It All Started With The Kidnapping

Chapter 1 - Shadows of the Past

Luna's POV

The hallways of Stoney Brooke High buzzed with the morning rush of students. Luna walked quickly, keeping her head down and her gaze fixed on the floor. Her long, dirty blonde hair cascaded like a curtain, shielding her from the judgmental stares and whispered insults that seemed to follow her everywhere. She clutched her books tightly against her chest, as if they could somehow protect her from the harsh reality of her daily life.

It's not entirely bleak. I have Sara, the one bright spot in my life at this school. I'm profoundly grateful for her. She knows all my secrets, just as I know hers. Speak of the devil, and she appears. I see her running towards me, her big bright smile lighting up her face. How can someone always be so happy in such a messed-up world? I'll never understand it.

" Hey girl, how are you this beautiful morning?" she called out. I just smiled, thinking, what would I do without her?

" It's been alright. How about you?" She gave me a look that clearly said she didn't believe a word I said– understandable, considering my track record. But then she smiled, and I knew I was off the hook from her probing eyes.

" My mom made waffles instead of pancakes today. Thank God! I couldn't handle another pancake joke." I just smiled, wondering what it would take to have a normal life. I can only wish. As I was grabbing textbooks from my locker, Sara suddenly grabbed my face and turned my face to the left. " Holy crap. Did he do this? I'm going to kill him!"

I pulled my head out of her hands and gave her a look. Forcing a small smile, I shut my locker and said, " you know we can't talk about it here. I don't want people over hearing and making a big deal out of it." Sara is like a little guard dog- she has a big bark but not much of a bite. Still, she's a good friend, always there for me when I need her, and that's all that matters.

"Ugh, fine. Like anyone would ever notice us. we're nobodies. I'm just saying, you should at last consider telling someone. They can help you in ways I can't." Alright, you're probably wondering what we're talking about. Well, let's just say my life is a complete hell. So get comfortable and grab some popcorn– this is going to be a long story.

Well, to make a long story short, when I was five, I was kidnapped from a family I can't even remember anymore. The nightmares are still vivid. When I finally had a chance to escape, I ran to New York City, thinking its size and crowds would keep me hidden. But I was naive; another monster found me, and I've been trapped with him ever since. Now, at 18, it feels like there's no escape from this hell.

I can hear someone calling my name, but I'm lost in memories of all the hell I've endured. There should be a limit to what one person can handle, and I've far surpassed it. " LUNA!"

I finally snapped out of my thoughts and looked towards Sara, who had a worried expression on her face. "What?" I asked, and she sighed in response. She always gets concerned when I retreat into my thoughts, but they're not always bad. I often imagine other places or the kind of family I could have had. " you were in your own world again," she accused.

Sara just smiled and started walking down the hall, but then she stopped and said, "it's fine, but let's hurry and get to class. I can't be late." I laughed and walked with her. She's trying to get noticed by some big fancy colleges and insists that perfect attendance will help, even though I'm not so sure about that.

We walked to our math class and took our seats. Here's the thing: I don't understand why math has to be my first class of the day. I hate it because it's so damn complicated! Why can't it stay simple? Why does it have to involve the whole alphabet? It's sort of easy ( not really), but that doesn't mean I like it. My seat is in the back, right by the window. Whenever I look outside, everything seems peaceful and right with the world, but that's just an illusion. Beneath all that beauty lies a whole new kind of evil.