Capturing Luna

Silver tipped stilettos

John blurted out in one breath “Hi Luna it’s John!”. In the background he could hear click clacking on pavement. Muffled sounds of people chattering and bustling around. Now and then he could hear engines roar and horns beep. Wherever she was, it was a busy city. “Hi John, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.” John rubbed his forehead and slumped back into his seat. “You didn’t even say goodbye, you just left.” “But I did, I told you how I enjoyed working with you and that I would see you around... remember?” John pinched the bridge between his eyes, now slumping forward “that was a goodbye? I mean.. *sigh* Where are you Luna?” James and Madden was dead quiet and listening in on the conversation. In the background they could hear the city noises intensify. “I’m on a new job, that’s what I do remember.. I move from job to job, wherever it takes me.” John scoffed “I know that Luna, I just didn’t expect you to leave so soon after.” Long pause, the air was getting tense. “Why won’t you tell me where you are Luna?” An even longer pause, John straighten up in his chair, the 3 men looking at each other shrugging their shoulders and mouthing silently to each other. Their eyes glazed over and the room went still yet again. The atmosphere was now intense. The silence was suddenly broken “I’m so sorry John, I was just... I’m kinda speed walking here. The sun is setting, so I’m trying to get back to my hotel fast.” John frowned at that, all 3 men looking quizzically at each other. Suddenly there was a rustle, some commotion was happening on the other end. They could all hear Luna cussing in the background. It sounded muffled and far away like the phone was not close to her. The noises got louder, it sounded like a fight broke out. “Luna?” Pause. “Luna?... LUNA???” John was getting desperate. There was no answer. The scuffle noises continued. Suddenly a howl and a hiss broke out. There were some rapid footstep sounds fading away like someone was running away. They could hear a huff and some light moaning. Then there was some scraping sounds before a voice talked steady but out of breath into the phone. “Yeah hi, sorry about that. I just had to fend of one of those creeps again.” Lunas voice was agitated, she sounded irritated. John just yelled back into the phone “what do you mean fend of? What happened?” Luna sighed in the other end. The click clacking on the pavement picked up again. She was moving now. “Well, I told you about how my name attracted weird guys. Around dusk these vampire wannabes comes out and act all creepy like they want to bite me. It’s seriously getting really old. This one was particularly aggressive. I swear, he even had those fang implants. I just can’t deal right now.” She huffed into the phone. Silence. “Hello? Jonathan?” John’s face was white, drained of color. His gaze was big and distant. He then he started on a rant in full speed and almost yelling at Luna “I thought you were kidding! There’s actually guys attacking you? Why on earth are you alone? Do you have any protection? Do you call the cops? Any WHY ARE YOU WALKING ALONE? Tell me where you are right now! I’ll fly out straight away! You’re clearly not safe! How can you be so reckless?!?” Luna huffed back. “Calm down cowboy, it’s not like they’re real vampires and werewolves. It’s just sci-fi creeps taking it to far. Luckily I was wearing stilettos. I have all my stilettos changed to have silver tips. And I always keep my silver spray and holy water with me. I know it’s weird, but it actually works on these guys. They’re  really into the whole role play thing. So I just play along. After I kicked him in the chest, stiletto head on and then threw some water on him he got all pissy and ran off. It’s weird how regular water don’t work though, it’s like they know.” John gritted his teeth and whisper yelled into the phone, his eyes flashed of black “where. Are. You. Luna?” No answer, it was dead quiet, not a single sound. No bustling or car engines, no clicking on pavement or chatter. It went like this for agonizing 11 minutes. Then suddenly the sound came back “sorry about that, I had to talk to the receptionist, she got a bit worried because my clothes were torn. I’m fine though. Thank you so much for caring though, it is very sweet of you.” Luna’s voice was sweet and friendly. It seemed that she missed the urgency from John’s end.  John huffed, his composure was soon lost. “Please just come back. Or at least tell me where you are so I can get to you.” He was rubbing his forehead with one hand and leaning on his knees with the other. By now both Madden and James  had found themselves a seat, both seemed drained from the suspension. In the background they could hear water starting to drip, not like a faucet, more like a shower. Luna started to talk, but louder as if she was stepping away. “I’m just taking a quick shower, I’m drained and dirty. I need to just get to bed.” A couple of minutes passed before she spoke again. The water sound stopped, then soft shuffling sounds started. Luna was sighing, then the sound of a hairbrush going through her hair. She walked with soft steps over a carpeted floor, and some more rustling as she got into bed. The sounds of sheets ruffling was not to be mistaken. “Hey John, I get it, you’re worried. But I don’t need a knight in armor to save me. I’ve been getting into and out of trouble since I was 14. My life is exciting but challenging. My job allowed my parents to retire early. I hope you understand, I’m not dismissing you. It’s just... I’m not suddenly incapable just because you entered into my life.” There was a long silence. Both James and Madden leaned forward, both had wide  eyes and was waiting in anticipation. John finally spoke “what about us Luna? I was hoping we could... I thought we were... I don’t know... I guess what I’m saying... I thought we had something.” Luna gave a little exhale “I told you Johnathan, I don’t get involved with my clients.” “I’m not your client anymore, let me at least have a shot?” His voice almost faltered at the end. “Shot at what Johnathan.” Lunas voice cracked a bit as she asked him. “Whatever you want Luna, if you just want it casual I’ll take that.” His voice was husky and almost seductive. Luna quipped back in a sultry voice “so what you’re saying, I would get the full 5 minutes?” Both Madden and James had to stifle a laugh. John hissed back, trying to whisper back and he rolled the chair further away from his beta and delta. “Luna, I would give you all night, you would never want to leave. What happened here last time is nothing compared to what I will do to you.” “Jonathan I...”. She sighed for a bit “I really do like you, but my life is not cut out for any relationship. I’m constantly on the road. I’m just...” another sigh “I hope you can understand.” John was tearing at his hair by now. “Luna, just tell me where you are, I’ll come to you! I can’t let you go, I’m hopelessly in love with you! Please, give me a chance!” John’s voice cracked, he stifled a sound at the end. There was a long pause again on both ends. Madden and James was sitting at the edge of their seats. Fists were clenched and mouths open like they were to say something but gone mute. For a last time the silence was broken, Luna’s voice faltered as she whispered into the phone “I’m so sorry Jonathan!”. Then the beeping of a disconnected phone call filled the room. John’s phone dropped to the floor.