Writers 
🌙 THE STORY OF COLD MOON
Written by Joanna Mark
Chapter 1 : The Invitation That Became a Nightmare
Once upon a time, in a peaceful village, there lived a beautiful and intelligent woman named Cold Moon. She was known for her kindness, wisdom, and generosity. Everyone in the neighbourhood admired her because she always helped people in need.
However, Cold Moon had one weakness: she trusted people too easily.
One sunny morning, her close friend, Amanda, called her.
“Cold Moon, my dear friend, I am celebrating my baby's naming ceremony today. Please come to my house. I have a surprise for you!” Amanda said excitedly.
Cold Moon was delighted. She dressed beautifully, prepared a small gift for the baby, and left her house immediately.
When she arrived at Amanda's house, she noticed something strange. The doors were open, but nobody was outside. There was no music, no decoration, and no sign of a celebration.
“Amanda!” she called, walking inside. Nobody answered.
She sat down and waited, believing her friend would return soon.
After several minutes, she heard a baby crying from a room at the back of the house. She stood up, but before she could investigate, she smelled smoke.
Suddenly, flames appeared near the kitchen.
Cold Moon screamed and rushed towards the entrance, but the smoke was becoming thicker. She desperately searched for another way out.
Just then, Amanda appeared outside the window, holding her baby. She was crying and shouting for help.
“Cold Moon, please save my baby!” Amanda screamed.
Cold Moon was shocked. Why had Amanda invited her to a house that was now burning? And why had she disappeared without warning?
Despite her fear, Cold Moon tried to reach the baby. Unfortunately, the fire spread rapidly, blocking the passage.
Neighbours gathered outside and called the firefighters. Some tried to help, but the flames were too dangerous.
Tragically, Cold Moon and the baby died before they could be rescued. Amanda survived, but she was devastated by what had happened.
When the firefighters finally controlled the fire, the entire village mourned. Nobody could understand how such a terrible tragedy had occurred.
Days later, an investigator discovered something suspicious. The fire might not have started accidentally. Evidence suggested that someone had deliberately set the house on fire.
Amanda was questioned, and her story began to change. She had claimed that she was outside when the fire started, but witnesses remembered seeing her enter the house earlier that morning.
The villagers began asking difficult questions.
Had Amanda planned the tragedy? Was Cold Moon simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or was there another secret nobody knew?
As the investigation continued, one chilling truth became clear: **sometimes, the greatest danger comes from the people we trust the most.
Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Fire
Three days after Cold Moon's tragic death, the entire village gathered for her burial. Tears filled the eyes of those who had loved her, but Amanda stood at the back of the crowd, wearing black clothes and pretending to mourn.
Nobody suspected her yet.
That evening, Amanda returned home and locked every door. She sat beside her bed, trembling as she remembered the terrible events of that morning.
“I didn't want things to end this way,” she whispered to herself. “I only wanted Cold Moon to suffer a little.”
Suddenly, someone knocked on her door.
“Who is there?” Amanda asked nervously.
“Open the door. We need to talk about Cold Moon.”
Amanda froze. She recognized the voice immediately. It belonged to Daniel, Cold Moon's younger brother.
When she opened the door, Daniel stood before her holding a small black bag.
“I found something near the back of your house,” he said. “And I believe you know what it means.”
Amanda forced a smile. “I don't understand what you're talking about.”
Daniel placed the bag on the table and opened it. Inside was a burnt piece of cloth and a small gold necklace.
Amanda's face turned pale.
“That necklace belonged to my sister,” Daniel continued. “She wore it every day. But why was it found behind your house?”
Amanda could not answer.
Daniel stepped closer. “My sister trusted you. She believed you were her friend. If you know anything about her death, tell me now.”
“I didn't kill her!” Amanda shouted.
Daniel stared at her. “I never said you killed her. Why are you defending yourself before I have even accused you?”
Amanda's heart began pounding.
She realized she had made a terrible mistake.
