Present Day
I wasn't even sure if the reflection in the mirror was truly mine. Tired eyes, strands of hair falling from stress, fine lines that had no right to appear this early. Life had chewed me up and spat me out. Maybe it was working a job I hated just to survive, or maybe it was believing the sweet lies of a man who never truly loved me. Whatever the reason, this was who I had become. No dream job, no love story—just me.
"Are you coming? We should start," my roommate called from the living room.
Nevin was bright and colorful, full of faith in things the world had long forgotten. If I was gray, she was fire. Tonight was her big night: the Blood Moon. According to her, a ritual performed under its light could open the door to our past lives. Even if that were true, I wasn't sure I wanted to see mine. If my past life was anything like this one, it wouldn't be pretty.
I stepped into the living room and saw candles, tarot cards, and strange symbols drawn on the floor. "You do know that we're probably going to get cursed for this, right?" I asked, pointing at the circle.
Nevin lit a black candle. "Don't be ridiculous. It's harmless. I just want to know who I was before."
"Maybe a janissary," I teased.
She laughed. "Doubt it. Maybe a traveler. Or a merchant."
"Sure," I said, grinning. "I'll picture you with armor and a mustache."
She rolled her eyes. "Then you were probably a rock."
I chuckled, but then froze. The air shifted. The crimson glow of the Blood Moon spilled through the window, mixing with candlelight. Shadows moved like smoke. Nevin stood at the center, chanting softly. Her voice was different—deeper, almost ancient.
"The Blood Moon opens the path of the soul," she whispered. "Breathe with me… let the door to your past open."
I wanted to laugh, but my heart was racing. The scent of herbs filled my lungs and the air grew heavy. "Now," she said, meeting my gaze, "what do you feel?"
"I feel… like this is completely stupid," I said, trying to hide how tense I was.
Before she could reply, the light in the room pulsed. Shadows trembled. The moon burned brighter. Something unseen brushed past my ear. A whisper, a sob—distant and human. Nevin's voice grew distant. "It's all right. Just breathe. The past is calling."
I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't. Then—light.
I blinked and saw Nevin standing over me, arms crossed. "You fell asleep, didn't you?"
"What? No, I was just—"
"You were out for twenty minutes. I even cleaned up," she said, sighing.
I rubbed my face. "Guess your ritual worked. I feel… strange."
"Good," she said, smiling faintly. "Then don't you dare leave tomorrow before telling me your dream."
I saluted lazily and stumbled toward my bed. The moonlight painted everything red. My eyelids fell shut.
The Dream
I was in a forest, mist curling around the trees, the earth damp beneath my feet. Above me, the Blood Moon glowed red and gold. A soft sob echoed through the silence. Through the fog, a figure appeared—a woman with long, wet hair clinging to her skin, blood streaming from her eyes like tears. She stood beside a river that reflected the moonlight in crimson.
Her lips moved, but I couldn't hear her until she looked directly at me. "I want to live." Her words hit me like ice. I stumbled backward—she vanished. Then, she was behind me. Her face was inches from mine, those bleeding eyes locking onto me. The scream that left my throat never reached the air.
My foot slipped. Her twisted smile was the last thing I saw before the river completely swallowed me.