The Prophecy

Cancer’s eyes snapped open, her breath ragged and shallow. The shadows of the nightmare still clung to her mind like a heavy fog. She was drenched in sweat, her heart pounding in her chest as if trying to escape. The room around her was dark and silent except for the faint ticking of the old clock on her bedside table.

The dream had been relentless—visions of a world torn apart by chaos and destruction. She had seen monstrous creatures with sharp claws and glowing red eyes hunting helpless humans. Witches wielding dark magic that burned villages to ash. Friends and foes alike falling in bloody battles, their screams echoing through the crumbling cities. The sky had been stained with fire and smoke, the sun obscured by thick black clouds. It was terrifying, more real than anything she had ever experienced before.

She pressed her palms against her face, trying to calm the storm raging inside her. But the images—the terrible prophecy—refused to fade.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Cancer? Are you alright?” her stepmother’s gentle voice came from the doorway.

Cancer wiped her sweaty hands on the blanket and sat up. “Maria… it was that dream again.”

Maria stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. “The one about the world ending?”

Cancer nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes. The gods’ prophecy. It feels so real this time, like it’s not just a dream anymore. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do… How can I stop it? What if it’s already too late?”

Maria crossed the room and sat beside her on the bed, wrapping an arm around her trembling shoulders. “I know it’s frightening. But you’re not alone. We’ve been preparing for this—long before you even knew.”

Cancer looked up at Maria, searching for hope in her calm eyes. “Preparing? For what? I’m only eighteen tomorrow. What could I have possibly been prepared for?”

Maria reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a small velvet pouch. “There’s something I need to give you. It’s time.”

Cancer frowned, confused. “But… my birthday’s tomorrow. It’s still eleven-thirty now.”

Maria smiled softly. “I know. But sometimes, the world doesn’t wait for the right time. You need this now, Cancer. For what’s coming.”

She opened the pouch slowly, revealing a moonstone necklace. The pale gem shimmered faintly at first, but as the light touched it, it began to glow—brighter than the stars in the night sky outside the window. Its glow filled the room with a gentle, silvery light that seemed almost alive.

Cancer’s eyes widened. “What is this? Why is it shining like that?”

Maria’s voice lowered, filled with reverence. “That moonstone has been waiting for you. It holds the power of the moon itself.”

Cancer stared at her, confusion twisting in her heart. “The moon? But… the moon is my real mother.”

Maria nodded slowly, her expression soft but serious. “Yes. The moon is your true mother. I am only your stepmother, but I’ve watched over you. This necklace is a piece of her power—her protection—and it’s meant for you now, when the time is right.”

Cancer reached out, her fingers trembling as she touched the necklace. The glow warmed her skin, a steady pulse that felt like a heartbeat of its own. The weight of it was heavier than just metal and stone—it was destiny.

She looked back at Maria. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

Maria took a deep breath. “You must find the others—the twelve chosen. Only together can you stand against the darkness that threatens to tear our world apart.”

Cancer swallowed hard, feeling a strange mix of fear and determination rise inside her. “Then I won’t waste any time.”

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