1 Chapter 1: Full Moon at 7 am

The full moon was glued to the dark sky. Below, a sparkling city with people hurrying themselves to be in their designated places.

In one of the big houses in a high end City A, a girl at the age of eight was nudging her sister's shoulder to wake her up.

"Sister Xin, sis Xin, wake up! We will be late! It's 7:30 am already!"

Her sister, Sia Xin Mi, a girl at the budding of flower, age sixteen, ignored her little sister and buried herself in the blanket more.

"Not yet.." Xin Mi said in a hoarse voice.

Sia Jinghe puff her cheeks seemingly annoyed. She picked her sister's phone on the bedside table and busied herself in it while saying, "I see brother Qin Mo's number. Should I tell him you stalked to him in social media and had a secret crush on him since middle school? Oh right! I will also give him your love letter. I will call him now."

Just before Jinghe could press the call button, a white slender hand stole the phone from her.

A girl, with a messy long black hair, phoenix eyes, straight nose, thin pink lips and small face, glared at her.

"Stop messing around. I'm getting up." Xin Mi went straight to her bathroom while shouting at her sister.

"What time is it!"

"7:31!"

"What?!!" Xin Mi was shocked and her movements were faster. After five minutes she went out refreshed.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" She put her clothes as fast as she can.

"Sister, I tried to wake you up at 6, but you just say 'five minutes', how can I know your five minutes will be more than an hour later?" Little Jinghe counterattack.

Xin Mi was now combing her hair while arranging her backpack.

"Breakfast?" Xin Mi asked.

"Already done. I packed a toaster bread for you." Little Jinghe run out from her room and return two minutes later with a glass of milk. By the time Little Jinghe returned, Xin Mi already dresses in her uniform with backpack.

Xin Mi drank the milk while walking to the entrance of their house. She also caught a glimpse of their kitchen. No mess. Clean as it was left before. She gave a silent praise for her little sister in her heart. Little Jinghe was intelligent and mature for her age.

She knew she and her parents were to blame for that.

Their family were well-off. Both parents have a professional job. But because of that reason they, the children, were given a little attention. She grow up with her nanny until her nanny died when she was twelve. Since young, her nanny was her emotional support and her pillar in her lonely life. When her nanny died, she felt for the first time how her world crumbled. And because of that she was guarded of her emotions, not wanting any attachment to people who would come and go. That's what made Xin Mi matured early in her young age refusing to accept any more nanny to take care of her. And she influenced her little sister who was four years old at that time.

Looking at her sister, who much look like her, a sense of pride crept to her.

'Look at my sister! She knew how to take care of me and herself!'

"Don't to celebrate too much, if you wake up too late next time, I will not prepare breakfast for you." Little Jinghe walked ahead of her sister. Her older sister was really easy too read.

Xin Mi who was taking proud of her sister earlier have a bitter taste in her mouth. Everything about her little sister was good and cute. Except this attitude of hers.

Her sister was like mini adult than her. She talked without restraint in front of her. It's was okay if it's a childish talk but irritating if what she's saying was the harsh truth and start lecturing her, without any respect as her older sister.

She started walking after little Jinghe when she heard her little sister gasped. Before she could asked her she was called by their neighbor who was passing by them.

"Good morning Sia sisters!" Grandma Meng, the older than the two waved a them.

Xin Mi shyly waved back. When they were already gone she went to her sister who stood frozen.

"Hey, what's the matter with you?"

Little Jinghe's face was pale.

"Sister...did you see their faces?"

"Who? The two grandma?" Xin Mi looked at the two grandma who were walking far away from them.

"Their face...was scary.."

Eh? What's that mean. Did her little sister got scared by their old faces.

"That's normal. When you get old. Your face will be scarier than them." Xin Mi joked.

"I hope I've seen wrong. " Little Jinghe hold her hand as she walked. This made Xin Mi raised her eyebrow and feel pleased inside.

It was rare to see her sister act like a child.

Xin Mi looked at the dark sky. There were things getting stranger day by day. Like this full moon in the black sky. It was 7:40 am but there was no sign of the moon backing out nor the sun raising up. When it happened two months ago, it caused a huge shock and uprising theories regarding this strange phenomenon. But after two months, people got used to it and it become normal for them to see the sun rising at 11 am noon. Maybe the theories of various scientist that the earth run a slow bit to it's axis were accepted by the masses. It did not affect their daily lives as they adapt to this strange day and night time. It was the same as waking up at 6 am and going back home at 5pm. It's just that the night was longer than the day.

