Life's Return

Sleep Walking

Warning: This chapter contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
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Luz's Pov:

It had been a blast at the dance, especially with how I had gotten to dance with my crush. Though what were we now? It felt like it had been a confession, yet it was still offputting not hearing it verbally. Sure, she asked me on a note, but that was just to the dance right? I don't even know anymore. She confuses yet intrigues me so much I wanna be around her every part of the day. It messed with my head.

When I had gotten home from the dance, I sighed and went over to sit on the window sill in my room, looking out at the night sky. The stars were somehow prettier here than on earth. They were alight with different array of colors, and the moon shone bright with its blue aura. I guess it was only a matter of time before I went back over and crashed onto my mattress. I was exhausted from tonight, but it was fun.

However, the next morning I woke up, I wasn't in my bed.

I woken up in some part of a forest, I didn't know where I was or how I got there. I looked down at myself and froze. What the hell...

I was still in my suit, but for some reason I had blood splattered on my clothing and covering my hands. I sat there with wide eyes, horrified at the scene. WHAT DID I DO LAST NIGHT?? WHAT HAPPENED?!

I started to hyperventilate and scrambled to throw off the blazer that had blood on it. I stared at it, terrified. Why the hell did I have blood on me? It wasn't even my blood, because I had no injuries I could tell from. I rushed to get off the ground, slowly backing away from where I had been before tripping over a root and landing back on my rump with a loud yelp. Or so I thought it was a root.

I groaned in slight pain before looking at what I had tripped on, and my eyes widened further with horror. Luckily, it wasn't anyone I knew, but there was a body on the ground in a pool of mostly dried blood, their eyes glazed over with nothingness. It reeked of death and I had to turn away from the body as to not puke from the sight. That's when I heard a rustle in the bushes nearby.

"W-Who's there?!! Show yourself-!!" I panted out, adrenalin rushing through my frightened veins. I expected some kind of stranger to come out and stab me next, but I didn't expect to see a familiar face I hadn't seen in a while. His blond hair blew a little in the breeze as his magenta eyes stared down at me.

"H-Hunter??" I whispered out slightly. What could he be doing here?

"You're in danger, human..."

"...What-?"
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"Luz, calm down! Everything will be ok. Just breath." I did as Eda told me, taking in deep breaths while I sat on the edge of the couch, clenching my head. After Hunter had found me, he led me back to the owl house. Eda had come rushing out with fear and concern with how I straight up disappeared last night. It didn't help that I had come back with blood all over me. Another person's blood on me.

"How did this happen, explain." She looked to Hunter with a stern, yet worried gaze while rubbing my back to calm me down. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I'm not certain, but I have a hunch it was some sort of- mind controlling potion. It's in her system."

"W-Will it wear off??" I croaked out, looking up with panic. Eda let out a frustrated sigh.

"It's not that easy, Kid. This kind of magic was forbidden even when Belos was in power. The person who gives the potion to a host is controlled while they're asleep. The only way to undo this kind of magic would call for killing the person who did it. Whoever did this must be after something... or someone, but who-??" Eda rubbed her temples before Hunter spoke.