Chapter 28

Chapter 28
THE RUN TO NOWHERE

Point of View: Luna Hart

My scream is still reverberating throughout the cottage as I remain still in my room. The message wafting in the wind from the shattered glass, the knife protruding from the window sill. My mother enters first, her eyes as big as saucers and her nightgown twisted. "Luna! "Are you hurt?" she says as she rushes over to embrace me. Her pulse is pounding rapidly against my ear as she gives me a strong embrace.

Next, Mr. Cole bursts in, his flashlight beam wildly sweeping the walls. With the light streaming on the window, he cries, "What happened?" The wood splinters slightly as he yanks out the knife, which glints brilliantly. His face becomes white as milk when he unfolds the message. His voice is unsteady and low as he reads, "Time's up, Luna."

It feels like there are rocks in my stomach. I can't get the image of the monster's face at the glass out of my head—its toothy, nasty grin. I gesture to the window and mutter, "It was there." "The beast. That's what it left.

My mother's breath is rapid as she gives me a stronger embrace. She exclaims in a strong voice, "We have to leave." "Now."

Mr. Cole's jaw clenched, he nodded. "Pack quickly. In five minutes, we will go.

We rush, shoving my clothing into a bag with unsteady hands. My mother assists, fumbling with the zipper with her fingers. She hands me her locket and adds, "Don't forget it." The metal feels chilly against my flesh as I slide it around my neck.

Mr. Cole wraps the knife in a towel and reaches for his bag. He leads us to the rear entrance and declares, "No time for lights." We slip out, the grass damp under my feet, and the night air stings my face. My luggage bounces on my back as we dash to the vehicle. We drive slowly down the gravel road with trees touching the sides while Mr. Cole starts the engine quietly and without any lights.

I turn to see the cabin becoming smaller in the shadows. A shadow passes past the window, but it disappears quickly. My heart is pounding. "They're still there," I mumble in a low voice.

Mr. Cole looks at his reflection. His voice is firm as he continues, "We'll lose them." When we get to the main road, he speeds up and switches on the lights. The woods are blurring past while the automobile hums. Every few minutes, my mother squeezes my hand with her fingers.

"Where are we heading?" With a weary voice, I ask.

With his gaze fixed on the road, Mr. Cole remarks, "A new place." "Very far away."

I lean on my mother and nod. Even though her shoulder is warm, my stomach still turns. The monster always knows where we are. How? Time's up was written on the note. What does it signify? Though dreams are frightening—the monster's face smiling, its hands reaching for me—sleep beckons.

The automobile is rumbling on a dirt road when I wake up, the light glaring into my eyes. My mother is sleeping with her head against the window. Red-eyed from lack of sleep, Mr. Cole drives. "Good morning," he replies with a little smile.

"Where are we?" I wipe my eyes and ask.

He describes it as a little town. "Safe for the time being."

At a restaurant, where the sign is flickering, we pause. It smells like coffee and bacon inside. We devour sticky, delicious pancakes, but I'm not hungry, so I prod mine with a fork. My mother looks at me with concern in her eyes. She cuts a slice for me and says, "Eat, Luna."

I eat slowly while nodding. My throat is stuck with food. I tremble as the image of the monster's visage flashes into my mind. In a hushed voice, Mr. Cole asks the waitress whether there is a place to stay. She points down the road and nods.

We make our way to a little white home with a porch. The owner, an elderly woman with a kind smile, is paid by Mr. Cole. She hands him the keys and adds, "Stay quiet here."

It's comfortable inside, with a large kitchen and soft couches. Steam rises hot as my mom brews tea. Mr. Cole checks the windows and adds, "We'll stay low." "Avoid going out by yourself."

I sat on the sofa and nodded. Lead feels heavy on my legs. With her hand on my knee, my mother offers me tea. In a soft voice, she asks, "Tell me what you saw."

I explained the message, the knife, and the face to her. Her face becomes pale, and her eyes enlarge. She gives me a hug and says, "We'll overcome this."

I nod, but the pain in my stomach persists. Playing games and munching sandwiches, the day goes by slowly. Mr. Cole's expression is serious as he watches the news on television. He switches it off and replies, "No word on escapes."

When night falls, the home is silent. With a gentle kiss on my forehead, my mother tucks me in. "Get enough sleep," she advises.

I nod, but I continue to stare out the window. The air causes the drapes to swing slightly. No shadow, no face. But it's not simple to fall asleep. Worries and dreams coexist; the monster is hunting me and laughing loudly.

A gentle scratching sound wakes me up. My heart leaps. The room is dark as I sit up. The window is the source of the scratching. With my feet chilly on the ground, I steal closer. I slightly draw back the curtain. The monster's visage reappears, its broad grin and eyes fixed on mine.

I back up, gasping. Slowly and steadily, the face taps the glass. I shake my mother awake as I rush to her room. "It's here!" I shout in a whisper.

Her eyes widen as she quickly awakens. We dash over to inform Mr. Cole. The door bangs as he rushes outside after grabbing his flashlight. My mother gives me a firm embrace while we wait. His face is white when he returns. "Gone," he declares. "But a fresh note."

The paper is crumpled as he holds it up. Luna, you cannot hide. The true boss sees everything. It breaks my heart. Once again, the actual boss. Who is it?

As we drive out, the night is chilly and we pack again. My mother speaks softly while she hugs me. "We'll figure something out," she adds.

Though my eyes are on the dark road, I nod. The creature is out there, approaching steadily.

As the morning rises and the sky becomes pink, we pull over at a petrol station. As he fills up the tank, Mr. Cole looks around the road. With unsteady hands, my mom purchases munchies. The locket is heavy around my neck while I sit in the automobile. I'm curious about the photo inside, which shows my mom and I with Ms. Linda in the background. Who is in charge? Maybe someone else, but not Ms. Linda.

Mr. Cole restarts the vehicle and gets back in. "We're going to a city," he declares. "It's harder to locate us there."

I eat a candy bar while nodding. Even if the sugar is delicious, my stomach still turns. The route is long and dull, and we travel all day. My mother's soft voice puts me to sleep when she sings songs. I fantasize about secure locations when I fall asleep.

As night sets, we arrive at the metropolis, where the lights are dazzling and sparkling. Mr. Cole discovers an apartment high up in a big structure. He locks the door and adds, "Safe here."

We chuckle a bit at dumb jokes while eating hot, delicious pizza. The bed is lovely when my mother tucks me in. "Luna, good night," she says.

I close my eyes and nod. Outside, the bustle of the metropolis is accompanied by distant automobile horns. Sleep comes slowly, but it's deep when it does.

A gentle buzzer wakes me up. My mobile phone. The screen is shining as I grasp it. A fresh message: Luna, nice apartment. However, the true boss is closer than you may imagine. My heart stops. I see that the door is open and that a shadow is creeping in.

I see the face of the shadow as it approaches—not that of the monster, but a familiar face.
My dearest friend Mia is there, but her smile is off and her eyes are cruel.