Moon

13

It was late in the evening and the last light in the house finally turned off, leaving only the porchlights on. I lay on my back, trying not to get swallowed by the sweaty sheets as I thought back to Luna Park. Something happened, I can feel it, but all I can remember was Juliet and Jesse, with a faint scent of something like blood. Why can't I remember it? And why have I suddenly stopped dreaming, or should I say, stopped nightmaring?

"Elis!"

I groaned, "Shannon, why do you always have to come in here at ungodly hours?"

The bed tilted as I felt another body rest next to mine. "I don't know, but Emily and mom aren't here."

I glanced at the alarm clock next to me, "It's only fucking ten o'clock. What do you mean they're gone?"

I felt Shannon shrug, "I don't know, but I went downstairs to get something to eat and the back living room door was wide open."

"Emily and Mrs. Stellard aren't in their rooms?"

"Or anywhere in the house," Shannon sighed, "They left their phones here too."

"Maybe they just went to the local pharmacy or something."

"And left the back door open?"

"Well.."

Shannon slapped herself in the forehead, "Well, I came in here to ask you if you want to help me find them."

I sat up, "Why in the world would we try and find them for god's sake?"

"Because they never do this and isn't it a little suspicious?"

"How?"

"There's not a single freaking piece of food in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Please do explain."

Shannon hopped off the bed and grabbed my arm, "Just help me, please."

Sighing, I threw on a shirt and slipped on some sweats. "You owe me."

"Okay." but she was already out the door.

*

The lodge was dark against the backdrop of ashened sky and dark, green pines. Not a single light was on, but Shannon insisted on inspecting it. 

"It is obvious that there is no one in there," I hissed.

"They might be having a secret meeting and I want to know what it's about, I'm a part of this town too, aren't I?"

I sighed and crossed my arms, "Is this what it's about?"

"What?" Shannon asked, her breath coming out in little, visible puffs as she crossed her arms.

"Jealousy?"

"Of course not!" she snapped, before pulling out some keys in her coat pocket and walking up to the side entrance of the lodge.

I chuckled, rolling my eyes as I tried to fight the cold, walking behind Shannon into the dark building. She walked in the darkest part of the building for a few minutes before stopping in front of a keypad, punching in a few numbers and watched with a satisfied expression as all the green lights on the security cameras turned red.

"What are you doing?"

"Shutting down the security for a few hours," she glanced at me smugly, "I did learn a few things at school you know."

"Well, get on with it, if Mrs. Stellard does happen to be here and catches us, I'm not eager to get my ass fried so don't expect me to get your back on this."

And then Shannon put a hand on my mouth, her expression hard. Waving her hand at me as if getting me to follow her, we snuck along the hallways and down a couple of stairs to what would be the basement of the building. I shivered, basements were never my thing.

As we neared the bottom, voices floated from below up to our ears. Shannon's eyes shined, as she discovered her luck and pulled me down into a crouch beside her.

"What do you mean there's been an intruder?" a voice that sounded distinctly like Mrs. Stellard's hissed.

"We didn't tell you because we weren't sure what it was..and it seemed to show no harm." Shannon looked at me with wide eyes, was that Mark?

"I am your Luna for now, and I should be notified of things when they are brought up to the council, and not left in the dark!" Mrs. Stellard hissed.

"It didn't concern anyone, the person is harmless!" a second person - Dane, spoke. I shared another look with Shannon, what were they hiding and why are they in the basement of the lodge?

"So the person has earned your trust already?" Emily's voice suddenly exclaimed snarkily, "And you don't even know who they are..which shows how powerful they may be."

A few murmurs of agreement popped up around the room.

"Who could it be?" someone wondered aloud as the room went silent.

A few people shuffled as if to show their discomfort.

"Well, how long has the intruder been here?"

"Five days," Mark finally answered.

"Who's been here five days?"

The room went silent again.

Shannon looked at me, mirroring the confusion in both our eyes.

"Elis."