No one in town had seen the stars for a hundred years—not until the night Charlie disappeared. A century of darkness had lingered since Freda fought with all her might to save the planet. When rats overran Aster, Freda erupted in an explosion, plunging the community into endless night, with no way for anyone to leave.
Over time, the Asterians sharpened their night vision, adapting to their environment. After thirty years, every child was born with white eyes. Rubble choked the streets, insects roamed freely through the parks, and rats had become the most common pets again. But near the lake, Charlie was born—a green-eyed boy whom the townsfolk believed would bring back the light. His mother paraded him around like a miracle. Everyone in Aster knew of the child destined to return the stars.
By the lake stood Freda’s old house. No one had gone near it in years. They feared a possible reincarnation… and the water. But Charlie’s mother needed answers before June 16th—the day of sacrifice. The town had already made their intentions clear. Desperate, she grabbed Charlie and ran to the lake. Five days early, she declared that they must cleanse the town. In a trance, Charlie had whispered in his sleep: The light will only return when the rats are gone.The crowd in the square listened in silence. Slowly, they returned to their homes and began pushing rubble and filth toward the cliffs at the edge of Aster.
On the night of the 15th, an explosion shook the town—but this time, for a fleeting moment, the infinite darkness flickered with stars. The Asterians rushed outside, their eyes shifting under the glow of the night sky. Yet Charlie’s mother sat hunched in a corner, weeping.
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