HIS SCENT IS A MOON LIT LIE

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Elara's POV

I had always seen my mother as someone who didn’t keep secrets — open as a book.

At least, that’s what I believed.

However, standing there, with the folded map clutched tight to my hand, it made me realize how little I truly knew about her.

The sound of the creaking floorboard accompanied by loud footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts and back to reality.

I felt panic run through my veins, my hands trembled and my thoughts my thoughts scattered.I couldn’t let her find me like this.

Without wasting another second, my fingers scrambled to pull the map and knife under the bed. I fumbled with my phone, hastily taking a shaky photo of the map before pushing everything out of sight.

The doorknob turned open and I barely managed to wipe the fear off my face before my mother stopped in.

Her brows furrowed in utter confusion as her eyes landed on me. "Elara? What are you doing here?"

"I-I.." I could not help but stutter, my voice came out shakier than I had imagined. "My cramps got worse so I was hoping I would find some painkillers in your room."

I said, my eyes darting to the other side of the room in order to avoid eye contact with her.

I could feel mum's gaze burning right through me, she was quiet. I knew she was taking time to access my lie so I gave her time.

She eventually said quietly. "They are in the kitchen cabinet."

I nodded my head rather too quickly. "Oh, thanks."

I snuck a glance at her and for a second, I saw a glimpse of worry written on her face right before she covered it with a gentle smile.

"Sweetie, we could go to the hospital if you do not feel too well."

I shook my head my head in disagreement. "Painkillers should work fine. You can go back to your visitor." I said in a haste.

Her expression shifted. She looked down at the floor. "About Gabriel...." She trailed off.

I raised my hand to stop her from saying anything further. The last thing I wanted to do was engross myself in a baseless conversation with her.

"I get it, he was just concerned. You do not have to explain." I mumbled.

I watched her nod her head, she did not say anything else. I walked past her and did not look back.

***

Just like that, the rest of the week passed by in a haze.

I went through school like a ghost trapped in my own body. The photo of the knife and map roamed through my thoughts every single second- always there, always waiting.

Not even the internet could recognize the symbols on the knife.

And Mr Cross…..his interrogations still echoed in my head.

I had the feeling his relationship with my mum was more than just old time pals.

One evening, after I had returned from school. I went to her room while she was taking a bath, I was desperate to see the knife again but when I lifted the bed and reached beneath it, there was nothing at all.

The knife and the map were gone.

I considered asking my mum about it but everytime I opened my mouth, fear found its way right through and tied my tongue.

Just the thought of looking her in the face frightened me, I was not sure I could look at her in the same light when it was obvious she was hiding something from me.

So when Saturday came, I made up my mind to visit my grandfather.

He was the only one i felt like I could tell everything.

"Are you sure you don't want me driving you there?" My mum asked with a worried look plastered on her face. She leaned against the doorway with a hand towel clutched tight in her hands.

"I can take a taxi." I murmured as I stood by the door, lacing my boots.

"Alright sweetheart but text us when you are there." That was my father's voice echoing from the living room.

"Roger that dad!" I yelled. I straightened my posture, allowing the cool wind brush my face.

"Oh and tell Elias to always answer his phone, i have been trying to reach him for a while now." Mum muttered under her breath.

I walked away from the house. I quickly made my way to the edge to our street, I waved my hand as a yellow taxi pulled up the driveway with a loud screech of tires.

The driver unlocked the door, making way for me to slide into the backseat. I turned to the driver and muttered my grandfather's address.

The faint scent of cigarette smoke mixing with the hum if the old radio clung to the atmosphere.

I rested my head against the window, watching the world blur by as we drove.

The taxi finally stopped at the gate and all of a sudden, I felt this heaviness in my chest.

Something felt wrong, perhaps the deafening silence?

I got off the taxi and handed the driver his money.

I slowly made my way towards the creaking opened gate, that was unusual for grandpa to leave the gate open.

"Grandpa?" I called out softly as I climbed the porch. There was no light on and the porch made this weird creaking noise.

I reached for the front door and to my surprise, it was already open.

At this moment, I could feel my heart up my throat, my legs trembled as i stepped inside.

The chaos in front of me made me release a loud gasp. The whole living room was a mess, there were pieces of broken glasses lying carelessly on the floor, books torn and scattered and blood smeared across parts of the wall.

A choked sob escaped from my lips when my eyes fell on Ginger, grandpa's dog was lying lifeless by the fireplace.

That was when it all clicked to me, the dream. It was here, this was the house and the scene.

Unfortunately this time, I was not asleep.