Under the Moonshine

Four | Theories

"I only remember bits of it," Taren said. "All I remember is the day I woke up and find myself in his lab. I was already dying when he found me at South Marico Mountain. He said that I got into an accident and he tried to revive me."

Emily looked at him intently, digesting every word he was saying. She was a bit distracted with the pink tee shirt he was wearing which ridiculously fitted his body. That was the biggest shirt her father owned, a Christmas gift from her. He had always been thin, she remembered.

Taren, on the other hand, was enjoying his pancakes. With his eyes pleading, he gazed at Emily, silently asking for the untouched pancake left on her plate. Sensing what he meant, she pushed the plate towards him. He devoured the last piece and gulped down the glass of water.

"No more?" he asked.

Emily was trapped whether to laugh or what. "No more," she answered. "Then what happened?"

"I already told you."

She shook her head. "Why was he trying to revive you? What happened to you?"

"He said that I was attacked by a beast."

Beast? Her pulse suddenly thumped. "And?"

"The virus almost killed me. Your father said that it started to pester the nerve cell in my body. He treated me. He made some experiments to save me."

Emily had expected things to clear up but she still couldn't get it.

"I'm going insane here," she murmured to herself. "I don't understand any of it."

A flicker of memory rushed inside her head, making her remember. She needed to get the video she briefly watched yesterday night. That might help her understand Taren's situation.

She snapped her head up and stared at Taren. "Aren't you going home?"

He cocked his head to the left, his eyes focused on hers.

"Where do you live?" she asked.

"Under Sebastian's laboratory."

Okay, more surprises. "How long have you been living there?"

"Seven years now." Seven years? And her dad had never told her a thing. But then, why would he?

"And no one knew it?"

"Yes."

She shook her head, a bit puzzled. "It's kind of impossible, don't you think?"

"Everything is possible," Taren argued softly.

"Wait," she composed herself. "Have you met Peter? He was my dad's secretary."

"Your father was the only human I know. He hides me whenever someone will enter his lab."

The doorbell rang, startling both of them.

"Go, hide," Emily ordered and run towards the door.

Taren followed without a word and strode up the stairs.

His godfather, Wilson, smiled at her the moment the door swung open. "Good morning," he greeted.

"Hey, Wil," she replied. "Do you need anything?"

"It's about your father, Em," he said. "Some of the BOD wanted to sue your dad- "

"You can't sue a dead man," she argued, temper getting out of control. "Why are you guys doing this?"

Wilson smoothen his neck tie as he took a deep breath. "Look, maybe your father didn't tell you this, but some of the BOD already filed a suit against him last year. It's still in court."