Eternal Moon

CHAPTER 9

I sat in a small, covered area outside as rain fell around me. I was alone with nothing but my thoughts. I couldn't stop thinking about everything I had seen in the last few days. All the strange moments with Meryl, the moments that had filled me with confusion and a strange sense of fear. I felt like I was going mad, but my thoughts kept going in circles. I couldn't stop thinking about her, about her strange behavior, her cold touch, and my strange feelings towards her demeanor. 

Fine. I thought about confronting Meryl. I wanted to show her the evidence I had found and just get her to admit it. I wanted to see what she would say if I showed her the truth. My mind raced with different scenarios as I imagined how she would react. This is it, I thought. I just had to do it. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to confront her and find the truth once and for all.

I saw Meryl in a crowd of students, standing under an umbrella as the rain poured down. I could see her eyes even from this distance, bright red and almost glowing in the darkness. I could feel my fears rising as I approached her, only to find her eyes staring back at me. My heart raced and my stomach dropped. I wanted to run but I couldn't, not yet. I had to confront her and find out the truth. I took a deep breath and walked past her, trying my best to ignore the feeling of terror filling me.

I walked through the parking lot, drenched in rain as I felt the presence of someone or something watching me from behind. I turned to see a group of school junkies and delinquents, their faces covered in piercings and tattoos, their eyes giving off a vicious glow. I tried to keep my distance but it was too late. One of the junkies approached me, his face covered in scars and his eyes full of malice.

"Hey, buddy. Where do you think you're going? Too good to be with one of us?" one of the junkies asked, his face covered in piercings and tattoos. His tone was tinged with jealousy but I didn't understand why. Prom was a few days ago, what was he talking about? He stepped forward and grabbed my arm, his face inches from mine. "Maybe we should show you what happens if you're gonna ignore us," he whispered, the look in his eyes filled with a dangerous mix of jealousy and anger.

I felt my heart racing as the man held my arm tighter, his grip becoming rougher. I wanted to pull away but he was too strong. I knew if I showed any fear, things could get ugly. His face was dangerously close to mine and I could see his breath on my face. "Let go, you have no right to touch me," I said, trying to keep my voice even. His grip relaxed slightly, but he still wouldn't let go. I could feel the rage and jealousy building up inside him. I didn't know what would happen next but I could feel it wasn't going to be good. I could only stand still, not knowing what to do.

I felt a cold, sharp object press up against my neck. It took everything I had not to move or show any sign of fear. "Maybe you should watch who you go to prom with next time, cutie," he whispered, his voice dripping with sarcasm and anger.

I tried to tell them that Meryl and I weren't together, that she was just a friend, but it did no good. The man with the sharp object pressed the blade of his knife tighter against my neck, drawing a small pinprick of blood. I shuddered, the cold metal sinking deeper as I felt my grip on the situation slipping. "I just went to prom with her," I muttered, the terror rising inside me as I realized how much danger I was in. "Just a friend, nothing more," I repeated, hoping it would calm the situation.

I continued to struggle, desperate to get away as a deep, feminine voice echoed from behind me. 

"Leave him alone." The man with the knife looked startled as the others released their grip on me. I spun around to see a figure clad in a long, black coat walking towards me. The figure lowered their umbrella and I saw Meryl's face look back at me, her eyes now a piercing red. 

"Are you okay?" she asked in a cool and controlled tone, her expression as cold as ice.

I tried to speak but before I could say anything, one of the delinquents rushed at Meryl with a knife. She quickly blocked it with her bare hands, her strength almost unbelievable. The man with the knife stumbled back as Meryl quickly disarmed him with ease. The other delinquents looked stunned and terrified as Meryl turned to look at me. Her expression was cold and serious, her sharp eyes glinting like two diamonds. She grabbed my arm and yanked me away from the group. 

"Come," she said calmly, pulling me into the pouring rain.

Meryl turned to look at me, her expression full of anger and frustration. 

"Please, hold me back," she whispered angrily through clenched teeth, her grip on my arm becoming tighter. Her eyes were filled with red and her expression was terrifyingly cold as I found myself unable to speak. I tried to shake off her grip, but felt a strange sense of fear come over me. Meryl wasn't human, I knew it. She wasn't even trying to hide it anymore. I didn't know what to do. I just held on for dear life.

My eyes went wide as I realized my blood was mixed with the rain, making Meryl look truly insane. I could smell the faint scent of blood in the air, filling me with a sense of horror. Her grip was tight, but it was only now that I realized just how cold her hands were. With the cold rain pouring down and the clouds still overhead, it was hard to focus on anything else. Meryl's grip on me was tight and I felt like I wanted to run away, but I kept following her, drawn in by the strange sight of her red eyes.

We entered under a small outdoor roof held up by columns. The sound of rain hitting the tin on the roof was loud and I felt a strange tension in the air. Meryl was looking at me with insane bloodlust in her eyes, her grip still tight on mine. I felt a chill run down my spine as I suddenly realized why she had wanted to come here. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized where this was going. 

"Why are we here?" I asked, desperately trying to keep my voice even. Meryl looked at me with her red eyes, her expression still filled with bloodlust. Her tone became dangerously soft and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. 

"So you can't escape," she whispered, her words filled with both compassion and rage. I could feel the cold rain falling around us, but I no longer cared.

I felt small and insignificant as I looked up at her, realizing just how tall and powerful she truly was. She continued to hold me in her grasp, not allowing me to move and feeling an immense feeling of dread wash over me. I wanted to cry but I was too scared. I had to know. I needed an answer. 

"What are you?" I whispered, my voice shaking as the blood continued to flow from my neck. Meryl looked at me with her red eyes, a strange sense of compassion shining through.

Meryl's red eyes darted to the blood on my neck as she slowly ran her hand up my chest. I felt a sense of relief as her touch was surprisingly gentle and caring. She dabbed the blood away with her fingers, cleaning my neck as I began to calm down. She looked at me again with those intense eyes, and the bloodlust was gone. I noticed her other hand in her pocket, presumably holding the knife she had taken from the other teenager. It suddenly hit me how dangerous this situation actually was and I felt a cold sweat forming on my brow.

Meryl looked at me with the same intense expression as she pocketed the knife, looking away just for a moment as if to consider the situation. She then turned back to me and spoke in a calm voice, almost as if nothing had happened. 

"I'm going to take the knife and report the group to the principal. You should be more careful not to get into dangerous situations," she told me in a gentle and caring tone, almost as if the whole encounter had never happened. I felt the adrenaline rush fade and I nodded, taking in the unexpected moment. The rain continued to fall loudly all around us.

Meryl started to walk away, but I grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"Please, just answer my question," I pleaded, wanting the truth so badly after everything I had seen. She tried to pull away but I held tight. 

"You have to tell me what you are," I continued, the desperation growing in my voice. She looked at me with her piercing red eyes, her tone full of excuses as she tried to calm me down. "Just let me explain it later," she said, a calmness returning to her voice as she spoke.

I let go of her wrist, finally giving up on trying to get the truth out of her. I watched as she walked away, her eyes looking back at me for a moment before she turned back. I felt my heart sink as she continued to walk away, knowing that I had my suspicions confirmed. I stood there, soaking in the rain and watching her leave. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. I wanted to tell someone, so that maybe I wouldn't sound totally insane. There was no one around who would take me seriously. 

I just had to wait now.

(END OF CHAPTER 9)