18

To Run Away

 

“Serene! Melody! I-” Luna yelled after bursting out of her room.

“Shhh. She’s finally getting some rest,” Serene said.

Melody’s glasses had fallen off her face as she was completely conked out on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket.

“S-sorry,” Luna said with a lowered voice. “Serene, there’s so much I have to tell you.”

“Melody here has already told me everything in regards to your operation. Your plans, what happened with this, ‘Void,’ the well being of your friends, Eterna’s connection to everything, I know all that. However, I would like to hear your own side to all of this. At least, enough that you feel comfortable with sharing.”

I can’t hide anything away anymore. She needs to know my past.

Luna told Serene everything. Her past with Aurora, the true nature of her powers, the things Dominic said to her, the dreams she was having, and the memories of her ancestor. The clock had already past 3am, but both were wide awake as Serene remained quiet while Luna continued to talk. Her words were messy. She was concerned that maybe this wasn’t making sense to Serene. But still, she put out all the words she needed to. Once she finished talking, Serene merely looked lost in thought.

“I see…so that’s everything, isn’t it?”

“Yes… That’s everything laid out for you. I know I’ve gotten you involved with my crumbling life, but if-”

Serene lowered herself and gently hugged Luna, making sure not to put any pressure on her body.

“Why are you talking as if you’re a burden on me? A kid like you shouldn’t be thinking that way. I’m the one that failed.”

“What are you talking about? We agreed to give ourselves space between each other. You’ve never done anything to upset me.”

“And that’s the problem. I can survive in my own world, but yours is still growing. I’ve never truly put my foot down on anything you’ve done because I feared you’d resent me.”

Resent? Why would I…?

“The girl I’ve watched over for seven years returns home bruised and scarred. All because you didn’t wish for this to be any of my business, and I accepted this. There’s no excuse for that.” 

“So…you’re not afraid of me? What I can do…the past I’m carrying?” Luna asked.

“I see no reason to fear you. You’re still just a growing child. It’s my responsibility to help when you need it.”

“Is that how it is? If you’re really not afraid… then no need to hold back when hugging me.”

“Right.”

Serene’s arms properly pressed themselves around Luna’s back. The parental warmth of her body was a feeling that Luna had long forgotten.

“...Thank you.”

At the end of their moment together, Melody found herself waking up from the continued sound of their voices.

“Melody! Apologies for waking you.” Luna said.

“No, no, I was just waiting for you to wake up. I ended up dozing off.”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m doing better. Your mother is really nice.”

Luna turned to Serene.

“All I did was listen to what she had to say.” 

“How are you doing, Luna? I’d get it if you're still feeling down but…” Melody said.

“I’m good.” Luna said clearly.

Melody’s eyes widened.

“You’re…good?”

“Well, maybe not completely, but I will be, once we save our friends. It’s me that Dominic wants dead, so I imagine he’s keeping them alive somewhere. Wherever they are, we’re gonna break them free. No matter what.” Luna kneeled in front of Melody. “I know this is selfish of me to ask, but I don’t know if I can do this alone. Your skills with hacking and technology, they may prove to be very vital even with how dangerous this could be. Please, will you help me save Chloe and Aurora?”

Melody tilted her head, “Pfft, did you really need to ask me such a question? That wasn’t even selfish. They’re my friends too after all.”

“That’s true. I’m still trying to understand what you meant back then.”

“I’m not even sure if what I was talking about would even be considered selfish anymore.”

Luna admired Melody’s cheerful attitude. It wasn’t the same as Aurora’s confident but playful demeanor. She looked as if she was happy simply for her own pleasure. A bizarre concept to Luna, but one that still fascinated her.

Her mind didn’t have time to ponder this for long, as in only a matter of seconds, the glow of the Starlight Curse wrapped itself around Melody.

“Melody!”

“Woah! Do I finally have it?! Did you just curse me with some power?! I’m no longer gonna be left out!” Melody exclaimed. 

“I really don’t have control of this…wait, you felt left out?”

“It’s a pink aura too! What even decides the color?”

“Uh, personalization?”

“What am I gonna be able to do!? How did the others activate their powers?!”

With the uncoordinated waving of Melody’s hands, she stopped as soon as she noticed something strange appearing on the tip of her right index finger.

“A bubble?” Henry voiced.

As Melody kept her hand frozen, the bubble grew larger and larger until it disconnected from her finger entirely, and it began to float in the living room.

“Is it gonna explode?!” Melody shrieked.

Luna raised an eyebrow. “It looks like an ordinary soap bubble. Hold on a minute.” 

