The Lonely Luna

Chapter One

Chapter 1:

I peered out my bedroom window as I sensed, more than saw a presence lingering just out of the reach of the street light. The dark stillness of the moonless night was unbroken and my human eyes could not detect even the movement of the dog that had now taken upon himself to bark at the unseen stranger on the street.

I lingered by the window, hoping against hope that the stalker was unable to see me, yet unable to move away. No light was on in my room to illuminate me, and I was sure the stranger was trying to peer back at me, I hoped he could not see me. Though an inkling of doubt resided in my mind as I felt that the stranger saw much more than I could perceive. A gut feeling, telling me to turn away, to stop searching the dark gloomy night for the nameless stranger, lest it became something - something - to tell you the truth, I am not sure what, but it scared me. It was a compulsion making me want to submit. But my curiosity knew no bounds and I would have kept at it and eventually found the miscreant who deemed it wise to stare at me, if only it wasn't for the knock on my door.

"Come in," I called out, still somewhat distracted by the stranger outside. His presence had just disappeared.

"Honey, are you ready? Your uncle is going to be here any minute." I turned around and nodded at my dad standing in the partially open doorway. He had changed out of his home attire, tracksuit bottoms with any old t-shirt, and was now dressed in casual black trousers with a button-up shirt. His brown hair was combed and his glasses cleaned. He looked very presentable. I eyed him with fond affection. He always tried to be presentable, tried extra hard in fact, whenever he was to be in the presence of my late mom's family, especially when it was Uncle Tony visiting.

He had called yesterday and said that there was something he needed to talk about, and would be coming over today as it couldn't be said over the phone. I had not thought much of it at the time, but after the strange lingering presence outside, I was sure that it was going to be much more than a casual visit.

I gave the window one last look - the feeling, the stranger, had disappeared - before following after my dad. 

We made our way down the stairs of our suburban two-story home, the stairs creaking every few steps and my father cringing with each creak. I moved past him quickly avoiding another cringe and made my way to the family room to wait.

"How long before they get here?" I asked my dad.

"Not long." He looked at his watch and then said "Actually they should have been here by now, wonder what's keeping them."

"They?" I asked, "I thought it was only uncle Tony coming."

"No, both Anthony and Jeremiah are coming."

That was shocking. Uncle Jeremiah was the second oldest of my mother's siblings and I barely ever saw him, even when I spent the summer at their pack reserves.

"And some guards it seems." He said peering around the crape window curtains. As soon as he replaced the curtain and moved back, there was a firm knock on the door that made the entire front porch vibrate. I stepped forward to open the door, but dad pushed me back. "Go to the family room." I moved out of the foyer but stood at the entrance of the family room. 

Waiting. 

Dad fixed his shirt and then opened the door. "Tony," he said in greeting, as the massive form of Uncle Tony, took up the entire doorway. He almost had to bow his head and turn his body to be able to get through. My decently tall father was dwarfed by the presence of my uncle and I could see why Uncle Tony's visits always made my father self-conscious.