The librarian.

An Opened Secret

"Leave me alone!" she screeched, raising her arm in an attempt to resist him. Desmond could barely make out a word as he kept pulling her along, leaving behind a trail of onlookers and gossipers.

He stopped at the driveway and let her go.

"Why were you following me?" he asked calmly.

The girl chuckled.

"Look around, boy. This place isn’t some clubhouse or freaking pool party. You seriously thought you were that special to turn me into some stalker?"

Desmond stared, unconvinced, and she shook her head in restrained disgust.

"I have a sister here, okay? And it’s freaking visiting day. So hold your horses, cowboy!"

"A sister?" The scorn in his voice was unmistakable.

"Yes, a sister, dingus! And who the f**k wears a mask to visit their sister on a school day?" She raised her hand toward the mask, and Desmond immediately slapped it away.

"You’ll learn to mind your business, lady… or you’ll get burned."

The elevator to the driveway beeped, and Desmond glanced toward it. It was Alice. She stepped out just in time to witness the resolution of the event.

"Brother!" she called out. "What are you doing smothering the sweet lady?"

Desmond held out a box to her. "Actually, we were just leaving."

Alice took it, then turned to the still-strange yet attractive lady.

"Here," she said, handing the box to her, "for your troubles. It’s my brother’s way of saying he’s sorry."

Desmond placed his hand on his forehead while the lady accepted the gift gently.

"You’re so sweet, darling," the woman said.

"Trust me, my brother is a lot sweeter."

This made the lady chuckle slightly.

"Oh! That reminds me—you never really mentioned your name. Leaving it to my lovely brother here would take an eternity," Alice said with her sweet smile still in place.

"Luna," she replied, holding Desmond’s gaze.

Alice gripped both her hands excitedly.

"Oh, Luna! I really wish to see you again soon!" she giggled, sneaking a simper at her brother.

Desmond turned toward his car and walked off silently. He got in and gently rested his head on the headrest. That one is one moon witch, he thought. He started the ignition, and just as he was about to slam the accelerator, there was a rattle on his window.

He turned to see his sister rambling through some distinct speech, which the closed window seemed to have muted. Behind her stood the moon witch, holding the gift that had been meant for his little sister in both hands. She fixed him with a gaze that seemed to suffocate him from the inside.

He gently rolled down the window, and the steady, pitched voice of his sister greeted him.

"…So she’ll have to tag along with you," Alice was saying.

"Mhm." Naturally, he had an idea of how this was all going to end.

"Sure, why not?" he said simply.

The witch gave him a withering smile, then hugged Alice while still poking at him with her beautiful eyes.

---

The lone car threaded through the empty road. It wasn’t strange — they had crossed the county of his sister’s school and now traveled along a road that seemed to invite ghosts and spirits. The crew had been silent since the commencement of the journey, each lost in their own thoughts or perhaps exchanging conversations telepathically.

No sooner had Desmond crossed into a new landscape than Luna broke the silence.

“Y’know… your sister is quite affectionate to be related in any way to you.”

Silence.

“If I knew better, I’d probably call you the bastard in the family,” she continued, turning away from him and fingering the little gift that had landed in her hands.

Silence.

She let out a small gasp. “Are you devoid of a voice, or are you just mindlessly modest around someone who probably sees what you really are?”

“If this unperturbed journey troubles you that much, would you care for me to drop you off? You’ve been much of a saggy burden anyway,” Desmond said, his eyes never leaving the road.

“And that would be such a gentlemanly thing to do… wouldn’t it?” Her voice was softer now, almost misty.

“Y’know what… just drop me off here. I’m better off without your remorseless ass anyway.” She stared at him vehemently.

The road they were on was flanked by thick forest on both sides, and the headlights revealed nothing beyond their own rays.

“I said—”

The car came to an abrupt halt. She looked at him in disbelief, then hurriedly unlocked the door with unbearable agitation and hurt. She hesitated for a moment.

“And take your stupid gift.” She flung the item at him, but Desmond merely tilted his head, letting it pass the window without touching him.

After getting out, she slammed the door so hard the sound reverberated through the car. Desmond drove off without a word, but couldn’t stop glancing at the rearview mirror.