She approached the surprisingly large bubble and reached out her hand. Instead of the bubble immediately popping, her hand submerged itself into the bubble and became stuck inside.

Maybe it reacts to sound? Luna thought.

She snapped her fingers inside the bubble. Nothing happened, but that was exactly what was strange. Nobody in the room heard the sound of the snap.

“These bubbles block out sound? That’s certainly unique…”

“Is that all they could do? Would be kinda lame if so,” Melody sulked.

“Can they act as ear plugs?”

Luna’s hunch was correct. It took only a little bit of force to pull her hand out and allow the bubble to keep floating. It continued until it attached itself to the right side of her face. Her ear couldn’t hear the sound of her foot tapping, nor the sound of the refrigerator buzzing. She still wondered how this could be used effectively.

“Luna! Your bruise!” Melody said.

“What about-” Luna stopped talking when she touched the bruise she had on her cheek. It no longer felt sore.

Serene stared at Luna’s face. 

“It’s completely gone.”

“Hm, healing properties it seems.”

Melody raised a strong thumbs up, “I’ll take it! I’m already the support on the team, anyways.” 

Luna covered her mouth and thought, I prefer powers that aren’t destructive, so I accept this. Aurora is the only one who was given something like that… “Regardless, we must figure out what to do now. In order to save Aurora and Chloe, where they’re being kept is our first concern.”

“With how you’ve described Mr. Eterna, he’s made this a very personal matter. I imagine he’s keeping himself close to these captives of his,” Serene said.

“Awww, if only we managed to get that hair sample Chloe found. We could easily locate where that guy is.”

Luna’s hand fidgets came to a pause. “Hair sample?”

“Chloe managed to find one before being attacked. If she gave it to you, we could use my grandpa’s machine to locate him.”

“She never gave me…wait!”

Luna dug her hands into every single pocket of her belt. There was one chance for Chloe to have snuck the sample onto Luna, and that was when she was carrying Chloe on the Eterna mansion rooftop before she shoved Luna. Sure enough, in one of her smoke bomb pockets, Luna found a tiny plastic bag with a singular black hair strand inside.

Chloe, you’re more clever than I thought.

“Great! The machine is back in my grandparent’s garage so we just gotta stop by there.”

“If we go now, we’ll be able to-”

“Hold on, you two.” 

Before Luna and Melody could run out the door, Serene halted them in their place.

“Apologies, but you two need more rest. I can see the bags under both of your eyes.”

“But Serene, we don’t have time to relax! Not when Aurora and Chloe could be…”

“If you're sure that Mr. Eterna will not kill your friends, rushing in while exhausted will only spell the end for you. I’ve at least taught you to remain at your healthiest to survive dangerous obstacles, haven’t I?”

“Yes…you have,” Luna mumbled.

“More importantly…I’m not about to let you two kids do this on your own.”

“What are you implying, Serene?”

“There’s only one thing that can imply. I will join you two on your mission.”

“You’re going to what?!” 

“I agree with this!”

“Melody!”

“We need all the help we can get, after all!”

“She’s a retired thief. She quit because she could no longer keep up.”

“Haha, when you put it like that, I really sound washed up, don’t I? Rest assured, I still have the experience to be of help. Even if I left you on your own before, for how dangerous going against Eterna will be, I’ll do no such thing.”

“There’s no point in arguing with you, is there?” Luna asked.

“It’d only make this night go on longer,” Serene replied.

“Welp! Looks like that’s how it’s going to be! I call dibs on the couch!” The sight of Melody comedically plopping onto their couch was a silly enough visual for Luna to start relaxing a little bit. She still was unsure if this was really the right call, though.

“Zzzzzzzzz”

“She’s already asleep?” 

“I suppose she was still exhausted even after that nap,” Serene said.

I’m kinda envious. With everything on my mind, I don’t know if going back to sleep will be easy.

“I’m gonna change and sleep until morning.”

“One last thing, Luna.”

“Yes?”

Serene placed both of her hands on Luna’s shoulders. “Only take on what you believe you can handle. If a threat is too dangerous, run away. Never make a sacrifice play ever again.”

“...Of course.”

“Right. Have a good night. Don’t forget I love you.”

“I’ll remember.”

As Luna changed out of her tattered outfit and into her sleepwear, the threats that could await tomorrow loomed over her. 

To her, this was about more than simply saving her friends. This would be where she confronted everything from the past and put it to rest. She could not move forward until then. The echoes of Serene’s words went through her head, but the reply she left unspoken still remained.

Apologies, Serene, but I will never run away again.