The Moondim Trilogy(A Sunglo Horror AU): Book 1, "Curses"

Chapter 1: The Fall

     As morning became noon, Ersa checked the cabinets for something to eat. Her aunt, Ares, had left her in charge of house sitting, and she allowed Ersa to invite her friend Rob. Despite Rob's occasional complaints, the short, blonde woman reluctantly agreed.
Ares had signed them directions. Water the plants, make sure there is food, and to make sure that this one strange neighbor stays away from this eerie domain. Speaking of, there they were. Peeping through the open window of Ares' home.
     "Hey!" Shouted Ersa, "Get out of here, will you? Weirdo..."
     "Anything there to eat, Lindsey?" Rob looked up, ignoring the fact that some creep was watching them.
     "No," Ersa sighed. "All there is is some carrots. I have no idea if they're real or not."
Rob approached a nearby cutting board, and poked a cut carrot. "Well, they're clearly not edible now. This one's rotting."
     "Well, Aunt Ares did say that we did need to make sure there was food." Mentioned the woman with a scar.
     Rob stood up, stretching her arms. "Well, I can run to the nearby store real quick and get something. MAINLY because I do not want to do cleaning or laundy-"
     "Rob!" Ersa scoffed, playfully smacking Rob at the back of the head.
     Rob gave a chuckle before asking, "Which way is the store?"
     "Well... If you take a straight shot down the road and take a right, and then find the fork in the road and walk left. And then, follow the side of the road that has a brick wall. It will take an estimate of twenty minutes to get there, but the store should be there."
     Rob took a deep breath. "Okay, so... I'll be back around twenty minutes to an hour..."
Ersa skeptically tilted her head. She knew that Rob wasn't really a perfectionist when it came to directions, even when she had a map. Rob could get as lost easily as a drunken nomad that only walked.
     "Rob, are you sure?" Ersa blinked, "You do know that you have hardly any sense of direction."
     "Very funny Lindsey," the British woman continued. "But again, I shouldn't be long. It's not far- YOU! GET AWAY BEFORE I FIGHT YOU!" Rob screamed as she sprinted towards the window. The odd crackhead retreated, cowering and taunting them.
This made their own blood boil. The two rolled their eyes, and Ersa escorted Rob. "Just try not to get lost, okay?" Despite the fact that you always do, Ersa thought, trying not to say that out loud.
    "Oh, I won't," Rob reassured as she set off.
     They waved before Ersa shut the door. "Yep... She's gonna get lost," she muttered to herself. While she waited, she decided to do some cleaning. The house was a complete filth. There was dust and cobwebs everywhere, along with several doors boarded up for some strange reason. There were even some boxes that mostly contained nothing but air.
     After the domain began to look somewhat nicer, Ersa heard a knock on the door. She approached, thinking it was Rob. But it wasn't. What she saw was a tall, broad-shouldered man with white hair and a dark coat with tears. Strange... The woman with the scar thought with confusion. I don't recall Aunt Ares inviting any guests over.
     "...Hello?" Ersa awkwardly stated, "Can I help you?"
     Then, the man spoke with a soft spoken tone. "Ersa," he rejoiced. "It's so good to see you."
     And at that point, Ersa recognized him as her own childhood best friend. "Wait... Stefen!? Is that you? O-Oh my gosh!"
     "Correct," Stefen continued, "it's been... What? Five years since I last saw you?"
     "Yeah," Ersa said, hugging her old friend, "you've changed a lot."
     Stefen just patted her back. "And I see you still have your scar."
     Ersa let go and elbowed Stefen. "Hey! Insensitive! Woah... Did you dye your hair?"
     "Indeed," Stefen flipped his hair.
     "How've you been? Oh, come inside!" Ersa nearly burst into tears of happiness, but she kept herself together.
     Stefen stepped foot into the house. "Very well, very well."
     "I never thought I'd see you again- Hey! Stop it! Go away!" Behind Stefen, there was that neighbor again. Once again, he cowered away. Stefen turned around, cocking an eyebrow. "Who was that?"
     Ersa sighed, shutting the door. "That's my aunt's weird neighbor. He's, er... Got a problem. I just gotta scare him away every now and then." She turned back to her old friend. "Anyways, I'm still shocked! You said it's been... What? Five years? How the heck did you know I was here? I didn't tell anyone I was housesitting my aunt's house."
