Colliding with Carnage

Chapter 1: Witch Way

Sage's p.o.v.:

My feet dragged through the wet grass as the sun was quickly setting behind me and the street lights in unison came on. I had just ridden my bike two miles to meet Luna, my best friend, at the halfway point between our houses. Luna greeted me as she got off of her purple bicycle.

"Hey," Luna greeted me as we both sat down on the edge of the hill that overlooked our town. She pulled out her small pink water bottle, the one I could always count on to store her magic liquid.

"You're drinking again?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Ha, I never stopped." She gave me a side smile as she took her sip.

I pursed my lips and looked forward. Our halfway spot is where we always met when things got too rough at home, and we needed a break. It was a tiny park off the side of one of the main roads. It was composed of thick forestry and a large hill that overlooked all the lights our town had to shine, blending them together.

"Do you want any?" Luna asked. I shook my head no. "Sage, you know one shot of vodka isn't gonna kill you, right?"

"Not tonight." I retorted. Too fattening, the voice in my head echoed. I shook it away, trying to focus on Luna.

"Fine. More for me." She shrugged.

I shakily pulled a cigarette out of my bag. I started to search for a lighter when Luna tossed me hers.

"Thanks."

"I know you and I know you never have one." Luna laughed. I laughed too and then again, we were silent.

"So, what'd your dad do this time?" Luna asked, taking another sip.

"Threw a bottle at my head as soon as I stepped in the door. " I replied, cringing as I recalled the shattering of the glass.

"I'm sorry, Sage." Her eyes said more than she could ever tell me with words. She cared about me more than anyone else in this world.

"It's okay," I said emptily "I'll probably spend the night here tonight or something."

"We can head to my place." Luna offered.

"No, I already spend too much time over there. Your dad is gonna know something is up."

"Please, he doesn't even know when I'm home. What makes you think he'll notice when you're there, too? Besides, it's not safe for you to sleep here alone. If you sleep here, I'm joining. It'll be like the sleepover we had here last summer for that week when your dad changed the locks so you couldn't come inside."

"And your dad didn't want you home that week either because he had his girlfriend over," I remembered.

"Yep. How perfect, both of our fathers wanted us out at the same time. So we slept here, and the stars were our nightlight, so to speak."

I smiled as I recalled that summer. "Is it wrong that I remember that as one of my favorite memories?" I asked. Luna paused.

"I liked it too. It felt like an adventure. But thank god we could sneak into my place during the day and take showers, steal food. That would've really sucked." That summer had been especially hot, and the only relief was the cold ten minute showers we snuck.

We both stopped and looked out. I was glad to have Luna. My father had been an alcoholic since my mom died when I was three, or at least that's the rumor I've heard around town. I just know he's been a monster ever since I can remember. Luna and I met in middle school. We were both quiet and reserved, and the silence between us never felt awkward. We shared a comforting understanding between the two of us. Luna's mom had left her and her dad when she was very young, and as time goes on, I think Luna blames her mom less and less.She used to talk about her, but not anymore. Her dad is obsessed with his job and women. He treats Luna more like an annoying roommate than a daughter. We both lead troubled lives, but here, at our halfway hill, everything is okay. We know we have each other and we have the view.