Lunar Bound

Chapter 2: The Monster at Home

Ruby’s limbs were heavy as she trudged through the forest, her bare feet sinking into the soft earth with every step. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the treetops, but Ruby felt none of its warmth. Her mind was a tangled mess of confusion, fear, and the lingering sensation of Damien’s touch. The revelation of what she truly was, the transformation, and the encounter with Damien had left her shaken to her core.

But as she drew closer to the edge of the woods, another familiar feeling began to take hold—a sense of dread that wrapped itself around her like a vise. Home. She didn’t want to go back, but she had no other choice. Her mother would be wondering where she had been all night, and Ted… Ted would be waiting. He always waited.

When Ruby emerged from the forest, her house came into view. The small, dilapidated structure sat on the outskirts of town, its paint peeling and windows cracked. It was a far cry from the warm, welcoming homes of her classmates. For Ruby, this house was nothing short of a prison, with walls that held memories of pain and fear.

She hesitated at the edge of the yard, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mother’s beat-up sedan was parked in the driveway, but there was no sign of Ted’s truck. A small flicker of hope sparked in Ruby’s chest—maybe he wasn’t home. Maybe he had gone out, and she could slip inside unnoticed.

But as she took a cautious step forward, the front door creaked open, and her hope shattered. Ted stood in the doorway, his hulking frame casting a long shadow across the porch. His greasy hair hung in unkempt strands around his face, and his bloodshot eyes locked onto Ruby with a cold, calculating glare.

“Where the hell have you been?” Ted’s voice was a low growl, the kind that sent shivers down Ruby’s spine. He stepped onto the porch, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You think you can just waltz in here at sunrise like nothing happened? You worthless little—”

“I’m sorry,” Ruby blurted out, her voice trembling. “I got lost. I didn’t mean to be out all night, I swear.”

Ted’s lips curled into a sneer as he descended the porch steps. “Lost? You expect me to believe that? You think I’m stupid, girl?”

Ruby shook her head, her heart racing as she instinctively took a step back. “No, I—”

“Shut up!” Ted roared, cutting her off. His hand shot out, grabbing Ruby by the arm and yanking her forward. The force of it nearly knocked her off her feet, and she winced as his fingers dug into her flesh. “You’ve been out running around like some little tramp, haven’t you? Think you’re too good for this house? Too good for me?”

Ruby’s breath hitched, the familiar terror tightening in her chest like a vice. “No, Ted, please—”

His hand cracked across her face before she could finish the sentence. The impact sent her stumbling, her vision blurring as a sharp pain radiated through her cheek. Ruby bit back a cry, tasting blood in her mouth as she struggled to stay on her feet.

“I’ll teach you to disrespect me,” Ted snarled, his voice laced with venom. “You think you can just leave whenever you want? You belong here, Ruby. You’re nothing without me. Nothing.”

His words cut deep, but it wasn’t just the pain of the slap that brought tears to Ruby’s eyes. It was the truth behind them. Ted had spent years drilling that belief into her, tearing her down piece by piece until she felt like she really was worthless. And now, even after everything she had just learned about herself, those old fears still held power over her.

Ted grabbed Ruby by the hair, forcing her to look up at him. “You’re not going anywhere, you hear me? You’re mine to do with as I please.”

Ruby’s heart pounded in her chest as she met his gaze, the fear threatening to choke her. But something inside her, a small spark of defiance, refused to let her back down. She wasn’t the same scared girl she had been before. She had survived something far worse than Ted could ever imagine, and she had come out the other side stronger.

“I’m not yours,” Ruby whispered, her voice trembling but resolute.

Ted’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening painfully on her hair. “What did you just say?”

“I said I’m not yours,” Ruby repeated, her voice louder this time. She clenched her fists at her sides, bracing herself for the blow she knew would come. “I’m done being afraid of you.”

For a moment, Ted seemed stunned, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Then his expression twisted into a mask of rage, and he shoved Ruby backward, sending her crashing into the side of the house. She hit the wall hard, her head snapping back as she crumpled to the ground.

Ruby’s vision swam, her ears ringing from the impact. Pain radiated through her skull, but she forced herself to stay conscious, to stay focused. She wouldn’t let Ted see her break. Not this time.

“You think you’re brave now, huh?” Ted spat, his voice dripping with contempt as he loomed over her. “You think you can stand up to me?”

Ruby’s entire body trembled with fear, but she refused to look away. She met Ted’s gaze with as much strength as she could muster, her voice hoarse but unwavering. “I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

Ted’s face twisted with fury, and he raised his hand to strike her again. Ruby braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut as she waited for the blow to land.

But it never came.

Instead, she heard a low growl, deep and menacing, coming from somewhere close by. Ruby’s eyes snapped open, her heart skipping a beat as she realized the sound wasn’t coming from Ted—it was coming from the woods.

Ted froze, his hand hovering in the air as he slowly turned to face the source of the noise. The growl grew louder, more intense, and Ruby could see the fear flicker in Ted’s eyes as he searched the tree line.

Then, out of the shadows, a massive figure emerged. Ruby’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the tall, imposing figure of Damien. His blue eyes were glowing with a predatory light, his expression a mask of cold, controlled fury.

Ted took a step back, his bravado faltering as he looked up at Damien. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded, though his voice wavered with fear.

Damien ignored him, his gaze locked onto Ruby. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice low and calm, but Ruby could hear the underlying tension.

Ruby nodded, though she couldn’t find her voice to respond. The shock of seeing Damien there, the fear of what Ted might do, and the pain from her injuries all swirled together, making it hard to think.

“Get away from her,” Damien said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ted’s fear quickly turned to anger, and he squared his shoulders, trying to assert his dominance. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. This is my house, and she’s my—”

“I said,” Damien cut him off, his voice turning icy, “get away from her.”

For a moment, there was a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken threats. Ruby could see the muscles in Damien’s jaw tightening, his fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to keep his composure.

Ted, sensing the danger, took another step back. “You’re trespassing, boy,” he spat. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you better—”

Before Ted could finish, Damien moved with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he had Ted pinned against the wall, his hand around the man’s throat. Ted’s eyes widened in shock and terror as he struggled to breathe, his hands clawing at Damien’s iron grip.

“If you ever touch her again,” Damien growled, his voice low and deadly, “I will make you regret the day you were born.”

Ted’s face turned red as he gasped for air, his eyes bulging in fear. He tried to speak, but Damien’s grip tightened, cutting off any words.

“Do you understand me?” Damien asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Ted nodded frantically, his eyes pleading for mercy.

Damien released him, letting him slump to the ground, gasping for breath. Without another glance at Ted, Damien turned to Ruby, his expression softening as he extended a hand to help her up.

But before Ruby could take it, Ted let out a strangled cry of rage, pulling a rusted knife from his boot and lunging at Damien. Ruby’s heart leaped into her throat as she watched in horror.

“Damien, look out!” she screamed, just as the blade glinted in the morning light.