     Stefen snickered, wrapping his arm around Ersa. "Eh, things happen to be this way I guess. Anyways, there's plenty of things I wish to tell you," he continued. "I know you're looking after this place for now, but," Stefen got a wide grin. "How about you take a trip?"
     Ersa's face went blank with nothing but amusement. "What?" She laughed anxiously. "Heh, I just got here! I can't go anywhere!"
     Stefen cocked his eyebrow once more. "Of course you can, my dear friend! I've even had a discussion with your aunt about this."
     "Well-"
     Suddenly, the door opened and Rob came back in. "I got lost. I couldn't get the groceries."
     Ersa sighed, "Of course you did, Rob."
     "Who's this?" Curiosity flowed through Stefen.
     "Oh. Hello." Rob greeted, "Who are you?"
     "Well, Rob... This is Stefen, and Stefen this is Rob. Me and him went to school together, and then he moved away. I haven't seen him in five years. And Stefen, Rob is like, my best friend, and she agreed to housesit with me."
     Ersa then opened the door once more and walked out, Rob and Stefen following. "I have NO idea if you've seen this place, but er... Obviously, it's huge. I felt that if I stayed by myself, that would of been a huge mistake, so yeah."
     "That's understandable, my friend. So, anyways... As I was saying, I've spoke with your aunt, and she reluctantly agreed-"
     "Woah there, hold up!" Interrupted the short blonde woman. "Slow down. What is going on?"
     Stefen patted Rob's back. "Heh, well... Have you heard of a place called Sunglo?"
Ersa and Rob looked at each other with confusion.
     "Er, no?"
     "Nope. Never in my life."
     "Ah, so I shall explain then. Ahem..." The tall, white-haired man cleared his throat. "I have a delightful vacation spot planned for both of you. I reassure you that this place will be looked after with delicate care."
     "I mean," Ersa thought for a moment. "I don't really want to be here, but then again, I promised my aunt that I would watch this place," she gaped. "And it's strange... She never really talks to people! I dunno how you got her to speak with you."
     Stefen shrugged. "Well, I do have my ways. And I promise you, you two will love that spot!"
     Rob smiled, "I mean, I do like good spots. And I do need time away from... THAT."
     "Rob! We've only been here for like, three hours at the most." Ersa facepalmed, not before rolling her eyes. Sometimes, Rob's laziness gets to her.
     "Well... How does two days sound?" Stefen offered.
     "Well, that sounds fair," Ersa smiled brightly, her emerald green eyes lighting up.
     "Needless to say, it's way better than this garbage dump. There will be other people there! Do you see any other people walking these streets? Nope. Bet you didn't."
     Ersa saw the neighbor again behind Stefen. "Okay, he's back..."
     Stefen chuckled once more before turning around. "You guys aren't being intimidating enough. Watch this."
     Anger flashed within his purple eyes as he walked over to the crackhead. "HEY!" He would boast, "GET OUT OF HERE, AND DON'T YOU EVER SET FOOT ON THIS PROPERTY AGAIN. EVER!"
     Watching this, Ersa and Rob gaped with amusement and shock. It must have mainly been due to Stefen's tall, broad appearance that chased the neighbor away.
The neighbor's face contorted with fear as he ran off to God-knows-where.
     Stefen sighed as he walked back. "Shall we get going, then? I have a way to get there. It'll be such a delightful surprise for you both!"
     "Well, I do like surprises," a burst of hope twinkled through Rob. "And if Stefen talked about this with your aunt, then I'm in."
     "Right... So... Should I bring anything with me? I mean, I didn't bring stuff with me here, but still."
     Stefen laughed, "Oh, no! Sunglo has everything you need! I promise you!"
     "Okay then, uh... I'll follow you, I guess." Ersa nodded.
     "Yeah, just lead the way." Rob agreed.
     Then, they set off. This was the way to the shop, but Ersa assumed that Stefen parked somewhere around the corner. And after a bit of walking, they would drive to this oh-so-desired vacation spot.

     The sound of helicopter propellers spinning and twirling rung in Ersa's ears. She gaped in shock. "You own a private helicopter?"
     Stefen nodded, driving the chopper. "Yes, I guess you can say I am doing very well."