But..for Xin Mi, there were more strange things that kept happening. Looking back again at the two grandma's back. Xin Mi remembered that before those two could hardly walked a step but now they were full of vigor, they were walking fine and even have a spare energy to run. It was supposed to be a good thing. But for some reason it gives uneasiness in her heart. Like something was wrong. But she could not comprehend it. Remembering her sister's words earlier, this made Xin Mi feel the crept of fear in heart. What exactly was wrong?

Beep! Beep!

A school bus stopped near them. Mr. Gu, the driver of the school bus in their block waved at them.

Xin Mi hold her sister's hand while running to their school bus. No matter what are those thing are, she did not have any time to think about them anymore. What's important was to not be late!

She found a seat for her and her sister at the back. Little Jinghe still did not let go of her hand. But her grip become tighter.

Xin Mi looked at her. Little Jinghe complexion was not good. Her lips were pale and her phoenix eyes that was exactly like hers were wide.

"Jinghe.." Xin Mi started to call out. For her sister to be like this...she remembered a situation one week ago.

"Sister ... I did not see wrongly...their faces...are..mangled..." Little Jinghe was filled fear.

Xin Mi got frighten as well. She did not doubt a thing to what her sister said this time.

"Are all of their faces are.. mangled?" Xin Mi asked carefully.

"No..not all of them. But many of them.." Little Jinghe closed her eyes and hug Xin Mi.

Xin Mi hugged her back and pat her comfortingly. No matter how mature Little Jinghe is, she's still eight years old. If Xin Mi who was not seeing it was frightened what's more Little Jinghe?

Xin Mi calmed her heart. One week ago, Little Jinghe saw their school bodyguard was covered in wounds in a glance. Xin Mi thought it was just an illusion of Little Jinghe because of her excessive watching of action movies. (Mind you, Our Little Jinghe was different from the normal child. She like watching action movies, detective series and knowledgeable channels. ) But after that day, they got the news that their school body guard encountered a gang on his way and died.

Not only that, Little Jinghe somehow predict some things. Like some weeks before, when they were about to go, Little Jinghe felt that it was about to rain so she prepared umbrella. Minutes later, it really did rain. Little Jinghe also saved Xin Mi many time to not be overun by a bicycle in their neighborhood.

So this incident, Xin Mi believe something was about to happen. What was it? Could it be the bus would encounter an accident? Thinking of this Xin Mi shouted at Mr. Gu.

"Mr.Gu! Drive carefully! Accidents can happen anytime!"

Mr Gu was stunned to Xin Mi's shouting. Nevertheless his driving become smoother. Anyone, especially driver who has passengers don't want any accident to happen.

Every second that passed, Xin Mi's heart was hanging on a thread. As the schools bus stopped at the elementary school, Xin Mi's heart relaxed a bit. At least the accident didn't happen. Her little sister would be fine as long as she got off. But Little Jinghe didn't have any intention to let go of her hands. Little Jinghe was still afraid.

Xin Mi did not have a choice but to get off with her little sister. But before the bus took off Xin Mi anxiously reminded Mr. Gu.

"Mr. Gu. Be careful on the way. After you send them to high school, you can take a rest first. No. I think it much better to call ambulance and police immediately in case something happened. No, maybe all of you just walk?"

Mr. Gu just stared at her confused. But nevertheless, he knew the girl was just saying with good intentions. Appreciating it, he just waved back and shouted he would take care and drive carefully.

As the bus gone, Xin Mi lead Little Jinghe to her classroom. But Little Jinghe gasped again and this time she was shaking. Xin Mi hugged her again and blocked her sight.

"Sister.. what's this..(sob)..even many of (sob) my classmates are the same. The scary faces.. (sob)" Xin Mi did not know as well. In the bus, in the gradeschool as well, not that..she remembered little Jinghe mentioned the two grandma earlier. What's happening? Were those people about to die? But what accident would result in a big casualty that would affect the school and the neighborhood? A terrorist attact?

What they should do? Tell this to the authorities saying , 'my sister can predict that many people will about to die. Please help.'

Or tell those people that they were about to die? Only she, Xin Mi, would believe in her little sister.

"Sis Xin..I don't want to go to school. I'm scared."

Xin Mi patted her head.

"Okay. We will tell your teacher your not feeling well."

Little Jinghe nodded.

"Can you still see their mangled faces?" Little Jinghe hesitantly looked back. Then she shakes her head.

"Not anymore. They're back to normal."

Xin Mi relaxed a bit, at least, those images would only gave her little sister a glance.

They talked to little Jinghe's adviser and little Jinghe got excused for that day.

In the gate of middle school, Xin Mi asked her sister.

"Do you want to go straight to home?"

Little Jinghe pursed her lips. Because of those strange thing she saw, she acted like a frightened child in front of her sister. She was embarrased. But she was still afraid. Still holding Xin Mi's hand, little Jinghe gathered her courage and say,

"I got excused in school because you said I'm not feeling well. Are you going to leave me alone and not take responsibility of me?"

Xin Mi ruffled little Jinghe's hair. This side of her little sister was still cute.

"Of course not. I'm not irresponsible. I will accompany you at home. But..." Xin Mi bit her lips. She need to go to school and hand her report that she painstakingly edit yesterday night. The deadline was today, and that report would affect her final grades.

"I will just drop by at school. Can you still handle it?"

Xin Mi was worried. If her sister says that she still wants to go home then she would agree. She would just called the school and submit it tomorrow. There would probably a deduction points but it would be fine.

"We are already here. Just a ten minutes walk and we will reach to your school. I'm not weak. I'm just shocked earlier." To regain her reputation of a mature and independent child in front of her sister she would bravely go to high school. Besides, she was not sure if she would see those scary things again.

"Okay. Little Jinghe is really awesome!"

"Hmph." Little Jinghe just ignored her sister praising, but inside she was relief. At least her image in the brain of her sister did not change.

After a walk, they arrived at the high school. No students were littering around as the class already started.

The guard saw her and Xin Mi began to explain. She was allowed inside with her sister.

They went first to the faculty to find her literature teacher. As Xin Mi was inquiring where the teacher would be, Little Jinghe's face was becoming paler.

They went to second building and passed by many classrooms. As they walked, the grip in Little Jinghe's face was getting tighter.

Xin Mi noticed this and was stunned when she saw Little Jinghe's pale complexion.

"I don't want to be here." Little Jinghe wanted to run away. Xin Mi looked around and saw the library meters away from them. She brought Little Jinghe and was lucky to find no students nor teacher inside. She let Little Jinghe to sit on one of the chairs and brought out her strawberry juice for Jinghe to drink.

Little Jinghe drink it greedily and she shakingly said. "They are all...all.."she did not continue as tears dropped from her eyes.

Xin Mi regretted her decision that she came to school.

"I'm sorry..I shouldn't have brought you here. We will go home after you calmed down."

Little Jinghe was silent for a moment. She was scared and she want to go home as soon as possible. But..she knew her sister stay all night because she need to submit something important.

"I--" Little Jinghe was about to disagree when the door opened and a woman in mid twenties come in.

"Oh, Sia Xin Mi, you're here. I heard your looking for me?" Her literature teacher came near to her and smile lovingly at little Jinghe.

"Your sister?" Ms. Jia asked.

"Yes. Teacher Jia, My sister is not feeling well, she was excused. I already excused myself to the faculties so that I could accompany her. This is my report ma'am." Xin Mi looked for her USB in her back pack and gave it to Ms. Jia.

"You don't have to worry too much. If you have a reasonable excuse I will not deduct any points. But still, it's good you hand it to me today. Well, take care and go home with your sister." Ms. Jia said while looking at Little Jinghe.

Jinghe was about to stand up to give a bow when she knocked off the strawberry juice. As they were about to watch devastatingly to smear the floor with strawberry juice, a slender hand grasp it quickly.

"Lucky." Xin Mi caught the strawberry juice in one hand.

The two stared at her dumbfoundingly. They could not comprehend how Xin Mi who was standing in front of Ms. Jia appeared quickly beside of Little Jinghe and catch the falling strawberry juice.

"Wow. Impressive reflexes."

"Fast.." the two said at the same time.

"Oh. My reflexes improve recently. " Xin Mi smiled awkwardly. She knew she show too much. Things were getting stranger by the day. One of it, was how her movement and strength increased. Her instincts gotten stronger. It was a good thing, but these changes made her uneasy. Her sixth sense, her gut was telling her that these changes were connected. Like a preparation for something big that was about to happen. Xin Mi fell again in contemplation.

"I see. You should not waste your talent and join the sports club." Ms. Jia said teasingly. Then she remind them again to be careful on the way home as it was still dark outside.

Xin Mi turned to Little Jinghe.

"You're okay now? Ready to go?"

Little Jinghe nodded. They walked on the hallway when little Jinghe was called by the nature (toilet calls). As they about to enter the comfort room, the ground shaked and the lights in the entire world was gone, illuminating a full moon pasted in the dark sky.