Finding His Luna

SERENA POV It always starts with a tingling sensation on the back of my neck that runs down my arms, leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake. It settles heavily in my stomach, a thick feeling of dread-and I just know: Something is wrong. The premonitions are vague, simple. warnings of approaching evil or danger. to their feelings to listen to. I glance around the city bus and see who I think is the problem. Aside from the few people on their way home from a long day at work, there's a group of gang members being rowdy near the back. I've caught the attention of one of them. He's staring at me rather hard, and when he catches me looking his way, he gives me a nod. " Hey, baby, why don't you come back? here, and we can get to know each other a little? " He said.To respond, or not to respond? Which would p*ss him off less? " Sorry dude, I'm happily married." Of course, it's a lie. I don't date, let alone get married. But it's the biggest turn-off for guys. Or so I assume. "Oh really? ? I don't see any ring. Baby, you can always have some fun." "Probably, but I'm not interested in something that condones cheating." " Give me your number. It's not cheating if you're texting." " If I may interject, she's not into you." The voice belongs to the guy who's been sitting quietly across the aisle from me. All the attention is now on him. The gang dude rises from his seat and snaps. "Do you have a hero complex or something?" "Or something. Just back off, will you?" To my surprise, that pesky one simply relents and doesn't say a word again. I could've handled this on my own, but I must admit that this guy is something. When our eyes meet, I thank him with a soft smile. I've noticed him before. We both left the library at closing time. I've seen him three or four times a week, since I started spending all my free time after work at the public library. We've never spoken. I'm a loner who avoids people like the plague. It's just hard to hide my gift from people when I'm thrown into their heads every time l'm touched. I don't know why I have the gifts. I have, or how I got them, but they've been saving me most of my life, so I don't complain. Lonely is better than death. He closes his book which he was reading, and he looks straight at me. My eyes travel back to him. My first thought was that it was unfair a man should have such a sinfully beautiful mouth. My next was that it was made for seduction and unspeakable delights. And my third was that it was made for despair—for despair was what I could not help but feel as I stared at this man, who seemed a strange and uncanny reflection of myself. Not only a more perfect specimen of manhood than I could ever pretend to be in my feigned garb, but a man who reflected my very soul back to me without even seeming to realize it, more myself than I was, yet in the way that fire complimented frost, or the ocean reflected the stars.He’s looks quite tall with broad shoulders and an athletic physique that even his suit and tie cannot hide. My eyes continued their upward journey to his strong square-shaped face framed with brown curly hair and deep, piercing blue eyes. The corners of his mouth curve upward when he notices me staring a moment too long. I immediately looked the opposite direction and refused to meet his eyes again.. As the bus nears my stop, the feeling inside my stomach intensifies. I'm still in danger. I take a deep breath and fight to keep my heart at a calm pace. " Are you alright?" He asked me. " I am fine." He smiles at my reply and brushes his bangs out of his eyes. I nod, but don't give up any further conversion. He tries again. " I am Christopher Waylon. I've seen you around the library.". Why has he chosen this moment-right as my premonition hit-to be so chatty, when he's spent the last few weeks only sneaking glances at me or spying on me? I can't tell what he is up to. They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. But it is apparently not always the case. "Yeah. A computer near the water fountain. I've been debating for weeks if it's online college classes or a World of Warcraft addiction." My response shocks him.It doesn't match the stay-away-I-bite vibe I generally give off. " Criminal Law course And Dragon Quest, Not World of Warcraft." I laugh once and can't help myself. Despite my wariness of his sudden desire to strike up conversation at the The same time my premonition hit, his answer made me chuckle. " Nice. I am Serena." The bus turns a corner onto my street, and the feeling in my stomach explodes. with intensifies. I pull in a long breath through my nose and let it out slowly. "Are you sure you're okay? You look like you're going to pass out." " I'm fine." "Do you want me to walk you home?" This question raises my suspicions. But he seems innocent enough, but I know exactly how deceiving appearances can be, and the premonition is only getting stronger. My body is screaming at me to protect myself. My hands are trembling now, and a light sheen of sweat breaks out along my hairline. " I'm sure you have plans." " Oh yes, I've got many and one of them is to get you home in a single piece." Now, he is making me nervous. I need to get off the bus alone. " It's only half a block away. I can make it. Thanks though." He doesn't seem too