Moon Child (Moon Child Series Book 1)

Chapter 8: We found it

"Ashton, chill with the cat. We aren't going to get caught." Rhea sighed.

Ashton had been on edge since we came up here to the attic at three this morning. It was now four and she was still clutching her cat key chain for dear life. She claims it's good luck. I don't know why but Ashton has this absolutely stupid idea that we're going to get caught up her and expelled.

As if they could do that to us!

She simply glared at Rhea and continued to search for the green chest. "Where is in Natalia? It's almost four thirty!" Ashton complained.

I thought for a minute before coming with a conclusion,"It should be up ahead. Make a slight left toward that white sheet... Ya there. We should see it soon now."

We continued to walk for a few minutes in silence. It wasn't awkward, just tense. We were all anxiousand really wanted to leave. My eyes scanned the room wearily. Even though I wasn't superstitious or anything, I was still worried that we were going to get in trouble. I couldn't get over the feeling that we were being watched.

A floorboard creaked under my red converse, causing Ashton to stop breathing and jump into a nearby pile of old bedsheets. Rhea immediately cringed and turned to look at me.

Ashton came out, shaking her head, and still rubbing the cat, "Natalia! Could you please stop doing that! You too Rhea. We can't get caught."

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see me in the dark, "Sure, I'll ask the oh mighty floorboard gods if they could please stop making them creak under my feet."

Ashton frowned and we kept walking. 

Then, there it was. As beautiful as ever. The green paint was slightly chipped and the gold lining was dusty and old. The lock gleamed, taunting us that we couldn't open it. I hoped that someday I could keep it. 

"Wow," Rhea breathed, "It's so pretty."

The flashlight Rhea was holding shined on the chest as Ashton took out the key and inserted it into the gold lock. We all held are breath in suspense, as she turned the key to the right. It didn't work, so she tried the left. Suddenly, a low click erupted throughout the dark attic. We all let out the breath as Ashton opened the lid slowly, carefully.

It made a small creaking noise and Rhea cringed, obviously afraid that someone was going to hear it. The top stopped and Ashton pulled out the red leather journal. It looked exactly like it did in my vision. The smooth cover gleamed, despite the dust surrounding it. The bronze buckle was clean and shinning, showing off the glory of it's contents.

Ashton finally turned around and grinned at us, her blonde hair flipping around her face, "We found it."

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"Natalia? Are you OK?" Ryan asked. We were working on a science project with another annoying girl. Her name was Haley. Her voice was still babbling on the phone with her roommate. Her roommate. Her roommate was nice, she was in my social studies. Haley and her roommate were both not gifted, so it was awkward. I didn't really know how to talk to them. Now my whole life revolved around being the moon child.

"Ya," I lied. There was no need to make him concerned, "I'm just tired. I didn't sleep too good."

That was half true. Rhea fell asleep so we couldn't read the book yet. We wanted to read it all together. We all had dark circles under our eyes while walking around.

Ryan gave me a half smile, "OK. Well let's ask Haley if we can take a break. You should nap."

I nodded. Haley had just gotten off the phone and was now standing close to Ryan... Too close.

"Hey Ryan. You maybe..." she trailed her finger over his shirt seductively. I just mentally barfed. "Wanna catch a movie tomorrow? Since it's Friday?"

Ryan looked conflicted. Like he was having a mental argument. He looked at me questionally. I just shrugged, telling him to make whichever decision he felt was right.

Ryan just sighed and turned toward her, "Sure Haley. Text me later."

Haley giggled, "Yay! I'll see you later." She gently kissed his cheek and stalked off, swaying her hips. Ryan gave me a wave and walked out after her. Once they were gone, I sighed. That girl didn't stop talking, giving me a major headache.

Haley was your typically preppy skank. She wore polo shirts and skirts, dress shirts and khakis. Herblond hair was always behind a hairband that usually matched her outfit. She wore an awful lot ofplaid as well. She slept around a lot, but was also capable of commitment. Matthew told me that she had a boyfriend for a year before he cheated. She then started to sleep around and stomp on guy's hearts. Ryan was careful though. He would be OK.

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Matthew and I were laying on the grass in the forest, staring at the clouds. It was after dinner, so the sun was slowly setting in the west. I really liked Matthew. We had gotten really close. I told him about my parents, and he told me of how his sister died.

She was twenty two and got alcohol poisoning. She died that morning. It was only two days before Matthew left for Acrylic. I had cried throughout the whole story. 

Matthew had know he was gay his whole life. He was teased in middle school for it. Now, he was stronger and choose to embrace it. He told me that it was his dark age back then, but this place had showed him better.

Matthew was so understanding. He didn't pry into anything I didn't want to talk about, he always listened, and talked in moderation.  I really liked spending time with him.

"What do you think that one looks like?" Matthew asked.

"Hmmmm... I think... A flying unicorn bunny," I concluded.

Matthew laughed, "How can you think that? It's clearly a carrot with a fedora."

He had such a funny way with humor. I felt like I could be myself around him.

For once.

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"Who want's to open it?" I asked.

Ashton, Rhea and I were sitting in a circle, looking at the journal.

I slowly picked it up and opened it so we could all see it. It turns out, in the book, was all the info about the evil that was threatening our land.

In the back, was something that made my body tense and my knees wobble.

Their weakness was  printed in beautiful black cursive.

It was a technique.... it seemed elaborate. It described a beam, coming from a circle consisting of the three of us. It was the only thing that could fully defeat the evil for good.

The dangerious thing was that our weakness was printed too.

But they knew it, and we didn't. The queen just said to never go to the blue. Go through the yellow. Whatever that meant.

I looked at my friends, "Let's take turns reading. We should read it back to front... All three of us. It will give us a better chance. We can spend extra time trying to find out how to make this beam. OK?"

They nodded and Rhea took the book and hid it.

Then there was a knock at the door. I opened it with a smile, to see Headmistress Lawrence standing there with a sad frown on her face.

"Hello Headmistress. May I help you?" I asked politely.

She hesitated before sighing, "Natalia, I am so sorry... Some... Disturbances have occurred."

I immediately tensed, "What is it?"

"Natalia, your grandmother has passed."

Then it all went black.

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AHHHHH

no :_(

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-A