Chapter 37

Chapter 37
THE SHADOW WITH THE KEY

Point of View: Luna Hart

As I swivel around and stare at the shadow at the doorway, my heart thumps like a startled rabbit. It contains a key that is identical to the one in my pocket—my dad's key with the bird mark—and it shines in the moonlight. The message on the phone in my palm glows: You caught Lily, but I'm closer, Luna. Take a look at your back. My breath catches as my stomach twists so painfully. Tall and slender, the shadow advances, its face obscured by the darkness. All of my secrets are out, and I'm Luna Hart, the missing girl from Hart Global. After Mia betrayed me, Aunt Clara and Lily were apprehended, but the "real boss" is still pursuing me. Mr. Cole is downstairs, the black dog is bandaged beside my bed, and my mom is sleeping in the next room. I have this darkness all to myself.

With unsteady hands and stumbling feet on the blanket, I back up. "Who are you?" I spoke with a little whisper.

The key glints as it tilts its head, and the shadow stops. A low, gentle voice that sounds like a woman's yet unsettling replies, "You know me, Luna." My skin tingles, and I grip my locket tightly as the image of me, my mother, and Ms. Linda seems weighty.

"Remain away!" I exclaim, my voice trembling, louder. The dog wakes up and raises its ears to whine softly. I look at it in the hopes that it would bark, but it isn't strong enough.

The shadow lets forth a low, cruel chuckle. It moves in closer and says, "You can't run forever." Its pale face, with prominent cheekbones and black-hole-like eyes, is illuminated by the moon. It's not Lily, Mia, or Clara. It's a new individual.

I scream, "Mom!" and run for the door, but the shadow snatches my arm with icy, powerful fingers. The dog bares its fangs and barks as it struggles to rise. It yelps when the shadow kicks at it, and it falls back.

My mother shouts, "Luna!" as her footsteps thud. She enters abruptly, her eyes wide, her hair disheveled. She yells, "Let her go!" and lunges at the shadow.

I am pushed hard by the shadow and fall, hitting the ground with my head. With her hands clenched, my mother assaults it. Crashing onto the bed, they roll. The dog snaps at the shadow's leg and lets out a loud bark. The shadow drops the key and shouts. I catch it with trembling fingertips as it clatters past my hand.

With his flashlight beam swinging, Mr. Cole dashes in. He yells, "Luna!" and drags my mother out of the gloom. Scrambling up, the shadow rushes for the glass. When Mr. Cole reaches for it, it leaps through, shattering the glass, and vanishes into the darkness.

My mother gives me a firm embrace while breathing rapidly. She checks my face with her hands and says, "Are you okay?"

I nod while crying. "Yes," I mumble as I raise the key. It has the same bird mark as mine. My head is whirling and my stomach aches. "It belongs to Dad," I remark in a low voice.

My mother's face becomes pale and her eyes widen. She takes it and murmurs, "Another one?" Her fingers shaking, she flips it over. "How?"

Mr. Cole's expression is grim as he locks the window. He declares, "We're heading out." "Now."

We pack quickly, and I cram clothing into a bag with unsteady hands. The dog, its bandage unfastened, limps after us. With teary eyes, my mother assists. "Nice dog," she murmurs, stroking its head.

The night is dark and chilly as we dash to the automobile. The river sparkles next to us as Mr. Cole drives quickly. My mother's fingers are clenched around my hand. "Who was that?" With a weak voice, I ask.

Her eyes are far away as she shakes her head. "I'm not sure, Luna. Trouble is the key, however.

I have my own key in my pocket and nod. My dad has two keys currently, both of which have bird imprints on them. What are they opening? The echoing words of the shadow are: You know me. However, I don't. I feel as if my heart is a stone.

The road is dark and the stars are glittering as we travel for hours. My eyes sag, but I resist going to sleep because I'm afraid of nightmares. The dog cuddles up next to me, its warmth helping to ease my stomach. Like I was a child, my mom sings softly in a weak yet lovely voice.

We stopped at a little hotel with a buzzing sign. Mr. Cole checks in, his voice quiet, using a fictitious identity. Our little room has a buzzing refrigerator and uncomfortable bedding. With a gentle kiss on my forehead, my mother tucks me in. "Go to sleep," she advises in a soft voice.

While I nod, my gaze remains fixed on the window. I can't get the shadow's visage out of my thoughts; its frightening black eyes. Both of the keys—mine and the shadow's—are heavy in my hands right now. Slowly falling asleep, dreams mingling with anxieties—the shadow pursuing, its chilly chuckle.

The sun peeking through the drapes awakens me up. The fragrance of my mom's coffee is overwhelming. Mr. Cole is speaking quietly on the phone. He hangs up after saying, "Find out who." His eyes are compassionate when he stares at me. "Are you alright?"

I sit up and nod. "Yes." However, the weight of the keys in my pocket makes my stomach turn. My hands are shaking as I present them to him. "What do they open?"

With a solemn expression, he accepts them. "A major thing," he adds. "Hart Global's vault, perhaps."

My mother's cup trembles as she gasps. "Vault?" she murmurs. "Your father concealed something there. Something hazardous.

My throat tightens as I nod. "What?"

She gives a headshake. "I'm not sure. He didn't tell me.

We drink cold milk and eat cereal. My mother's eyes are troubled, yet she grins. The dog's tail wags slowly as it consumes leftovers. We go to a neighboring park after breakfast, where the grass is damp from the morning dew. My mother laughs softly as she pushes me on a swing. I feel normal for a while, and the breeze feels cold across my face.

Then I see a shadow observing from the woods. My heart leaps. With a loud voice, I point. "There!"

With his hand on his phone, Mr. Cole rotates around. The shadow shifts and vanishes into the woods. His sneakers splatter in puddles as he chases after it. My mother snatches me in her arms. "Remain near," she says.

My heart is pounding as we wait. Mr. Cole returns with a flushed face. "Gone," he says in a firm voice. "But I discovered this." He displays a little piece of moist, crumpled paper. This is a note: Luna, two keys. You're near. However, I am as well.

My hands are shaking, and my stomach aches. Once again, the shadow. We quickly pack and return to the hotel. The journey is lengthy, and Mr. Cole takes us to a new town. My mother's fingers are warm when she grips my hand. "We'll deal with it," she adds.

My heart is heavy, yet I nod. Who is the darkness, the vault, and the keys? We stop at a restaurant and eat salty fries and burgers. I grin a bit when my mom narrates a tale. The dog's nose twitches as it sleeps under the table.

When night falls, we locate a new safe haven—a cottage in the mountains. The stars are brilliant and the air is clean. With a nice blanket, my mother tucks me in. "Dreams of sweetness," she says.

I close my eyes and nod. The cottage is peaceful, with a gentle breeze outside. However, a little scratch at the door awakens me up. My heart leaps. My hands are chilly as I grasp the keys. A tall, slender person with a flashlight enters as the door creaks open.

"Luna," a familiar, quiet voice murmurs. It's my former nanny, Ms. Linda, with sad eyes and a pale face. She takes a step closer and apologizes.

My heart stops. Linda, Ms. According to my mother, she is deceased. She takes out a knife
, its blade glinting, and closes the door behind her before I can scream.