Chapter 1

Chapter 1

At three in the morning, an official emergency alert jolted you awake. The message read: “Do not look up at the moon.”

At the same time, you realized your phone had received hundreds of messages from an unknown number: “The night is so beautiful. Look out the window.”

You had drawn the curtains before going to bed. Usually, the streetlights would filter through, but tonight the room was pitch-black. Aside from the glow of your phone, you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face.

You fumbled your way out of bed and approached the windowsill.

You wanted to see the street.

The moment your fingers gripped the curtain, a bizarre chewing sound drifted in from outside.

You couldn’t see a thing, but your mind filled in the blanks with scenes from horror movies. Terrified, you stumbled back a few steps.

Your phone vibrated violently again with a flurry of official alerts: “Do not look up at the moon! Residents are urged to stay away from doors and windows until dawn.”

Your fears were confirmed-something had quietly changed.

Thinking of your parents in the next room, you lunged for the door and pressed down on the handle.

Suddenly, the official warning flashed through your mind: “Stay away from doors and windows.”

“Look out the window.”

Your father’s voice drifted in from outside the door, low and slow.

Your hand froze. Cold sweat poured down your face.

“Look out the window.”

Your mother joined in, speaking in unison with your father.

“Look out the window.”

“Look out the window.”

With just a gentle pull, the door would crack open.

You slowly released the handle and reached down to quietly turn the lock.

*Click.*

The sound was exceptionally sharp in the darkness.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

A violent pounding erupted against the door.

It was followed by a low, rhythmic chanting, like a cursed incantation.

“Look out the window… Look out the window…”

You scrambled back in a panic, tripping in the dark. Your head slammed against the corner of the bed, and the world went black.