The Killing Moon

Sunlight poured through the blinds and found its home on my face. I blinked my eyes open slowly and it took me a moment to adjust and realize where I was. I inhaled deeply through my nostrils and turned my head to an empty bed. My mother must have already gotten up. I looked to the other side and spotted that familiar orange pill bottle. I contemplated briefly, letting my tongue run over my front teeth as I weighed the pros and cons.
Pro: sleep. Con: stealing.
I moved my hand to grab the bottle and shook a few out into my palm after I twisted the cap off. I closed it and put it back where it was and then slid myself out of the bed. I wasn’t normally this sneaky, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
I made my way to my room and placed the pills in the ceramic catchall that was in the top drawer of my nightstand. I felt a twinge of guilt in the pit of my stomach, but it wasn’t like I was doing anything that bad. I was just trying to sleep without having these strange occurrences. I quickly showered and got dressed before walking downstairs and noticing a note on the fridge.

“Went to put finishing touches on class, will be home later with lunch. Love you, Mom”

I shrugged and grabbed an apple from the counter, carefully ignoring looking at the picture on the fridge; I’d convinced myself that all of this weirdness was linked to the picture. I pulled my phone out of my pocket clicked on Landon’s name.
“Lando, I need to get out of this house, still cleaning?”
I pressed send and then walked back up to my room while I waited. I grabbed my laptop and laid out on my bed.
The Dainty Feather’s page was still open.
It was only 9:30, so they were open. I chewed on the insides of my cheeks as I considered this. It wasn’t that far, I could easily bike there and Landon must have been busy since I didn’t get a reply.
“You really do need more friends…”
I quickly looked up and around, was I so deluded that I was hearing my sister’s voice in my head?
“Yup.” I said as I closed my laptop and quickly jumped out of bed. I had to get out of this house. Now.
*
It was a hot day, but that was the normal in Southern California, I rode past the sycamore tree and the cedars that lined my neighborhood, taking in the flowering daisies Mrs. Thompson had planted and noticing the hummingbirds gather around a small shrub that had pink budding flowers. It was a nice distraction, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of the impending doom of what I may be going to find out.

Almost thirty minutes later and I felt the sweat trickling down the sides of my face. My hair, which had been pulled back neatly into a ponytail, was now frizzy and wild from the ride. I parked my bike near the front of the shop, locking it up to make sure I had a way home. I smoothed my hair down and inhaled as I finally took a good look at the storefront.
It was small and the windows looked almost antique, they were very foggy and hard to see through unless you squinted. The door had the name and the hours printed in the same font from the website. I felt chill bumps forming on my forearms despite the sweltering heat.
I mustered the nerve to walk inside; jumping when the bell hung above the door rang out loudly to alert them I had arrived.

There didn’t seem to be anyone up front at the wooden counter that seemed too short to be in a business. There were papers piled on both ends and an old fashioned cash register in the center. The walls were lined with bookshelves that were filled with books and small trinkets, crystals, candles, and incense. It smelled like lavender and eucalyptus, which was both inviting and repelling since I had always found eucalyptus to be obnoxious. My eyes were drawn to the back right corner, it seemed to be darker there and the bookshelf was harder to see, the books harder to decipher from where I was standing, and for a moment I felt that something was pulling me back toward there.

“Oh dear, I didn’t hear the bell!” An older lady called as she walked from the back of the shop, causing me to almost jump out of my skin. I tried to calm my nerves before speaking, but my voice was still shaky.

“I just came in, it’s fine.” I replied as I turned my gaze to her. She had long gray hair that stopped right before her waist, half of it pulled back in intricate braids. A pair of wide framed glasses hung from a colorful beaded necklace and complimented the flowing linen dress she was wearing. She looked like a fortune teller or a gypsy, or both. She looked kind, not scary at all. Inviting even, like an eccentric aunt you only saw at Christmas.

“Well welcome love, I am Jimena… I’m here to help, what brings you in today dear?” I hadn’t noticed her accent until then, I couldn’t really put my finger on it – but it wasn’t American, perhaps Mexican.
“I just, I-well, see I am just trying to get in touch with my spiritual side.” I stammered before finally settling on a good route. I couldn’t exactly say, I think you can help me communicate with my dead sister, could I?

