Incubus

Five

It was late at night when Luna zipped her parka up to her chin. Her phone was filled with dozens of ignored calls from her friends but she didn't bother to return them.

With her brother and mother tucked away in bed for the night, Luna was free to silently sneak out of the side door, locking it behind her and walking towards the cemetery. It was a long, quiet walk in the night air but she was happy for the solitude. In her mind it was her chance to really mourn the loss she felt and get it all out of her system so she could try again the next day.

As she approached the entrance she hoped desperately that the gates were unlocked so she could slip inside without having to talk to anyone.

She saw the chains wrapped around the bars, to keep them from opening and she was disappointed but when she stepped closer, she noticed that the large metal lock wasn't clicked into place.

She unlatched the chain and pushed her way inside as she hoped no one would see her.

She hurried across the cool grass to the fresh gravestone that stood about two feet high in pride with his name and dates.

She sat at the edge of the fresh dirt. "Hi dad."

Her gaze drifted to the flowers that were placed there.

"It's barely been a couple days and your flowers are dying. I'll get you new ones I promise."

It was silent before she went on. "I miss you. We all do but I think I miss you the most. You weren't there for the dark times. You weren't there to see my mother fall apart when he left. When you came along everything was better...she was happy and I felt like I existed again."

She stared at all the other flowers in the graves nearby, most of them wilting or dead. "Now that you're gone, I'm scared it's gonna happen again. But I won't let it. I'll wake her up and make sure she gets dressed and goes to work. I'll do whatever I have to do to make sure that she doesn't do this to Ty. He doesn't deserve it...neither did I..."

She buried her face in her hands and choked on sobs. "I should've told you about the dark days. All the nights spent at Matt's house so I wouldn't starve, all the nights listening to her cry, I should've told you about all of it. Maybe things would be different. Maybe you would've been more careful."

As Luna sobbed away her sorrows she felt the skin on her face warming but she kept her eyes buried into her hands. She wished hard that he was there with her.

She wished hard that her family was still intact.

The warmth spread through her body as she pictured the happier times. The bowling nights, the games nights, the movie marathons. She remembered how they made her feel: safe and happy.

She finally looked up when she realized her nose was bleeding. Flowers bloomed all around her, bright in all their shades and blooming as though the sun were out. The white roses in the vase at her father's plot went from gray and wilting to almost glowing in the dark night.

She stood to her feet, her chest heaving as she wondered if she was losing her mind.

"It's okay, it's okay." The woman came from her hiding place and pressed a fresh tissue to the young girl's nose.

Luna went to panic but her brown eyes met hers as she soothed her. "Hey, now. I'm here to help."

Something in her eyes was trusting and somewhat familiar as she accepted the tissue and cleaned her nose up.

"I know you." Luna stated. "You were at my dad's funeral."

The woman smiled. "Yes, honey."

"Who are you?"

Her face changed from happiness into one of worry. Even though she'd been ready for this moment for a long time she was still never truly prepared. "I'm...your aunt."

"I don't understand. Benjamin and my mother didn't have brothers or sisters."

"I'm not their sister. I'm Artie's sister."

"Who's Artie?"

She looked confused at her niece's question. "Luna, how much do you actually know about your father?"

Her eyes widened with realization.

She didn't know that she had any family from her biological father's side. Her head started swirling with questions and possible scenarios. Did it mean that her father was nearby too?

She glanced around looking for someone else.

"No, no sweetie, it's just me." She chuckled. "Just me."

"Is he with you? Where is he? I don't understand..." There was a lot going through her head, her mind started to cloud with all of the possibilities. Thunder resounded in the distance.

"Hey, hey your nose." Her aunt produced a fresh piece of tissue for the new trail of blood. "How often has this been happening?"

Luna shrugged. "I don't know the last few days. I guess."

"Okay, well, I'd love to answer your questions but it's late and now it's about to rain so let's get to my car so I can drive you home. Does that sound okay?"

"I..." She didn't know what to say.

The woman wrapped her arms around her and led her out the way she came to a mint Cadillac '57 Coupe.

Luna admired the interior as she slid in and carefully buckled her seatbelt.

"Great isn't it? The best thing your grandaddy left me when he passed." She blew a kiss to the dashboard, "It's like he's always here with me."

Luna gave a small but shy smile as she thought about the fact that this was the second time she'd gotten in a car with someone she didn't know. In just one day. She scolded herself as the woman pulled away from the curb.

"My house is--"

"I know where your house is, honey." She chuckled and waved away the rest of her sentence.

Luna went pale and couldn't shake the creepy feeling coming over her.

"I know I sound like a creep but I've been here for a while trying to get the courage to talk to you. There's just so much to tell you." She said casually as she zoomed hard around a corner. Luna was so thankful she wore her seat belt.

"What kind of stuff?" Luna said once her heart stopped thundering in her chest.

She pulled in front of Luna's house and cut the engine. "You've had enough of a shock today. We can talk more tomorrow. I'll pick you up after school and we can talk."

"I-I don't know." Luna stuttered.

She turned to face Luna. "I know this is a lot to take in but I'm only here to help you however I can, Luna. And I promise that tomorrow when we talk you can ask me whatever you want and I'll try my best to answer. 'Kay?"

"I--"

"Now you better get inside. I'm pretty sure that your mom doesn't know you're out and if she's anything like I remember, you'll be in for it if she finds out."

She leaned across to open the door for a stunned girl.

"You knew my mom?" Luna asked as the feeling came back into her legs and she pulled herself from the car.

"We'll save it for tomorrow, honey." She smiled through the open window. "I'm your auntie Evangeline. Evie for short."

"I--"

"Get some rest." she waved as she turned the engine over and pulled away.

Luna stared long after her car disappeared around the corner in a hurry. 

Hello party peoples, I hope that you are enjoying the new versions of this chapter! I also urge you to read my newest story Saved, which is in my profile and is updated very, very frequently! Also, I'm checking out stuff to read so comment anything you want me to read!