The wind howled dangerously outside, as if the earth itself were protesting the storm. Luna Leavitt was unlucky enough to be in the lighthouse when the storm started, or was it lucky? She couldn’t quite tell anymore.
She was on a case when the sky first turned a dark shade of green. The lighthouse was in plain view, a shelter from the literal storm. Inside she noticed it was strangely abandoned. The quiet inside was almost deafening. There were books and notebooks on the shelves and the kitchen was warm.
“Hello?” she called out into the unknown. No one answered. Maybe they left in a hurry?
No, that wasn’t it. They were still there. She could feel them, their aura emanating from this place. Luna’s most guarded secret was that she was an “empath”; she could feel the energies and emotions of others. It was something she kept to herself, lest she be mocked by her coworkers.
She could feel it now, the eyes on the back of her head. The wind shook the building, putting her a tad on edge. The air inside was old and stagnant. Her eyes were dry and painful from the lack of tears. Every step led to a dangerous creak in the wooden floor.
“Who’s there?” she called out into the dark unknown. The presence there was unmistakable. She knew she was not alone. There was someone, something lurking in the shadows. She just didn’t know who, or what.
She closed her eyes and tried to pinpoint their location within the structure. She was met with confusion, instead.
Damn, I was so close, she thought
As she began to search each room the feeling of being watched became stronger and more intense. Her gift of empathy was becoming more and more accurate with each and every step. Their emotions like a heartbeat, infiltrated her very being. She kept her senses sharp, waiting for a clue as to their location.
She took a deep breath. It calmed her nerves, a little. The feelings she felt were scattered but powerful. They were there, waiting in the shadows. She could feel them. The wind continued to howl outside, and it was messing with her concentration. Still, she was determined to find whoever was in the shadows waiting for her.
Trying to appear as less of a threat, she moved forward. Each step groaned and creaked with exertion. ‘Let’s just get this over with.’ The air was charged, as if electricity flowed through it.
Then she saw her; in the corner, a child. Her small form was shaking with the storm. She was sitting on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. She couldn’t have been more than five years old.
Luna closed her eyes softly, trying to make a connection without words. Tears filled in the little girl’s brown eyes. They were so desperate and at the same time, so lost. Her chestnut hair hung in clumps around her dirty face. It was as if the poor thing had gotten lost on her way home when the storm began.
“Hello,” Luna said with a gentle softness. “What’s your name?”
“Melody,” the reply was so quiet against the raging storm. Her teeth chattered from the cold and the rain. Her hair, tangled and unkempt. She was scared, she was dirty, and she was clearly no threat.
“Who exactly were you running from?” Luna asked sternly. She wanted to get the little girl some help. Even if all she was able to do was get her warm, dry and safe from the elements and whoever had the child so petrified.
“I don’t know,” the little girl’s voice barely registered. “They were in the shadows; I didn’t get a good look at them.” She was trembling with fear. Whatever had scared her, it was still there. She could feel it.
“It’s okay,” she spoke. “I’m not here to harm you. Please, just tell me what happened here.” The wind began to subside. She could finally hear herself think.
The frightened sobs of the child brought her back to reality. The candlelight illuminating her tear stained eyes. She’d seen it all: rape victims, murder…but something about the child brought her to her knees.
“Listen,” she said with a gentleness. “I’m going to keep an eye on you. Don’t you worry about that. Where are your parents? Are they here, too?”
She had to admit, the child pulled at her heart strings. The little girl reminded her of her sister, Valkyrie. Val, for short. They had grown apart through the years but Luna still kept the memories of her little sister close.
“They’re gone,” Melody sobbed. “They left to get food and they never came back.”
Luna wrapped her arms around the small, fragile child. “Don’t worry, I’m here,” she said in a calming voice. “I’ll protect you. Stick with me and I’ll help you find your parents.”
“I don’t think they’re coming back,” Melody sobbed. She grabbed onto Luna’s leg, refusing to let go.
Luna crouched down. Melody reminded her so much of Val when she was younger. All she was missing was the platinum blonde hair and grayish blue eyes. And the attitude.
It was at that point that she took the child’s hand. “I won’t leave you,” she promised. “Tell me everything you know about them. We’ll fix this, together.”
“I miss them,” Melody whispered softly into her ear. “I wish they would come back.” She looked out into the great unknown, feeling eyes on the back of her head. She tried to use her “gift” (if one could call it that) to zone in on the features of the being, but she had no such luck. Whoever they were, they knew how to hide.
Well, they couldn’t hide forever. Sooner or later, she would find them.
No matter what, she would help Melody at all costs. For her sister, for Val.
This is based on a prompt from reedsy. I may or may not turn it into a full story. Depends on how motivation and inspiration move me. I based the main character off one of my nephews. His name is Luna. Weird, I know. But that’s my family.
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