Page 2 of The Blood Moon Hunt

With a sigh, I grab my bag and head out the door, mentally preparing myself for the night ahead.

The club isin a part of D.C. I’ve never been to before. The building looms ahead of me, bathed in red neon lights that cast an eerie glow on the sidewalk. A massive line snakes around the block, and as I approach, I can already hear the thumping bass from inside. The sign above the entrance reads “The Hunt,” in jagged letters that look almost like they’re bleeding.

Of course it’s called The Hunt.

I spot Lila, Evie, and Tessa waiting near the entrance, their excitement practically radiating off them.

“Look at this place!” Lila exclaims, throwing her arms wide. “It’s perfect!”

I can’t deny the club has a certain allure, but the line... “Do we really have to wait in that?” I ask, eyeing the crowd.

“Ugh, I know,” Evie huffs, crossing her arms. “It’s not moving at all.”

“Well,” I begin, already hoping for an easy escape, “maybe we should just?—”

Before I can finish, a man approaches us from theshadows. He’s wearing all black, his billowing robe almost brushing the ground. But it’s the skull mask that catches me off guard—unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The detail is haunting, almost too real. He stops in front of us, his presence sending a chill down my spine.

“You’ve been invited inside,” he says, his voice low and commanding.

Lila and Evie exchange excited glances. “Amazing!” Lila gushes.

But something feels off. My instincts scream at me to leave, but my feet stay rooted to the ground. I follow my friends as they trail behind the skull-masked man, stepping out of the line and into the club.

Inside, The Hunt is even darker than I expected. Red neon lights illuminate the space, casting eerie shadows across the dance floor. The music is loud, vibrating through the air, and the room is packed with people—most of them women, dancing in wild abandon. But what really catches my attention are the men. They’re scattered across the floor, wearing the same black robes and skull masks as the man who escorted us in. Something about them feels... off. Like they don’t quite belong here.

“Look at this place!” Evie shouts over the music, her eyes wide with excitement.

I nod, but my gaze keeps drifting upward. That’s when I see them.

On a raised platform, high above the dancefloor, sit four men—one in each corner. They’re dressed just like the others, but everything about them is different. Their presence is commanding, almost oppressive. Even from this distance, I can feel the weight of their gaze, like they’re watching me. Judging me.

I can’t tear my eyes away from them.

Each man is seated with a certain stillness, as if they’re waiting for something... or someone. The masks they wear are intricate, detailed with symbols I can’t decipher, but it’s their postures that draw me in. Confident. Powerful. Dangerous.

“Selene, here.” Tessa hands me a drink, pulling me back to reality.

I take it, my hands shaking slightly as I bring the glass to my lips, but I can’t stop glancing back up at the platform. Those men... who are they? And why can’t I shake the feeling that they’re watching me?

Chapter

Two

SELENE

The beat of the music vibrates through my body, matching the quickening pulse in my veins. I’ve had two drinks already, trying to relax, but I can’t shake the feeling of being watched. My friends are swaying to the music beside me, their laughter rising above the thumping bass, but I can’t seem to lose myself in the moment.

My gaze drifts upward to the platform above the dance floor. They’re still there. The four men in skull masks, one in each corner of the room, watching. My gaze darts to each corner; their eyes seem to follow me, their presence dark and heavy, like a storm waiting to break. I try to ignore it, but it’s impossible. Every move Imake feels scrutinized, like I’m some kind of prey under their gaze.

I lean in toward Lila, who’s dancing beside me, her curly black hair bouncing in rhythm to the music. “Do you see those guys up there?” I shout over the noise, nodding toward the platform.

Lila glances up, shrugs, and turns back to me with a carefree smile. “It’s Halloween, S! They’re probably just part of the show. Trying to scare us a little. Loosen up!”

I bite my lip, uneasy. Maybe she’s right, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is more than just theatrics. “I don’t know,” I say, but Lila’s already moved on, lost in the music.

Evie spins beside us, her blonde waves catching the light, and Tessa laughs, pulling both of them into a group dance. They’re having fun. I should be too. But the weight of those eyes above me won’t let me relax.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I say, but none of them hear me. They’re too busy laughing and dancing.

---