happy with my answer, but he sweeps his unhappiness away in a second. " Okay. If you are sure about it." The bus rumbles to a slow stop, and the A feeling of dread seizes my chest so hard that I can barely breathe. Gang Dude is still watching me-frowning at me-and now Christopher is watching me closely, too. I can't tell which one of them means me. harm. I need to get off of the bus. Not only that, but I'm so anxious that I stumble a little as I get to my feet. Wade jumps up as well. " Please, let me help. You're really pale." When he reaches for my hand, I pull away as though I'm experiencing some kind of electrical jerk. Convincing or not, I don't feel like peeking into his thoughts right at this moment. All l want is to get off the bus quickly, and that's exactly what I did. I made my way off the bus. Each step takes so much effort it feels as if I'm wading through waist-deep snow. The second the bus pulls away from the curb, the reason for my premonition becomes clear. I let out a soft curse. My creepy neighbor, Matthew, and one of his friends are hanging out in front of an unfamiliar car parked on the other side of the street. My apartment is in an erotic slum building in the worst part of Detroit. Matthew's dad is my neighbor who happens to be my landlord. Matthew lives in dorms, but he has to come come with his dad for summer vacation. I kept my head down and began walking straight to the apartment and act like I didn't notice him. I pick up my pace and don't stop until his hand grabs my arm. "Where do you think? Where are you going?" Instantly, I was flooded with his feelings and intentions. The images that flash in my mind make me shudder. He's not just perverted; he's twisted.The things he plans to do for me are:degrading, pain and sick. He prefers his women to feel like victims. He gets off on their fear. I gasp, clutching my chest as I feign surprise. " Hey. What are you doing in here?" My heart races as I glance down the street. I'm not close enough. Even if I could break away from him and make a run for it, I wouldn't make it to my apartment. He'd catch me. Matthew's eyes narrow, and the side of his mouth twitches as if he's suppressing a smirk. He's surprised me. He knows I'm panicking on the inside, and he's Enjoy it. " I am waiting for you to come. And you look smoking hot tonight. Can I take you out?" " Actually, Emory is coming, and I have plans with her." I lied to him. He rubs his neck and his eyes are roaming over my chest. I hear his thoughts, feel his intentions towards me. His disgusting mind terrifies me. In fact, that's probably why he was waiting at the bus stop instead of closer to home. He wouldn't be able to force me out of my apartment once, l was safely locked inside, and he knows l'd never go with him willingly. " Oh, Come on Serena! I know it's your birthday today and I want to celebrate it with you and I know Emory was out of town. She came here the other day because you weren't picking up her call or anything. Why are you lying to me?" I laugh nervously, and act like I have forgotten about it. " I remember it. Sorry, I forgot about that. You know, I have been so much lately that everything is just flying out of my mind. And I don't celebrate birthdays." His jaw clenches so tight I'm amazed I don't hear his teeth grinding. He knows what I'm doing? I've been successfully dodging him for weeks. People leave behind psychic imprints on the things they touch. Thanks to my gift, I'm able to pick up those imprints. The stronger a person's emotion at the time they touch an object, the longer the imprint stays, and the more vivid the vision l receive. Matthew swiped my key from his father's collection and started breaking into my apartment a few weeks ago. He's left behind enough imprints to give I had nightmares for the rest of my life. Last week, l went to get a drink from the two-liters of soda in the fridge, and I caught a glimpse of the rookie he'd slipped on it. I saw the suspicion in his eyes when I came out of my apartment later that evening with the empty bottle and wasn't the least bit drugged. He doesn't know how I've been avoiding his traps, but he knows I've been doing it intentionally, and it makes him angry. As angry as the fact that I haven't fallen for his charm. Tonight, seems it's his breaking point. "All the more reason to make sure This one is special. You're twenty-two, right? That's a good age to celebrate anything." "Sorry. I had a long day at work today, and I'm exhausted. I'm going to have to pass. Thanks, though." I tried to maneuver around him, but he grabs me by the waist and steers me toward his waiting friend. "I don't think so. You're not ditching me again." When I try to escape him, his grip becomes painfully tight. "There's no way out of this,Serena. You're all mine tonight." When I glare at him, his cheeks flush with anger, and I suddenly feel a knife poking in my hand. "Don't embarrass me. You'll regret it. if you do." He warned me. And thanks to the knife, I had no choice left but to go with him. I know he won't hesitate to use it, his thoughts have already proven that. His friend slips into the front of the car while Matthew yanks me over by the arm and forces me into the backseat. "Hey, Vincent, you don't mind playing chauffeur, right? My girl wants me to sit with her."