Eclipse

Chapter 4

★Aruna★

I sat up in my bed, humming a lullaby that my mom used to sing to me. I was seven when she stopped, but I still remember it perfectly.

I created little ice figures on my knees and made them battle. I created special effects around them. I got bored of the fight scene in front of me, so I pushed the ice figures to the floor.

I sat up straighter and turned to dangle my legs off the side of my bed. I looked out the window, getting a perfect view of the eclipse. When everyone else looks at it, it damages their eyes, but when I look at it, it's different. I assume it's because I'm Moon, but who knows?

I kept looking at the eclipse. I wonder what it would be like to see the sun. To see these woods lit up for once. I know Rya wants to see it so badly. But she knows what it would cost. She wouldn't do that to me. At least, I didn't think she would. But as someone who lives a life of deceit, I've come to learn that you never truly know a person.

Even when I was younger, my mother, a wanted thief, never knew who she was talking to. She never knew my father for who he truly was. My sister never knew the person that she fell for. He didn't know her. And no one but my sister knows me.

I stand up and put my hair in a ponytail. I quietly walk out of my room, careful not to disturb my sister. I walked out of the small cabin home and gently closed the door. I walk out in the open woods, and I go to a tree facing the eclipse. I lean against it and slide down until I'm in a sitting position.

I realize that I'm holding the note from earlier in my hand. I look at it, examining the writing. How is it that he can escape the royal guard so often? That he gets to act freely, but I can't? We were both born women, so why am I not like him?

Massimo known as the thief and vandal who has been caught five times but escaped all of those times. Yet I'm known as Moon, the coward who won't show themself because they're scared to die. Massimo must be scared to die, but it hasn't stopped him from living. He had the guts to protest against the king's laws. To burn and tear the wretched clothing that we're forced to wear.

I stuffed the note back into my pocket. I want to be like him, but I don't know how. Suddenly, I got an idea. What if I had him help me? Give me pointers. But how would I even speak to him? It's not like he goes around looking for someone to give pointers to. Not that anyone would take them if he did.

I decided on something. He knows about my exit. Maybe I can wait for him there.

★★★

"What are you doing out here?" I heard Rya's voice. I opened my eyes, not realizing that I had fallen asleep. I looked around. I was still outside, laying against the tree.

Rya sat next to me, looking at the sky, but not the eclipse. She was always careful not to hurt her eyes. "You know, mom always told me stories about the sun." She looked at me and smiled. "I remember briefly what it was like. It's only flashes of a memory. I was three when you were born."

I curled my legs against me, hugging my knees. "It's not like I'm going to see it." I paused before continuing. "You might."

Rya nudged me in the shoulder. "Hey, don't say that! You're going to outlive me, okay?"

I smirked at her. "Does that mean you won't sacrifice me to see the sun again?"

Rya laughed. "I make no promises."

It was nice when we could have moments like this. Moments where we aren't afraid to be happy. Moments where we can be ourselves.

Rya stood up and brushed off the back of her legs. "Well, I've got to get to the town. Marel is expecting me to help her today. I told her that Ernie wants me out of the house."