She was alone in the middle of nowhere, beginning to steady her steps. She chose this alternative… Desmond thought, as he drove deeper into the wilderness.

---

He hadn’t gone a hundred miles before he began questioning his decision. She was really all alone on that Godforsaken road, and for all he knew, she had probably gotten the message and was now praying for a change of heart. He imagined her being scooped up by a gang of thugs or thieves. His mind was a total mess, tangled with dread. She wasn’t the kind of lady meant for empty, open spaces, and yet he had thrown her into one… even if she had asked for it.

He swerved the car around with a screech and shifted the gear toward the opposite direction of his destination. He raced back toward the spot where he believed he had left her, but throughout the journey, he didn’t see the slightest trace of her presence. It was as if she had dissolved into nothing.

He considered the possibility that she had been picked up, but he hadn’t seen any passing vehicle whatsoever. Parking on the side of the road, he stepped out, greeted only by the chirping of crickets. He checked his watch — 7:30. Normally, he should have been having dinner, not chasing after some loose-lipped gorgeous girl who didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.

Scanning the area, his mind toyed with the image of a wild boar dragging her into the woods. He walked along the roadside and found skid marks from a vehicle. Judging by their size, he guessed it had probably been a Land Rover. The tracks cut into the forest floor, forming a clear path. Someone had been busy.

Brushing the sand near the track, he uncovered the imprint of a pair of heels. Looking farther into the woods, an uneasy feeling washed over him. He sighed softly and followed the path, passing stumps and trees that seemed to either bow or mock his stupid bravery.

He kept going until he arrived at a sight straight out of a childhood nightmare — a house that looked like it belonged in a haunted tale. It leaned slightly, crooked and tired. The yard was overrun with weeds, and he could easily imagine scorpions lurking within. Several windows were either broken or dangling at odd angles.

Behind the house sat the Land Rover, its bulk unmistakable. The front door was wide open, and he immediately pictured Luna inside, chained to a chair, waiting to be passed around by a group of drunk hoodlums.

He pushed open the small yard gate and moved through the overgrown grass. His pace slowed as he stepped up the creaking wooden stairs leading to the house’s front chamber.

Then — a sudden tug on his hand. Unmistakably Luna’s. He turned to see her horror-stricken face.

“What happened here?” he asked gently.

“I just witnessed a murder.” Her voice trembled with fear. “We need to get out of here right now.”

“Good riddance, Luna! What were you doing snooping around?”

“I don’t know!” she replied, voice muffled by constrained tears. “But we really need to leave!”

“Hey!”

That voice didn’t belong to Desmond — it came from a man large enough to lift Connor. He stood a few paces away, staring at them darkly.

“What’re ya lads doing here?” he asked, his tone menacing.

“We were just leaving.” Desmond grabbed Luna’s shaky hand and began to walk past the man. But as they almost passed him, he suddenly gripped Luna’s frozen hand, making her jolt and gasp.

“And where do you think you’re going?” His voice was rougher now.

“Leaving,” Desmond said flatly.

“Leaving?” the man repeated. “Just like that?”

“You want us to build a campfire and roast some marshmallows? Or do you have other business you want us to handle?” Desmond’s tone stayed calm but defiant.

“Actually, I know just the thing for you—”

He reached for Luna’s hair, but almost instantly, Desmond slashed him with the knife he’d kept concealed beneath his undershirt. The big man screamed, clutching his bleeding hand.

Taking advantage of the moment, Desmond yanked Luna to his side and kicked the man hard between the legs. The man groaned, bending over in pain.

“I’m gonna kill you,” he growled. But before he could make a move, Desmond struck him with a heavy blow to the face, knocking him to the ground.

“Is he dead?” Luna asked, wide-eyed. Desmond didn’t answer — he simply turned toward the road and sprinted off. Luna followed, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste to keep up.

Soon, they heard multiple footsteps behind them. It seemed the old man hadn’t been alone. Voices — fast and incoherent — carried through the air, sounding like Spanish.

They reached the car and jumped in. Desmond didn’t waste a second; he slammed his foot on the gas, and the car shot forward, leaving behind nothing but a trail of white smoke as they sped into the horizon.