His Luna

I am now holding onto the only thing that my parents left me with a necklace that is undeniably the same as the mark I saw on my eyes that night, Aunt Fatima made it clear, I am not blood-related to them, and that’s why he keeps on telling me that I brought misfortune to them.

My grandpa died when I was a kid, my granny had just gone missing one day, and the marriage between Aunt Fatima and Uncle George was ruined; he made me believe that all of these were my fault, that my life was equivalent to misfortune.

“Mom, Dad,” I mumbled to the air, “I hope you’re doing fine now,” unlike the other kids who were sent to a different family, I don’t feel any negative feelings towards my parents, they made the right choice by choosing a good family to leave me, and Aunt Fatima told me that they have the most sensible reason to leave me, they didn’t leave me because they want-they didn’t have the chance to choose.

What happens to my family? This question became a portal for my emotions to arise, I sat down at the bus station, and tears streams down my cheeks, I know I’m used to having myself, I have been like this for nine years, I have been living-no, I have been surviving the day, I haven’t been able to live, there is an instinct inside me, that always reminded me to be alert, and restless.

I’m still a normal person, right? I lift my hand and looked at it, I have been like this; pointless, I don’t trust easily, I prefer to be alone, I hate to draw any attention, I loathe selfish people-but I am one of them. Is this the reason why? Is it because I don’t know where I am rooted? Is it because I don’t have anyone to ask to clarify who the hell I am and where I really came from?

The next day, I am lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating if I should go back to work, the memories of me, shouting and pushing Zach-my boss, out of the house makes me feel guilty. Would he still let me work for his company? I still have a life to run, and I need work to earn money for that.

I sigh, have no choice then, I have to try. I took a quick bath and blow dry my hair, I just wore a white button-up blouse, paired with a khaki pencil skirt, and a stiletto, and to complete my look, I chose a black handbag. I put on a minimal amount of makeup, I just want to look natural.

I took a cab, and went straight to work. Looks like they weren’t expecting me to show up today, I don’t know what Zach said, or Julian, I have no idea, if they announced my termination, or what.

“Hey, Vera? We thought you called out sick for three days. You’re okay now?” Yana approached me while holding a cup of jasmine tea, I can smell it from here, I looked behind, for I heard a footstep coming, but there was no one, I tilted my head, trying to figure out if I just hearing things, but my eyes slightly widen when I saw Allaine walking to us, I look around, I can hear unnecessary sounds.

“Vera, are you okay?” I heard Yana again, but I wasn’t able to grasp the overwhelming sounds I’d been hearing. What the hell is happening right now?! “You should rest, you should come back after your sick leave,”

The sound of the copier machine, the spoon touching the mug’s lid, the different footsteps, the elevator, the humming, the whispers. I shook my head, trying to pull myself together, what the hell is happening?!

“Vera?” my abrupt action to look, made Ally and Yana taken aback, “Are you alright? You look pale,”

Why-why can I see their what’s that? I stopped seeing aura, months ago, but now, I can see it again, I sniff, when I smell something different, “What’s that smell?” I couldn’t help but ask, “Is that garlic?”

Ally chuckled, I frowned while looking at her, “I bought garlic rice on my way to the office, You have a quite good sense of smell, Vera,” she said making me freeze and look at her desk, seven cubicles away from us, “I’ll heat it on the pantry, I’m famished, I’ll leave you here!”

“Are you sure you’re fine?” I nodded, trying to straighten my thoughts, “Okay, let me know if you need anything, all right?” I nodded again, I heard her sole walking away from me.

I carefully sat on my swivel chair, everything was too overwhelming for me, how long was I able to do this? When did this happen? How can this happen? Am I going crazy?

I tried to look normal, I just put on earplugs, to focus on my work, I see, Zach just called out my absences as sick leave, I wasn’t fired then? Jesus, my life is a mess, fortunately, my day ended as I strive to end, I was packing my things when Ally approached me, and I was taken aback, her aura differs from her external view.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Vera, you want to join us later?” she asked, with bread in her hand, “We’re going to karaoke later, the one near the station, join us, it’s been a while since we got together,”

“I, uh, need to do something else,” I was trying to dodge the offer without offending her.

However, she seemed to not accept my refusal, and smirked at me, “I’ve heard that countless times! You can’t avoid me now! Let’s go!”

I just let her drag me, along with our colleagues to a karaoke bar, as she said near the station, this bar is famous for having such a good and wholesome ambiance, most customers here were families, and friends who hadn’t seen each other for a while.

“Should we eat first or sing?” Caleb asked as soon as we entered the bar, “Ally?” he turned to Ally, they’ve gotten close? That’s cool.

“Hmm, let’s just rent a room, then order ramen while singing with drinks of course,” they all agreed and proceeded to rent a room.

I tried my best to remain calm, I didn’t know what was happening, but something wrong was happening to my body, I felt like I wanted to explode, I didn’t stop blinking, trying to keep my hands to myself, my hands and lips were trembling, my eyes starts to get blurry.

I can smell their sweat, blood, even their saliva, annoyance starts building up on me, as I turn my gaze up, I feel something itchy on my teeth, what’s that? I looked at my hands, the trembling doubled, and I started to feel it, my nails, they were growing unbelievably fast!

I suddenly want to scratch it somewhere-soft. Human, I want to see human blood-no! this can’t be! What’s happening?! Why am I craving these disgusting things?!

Help me, help me, no. This can be happening, am I turning into a monster? Why? Why now? I have lived a good life, Zach never bit me, why am I turning like this?!

“Excuse me, but I have to take her for now, enjoy the rest of the evening,” I heard, followed by a hand dragging me out of that room, “Breath, Vera, breath,”

With that, I released a deep and heavy breath, I wasn’t breathing the whole time. Is that why I felt like my head is about to explode?

I stopped upon realization, but was forced to walk again, “Zach? What are you doing here?” My voice wasn’t loud enough for him to hear, but I was shocked when he briefly turned his gaze on me and to the road again, “Who’s car is this?”

“Mine,” he opened the door and slightly pushed me inside, “Get in,”

“Where are we going?” I asked, confused, but for some unknown reason, I suddenly felt secure, My aggressive thoughts earlier vanished into thin air, I could breathe properly, and my heartbeat was back to its normal pace, I could see clearly, “Where are you bringing me?”

His brow furrowed, while he maneuvered the car, “Getting you out of the possible mess you’re about to jump in?”

“You mean-”

“Yes, me, arriving even a second late, would lead to their death, on your own hands, Vera,”