The Luna Chronicles : Shadows of the Past

I awoke to the sound of rustling just outside my window, the soft, eerie noise penetrating the early morning stillness. As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I felt a chill creep down my spine. Slowly, I approached the window, the wooden floorboards creaking under my bare feet. Peering through the glass, I was taken aback to find a tall, shadowy figure with luminous white eyes staring back at me. The figure’s gaze was intense, almost mesmerizing, and I stood there frozen as we locked eyes for what felt like hours. Suddenly, without warning, the figure vanished into the darkness, leaving me standing there in stunned silence. Shaking off the lingering sense of unease, I returned to my bed and sat there for a while, trying to process what I had just witnessed. Eventually, I lay back down, and despite my racing thoughts, I managed to drift off to sleep. The next thing I knew, the morning sun was streaming through my window, casting a warm glow across my room. Stretching and yawning, I attempted to rouse myself from bed. The memory of the previous night flashed through my mind, but I dismissed it as a mere dream. Why had I been so concerned about a dream? I chuckled and shook it off. Getting ready for school, I examined myself in the mirror. My disheveled black hair contrasted with my bright blue eyes, which seemed to shine even more vividly in the morning light. As I ran a brush through my hair, my mother’s voice echoed from downstairs. “Artemis, are you awake?” Rolling my eyes, I shouted back, “Yes, Mother, I’ll be down in a minute.” Grabbing my bag, I opened my door and proceeded down the long hallway toward the stairs. Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine, as if someone—or something—was watching me. Ignoring the sensation, I started running down the stairs, oblivious to my surroundings, and collided with something that felt like a solid wall. Looking up, I found my older brother scowling at me. “Watch it, squirt.” Standing up, I straightened my clothes before heading into the kitchen. A delightful aroma wafted through the doorway just before I entered. Inside, my mother stood at the stove, and the sweet scent of cinnamon filled the air. She had prepared French toast for breakfast. “Artemis, why did you wake up so late this morning?” she asked, turning to me with a raised eyebrow. Lowering my head, not wanting to disappoint her, I mumbled, “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t get much rest last night.” She nodded in understanding as I grabbed a couple slices of French toast. Reflecting on the previous night, I pushed the unsettling thoughts aside, reassuring myself that it had only been a dream. After finishing my breakfast, I thanked my mother, grabbed my belongings, and darted out the door toward the bus stop. Standing in the crisp morning air, I shivered as a gentle breeze swept past me, an odd sensation given the relatively mild temperature. While waiting for the bus, my gaze fixed on the road, I couldn’t help but wonder about the absence of Genius, who was unusually late. Dismissing my concerns, I convinced myself he would show up; after all, he never missed the bus. As I stepped closer to the street to check for any sign of it, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind me. My heart rate quickened, and a wave of terror washed over me. At first, a small bunny emerged from the bushes, and I laughed at myself for getting scared by such a tiny creature. However, an unsettling feeling lingered, as if someone were watching me. Moving closer to the bushes, I kneeled down to check for more animals but found none. I turned back toward the road. Suddenly, Genius leaped out, and I let out a blood-curdling scream loud enough to wake the dead. He burst into laughter, prompting me to kick him. “Genius, are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I exclaimed. He stood up, wiped his face, and smiled. “Sorry, Princess. I couldn’t help myself.” After a moment, I realized he was only playing a prank. Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasiness left over from the strange dream I’d had the night before. Genius had this annoying habit of startling me for his own amusement, claiming it was funny. I’d warned him more than once that one day he might actually give me a heart attack. As we stood there waiting for the bus, he kept glancing at me, and I couldn’t figure out why. “Why are you staring at me?” I asked. He grinned. “I can’t believe you screamed that loud. You nearly shattered my eardrums.” Smacking his arm, I replied, “Sorry. I’ve just been jumpy today.” Turning my attention back to the road, I saw the bus approaching our stop. As it pulled up, we climbed aboard and scanned for an open seat. Spotting two empty seats at the back, we headed over and sat down. Once everyone was settled, the bus driver closed the door, and we began the journey to school. Knowing I enjoyed looking out the window during the drive, Genius graciously let me take the window seat. The scenery outside was enchanting, and I became so absorbed in it that I often missed what was happening around me. Abruptly, the bus came to a halt, prompting me to look up and realize we had already arrived at school. Genius glanced at me with a concerned expression. “Are you okay?” he asked. The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and I got up to leave. Making my way to my locker, I found Genius already waiting, as he often was. “Hey, Princess, what are you doing for your birthday this weekend?” I shrugged. “I’m not sure. Why?” He grinned. “Then plan nothing. I have something I want to show you for your birthday.” He kissed my forehead and added, “Bye, Princess. I’ll see you after class.” With that, he disappeared into the crowd of students. Closing my locker, I headed to my next class. Upon entering the classroom, I noticed the most popular jock in school sitting at my desk. I couldn’t help but wonder why he was occupying my usual seat. Oliver King was unexpectedly sitting there, and I didn’t understand why. Approaching slowly, I watched as he looked up at me. “Are you Artemis Cage?” he asked. I nodded, struggling to find my voice. “You’re my new tutor. I’ll see you after school today.” Without another word, he walked away. Mouth agape, I took my seat by the window and attempted to pay attention to Mr. Dew, but my focus wavered. I couldn’t comprehend how he could drop that information and leave without even giving me a chance to respond. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize the bell had rung until much later. My classmates and Mr. Dew had already left, so I gathered my things and headed toward my locker. As I turned the corner, Genius was already there waiting for me. He seemed more than worried—actually, scratch that—he looked furious. “Genius, what’s wrong with you?” I asked. He straightened up and stepped closer. “I can’t believe you agreed to tutor Oliver,” he snapped. I frowned. “Well, Genius, I didn’t exactly have a choice. I didn’t even know about it until I walked into class. But I’m okay with it, and... I don’t know. I feel drawn to him, even though I don’t think he notices me.” The moment those words left my mouth, Genius’s eyes shifted from green to solid black, and he began growling—not like a dog, but something far more sinister. Through gritted teeth, he snarled, “You’re mine.” Terrified, I backed away. “Genius, you’re scaring me,” I stammered, unsure of what was happening. I continued retreating, unnerved by this unfamiliar and frightening behavior. As his growls intensified, fear propelled me to turn and sprint toward the school entrance, unsure whether he was following me. Abruptly, I collided with someone and stumbled backward. Looking up, I realized it was Oliver. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” I apologized, still shaken from the encounter with Genius. Oliver helped me to my feet when suddenly a loud howl echoed from inside the school. Without hesitation, he grabbed my hand, and we started running. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I had just witnessed the person I’d known practically my entire life slowly transforming into something unrecognizable.