Chapter 6

JEMMA’S POV

I was walking home from my date with Alec, the cool night air brushing against my skin, when something caught my eye. In the dim glow of the streetlights, I saw Megan slipping away from the usual path, heading straight for the woods at the edge of town. My brow furrowed. Megan has been acting strange lately. More moody than usual, lost in her own thoughts, like she was miles away even when we were talking.

She looked different tonight. Her shoulders were hunched, eyes distant, barely registering the world around her. Sometimes she’d go blank, as if her mind had drifted too far away. It was like she wasn’t really there, and I’d noticed it in class too…her attention drifting, her responses slow and detached. And lately, she’d been ignoring me more than usual, her focus elsewhere, like she was chasing something only she could see.

I hesitated for a moment, watching her move toward the woods with a strange kind of determined silence. My gut told me something wasn’t right. Megan wasn’t herself, and whatever was bothering her seemed to be pulling her deeper into whatever was going on. I hesitated, torn between calling out to her or following her quietly.

But something about her mood, her silence, made me worry even more. I took a cautious step forward, deciding I’d try to catch up later…after I figured out what she was doing out there, alone and so withdrawn. Whatever was happening, I knew it wasn’t just a mood swing or a bad day. There was something deeper, something I needed to understand.

As she disappeared into the woods, I felt a strange sense of urgency. I had to find out what was going on with Megan before it was too late. And tonight, I was going to follow her no matter what.

I followed Megan through the dense shadows of the woods, my heart pounding in my chest. It felt like hours, but I kept my distance, trying to stay quiet and unseen. The trees grew thicker, the darkness deepening, until finally she slowed and stopped at a small clearing. I held my breath, slipping behind a sturdy, gnarled tree, my eyes fixed on her.

She stood there for a moment, her gaze distant, almost trance-like. Then, suddenly, footsteps echoed softly behind her. I froze, my eyes darting to see who was coming. To my shock, it was Victor.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched them. They moved closer, their faces illuminated by the faint moonlight, and before I could even realize what was happening, I saw it…they were kissing. Not just a quick peck, but long, tender, and full of emotion, their arms wrapped tightly around each other.

I let out a gasp, the sound catching in my throat before I could stop it. I quickly covered my mouth with both hands, trying to silence myself, but it was too late. They heard me.

Their heads snapped toward me in unison. I saw the surprise flicker across Victor’s face, then a flicker of something else…something darker, more guarded. Megan’s eyes widened in shock, but then they softened, almost like she was trying to hide something.

They approached slowly, their steps careful but confident….after all, they had supernatural hearing, and they knew I was there. My stomach twisted with fear and curiosity. I remained frozen, watching as they drew closer, realizing that whatever I thought I knew about Megan and Victor was only the surface of something much deeper and more complicated. Whatever was happening, I knew my night was about to get a lot mysterious.

I stepped out from behind the tree, my resolve firm. There was no point in hiding anymore. The cool night air biting my skin as I took a breath and faced them directly.

Megan stopped, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of shock and frustration. “You followed me?” she asked, her voice sharper than before, accusing.

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of my actions. “I had to,” I admitted. “You've been acting strange lately. Lost in thought, distant. I couldn’t just ignore it anymore.”

My gaze shifted to Victor. I gave him a cold stare, the kind that left no room for argument. “Victor,” I said, voice steady but firm, “don’t you have a girlfriend?”

He looked caught off guard, then quickly averted his eyes, but I saw the flicker of guilt there. “Fiancé,” I added, a bit sarcastically, “Emorie won’t shut up about it in school.”

Megan’s shoulders sagged as she lowered her head, her face a mix of shame and confusion. Victor looked at her apologetically, but the tension between them was palpable.

I took a step closer, my voice lowering as I began to explain everything I’d seen, everything I’d sensed. I wanted her to understand I wasn’t trying to judge, just to know.

But before I could finish, Megan reached out and gently pulled me away, her grip firm but trembling. “Let’s talk somewhere else,” she whispered hurriedly, her eyes darting nervously.

As she pulled me away, I cast one last glance at Victor, my gaze hardened. The distance between us was growing, and I could feel it. The secrets, the lies, the dangerous truths lurking beneath the surface. Whatever was happening between Megan and Victor, it was only the beginning.

As we stepped into Megan's house, I glanced around, taking in the familiar cozy chaos of her living room. Sitting on the couch was her mom, her eyes bright and warm as she looked up and saw us.

“Hi, Mrs. Silva!” I said cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood. I quickly gave her a playful bow and a little curtsey. “Your royal Luna,” I added with a grin.

Mrs. Silva chuckled, her face lighting up with amusement. “Well, hello darling,” she said with a smile. “How are you, Jemma?”

“I’m okay,” I replied softly, feeling a little shy but grateful for her kindness. “Just gonna help Megan with some homework,” I added, glancing at Megan who was already tugging me toward her room, her expression urgent and a little anxious.

Mrs. Silva nodded, her smile lingering. “Alright, sweetheart.”

Megan pulled me through the doorway and into her room, closing the door behind us with a soft click. Inside, the room was cluttered with books, notes, and posters…an organized chaos that somehow felt comforting.

As I looked around, I knew that whatever secrets Megan was hiding, tonight was only the beginning of a much bigger story. And I was determined to find out what it all meant no matter how dangerous it might become.