the swirl of the heat brushes her face as the prince stands tall among his followers. Even the priest had never taken such glamor from his people before. After all, he is the man who stood in fame.

"Alas! No need to push on one another...My stay here does not fade with you..." He comforts his followers. In their comforts, he finds his.

"Of course, you people wouldn't last long without me! Haha! Girls, yelled louder if you wish to see my Carven.io collections..."

"KYAA!!"

"Hm...impressive...but I would like to see him walking down the class himself." She walks off.

The prince is a powerful man, for every land he stepped was gold in his savings. He had sufficiency and pride no one could ever take, much like the priest if he was experienced enough. His family was born with a strong and wealthy life, allowing him to strive through every odds and be known by many for his generosity. But as generous as he was to his people, it is wise not to play with his kindness and toil with the smile he holds, for his will is not guidance but sparing mercy. There's the storm—unexpected within the sky—arrived as an intervention.

"That's great! But I need more!"

"Woah! Hey! Hey...excuse me, excuse me!" Cyrus slips through the crowd, greeting Dion from the line. "Hey, are you the new kid here? Dion Carven, right?"

"Yeah...and you...?" The boy stops.

The boy shook his hand, "Cyrus Beth. Nice to meet you! We're in the same class in 13th grade, right? Literacy and Analysis program?"

"Hey, Cyrus! Watch your hands! That's a new boy!"

"Yeah, you want his father to evict your home? He can do that, you know?"

Dion wipes his hand with his clothes, "He does. But who am I to tell him now? You have your chance on the other way. Now, please enlighten my destination before I sore my foot here..."

"No need! I'll guide you instead." Cyrus reaches for Dion's hand, only for him to step one foot away.

"That's two chances taken off. Please don't make me..." He warns.

"Woohoo! Dion!"

"Woo! Yeah!"

"Come on, buddy. Make it quick. I can't handle this...fame..." Dion whispers. "Got it!"

The two walk pass through the crowds, with Dion facing more and more faces as he enters further into the school. More people are cheering for a product he didn't possess, while others cheering for a desire beyond his limits.

That was the nature of his reign. And it was loved and adored by many. The prince was welcomed to the land of Gold Creek with open arms and faithful hearts. The daylight has never been brighter and happier since the prince's arrival.

But the people had left the land open to the outside, allowing the unknown to enter their sacred palace unscathed. Upon the prince's arrival, grunts of a storm can be heard as a beast sneaks its way through the gate of the holy. For once, the storm arrived. But why now?

*Shrug* *Shrug* *Shrug* A flipped trash can walks miraculously by a foot. Wandering through the empty grass, it seems to have its direction led to the school backdoor. Just as the crowd left, it seemed to take the opportunity to pass unscathed.

A janitor walks out of the door to get fresh air and trash out, leaving the door open for the trash can.

*Headset on* "Uhm, aw yeah...it's the final countdown...tu du du duu..."

"Tu du du du duu...Tu du du duu...tu du du du tu du duu...du du duu..."

"Ow, yeah!!"

*Shrug* *Shrug* *Shrug* The trash can rests on a shelf, perfecting its face on the wall just as the janitor re-enters.

"What the...aw, come on! Whatever, pick your stay there..." The janitor brushes off the thought

"Trash like you would've been better there than anywhere outside..."

"Heh." The man left the janitor's room.

*Clank* The trashbin teeters.

*Clank* *Clank* *Clank*

"Ow, yeah! I finally did it!" The trash can flips itself to reveal something else.

An anomalous presence has infiltrated the paradise unpermitted, buried in stones and rubbles with a conscience of sparks. Blue as in the motion of moonlight and devoid of the sun's warmth, the creature waited for the moment of chaos—its mischievous hands posed for trouble. The storm brews in its head, reflecting the pain he will cause many. There's the other storm—infiltrating the purity—arrived without an explanation.

"That was a great cover! No one even notice me!"

"Even better, I think that human hasn't find me yet. My traces are invisible and everything goes as planned! I love this!"

"Now, I just need to find THAT girl somehow..." The creature pulls out a paper sheet. It has the face of Eve, seemingly unnoticed in his capture behind the walls.

"She should be in this school. According to my radar, this is the place she commonly visits...a place the human called "school" seemingly..." The creature pulls out a device. He seems as advanced as he looks.

"Well, what am I waiting for? I have to go now!" The creature steps out of the trash bin.

"I will not fail! Never! Or my name won't be Charger the Great!"

*Slip* "Aah! Umph!" The creature slips onto the floor by a gum.

"Silly gum! Not now!" He yelled.

So the sky was crowded. Present in threat. Whatever happen with peace and clear sky now?