Luna's Arc

Chapter 19 of 29

Her mother took one step toward them. Luna moved. She slid in front of Luke and blocked his path. Her fingers closed hard on the carved wooden club she had shaped with his multitool. She raised it and pointed it at the woman on the steps. "Don't come any closer," Luna said. Her mother froze. One foot on the bottom step, one hand still pressed to her mouth. She did not argue. She did not lunge. She stood in the swept yard between the porch and the trees, brown hair loose, purple cardigan hanging open, and looked at Luna like the sight of her hurt. Luna's heart slammed. Behind her, the other children stayed hidden in the treeline. Luke pushed at her shoulder, but she held her arm out and kept him back. She did not know why this woman had run to the house screaming their names. To save them. Or to gather them for the harvest. The tape had warned of one. This woman had made the tape. This woman had left them all in the woods. "Stay there," Luna said. Her voice shook and she hated it. "Tell me why you're here." Her mother lowered her hand. Her eyes went to the club, then to Luna's face. Tears ran down her cheeks and she let them. "I love you," her mother said. Three words. Nothing else. Something broke open in Luna's head. The woods dropped away. She was small again, in a warm car, rain on the glass. This same woman knelt in front of her on wet leaves. This same man crouched behind, his hand on Luna's shoulder. Their faces were close and wet with crying. "We'll come back for you," her mother whispered. "I promise. We'll come back." Her father's voice, low and cracked. "You're stronger than you know, Luna. Stronger than anyone." Then hands let go. Then the car. Then nothing, wiped clean, for a long time. Luna gasped. The club sagged in her grip. The clean house swam in front of her. They had cried. They had not left her cold. They had promised. "You said you'd come back," Luna whispered. "I did come back." Her mother's voice broke apart. "I came back for all of you. I've been running for days. The harvest is coming. Tonight. We have to move the children now, Luna, please—" Luna stared at her. The memory said her mother loved her. But the same mouth had just said tonight. The threat was real, and it was here. She lowered the club. "The children are with me," Luna said. She turned her head toward the trees. "Come out. All of you. Now." One by one, the Ghost Kids stepped from the shadows into the swept yard. pale faces. Her mother saw them and covered her mouth again, and this time she almost fell. Fell with relief.