Under the Full Moon

Daily Flash Fiction Entry.

The night air shimmered with a chill as the Eagle Parrot drifted silently into the narrow inlet of Black Hollow Bay. The crew spoke in hushed tones, their eyes darting toward the dark cliffs that loomed above like sleeping giants. No one liked anchoring here, not with the old stories of spirits and strange lights that wandered the hills.

But Darius insisted.

He stood at the bow, cloak billowing slightly in the breeze, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Beside him, Elara adjusted the strap of her satchel and kept Rockford close at her heel. The dog's ears twitched at every unfamiliar sound.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Kale muttered behind them. “Like we’re being watched.”

“That’s because we are,” Elara replied, scanning the shoreline.

Darius didn’t look away from the cliffs. “The moon is full.”

Elara frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Full moon means the veil is thin tonight,” he said. “If there are answers hidden here, this is our only chance to find them.”

As if in agreement, a silver light broke through the clouds above, bathing the entire bay in eerie luminescence. The water gleamed like liquid glass, reflecting the sky with perfect clarity.

Suddenly, Rockford growled.

A low rumble echoed through the bay, followed by a flicker of movement among the rocks. Shapes; thin, gliding, like mist given form moved along the shoreline.

“Elara,” Darius said, voice tight. “Stay close.”

“You think those are ghosts?” Kale asked, backing up toward the mast.

“No,” Darius said, eyes glowing faintly now, magic whispering at his fingertips. “Worse.”

The figures stepped into the moonlight, revealing hollow eyes and smiles made of shadow.

The moon was full and the Hollow had awakened.