Fairy Tale

Chapter 15: Luna Wood

Midnight.

Mother sent us to bed half an hour ago.

I can't sleep.

Autumn hasn't returned. What have they done to her?

Maybe I should go and check on her...

She must hate me. I'm never there for her like she has always been for me.

That's why she loves Maya and Dot more than me.

If I help her, maybe she'll like me again. We'll be best friends like back in the days before the abuse and Maya and Dot were born.

I'm too much of a coward. I would never be able to stand up to Mother and Father. I'm too concerned about my own safety.

I can change all that.

But what could I do? If I tried to help Autumn my parents would hurt me.

But another part of me whispered to be the adventurous and daring girl I used to be. That was before Father first hit Autumn.

Be courageous. What if they've done something truly awful to her downstairs, and she's dying?

If that was the case, I would never forgive myself for it. It would be all my fault.

I took a deep breath and crawled out of bed. I would have to do it.

For my sister.

I tip-toed silently down the stairs, which led into the kitchen.

I gasped.

I started to feel light-headed.

Autumn...I waited to long...

I rushed over to her limp body and kneeled beside her.

I cried.

What was I supposed to do? Should I call someone?

I would have to.

I couldn't let her die.

I got up to pick up the home phone hanging on the wall when I found a drowsy Dot walk out of the bedroom she and Maya shared.

"Luna...?"

It was then she noticed Autumn lying limply on the floor.

Before she could scream, I rushed over and covered her mouth.

"Shh. We don't want to wake Mom and Dad. I'm going to call someone."

She nodded in agreement and edged around Autumn's body. I could see the fright in her eyes.

I picked up the phone and dialed 9-1-1, but before I could make the call, Dot stopped me.

"Wait!" she hissed. "That'll take too long."

I looked at her, exasperated. "Stop procrastinating. I need to make this call."

"No. Stop! I know somewhere faster."

"And where would that be?"

"The fairies. They can help!"

I gave her a death stare. "Dot, fairies aren't even real. They can't help if they don't exist!"

"You've gotta believe me!"

"Dot, you're being stupid."

"It's true, you know." Maya was standing in the doorway. "They're real."

I pursed my lips. Now Dot had gotten a 10-year-old to believe it.

"It really is real! Sophie saw them!" Dot gave me her classic puppy-dog eyes.