Chapter 34

Chapter 34
THE VAN IN THE NIGHT

Point of View: Luna Hart

The black vehicle races at us, its headlights dazzling and blinding, and my heart thumps like a drum. I take hold of my mother's arm and draw her back against the wall of the petrol station. She is staring at the lady who claimed to be her sister with wide eyes and a pale face. The large black dog snaps and growls at the lady, causing her phone to drop and her grin to fade. With tires screaming on the pavement, the van draws closer. I feel like my stomach is twisted and full of pebbles. I'm Luna Hart, Hart Global's lost girl, and I have nothing left to conceal. Aunt Clara is the "real boss," Mia deceived me, and now this woman—my mom's sister?—is here with a guy who dropped a key similar to my dad's. We were previously rescued by the dog, but now we're stuck.

My mother cries, "Run!" in a tremulous but powerful voice. My boots slide on the damp ground as she tugs me toward the side of the petrol station. The lady jumps back into her vehicle as the dog chases after her with loud barking. Sparks fly as the van swerves, almost missing us, and collides with a pump.

I put my hands over my ears and scream. The metal of a trash can feels chilly on my back as my mother pulls me behind it. The previous guy exits the vehicle via the open door, his face still concealed and his hood up. The barrel of a new rifle gleams in the moonlight as he grips it. "Luna!" he yells in a cruel tone. "Get out!"

My mother's hand is shaking as she covers my lips. She tells me to be quiet while shaking her head, her eyes moist. I hear the woman's vehicle drive off as the dog's barking stops. With his boots crunching on the shattered glass from the pump, the guy approaches. My breath is locked in my throat, and my heart is pounding.

With its jaws ripping at the man's leg, the dog lunges out of the shadows. He screams as he drops, his pistol clattering on the floor. My mother takes hold of my hand and helps me up. She murmurs, "Now!" as we bolt for the forest behind the petrol station.

As we plunge into the jungle, my legs burn and branches itch my face. The dog growls as the man's yells reverberate behind. My mother's breath is rapid and her hand is tight. We collapse into soft ground after tripping over roots. She draws me in and conceals us under a bush. "Shh," she says in a barely audible whisper.

I nod, tears in my eyes. The man's key is heavy in my pocket, and my locket crushes on my breast. My mom stated it belonged to my dad. However, how? He is no longer there. The man's footsteps squeak closer before coming to a standstill. His voice is low and ominous as he whispers, "I know you're here."

My hands are shaking, and my stomach aches. Now that the dog is silent, I wonder whether that's acceptable. My mother's powerful but terrified eyes contact mine. She squeezes my hand and says, "We'll get out."

I hear the van's engine start up again as the footsteps fade away. My mom keeps us still, although my heart slows down a little. "Hold on," she murmurs. We remain behind the bush, with flies swarming all about us and the night being chilly. Even though my knees are dirty and my socks are damp, I remain still.

After a while, my mother appears. She helps me rise up and adds, "He's gone." Despite my shaky legs, I follow her into the woods as the moon illuminates our path. "We must locate Mr. Cole," she replies quietly.

My throat tightens as I nod. "Where is he?" I inquire in a low voice.

Her eyes are frightened as she shakes her head. "He'll track us down."

My mother is leaning on me and her steps are feeble as we walk slowly. A road with a sign indicating a settlement emerges from the jungle. I feel a bit better. We could discover assistance. Then a vehicle slows down and headlights flash. My stomach turns around. My breath catches as we dive behind a tree.

The vehicle halts, and a door opens. A harsh but gentle voice cries out, "Luna?" It's Mr. Cole. My heart leaps. My mother catches me as I try to run away, her eyes wild.

"Hold on," she murmurs. "What if this is a ruse?"

My stomach is twisting again, I freeze. Mia pretended to be my buddy in order to deceive me. What if Mr. Cole isn't here? Closer, the voice beckons again. "It's me, Luna!"

My mother's face relaxes when she peers out. "It's him," she declares as she leaves. With unsteady legs, I follow. Mr. Cole is there, his face scratched and his shirt ripped. His arms are powerful as he gives us both a hug.

His voice cracks as he adds, "You're okay." "I believed I had lost you."

I nod while crying. As my words come out of my mouth, I add, "The man... and a woman." "She claimed to be Mom's sister."

With her hand over her lips, my mother's face becomes pale. She murmurs, "My sister?" "That isn't feasible."

Mr. Cole narrows his gaze. He leads us to his vehicle and says, "We have to get moving." It's damaged on one side and worn, but it works. With the town lights far ahead and the road dark, we drive quickly.

In a quiet voice, Mr. Cole asks, "Tell me about the woman."

With tears in her eyes, my mother shakes her head. She declares, "I don't have a sister." "No more. She passed away many years ago.

