MOONBORN: The Hybrid Luna

CHAPTER 1 She didn’t want to come to Alaska. Her mind was still screaming it over and over. She had made that clear long before the plane landed, before their suitcases were packed, before they were loaded into the car and now carrying them deeper into a place that felt too far from everything she knew. Even now, as the unfamiliar road stretched endlessly ahead, she kept her gaze fixed on the window, watching the world blur past in silence. This wasn’t her choice. It never had been. She missed California—their old home. She missed her friends, her relatives, and the freedom she once had. It had all changed the moment her parents decided to move to Alaska, to her stepfather’s hometown. It felt like her world had collapsed. She had tried to talk to her mother, tried to fix things, but in the end, she failed. And now here she was, sitting in the car, saying nothing but only silence. “Selah.” Her mother’s voice cut through the silence, it was calm, but firm in a way that told her the conversation was already over before it could even begin. Selah didn’t respond. Outside, the scenery began to change. The car passed through a long, eerie highway, almost swallowed by fog and blanketed with thick patches of snow. The buildings disappeared first, replaced by wide, open land dusted in white. Then came the trees—tall and dense, stretching endlessly like walls closing in on both sides of the road. Everything looked untouched and isolated. “You’ll get used to it,” her mother said after a moment, trying to break the heavy silence. Selah didn’t bother to look at her. She simply leaned back against her seat and covered part of her face with the scarf around her neck. She let out a quiet breath, barely audible. She had heard those words before. Different places, different reasons, but always the same promises. “I don’t want to get used to it,” she muttered under her breath. The rest of the drive passed in silence. When the car finally stopped, Selah didn’t move right away. She stared ahead for a second… then another, as if staying inside just a little longer could somehow delay everything. “Selah,” her mother called again, more gently this time. Reluctantly, she reached for the door. The cold hit her the moment she stepped out. It wasn’t unbearable—just different. Drier, sharper than what she was used to, but not enough to make her react. She pulled her coat tighter around her and glanced around, taking in her surroundings for the first time. The house stood a short distance ahead, was large, quiet, and set apart from everything else. There were no nearby neighbors. No passing cars. Just snow, trees, and far too much open space. Selah, slowly narrowed her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her mother stepped beside her, following her gaze. “It’s peaceful, my dear. Look around—it’s beautiful. The nature here… it’s magical,” Mrs. Casper said, admiring the surroundings. Trying to show her the beauty of their new place. “Mom, can’t you see? It’s isolated,” Selah corrected. A brief pause. “It’s safe,” her mother replied instead. Selah shook her head slowly, chewing her gum as she stared into the distance, until something suddenly hit her face. Dirt! She blinked and looked up just in time to see her eight-year-old brother, Tim, laughing uncontrollably. Annoyance flickered across her face. Without hesitation, she bent down, grabbed a handful of soil, and threw it back at him. “You’re an asshole!” she shouted. Tim only laughed harder and ran. Within seconds, they were chasing each other across the open ground. Not far from them, the couple stood watching with quiet amusement, arms wrapped around each other. “What do you think?” Mrs. Casper asked softly. Jones Casper kept his eyes on Selah for a moment before answering. “I think she’ll adjust quickly. It’s quiet here—no unnecessary noise, no toxicity. It suits her. It might even help her find peace.” Mrs. Casper leaned into him with a small sigh. “I hope so. I’ve been planning to enroll her in a university for a long time. She’s been homeschooled long enough… I think this is the right time.” He gave a faint smile. “You made the right choice.” “Thank you, honey,” Mrs. Casper said, before giving him a quick kiss. Tim’s voice suddenly rang out, breaking the moment. “Mom, look!” He pointed toward a small herd of deer near the edge of the woods. The animals stood unusually still, as if they were listening to something no one else could hear. Then, without warning, they bolted into the forest and disappeared between the trees. Selah raised her camera, but her focus shifted. A strange silence lingered after the deer vanished—heavy and unsettling, as though the air itself had changed. She frowned, pressing a hand over her ear before shaking her head. When she lowered her camera, nothing was there anymore. Just emptiness. She glanced around uneasily and took a small step back until her brother, Tim, pushed her to the edge of the road while laughing and running inside their new house. The house sat farther from the main road than she liked—seems too quiet, too isolated. Selah stepped inside and immediately scanned the unfamiliar space. The living room was warm from the fireplace, flames flickering softly against the walls, but the warmth did little to ease the strange heaviness in her chest. “Tim?!” her mother’s voice called from the kitchen. Selah followed it and found her busy preparing food for dinner. “Mom, you should rest,” Selah said as she watched her slicing something on the table. Her mother shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Go find your room upstairs, I need to cook.” Selah sighed and sat on a stool, picking up a pumpkin from the table. “I told you moving here was a bad idea. This place is far from everything—no food delivery, barely any stores. You’ll exhaust yourself cooking every day.” Her mother chuckled softly, taking the pumpkin from her hands. “It’s fine. At least I can take care of you properly. And your father works in town… this place is closer to him.” Selah rolled her eyes but said nothing. “Fine, if you say so.” She stood and walked toward the window, pushing it open. Cold air rushed in immediately—sharp and unfamiliar. She quickly shut it again when the cold enters. “How about my school?” she asked. “There’s a university nearby. You can enroll tomorrow,” her mother replied. Selah froze. For the first time in her life, she would attend a real school and no homeschooling anymore. A completely different life when she was in California. “Really?” she asked in disbelief, her voice softer now. Her mother nodded with a smile. Something inside Selah shifted, a quiet excitement she hadn’t expected. She wrapped her arms around her mother from behind, and Mrs. Casper gently held her face, smiling. “But promise me one thing,” she said softly. “Be careful. We don’t really know the people here yet.” Selah nodded immediately. “Of course, Mom. Thank you.” Her mother smiled, and Selah gave her a quick kiss before running upstairs, unable to hide her excitement. When she found her room, she threw herself onto the bed, letting out a soft laugh. For the first time, she would live like a normal student, something she had never experienced before. After a while, she stood and walked toward the window.But as she looked outside, her expression slowly changed. The world beyond was dark, lit only by scattered streetlights. And then she saw it. Someone was there. Across the street. A figure… standing completely still. Watching... Selah’s breath caught in her throat. The figure of a woman did not move. Did not turn away. Selah blinked and turned around when she heard someone approaching. When she looked at the streets again... The figure was gone. A cold chill crept up her spine. “Just a neighbor…perhaps,” she whispered, though it didn’t convince her at all. She quickly closed the window, but the silence inside the house suddenly felt heavier than before. When her younger brother, Tim, entered the room, she took his hand without a word and led him downstairs. Outside, the sound of a car engine echoed through the night; her stepfather had arrived from the garage outside. But somewhere beyond the darkness of the trees… something unseen lingered. Watching.... Waiting....