     "Uh, yeah, I guess you are!" The woman with the scar that marked her face exclaimed.
     "Way too well," Rob covered her mouth. She looked deathly pale.
     "You okay there, Rob?" Ersa tilted her head.
     "I do NOT do well with heights. I'm petrified of them... I feel like I'm gonna puke." Rob shut her eyes, shaking.
     "Don't worry Rob," reassured the helicopter pilot. "I promise you that we'll be there soon."
     "We better be!" Rob whimpered, "I am NOT a flyer..."
     "You'll be fine, Rob. I promise you. Just don't look outside. Let me ask you something to help distract you. What is one thing you enjoy most?" Stefen asked.
     Without any hesitation whatsoever, Rob replied, "Sleeping."
     Stefen and Ersa couldn't help but chuckle.
     "Heh, well I assure you that Sunglo has spectacular beds."
     "Really?" Rob's eyes brightened up. Then, Rob felt squeamish, "Oh dear lord..."
     "Don't get sick on my helicopter! If you do, puke on Ersa. She's sitting next to you." Stefen joked.
     "Hey!" The woman with a scar yelled, "If anything, there's maybe a paper bag in here."
     "Relax," Stefen sighed, "it's not gonna kill you or anything."
     The world "kill" made Ersa nervous. Stefen emphasized that like no tomorrow. She began to sweat, but she just shrugged it off. She looked at Rob, who seemed even more sick.
     "Anyways," Stefen turned around, "we are here now."
     "We are?" Ersa cocked her head to the side.
     "Now, there's something I need to tell you." Stefen chuckled before standing up. Then, hegot out a pistol, loading it.
     Ersa and Rob's eyes widened, fear twisted on their faces. "S-Stefen?" Ersa stammered out, "What are you doing?"
     "First of all," Stefen's eyes flashed of anger. With a villainous smirk, he said, "This place is NOT what I told you it was. All it was is to just lure you in as bait. In fact, it's not even called Sunglo. It is the complete opposite."
     Rob began shaking. "Woah, woah, woah! Woah there! Stop it! Please tell us that you're joking-"
     "SHUT UP!" Stefen fired a warning shot out one of the open exits. "Does it look like I'm joking? Now... Second of all, there is something that I need you to do," Stefen reloaded the gun, his purple gaze meeting Ersa's green gaze. "Find the hidden cavern, and follow these instructions: Do not go inside. Do not touch anything. And if you don't find this cavern within two weeks? Well... Enjoy the horrors of what is yet to come."
     Ersa exclaimed, tears stinging her eyes, "Why are you doing this to us!? What... What did we do to you!?"
     "Nothing," Stefen answered, "I have been planning this for months. Now Rob," he turned to the trembling British woman. "You first. Out."
     "W-What? N-NO!" Rob cried out, quickly standing up.
     Ersa also stood up, starting to hyperventilate. "Don't! Please!"
     "Last warning! Jump. Now!" Stefen hissed out.
     "No, please! I beg of you-" And then, Stefen shot Rob. The bullet entered her left thigh, shattering her femur and a bit of blood shooting into the air. Rob let out a deafening scream, tears running down her face. She collapsed to the floor of the flying vehicle. "AAAAUGH! M-MY... MY LEG!"
     "ROB!" Ersa rushed to her friend.
     "H-HE SHOT MY LEG! OH GOD- AAAAIIIIYYEEE!" Rob grasped her leg as she shrieked and cried out from the unexpected trauma. A pool of blood was slowly but surely forming as her screams filled the flying vehicle.
     Stefen grasped Rob by her neck, lifting her up as blood dripped from her mangled leg. Rob struggled to breathe, hitting at the man that shot her. No... No this can't be happening! Please let this be a nightmare! Ersa thought. But this? This was real. Way too real.
     Then, when Rob passed out due to shock and lack of oxygen, Stefen tossed her out of the helicopter. He approached Ersa, making the scarred woman put her hands up and back away slowly.
     "W-Why!?" Ersa choked out.
     "Again... Find the cavern. Do NOT go in. And contact me when you find it." And just like that, Stefen pushed Ersa out of the helicopter.
     Ersa screamed. She screamed as she fell down, and down, and down. All she can recall is her body hitting the water and another person dragging her and Rob out of the lake as he whispered some sort of chant just before losing consciousness.