Before Daniel could ask another question, someone knocked loudly at the door.
This time, it was the police.
“Mrs. Amanda, we need you to come with us. We have discovered new evidence concerning the fire.”
Amanda's hands began shaking. As the officers entered, she looked at Daniel and whispered, “Please, you have to believe me. I never wanted the baby to die.”
Daniel's eyes widened.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “What does the baby have to do with Cold Moon's death?”
Amanda covered her mouth, realizing she had revealed more than she intended.
The officers immediately took her into custody.
But as they led her outside, she turned toward Daniel and screamed one final sentence:
“Cold Moon was not the person I wanted to destroy!
Daniel stood motionless.
If Amanda had not been targeting Cold Moon, then who had she really wanted to destroy?
And what secret connected the innocent baby to the tragedy?
Chapter 3: The Baby’s Hidden Identity
The police station was silent when Amanda was brought in for questioning. Her hands trembled as Detective Williams placed a photograph of Cold Moon on the table.
“Tell me the truth, Amanda. Who were you planning to destroy that day?” he asked.
Amanda lowered her head.
“You won't understand,” she whispered. “I spent years protecting a secret that was never mine to carry.”
Detective Williams leaned forward. “Then start talking.”
Amanda took a deep breath.
“Cold Moon wasn't supposed to die. I invited her because I wanted her to witness something that would change her life forever. I wanted her to discover the truth about her family.”
Daniel, who had been waiting outside the interrogation room, heard the words and rushed inside.
“What truth? What are you talking about?”
Amanda looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“Your sister was adopted.”
Daniel staggered backward.
“That is a lie! Our parents raised us together!”
“Your parents loved her,” Amanda replied. “But they weren't her biological parents.”
Daniel shook his head in disbelief.
Amanda explained that, years earlier, a wealthy woman named Victoria had secretly given birth to a baby girl. Victoria was unmarried and feared that her powerful family would destroy her reputation if the truth became public.
She entrusted the child to another family, promising that one day she would return for her.
That child was Cold Moon.
But the secret did not end there.
Victoria had recently discovered Cold Moon's whereabouts and planned to reveal her identity. Amanda had learned about the reunion and believed Victoria would reward her for helping bring mother and daughter together.
Instead, Amanda became consumed by jealousy when she discovered that Victoria intended to leave her entire fortune to Cold Moon.
“I wanted to frighten her,” Amanda confessed. “I planned to create a small fire so she would abandon the house. I never imagined it would spread so quickly.”
Daniel stared at her in horror.
“You risked my sister's life for money?”
Amanda began sobbing.
Before the detective could respond, his phone rang. He listened carefully, then slowly turned toward Daniel.
“Victoria has just arrived at the station,” he announced. “And she has brought evidence that could change everything.”
Daniel's heart raced.
His sister was gone, but the truth about her life was only beginning to emerge.
When Victoria entered the room, she looked at Cold Moon's photograph and whispered through her tears:
“My daughter… I am sorry I came too late.”
Then she placed a sealed envelope on the table.
“Before Cold Moon died, someone sent me a message claiming that she was never my only child.”
Everyone froze.
Who was Victoria's other child, and was that person connected to Cold Moon's death?
Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Secret
The room fell silent as Victoria placed the sealed envelope on the table.
Detective Williams opened it carefully. Inside were two birth certificates, an old photograph, and a handwritten letter dated twenty-eight years earlier.
Daniel stared at the documents.
“What does all this mean?” he asked.
Victoria wiped her tears. “Before Cold Moon was born, I gave birth to twins. A boy and a girl. My family was powerful, and they believed having children outside marriage would destroy our reputation. They took my son away and told me he had died.”
She paused, struggling to continue.
“Cold Moon was the only child I knew had survived. I spent years searching for her. When I finally found her, I wanted to reveal everything.”
Daniel picked up the photograph. It showed a young woman holding two newborn babies.
“Who is the boy?” he asked.
Victoria looked directly at him.
“You.”
