The Dark Moon |A Murder

"Under the same night sky, we find solace in the stars."

~Unknown

The weather was absolutely stunning, with the rain ceasing and the sky adorned with clouds. A pleasant buzz filled the atmosphere. It was already late at night, around ten o'clock, as Luna Jackson strolled through the lawn, donning a light blue shirt with her long, silky hair cascading freely. She anxiously awaited the return of her father, who had been away on a business trip abroad for several days.

Although the rain had stopped, the gentle breeze caused her hair to flutter. Lost in her thoughts, she gazed up at the silent sky, where the moonlight illuminated everything, making her appear as though she were a part of the moon itself. Her mind wandered to a special someone, a captivating individual who had captured her heart like a charming king from a fairytale kingdom.

In her mind's eye, she reminisced about his face, her eyes closed in imagination. Unbeknownst to her, the guard opened the main gate of their house, allowing the car to swiftly enter. Startled, she blinked her eyes open, realizing she had been so engrossed in thoughts of someone else that she hadn't noticed the gate opening.

As the car came to a halt on the lawn, her gaze fell upon her father, who was tucking his phone into his pocket after retrieving it from the car's dashboard. Mr. Jackson had also caught sight of his beloved daughter and approached her with a smile. He stood tall at about six feet, possessed a fair complexion, bright eyes, and a beard adorning his face."Hello, my lovely daughter. How are you?" he asked excitedly, embracing her tightly.

"I'm fine and have been eagerly waiting for you," she joyfully replied.

"Let's head inside, otherwise your mother will get upset that the father and daughter are chatting away in the lawn," he teased Luna affectionately.

A smile formed on her face upon hearing her father's words. Together, they entered the lounge where Mrs. Jackson was seated on the couch. Spotting her husband, she stood up and exclaimed, "Thank God you've arrived. We've all been eagerly waiting for you."

Mrs. Jackson then served her husband a glass of juice, which he started sipping. Concerned, Mr. Jackson inquired, "Where are Eva and Ella?"

Eva and Ella were also Mr. Jackson's daughters, but Luna held a special place in his heart.

"They both fell asleep while waiting for you since they have to wake up early in the morning," Mrs. Jackson replied.

"Dad, have you had dinner?" Luna asked.

"Yes, dear, I already have," he replied with a smile.

"Dad, then you should rest. You must be tired. I'll ask the driver to bring your luggage inside," Luna said, beaming genuinely.

Mr. Jackson, appreciating his daughter's thoughtfulness, nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Luna," he replied with a warm smile.

Luna swiftly arranged for the driver to bring her father's luggage inside and then rejoined the family in the dining room, where they continued their dinner. Mr. Jackson shared stories of his travels, the excitement in his voice evident as he recounted the various people he met and the cultures he experienced. Luna listened intently, cherishing these moments with her father.

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At exactly two in the morning, his eyes snapped open. No sound had woken him, no nightmare haunted his mind—just the same, suffocating weight pressing against his chest. It happened every night. Deep sleep, then sudden awareness, like his body refused to let him rest.

With a slow breath, he sat up, running a hand over his face before reaching for the small bottle on his nightstand. He held it between his fingers, debating whether to take the pill or fight through the exhaustion.

Setting the bottle down, he rose to his feet, slipping into black trousers and a fitted shirt. His movements were quiet, controlled. Stepping onto the terrace, he let the cold night air wash over him.

As he stepped onto the terrace, a low rumble echoed in the sky, and within moments, the rain began to fall.

Cool droplets touched his skin, rolling down his face. He had never been fond of the rain, but tonight, it felt different. Each drop brought a strange sense of comfort, as if washing away the heaviness in his chest.

The rain continued to pour, but he was already drenched. Feeling the chill set in, he decided to head back inside.

Sliding the mirror door shut behind him, he walked toward his wardrobe. Without much thought, he grabbed his nightdress and made his way to the bathroom to change.

Stepping out of the bathroom, he had a towel wrapped around his strong body, his wet hair falling messily over his forehead. Droplets of water still clung to his skin as he walked toward the window. The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, and tiny drops were slipping through the open gap. With a quiet sigh, he reached out and shut it, keeping the cold air outside.

He set the towel aside and pulled on a shirt, the fabric clinging slightly to his still-damp skin. Walking over to the drawer, he opened it and took out a hairdryer. He quickly dried his hair, not wanting to catch a cold.

Once done, he put the dryer back, letting out a quiet sigh. Finally, he returned to his bed, laying down as the room fell into silence once more. But even as he closed his eyes, sleep didn’t come easily.

He decided to make his way downstairs, moving quietly as the house remained still. Everyone was asleep in their rooms, unaware of his restlessness. As he stepped onto the staircase, a soft voice interrupted the silence.

"Sir, do you need anything?" the servant asked politely.

"I just need some water. I can get it from the kitchen," he replied casually, though it was a lie. He didn’t want the servant to know he couldn’t sleep. More than that, he didn’t want his father to find out.

Without waiting for a response, he continued toward the kitchen.

He grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator and quietly made his way back to his room. Closing the door behind him, he walked to his drawer, opened it, and took out a sleeping pill. Without hesitation, he swallowed it with a sip of water.

Lying back down on his bed, he let out a slow breath, waiting for the pill to take effect. Within minutes, his eyelids grew heavy, and soon, he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.