“Wonderful, that is a good side to get in touch with. You are from around here?” She was walking near me now, her hand outstretched to me as she waved me away from the corner I’d originally been headed toward.

“Yeah, just a few blocks east.” I finally moved my feet; she took me to a table that had multiple colored candles in boxes, various essential oils, and books on harnessing your Chi.
“You are having trouble sleeping?” She asked as she looked at me, her eyes seemed to be staring deep into my soul. I nodded slowly, not saying a word.

“What really brings you in today?” She asked with a tilted head and questioning eyes.

“My sister died, I think she’s trying to talk to me.” I said without hesitation, it was as if she’d been able to reach past the bullshit without even trying. I blinked, startled by my honesty.

“I saw you looking toward the paranormal section; you think she is calling you here for that?”
I nodded slowly and kept my eyes down, scared to look at her again.

“Come then, let’s see what she wants you to find.” She began walking towards the corner and I followed behind her like a puppy. She flicked a light switch and it wasn’t hard to see why she kept the lights off there.

Old books lined the shelves with titles like “Necromancy” and “Staying safe while communicating” My eyes were busy examining everything, until suddenly I saw it. I knew why I had come here.

“Oh my God.” I said without even thinking, there was the same talking board we had played with when we were children.

“You see something?” She asked, looking at me.

“I’ve seen that before. I’ve used it, with her.” I said as I looked up at her again, my hand reaching out to touch the board.

“I see…” She said, stopping my hand before I was able to touch the board.
“This board came to us under very strange circumstances…” She began, breathing out as she lifted the board from the shelf.

“Strange, how?” I inquired.

“We don’t know, that is why is strange.” She said with a shrug.

“So… It just appeared?” I asked with an arch of my brow.

“About four weeks ago, it was in the back…no clue who…or what put it there.”

“My sister died four weeks ago…” I admitted, looking back at the board. How was this possible?

“Bigger things are at play here, Selena…”

I swallowed and looked up at her, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.
“How do you know my name…?” I asked, terrified.

“I know much about you…”

Before she could explain, my feet had already began walking backwards. I didn’t feel safe, I was suddenly longing for my house.

“I have to go.” I declared loudly before turning and breaking into a sprint, I swung the door open and didn’t look back. She didn’t call after me or attempt to stop me, so I had no problem getting out the door.

I felt myself stopped suddenly, my body crashed into a boy who was apparently walking by at quite the inopportune moment.
“I’m so sorry!” I said as I realized what was happening, the boy was tall and skinny. His hair was long and curled sloppily at the ends. He looked down at me with green eyes and a lazy grin before shaking his head.
“You okay?” He asked. I nodded, but I wasn’t. I had to get out of there.

“I’m fine, I’m sorry. I have to go.” I said as I turned to get to my bike, quickly unlocking the lock and mounting the seat. I didn’t look back as my feet peddled faster than they ever had.
**
I didn’t mention my morning to my mother or to Landon when he finally texted me back. I kept it to myself, I didn’t understand it enough to even discuss it with anyone. Mom brought home Thai chicken pizza from our favorite pizza place and it helped me take my mind off of things. We hung out in the living room and watched An Affair to Remember, which was my mother’s favorite movie. She doted on Cary Grant the entire time, as she always did, and it seemed to be a nice distraction for her.

I watched as she dried her tears and quoted the last line, it was something I’d seen a million times before, but she seemed so much more vulnerable now. She looked at me and laughed once the credits were rolling.

“I’m a mess.” She said as she dried her eyes.

“Me too.” I admitted, giving her a smile.

“Well, what did you pick for the next movie?” She asked, standing up and stretching her arms.

“Well, keeping with the classic tale of a chance meeting while travelling, I picked Strangers on a Train.” I said proudly, standing up as well to change the DVD.

“Ugh, you would.” She laughed as she made her way into the kitchen. “Ice cream?” She yelled back at me.

“Sure.” I said as I put the DVD in and got situated again on the couch.