Daniel dropped the photograph.
“No! That is impossible. I grew up with Cold Moon. We were brother and sister!”
“You were raised together,” Victoria replied, “but you were never biological siblings. Your adoptive parents took you both in because they wanted to protect us from a terrible family secret.”
Daniel struggled to breathe. His entire identity had changed in a single moment.
Then Detective Williams interrupted.
“There is something else. We found a witness who saw someone leaving Amanda's house shortly before the fire began.”
Everyone turned toward him.
“Who was it?” Victoria asked.
“The witness identified a man wearing a grey coat. He was carrying a container believed to have held fuel.”
Amanda, sitting in the corner under police guard, suddenly began shaking.
“I know that man,” she whispered.
Detective Williams approached her. “Who is he?”
Amanda looked at Victoria, then at Daniel.
“He is the person who paid me to arrange the meeting. He promised me money if Cold Moon came to that house.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
“Tell us his name!”
Amanda opened her mouth, but before she could answer, the station lights went out.
A gunshot echoed through the building.
Someone screamed.
When the emergency lights came on, Victoria was missing, and the envelope containing the birth certificates had disappeared.
Detective Williams rushed to the door.
On the floor lay a small piece of paper with five words written in red ink:
“THE REAL HEIR IS ALIVE.”
Daniel stared at the message, realizing that Cold Moon's death was only the beginning of a much darker conspiracy.
Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Secret
The room fell silent as Victoria placed the sealed envelope on the table.
Detective Williams opened it carefully. Inside were two birth certificates, an old photograph, and a handwritten letter dated twenty-eight years earlier.
Daniel stared at the documents.
“What does all this mean?” he asked.
Victoria wiped her tears. “Before Cold Moon was born, I gave birth to twins. A boy and a girl. My family was powerful, and they believed having children outside marriage would destroy our reputation. They took my son away and told me he had died.”
She paused, struggling to continue.
“Cold Moon was the only child I knew had survived. I spent years searching for her. When I finally found her, I wanted to reveal everything.”
Daniel picked up the photograph. It showed a young woman holding two newborn babies.
“Who is the boy?” he asked.
Victoria looked directly at him.
“You.”
Daniel dropped the photograph.
“No! That is impossible. I grew up with Cold Moon. We were brother and sister!”
“You were raised together,” Victoria replied, “but you were never biological siblings. Your adoptive parents took you both in because they wanted to protect us from a terrible family secret.”
Daniel struggled to breathe. His entire identity had changed in a single moment.
Then Detective Williams interrupted.
“There is something else. We found a witness who saw someone leaving Amanda's house shortly before the fire began.”
Everyone turned toward him.
“Who was it?” Victoria asked.
“The witness identified a man wearing a grey coat. He was carrying a container believed to have held fuel.”
Amanda, sitting in the corner under police guard, suddenly began shaking.
“I know that man,” she whispered.
Detective Williams approached her. “Who is he?”
Amanda looked at Victoria, then at Daniel.
“He is the person who paid me to arrange the meeting. He promised me money if Cold Moon came to that house.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
“Tell us his name!”
Amanda opened her mouth, but before she could answer, the station lights went out.
A gunshot echoed through the building.
Someone screamed.
When the emergency lights came on, Victoria was missing, and the envelope containing the birth certificates had disappeared.
Detective Williams rushed to the door.
On the floor lay a small piece of paper with five words written in red ink:
“THE REAL HEIR IS ALIVE.”
Daniel stared at the message, realizing that Cold Moon's death was only the beginning of a much darker conspiracy.
Chapter 5: The Heir Who Returned from the Dead
The police station descended into chaos after the gunshot. Detective Williams immediately ordered his officers to secure every exit, but Victoria had vanished without a trace.
Daniel stood beside the table, staring at the message.
“THE REAL HEIR IS ALIVE.”
Who was the real heir? And why had someone risked everything to steal the birth certificates?
Suddenly, Daniel's phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent him a photograph.
It showed a young man standing outside a luxurious mansion. Beneath the picture were seven chilling words:
Your sister died because of what she discovered.
Daniel's hands trembled as he typed a reply.
“Who are you?”
The response came immediately.
Meet me at the old railway station at midnight. Come alone, or you will never discover the truth about Cold Moon.
Daniel knew it could be a trap, but he could not ignore the message. His sister deserved justice.
At midnight, he arrived at the abandoned station. Rain poured from the sky, and distant thunder shook the darkness.
“Is anybody here?” he called.
A figure emerged from behind an old train carriage.
It was a young man wearing a black coat. His face looked strangely familiar.
“Who are you?” Daniel demanded.
The stranger slowly removed his hood.
“My name is Michael,” he said. “And I am your twin brother.”
Daniel stepped backward in disbelief.
“My twin brother? That's impossible!”
Michael handed him an old photograph. It showed three babies in a hospital room, with Victoria standing beside them.
Three babies.
Not two.
Daniel's heart pounded.
“Where is the third child?”
Michael looked away.
“Cold Moon was never the only girl in our family. We had another sister. She disappeared twenty-eight years ago, and our father spent millions making sure nobody ever found her.”
“Why would he do that?” Daniel asked.
Before Michael could answer, headlights appeared at the end of the railway platform.
A black car stopped.
Two men stepped out, carrying guns.
Michael grabbed Daniel's arm.
“They found us. Run!”
They raced between the abandoned carriages as gunshots echoed behind them.
Daniel stumbled, but Michael pulled him to safety. They hid inside an old maintenance building until the footsteps faded.
Breathing heavily, Daniel turned toward his brother.
“Tell me everything.”
Michael looked him straight in the eyes.
“Our father is still alive. He knows who caused the fire that killed Cold Moon.”
Daniel froze.
“Then why hasn't he gone to the police?”
Michael's expression darkened.
“Because he was the person who ordered it.”
Daniel felt the ground disappear beneath his feet.
His own father might have arranged his sister's death.
But before he could ask another question, Michael whispered something even more terrifying.
“Daniel, there's one more thing you need to know. Cold Moon may not have died in that fire.”
Chapter 5: The Heir Who Returned from the Dead
The police station descended into chaos after the gunshot. Detective Williams immediately ordered his officers to secure every exit, but Victoria had vanished without a trace.
Daniel stood beside the table, staring at the message.
**“THE REAL HEIR IS ALIVE.”**
Who was the real heir? And why had someone risked everything to steal the birth certificates?
Suddenly, Daniel's phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent him a photograph.
It showed a young man standing outside a luxurious mansion. Beneath the picture were seven chilling words:
*Your sister died because of what she discovered.*
Daniel's hands trembled as he typed a reply.
“Who are you?”
The response came immediately.
*Meet me at the old railway station at midnight. Come alone, or you will never discover the truth about Cold Moon.*
Daniel knew it could be a trap, but he could not ignore the message. His sister deserved justice.
At midnight, he arrived at the abandoned station. Rain poured from the sky, and distant thunder shook the darkness.
“Is anybody here?” he called.
A figure emerged from behind an old train carriage.
It was a young man wearing a black coat. His face looked strangely familiar.
“Who are you?” Daniel demanded.
The stranger slowly removed his hood.
“My name is Michael,” he said. “And I am your twin brother.”
Daniel stepped backward in disbelief.
“My twin brother? That's impossible!”
Michael handed him an old photograph. It showed three babies in a hospital room, with Victoria standing beside them.
Three babies.
Not two.
Daniel's heart pounded.
“Where is the third child?”
Michael looked away.
“Cold Moon was never the only girl in our family. We had another sister. She disappeared twenty-eight years ago, and our father spent millions making sure nobody ever found her.”
“Why would he do that?” Daniel asked.
Before Michael could answer, headlights appeared at the end of the railway platform.
A black car stopped.
Two men stepped out, carrying guns.
Michael grabbed Daniel's arm.
“They found us. Run!”
They raced between the abandoned carriages as gunshots echoed behind them.
Daniel stumbled, but Michael pulled him to safety. They hid inside an old maintenance building until the footsteps faded.
Breathing heavily, Daniel turned toward his brother.
“Tell me everything.”
Michael looked him straight in the eyes.
“Our father is still alive. He knows who caused the fire that killed Cold Moon.”
Daniel froze.
“Then why hasn't he gone to the police?”
Michael's expression darkened.
“Because he was the person who ordered it.”
Daniel felt the ground disappear beneath his feet.
His own father might have arranged his sister's death.
But before he could ask another question, Michael whispered something even more terrifying.
“Daniel, there's one more thing you need to know. Cold Moon may not have died in that fire.”
Chapter 6: The Return of Cold Moon
Daniel stared at Michael, unable to believe what he had just heard.
“What do you mean Cold Moon might still be alive? I saw her body buried with my own eyes!”
Michael lowered his voice.
“The body identified as Cold Moon's was never officially confirmed through DNA testing. Our father used his influence to make sure the investigation ended quickly. Someone wanted the world to believe she was dead.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“Then where is my sister?”
Michael took a folded piece of paper from his pocket. It contained an address outside the city.
“Someone has been protecting her. We need to find out who.”
The brothers immediately set off.
After driving for several hours, they arrived at an isolated house surrounded by tall trees. Daniel knocked three times.
An elderly woman opened the door.
When she saw Michael, she stepped backward in shock.
“You shouldn't have come here,” she whispered.
“Please,” Daniel begged. “We need to see Cold Moon.”
The woman's eyes filled with tears. Slowly, she moved aside.
Inside the house, a young woman sat beside a window, reading a book.
Daniel stopped breathing.
It was Cold Moon.
Her face was thinner, and a scar crossed her forehead, but there was no mistaking her.
“Cold Moon!” he cried.
She dropped the book and stared at him.
“Daniel?”
The siblings embraced, crying uncontrollably.
Cold Moon explained that a stranger had rescued her from the burning building. She had suffered severe injuries and remained unconscious for weeks. The stranger had hidden her because the people responsible for the fire were searching for her.
“I heard everything while recovering,” she revealed. “Amanda didn't act alone. Someone promised her money to lure me into that house.”
“Who?” Daniel asked.
Cold Moon looked directly at Michael.
“Our father.”
Michael lowered his head.
Their father had arranged the fire because Cold Moon possessed documents proving that he had stolen the family's fortune and concealed the existence of his children to protect his inheritance.
But Cold Moon had survived, and now she had the evidence.
The siblings contacted Detective Williams, who arranged protection and reopened the investigation. Victoria was eventually found alive, and the stolen documents were recovered.
Amanda confessed to helping arrange the incident, although she claimed she had never intended for anyone to die. Investigators uncovered evidence linking their father to the conspiracy.
He was arrested and charged with conspiracy and attempted murder, along with other offences supported by the evidence. Amanda also faced criminal charges for her role in the plot.
Months later, the truth finally emerged in court.
Cold Moon survived to testify. Her father was convicted, and the family recovered much of its stolen fortune through legal proceedings.
Amanda apologized to Cold Moon, but forgiveness did not come easily. Cold Moon chose to move forward without allowing hatred to control her life.
She used part of the recovered wealth to build a centre for vulnerable children, determined that no child should suffer because of greed or family secrets.
On the opening day, Daniel stood beside his sister and smiled.
“We lost so much,” he said, “but the truth brought us back together.”
Cold Moon looked toward the sky.
“I survived for a reason,” she replied. “And that reason is to help others.”
For the first time in years, the family could begin to heal.
THE END.
Moral Lesson
Never allow jealousy, greed, or the desire for power to destroy innocent lives. The truth may remain hidden for a time, but deception can have devastating consequences. Justice, courage, and forgiveness can help people rebuild their lives, even after terrible tragedies.