Moonlit Murder

Chapter 2

Emily had just settled down for breakfast. She led a fairly solitary life, which suited her perfectly. Her family—mother, father, and sister—were cordial but not particularly close, and she preferred it that way. An avid reader and movie enthusiast, Emily thrived in her role as a private investigator. Her parents deemed it dangerous, but she relished the thrill of solving crimes and the independence that came with working for herself. While much of her work involved catching unfaithful spouses, the occasional missing person case truly captivated her. Despite the risks, Emily loved her job; it offered her the freedom to travel and the means to support herself comfortably.

It was a quiet morning, and she was set to leave for a trip to the beach that afternoon. As she settled into her chair and raised her fork, a swirling, shimmering light enveloped her. At first, she thought it was a dream—a vivid, surreal one. She felt herself floating, her feet lifting off the ground as if she were weightless. Suspended in the air, it was like being wrapped in a cocoon of soft, glowing mist.

Suddenly, she found herself standing in a dimly lit chamber that resembled a haunted house. Shadows flickered on the walls, and the air was laced with the musty scent of old wood and decay. In front of her was a long, antique table adorned with cobwebs and candles casting an eerie glow. Seated at the table were three figures: one appeared human, like a vampire woman from a horror film, with pale skin and piercing eyes; another was a skeletal figure in a green gown, a female version of the Grim Reaper; and the third was a monstrous creature with fiery hair and a head that resembled a dinosaur skull, its bony ridges and deep-set eye sockets creating a haunting visage.

Across from them were two more figures. One had pretty, blue hair and a painted face that shimmered in the dim light. The other was dressed nicely but appeared to be some kind of human hybrid, her long dark horns catching the dim light. With them was a short mummy in a cute house dress, an oddly domestic touch in the macabre setting.

Emily was sure she'd fallen into a nightmare. Involuntarily, she screamed, her voice echoing through the chamber like a banshee's wail. The mummy and her companions screamed in return, a cacophony of terror filling the room. Then, the crystal ball on the table lit up with a dazzling, spectral light, and a brilliant beam charged toward Emily, enveloping her in a swirl of colors. The ball then went dark again. It had cast a spell on the newcomer, allowing her to speak and understand the language of the people before her. Not every word had an exact equivalent, but they would at least be able to communicate clearly, using the closest available terms.

In an instant, she felt calm. It was as if the ball had imparted wisdom into her consciousness, soothing her confusion. The fear subsided, replaced by an eerie understanding of the magic at work around her. She was less afraid, even in such a bizarre and ghostly realm.

Dot, believing herself to be the least threatening with her small stature, stepped forward. She tapped her head onto the newcomer's head, a customary greeting in their land. The feeling of being headbutted by a mummy shocked the newly arrived visitor, sending chills down her spine. She recoiled. "What was that for?" she yelled out, partly angry and partly annoyed, as she rubbed her forehead.

Dot looked at the others, her eyes wide and confused, unsure of what had gone wrong. Hettie then decided to try. She approached the being, her footsteps soft against the creaky floorboards. She spoke in a soothing voice, her breath warm in the cool, musty air. "Don't be afraid," she said, her tone gentle and reassuring. "You're safe here."

The words surprised Emily. She hadn't expected to understand the beings before her. She looked up, her heart pounding in her chest. Hettie's eyes, a deep, earnest blue, held a sincerity that gave Emily a sense of calm. She pulled herself together, taking deep breaths, and looked around the room. The musty air mixed with the faint odor of candle wax and decay, too vivid to be a dream. The dim candlelight cast eerie shapes on the cobweb-draped walls, and the soft creaking of the wooden floorboards echoed in the silence.