The Luna on a Chain

n the windows, tracing

la. The car keys were missing, which meant I'd have to pick my frien

s had already formed underfoot, threatening to seep into my black pumps. The shoes were definite

. My legs acted on it immediately, carrying me i

e were enormous, some so wide I had to jump over them. Duri

tered in frustrati

ore the umbrella from my hands, sending it flying into the unknown. I watched

looked like one of their patient

e door to the waiting area with a bewildered stare. I co

u?" my friend asked, looki

he way, and then th

here? What a

e keys. We'll ta

a crook

aren't ready yet. We'l

flipping through a few magazines on the table, I began to fidge

up, and called Maya over. Finally. While my friend sig

ed to coil around him, and the air itself felt charged with danger. I narrowed my eyes, studying him-wide, muscular shoulders,

hange. My heart dropped to my heels when I saw blac

ere

seiz

d instantly, as if nothing had happene

oward me. We had to leave-fast-before th

e better of me, and I glanced over my shoulder. The hall wa

rove home. We had plans for a girls' ni

cheerful chaos of preparation, the strang

ll, but I welcomed the chance for pleasant company. The girls had b

back then-chased by hordes of boys-though she h

They kept trying to draw me into their confessions too, bu

hter, we sent the girls home in

to

h the darkness, sharp

from my throat-and ye

reath burned; every sound was swallowed by the dark. Then, slowly, out of that void, a shape emerged-a massive gray

ere was intelligence in that gaze, and something else-sorrow. For a moment, I even tho

hite fangs. Opposite him stood a young man-barely more than a boy-with fear frozen on his face.

out again from somew

olf l

agging me back to reality. I gasped, sitting upright.

ale light of early dawn bled into the r

ne carried that strange blend of worry and irritation only

whispered, my

felt warm to the touch-probably red. I half-s

wn with you?" Maya

lanket beside me, the warmth o

she murmured. "What you keep dreaming abo

bright, the dream too close. My chest rose and fell in uneven breath

ice barely above a whisper, "I dream

her turn toward me, searching

oom gold-soft and forgiving, as if pretending none of it had happened. My heartb

eyes, and for a moment, the sound almost