The night was problem-free and I had somehow managed to forget about my strange morning. We finished the movie and she stayed with me while I got a bottle of water, I was silently thankful because I had learned being alone in the kitchen at night was not my favorite thing to do anymore. She gave me a big a hug outside of my door and looked longingly at Carmen’s door before finally going to bed.
I felt for her, I could tell she’d lost some of her spirit when she lost Carmen.
After I took one of the sleeping pills, I had no trouble falling asleep and I also had no dreams that I remembered. I’d call that a win.
**
“I’m about to leave my house, I’ll see you soon.” I typed and sent to Landon as I was walking out of my room.

We had decided to have our finale marathon at his house since my mom had to be up early for work tomorrow and we didn’t want to keep her up. His dad was out of town for business as usual and his mother would have been working on her fourth cup of wine by the time I got over there, so we knew she wouldn’t have trouble sleeping.

“Babe, you leaving?” My mom called as I walked out of my room.
“I am.” I said as I tucked the phone into my back pocket.
“If it gets too late… call me to pick you up, okay?” She offered, obviously not wanting me to ride my bike home in the middle of the night.

“You should just let me sleep over, really that would solve so many issues.” I teased, she’d never let me sleep over at his house before. It was wrong on so many levels according to her.
“I guess you could…” She said as her eyes drifted back to the television, my eyes bugged out of my head.

“Serious?”

“Sure, why not?” She shrugged.

“Well… Okay, I’ll shoot you a text if I do.”

Was I taking advantage of my mother in her current state? Maybe. Was I going to pass out on Landon’s bed before we even finished the marathon? Definitely. It always happened and I really didn’t want to wake her up to come get me, nor did I want to ride my bike home alone in the dark.

“Okay sweetie, have fun.” She called as I walked out the door.

The sun was setting as I approached Landon’s street, it occurred to me that I hadn’t been over here in weeks and hadn’t met the new neighbors. I noticed the car in the driveway though, it was an older car – an Impala that looked like it belonged in the late 60’s. I stopped at the end of their driveway to get a better look, my eyes failing to alert me that someone was standing there beside it.
“You like what you see?” A voice called, a deep English voice. I straightened up and cleared my throat, this was my luck after all.
“Yeah, it’s nice.” I said finally looking at him, my cheeks instantly turning red.

“Oh, hey, it’s you. You left in such a hurry yesterday, I hope you got where ever you were going.” The tall curly haired boy said with a smirk.

“OH, yes…sorry about that again.” I was so embarrassed.

“It happens, watch where you’re going next time. Not everyone is as forgiving as me.” He said with a scoff, his eyes made me feel uncomfortable, like I was his prey.
“Your boyfriend is getting worried.” He said with a nod off toward the house next door; Landon’s house. I turned my head and he was outside, his arms crossed as he looked at us.

“He’s not my boyfriend…” I said quickly, not sure why.

“I really don’t care” He said with a laugh, shaking his head and turning to walk back into his house.

“Well that was rude…” I said under my breath before finishing my ride and setting my bike in Landon’s garage.
“Did you talk to him?” He asked as he walked over to me.
“I guess, he’s not much of a talker?” I asked, shrugging.
“What did he say?” He was looking at me with such concern, boys were so strange.
“That he was an asshole? I don’t know, he didn’t say anything. Come on, let’s go. I’m tired and hot.” I said with a groan.
“Fine… He gives me the creeps.” He admitted as we walked into his house.

“Selena! Darling how are you? I haven’t seen you in ages, you look well. You hungry?” His mother prattled out, not giving me a chance to answer. “There is food in the fridge, you two will be okay? I’ll be back in no time.” She said as she turned to walk out the door, seriously ready to get out of the house apparently.

“What’s with her?” I asked, looking at Landon.
“Fuck if I know…” Landon rarely cursed, but he did when he was annoyed.
“You okay?” I asked, sensing how tense he seemed.
“I don’t know, she’s been fighting with dad and now she’s always out and comes home so late and… I don’t know, I think she’s having an affair.” He admitted. I arched a brow. His mom was basically a stepford wife.
“Wow…” I was speechless.
“But, who cares. Let’s go.” He said as he took my hand and dragged me towards his bedroom.

Notes

I feel like these chapters are way longer than my normal chapters, so sorry if they're too long.
But I get really into it.
Just a taste of Har, more next chapter.

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone :)