Chapter XXVIII:

It’s been quiet for a few years now. I haven’t heard any voices in years. I haven’t seen Luna’s face either. I began to try and live a normal life. I ended up marrying Elizabeth. Her father gave us his blessing. We didn’t want children. It’s fine by me. I didn’t complain. I worked to keep the both of us happy.

Elizabeth wanted to go to the South. She was tired of life in Boston. I didn’t complain but I had my questions. We were living comfortably in our old home. No children meant more money for us. Still, she just had to see more of the world. Who was I to say no?

We ended up moving down to Georgia. I used the money we had to buy us a nice house. I got a job fishing again. Elizabeth sighed at my choice.

“Couldn’t you do something other than fishing?” she asked.

“That’s all I can do,” I said.

“Can’t you do anything else?” my wife asked.

“I do know how to hunt,” I said.

“Can’t you do that?” she asked. There wasn’t much to argue. I was getting bored of the sea. Maybe a change of careers could help.

So, I started hunting.

The outside is quite peaceful. Sometimes, I get lucky. Sometimes, not so much. Still, the rewards are so worth it. Everything was going well.

But my past caught up to me on one summer night.

I was out in the woods on a Sunday afternoon. I wasn’t hunting. I just wanted to enjoy the outside. The birds were singing that day. It looked like it was going to rain later today. That didn’t get me down, though. Elizabeth would have the afternoon to herself. I held out my arms and took in a breath. It felt good to be alive.

That’s when I heard it.

Was somebody giggling?

I looked around. I couldn’t see anyone in sight. I did my best to push those thoughts out of my head. She’s gone now. They all are gone. It was over years ago. There’s no way she found me again.

“But I am here.”

I whipped around. Luna stood inches away, grinning at me. I slowly backed away.

“No…” I said. She giggled and threw her arms around my neck. I shook my head.

“They exorcised you,” I said. “All of you.” She looked up at me, smirking.

“No,” she said.

“No?” I asked. I tried to push her away but her grip held me in place. Luna looked deep into my eyes.

“Did I tell you?” she asked. “You belong to me.”

“But I am married,” I said. Luna smiled up at me with a cold look on her face.

“She will never have you,” she said.

“Please let me go,” I pleaded. Luna leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I could hear her voice inside my head.

I will have you and your offspring. You belong to me.

And then she was gone. I looked around the forest. Something told me that I had to home. I took off running. By the time I got home, I learned that Elizabeth was pregnant.