Chapter 145 LUNA
LUNA.
THEO'S POINT OF VIEW.
THEO’S POINT OF VIEW.
I barged into the house, the taste of blood from biting my cheeks filling my mouth, as well as the lump in my throat, as I looked around. All I met was utter silence, and it terrified me. Normally, my mother’s music would be blasting from one of the speakers as she danced around the living room, a baking dish in her hands as she whisked away.
She would have flour on her cheeks and in her hair, AirPods in her ear, as she acted as though the world around her did not exist. But today… There wasn’t any of that.
Nothing like the sound of my sister’s boisterous giggling as she pranced around the house while screaming about the new K-pop idol she was obsessed with.
My eyes widened, as my steps slowed, my mind filled with a notion… what if Phillip wasn’t dead? What if he’d somehow evaded death, possibly by bribing the grim reaper, just so he could return to torment us all?
If he were back, my mother, my sister, I, and Seraphina would be on the chopping block.
No.
I won't let any harm come to them. The last time, I didn’t kill him with my very hands, but if he dared, I’d ensure that my hands were stained with his blood.
“Mom?” I whispered, hoping she would answer me….but there was nothing. Not even a peep, all I heard was the sound of the air conditioner whistling cold air at me. But even at that, I felt like I was in the middle of the Earth’s core.
Sweat clung to my brow as my hands shook. Regardless of the hopelessness I felt, I called again;
“Mom? Lil sis? Where are you? And why is the house so dark?” I swallowed the lump in my throat and allowed myself to move from the spot.
The house was bathed in darkness even though it was still day outside. The curtains were drawn, and the lights were out. It felt like the life I’d lived when Phillip was around, further cementing my fear that he was back, and not as dead as I thought.
I paused at the stairs, the weight of my fear fully settling on me as my shoulders shook. Before I could control it, my eyes filled with my tears, but I didn’t let them fall. I swallowed again, steeled my spine, clenched my jaw, and took each stair with false strength; even as my mind whispered to me that I might be walking to my death.
But I knew I was ready to sacrifice myself, as long as Seraphina was safe…
The door to my sister’s room creaked as I pushed it open, the sound almost haunting as I pulled it farther back. My eyes took in the pink unicorn paradise, but disappointment sank in me as soon as I realised a bitter truth;
She wasn’t in here.
‘Maybe she's in mom’s room?’
My subconscious whispered, and like a fool, I believed him. Anna always went to her mom’s room just in case she was scared of the memory Phillip brought about.
“Mom?” I called again, my voice mixing with the haunting sound of the door I pushed open. The hope I had earlier was dashed again as I took in the emptiness.
Before I could turn around to see if I could find them elsewhere, the light came on, and caused me to turn abruptly to see who it was. As soon as I turned around, I wished I hadn’t.
My eyes widened as I took in the ghost before me…this has to be a joke? A cruel, horrible joke, but a joke nonetheless. I could feel my blood run cold instantly, as I took in her damp hair, her pale skin, her hollow eyes, as her worn dress dragged along her bony skin.
She held the woman with my life in her hands in front of her, a brown knife to her throat as she glared at me. As much as I wanted to keep staring at her, I couldn't help but look at Seraphina as she shook, her tears running down her cheek. I took in the dried blood on the side of her neck, and anger coursed through my veins, replacing the earlier fear.
“Hello, Theo.” She called, her voice slimy and almost scaly as her grip on Seraphina’s hair tightened to the point where my girl winced.
“Luna,” I said, calling her name out for the first time in years. All I felt aside from my anger was utter confusion… how was she alive? I swear I could remember Phillip bludgeoning her to death before me…..I don’t think a child would forget something so horrifying….it just wasn’t possible.
“Our reunion is long overdue, don’t you think so too?” She hissed, speaking through her clenched teeth, as her hand, which held the knife to my girl’s throat, flexed so she held the knife tighter, drawing even more blood.
“Luna….how?” I whispered, my eyes not once straying from Seraphina. I met her beautiful ones head-on, trying to reassure her through my stare that everything would be okay. That I would get her out of this mess as soon as I could.
“Look at me!” Luna snapped, causing her grip to become much tighter on the knife, and drew even more blood from the growing wound. Seraphina’s hiss caused me to stare at Luna instantly; I didn’t want her to get even more agitated.
“You know where I found this one?” She smirked, her thin lips stretching sickly. “I saw her when she jumped from the van, and took to her heels with some bitch beside her. It was quite entertaining, to be honest.
But she didn’t watch around enough. I was right on the bike tailing the damn van, and I didn’t even fucking hesitate. I ran the little bitch over instantly.” Her voice came out the same way it did even as a child, causing me to ask myself if I wasn’t hallucinating.
Luna was dead…. wasn't she?
“You left me.” She said, her smile falling off her face as she fixed me with a glare. I shook my head slowly and opened my mouth to say no, but all of a sudden, she screamed, “You fucking abandoned me! And then what, you thought you could fall in love with some other bitch, and just leave me forever?
No fucking way!”
“Luna….you died…..I saw it. My dad... he did that to you.” I said slowly, as one would speak with someone holding onto a murderous object.
“You didn’t ever see anything, Theo. Your father landed the few blows that were supposed to kill me, then he walked over to probably get something more… final, but the second he did, I, not sure where I found the fucking strength as a child, was able to hide….but he still found me.” A sad smile appeared on her face, before it fell, replaced by the menacing stare, followed by, “And you know what he did?
Enamoured by my ‘fighting spirit for a child’, as he put it, he kept me hidden not too far from your room in your old house, barely feeding me weekly. But I pushed myself, and you know why?
Because I thought you and I would finally be together as soon as I broke out, as soon as he died. I didn’t think it would happen, but it finally did.
And when I come out, what do I see?” She hissed, her eyes turning darker again as she returned the knife to Seraphina’s neck.
“No,” I whispered.
“I see you with some bitch, professing your love? That is supposed to be mine! All mine, Theo! Not hers, you and I are supposed to be. Your father said so; he said you and I would wed as soon as you became of age.”
“Luna…please, we can discuss this. Just please put the knife down.” My hands were out as I regarded her with a careful stance. The thin trail of blood running down Seraphina’s neck felt like a time bomb….I was so worried that she would suddenly lose her patience and finish her off for good.
“No. The only way to solve this is for her to no longer come between us.” And the next thing I knew, all I felt was blood splashing against my face.