My heart is pounding as I gaze at her. "Dead?" I inquire in a low voice.

Her voice is tremulous as she nods. "Lily, your aunt. She was ill. She died when you were still a baby.

My stomach aches. Who was that lady, then?

Mr. Cole holds on tightly to the wheel. "Somebody is lying," he claims. "Or worse."

The automobile hums as we travel in silence. The bird imprint on the key presses on my hand as I hold it in my pocket. My father's key. However, how did the guy possess it? My mother's face is pallid in the dashboard light as I gaze at her. "What is the reality?" I inquire in a low voice.

She breathes deeply. "I'm not sure, Luna. However, we'll find out.

When we get to town, we park at a modest hotel. We are given a key to a room with two beds by the drowsy clerk. With a gentle touch on my forehead, my mother tucks me in. "Go to sleep," she advises in a soft voice.

I nod, but I continue to stare out the window. I can feel the weight of the key in my pocket and the image of the lady in my mind. Not Lily. Then who?

The room is light when morning arrives. My mouth is sweet from the sugary donuts that Mr. Cole provides. My mother's eyes are far away while we dine in silence. Mr. Cole states in a quiet voice, "We need a plan." "To locate this lady."

With my stomach still twisted, I nod. We go to a park after breakfast, where the swings are deserted. My mother laughs softly as she pushes me. I feel like a child again for a while. Then I see a shadow observing us from the woods.

I point and mumble, "Mom." Her face is pallid as she seems. With his hand on his phone, Mr. Cole takes a step forward.

The shadow shifts and enters the light. It's the lady with the short hair and the innocent-looking yet incorrect grin. "Luna," she says in a lovely voice. "My name is Lily. Your mother told lies.

My mother puts her palm to her lips as she gasps. "No," she mumbles. "You've passed away."

Lily takes a step closer and chuckles. She pulls out a photo of me as a baby with her and my mother and asks, "Am I?" My heart stops.

The air is broken by a loud honk before I can say anything. Doors flinging open, a dark vehicle drives into the area. Men with firearms in their hands and masks leap out. Lily takes a step back and grins. "It's time for you to return home, Luna," she adds.

The dog lunges and tackles one guy as its snarl echoes from the woods. But someone else takes my arm and gives me a violent yank. A guy throws my mom down as she cries and lunges for me. A revolver is pressed against Mr. Cole's skull as he struggles, his fists flying.

The vehicle door slams shut, sealing me inside with a stranger's face peering down, and I scream, my voice rough.

\# Chapter 35: THE STRANGER IN THE VAN

Point of View: Luna Hart

My heart is thumping like a drum when the van door slams shut, trapping me inside. The face of a stranger looks down at me; his breath is rapid and heated, and his eyes are dark behind a black mask. I kick at him and cry, but he takes my arm and pins me to the chilly metal floor. My mother's scream pierces the atmosphere outside, and I hear Mr. Cole shouting, fighting, and then a tremendous thump. The van's engine roars as the black dog's snarl mingles with the mayhem, and we race out with tires screaming. My stomach twists so painfully. Now that everyone is aware of my secret, I am Luna Hart, the missing girl from Hart Global. Aunt Clara is the "real boss," Mia deceived me, and Lily, the lady posing as my mom's sister, planned this trap. We were saved by the dog, but now I'm by myself with this stranger.

"Give me a break!" I scream, trembling beneath his hold, my voice faltering. The key in my pocket feels like a stone, and my locket presses against my chest.

The guy growls, his voice gruff, "Silence, child." He uses a rope to bind my hands, making the knots tight and causing my skin to itch. I kick again, striking his leg, but all he does is laugh sourly.

I slip as the vehicle bounces over the road. My eyes are watery as I gaze around. There are just crates and a filthy blanket in the dark, windowless rear. The guy is observing me while perched on a crate with his rifle resting in his lap. My breath is quick and my heart is racing. When Lily showed me the photo of me as a newborn with my mother and Lily, I saw my mother's face become white. Lily was dead, according to my mom. Was she telling the truth? Or is it Lily who is lying?

"Where are we going?" I inquire in a low voice.

The man's mask conceals his face as he tilts his head. He responds, "Somewhere safe," but his tone seems off, as if he's concealing something.

I cry as I shake my head. "You're awful. Let me go!

His eyes narrow as he leans in closer. "Luna Hart, you are really valuable. Be good, otherwise your mother will suffer more.

My stomach turns around. My mother? Do they also have her? Trying not to weep, I bite my lip. Like when I rescued Mia, I must have courage. However, Mia is now among them, and her grin is cruel. My closest companion. The thought of that makes my heart ache.

The vehicle turns sharply and slows. My shoulder thuds as I roll up against a crate. The guy grabs me and hauls me to my feet. With a firm grip, he commands, "Sit still."

With trembling hands in the ropes, I nod. The rear door creaks open as the vehicle comes to a halt. Another guy is standing there with his mask off, a scruffy beard, and a skinny face. His voice is stern as he adds, "Bring her."

My feet trip on the floor as the first guy drags me out. A large structure with damaged windows looms in front of us in the darkness. The air has a dusty, oily scent. Despite my shaky legs, I stand up and look about for a route out. We are surrounded by towering, dark trees with no lights.

The floor is chilly and rough as they shove me inside. Above, a solitary lightbulb swings, creating shadows. When I hear footsteps, Lily emerges with a sweet but menacing grin and shining short hair. She kneels in front of me and says, "Luna." "You're secure now."

I raise my voice and shake my head. "My aunt is not you! "You're dead," my mother said.

Her eyes harden as her grin wanes. "Luna, your mother lied. My name is Lily. I've been looking for you.

The man's hand on my shoulder stops me as I back up. "Where is my mother?" My voice cracks as I ask.

With her fists on her hips, Lily stands. She's all right. For the time being. She remains that way if you are good.

My eyes are moist, and my stomach aches. "What are you looking for?"

Her chuckle is harsh and brief. "Luna, Hart Global. I own it. The key is you.

Confused, I shake my head. I have the key in my pocket. Or me? I don't get it. She nods to the guys as she turns. "Take her upstairs."

They drag me to a creaking stairway. The air becomes cooler as we rise, and my heart accelerates. They push me into a little room with a tiny window high up and a mattress on the floor. The door crashes and clicks to lock. I'm by myself, breathing quickly, and my hands are still bound.

I sat with my knees up and tears streaming down my face on the mattress. The photo of me, my mother, and Ms. Linda within my locket makes my heart ache, and it feels warm on my skin. The ropes are rubbing my wrists red as I twist my hands. I must leave, locate my mother, and locate Mr. Cole.

I startle as I hear a gentle scratching sound outside the window. With unsteady legs, I rise and glance up. There it is, the black dog, its eyes gleaming, its nose pushed against the glass. My heart feels better. There is no harm! With a faint whine, it scrapes once again.

I extend to the window and crawl onto the mattress. I press hard, my fingers sliding, but it's stuck. The dog lets forth a quiet but frantic bark. The glass creaks open just enough when I push it again. "Good dog," I mumble in a tremulous voice.

I use my teeth to loosen the knots in my ropes. Even though my wrists hurt, I continue. As the ropes come down, I freely massage my hands. The dog nuzzles the window with its nose as I push it further. The dog licks my face as I get out, my feet scratching the wall and landing in the grass.

I pat its head while whispering, "Shh." It is large, with velvety, black fur. My pulse is pounding as we stealthily go through the forest. Behind us, the structure is black, with no lights visible. With the dog at my side, its paws silent, I sprint.

The moon is shining as we arrive at a road. Even if my legs hurt, I continue, and the dog stays at my side. My stomach turns around when I hear an engine. I hide behind a bush as the dog lets out a deep growl. The headlights of a vehicle wash over us as it slows down. It's Mr. Cole's automobile, not the van.

He screams out, "Luna!" in a gruff but kind voice.

With my pulse pounding, I get up. "Mr. Cole!" The dog follows me as I hurry to him. His face is scratched and his shirt is ripped as he gives me a hard embrace.

"Where is your mother?" His eyes are wide as he asks.

I cry as I shake my head. "They possess her. Lily. She claims to be family.

His face becomes white. His voice is low as he replies, "Lily is dead." "We must locate your mother."

I nod and get inside the vehicle. With its tail wagging, the dog also leaps in. The route is dark, and Mr. Cole drives quickly. "How did you get out?" he wonders.

I pat the dog's head and say, "The dog." "It was beneficial."

With his gaze fixed on the road, he nods. We go to a little home tucked up among woods. He locks the door and adds, "Safe here."

There is a fire blazing and it is cozy inside. With the dog curled up next to me, I sat on a sofa. Mr. Cole calls in a quiet voice. He ends the call by saying, "Find her."

The key in my pocket is weighty as I grip my locket. "Really, who is Lily?" I inquire in a low voice.

His eyes are kind as he kneels before me. "I'm not sure. We'll stop her, however.

With my stomach still twisted, I nod. The dog raises its ears and whines. My hand trembles as I pet it. I jump when I hear a big sound outside, like a door cracking.

With a stern expression, Mr. Cole reaches for a flashlight. He opens the door and says, "Stay here."

Though my heart is pounding, I nod. The dog stands and grow
ls. Outside, footsteps crunch and a beautiful, quiet voice beckons. "It's me, Luna."

It's Lily. But suddenly there was a scream coming from the woods, my mother's voice.