No More Moonlight のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

Every inch of my body screamed with pain. It felt like every bone had shattered on impact.The chill from blood loss seeped into my bones, numbing me until I couldn't even cry out.My sister, Seraphina Hawthorne, spoke to Ezra in a sweet, coaxing voice that drifted down from upstairs."Ezra, did you hear something outside the window just now?"Ezra's silhouette appeared at the window.A tiny spark of hope flickered inside my chest. Maybe he would save me. Even just a single call to 911 would be enough.But he only gave a casual glance downward and didn't spot me, hidden beneath the trees and shrubs."It's nothing. Elowen probably knocked something off the roof. She's always been clumsy.""Ezra, don't you think we've gone too far? I mean, all she did was have a bit of a temper.""We haven't gone too far. She humiliated you in front of everyone by saying your acting was terrible. She had this coming."Six months ago, Seraphina had appeared on a competitive acting show where I was one of

I could feel the thread between my spirit and my body growing thinner by the moment. It wouldn't be long before I was truly gone.The thread snapped just as Ezra was carefully fastening a necklace around Seraphina's neck."This set is so beautiful. Ezra, when did you have it made?"Ezra blinked, his gaze shifting for just a second."I don't remember. What matters is that you like it."Martin, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up."Mr. Thorne placed the order at our shop last year. He said it was a gift for his wife, for their fifth wedding anniversary."I stared at Martin in surprise and mouthed a silent thank-you.I had been a regular at the shop, and Martin and I had always gotten along. I had even promoted his store for free.But I never expected him to risk offending Ezra just to speak up for me.Hearing the shop owner's words, Seraphina's eyes glistened with tears as she turned to Ezra."Ezra, this was the anniversary gift you had made for my sister. If I take it, won't she be mad a

By the time Ezra arrived back at the treatment center, the medical examiner was pulling a white sheet over my body.He seized Mercer by the arm, unable to look in my direction."Where's Elowen? Where is she?"Mercer stared at him, his face ashen."Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne... she's right there.""You're telling me that's Elowen under that sheet? No. I don't believe it!""Where is she? Tell her to come out and see me!"The medical examiner who had covered me walked over to him, her tone cold."We've confirmed the victim's identity as Elowen Thorne, an actress. She died from blood loss caused by the fall."Ezra turned to face her, his eyes bloodshot."What did you say? What does that mean?"The medical examiner frowned."The center's surveillance footage shows Mrs. Thorne falling from the roof while repairing the railing. The railing had deteriorated with age, and the roof surface was slick.""Mrs. Thorne did not die immediately after the fall. Roughly three hours passed between the time s

Ezra, my parents, and even Officer Reed all turned to look at Seraphina.She realized what had come out of her mouth and scrambled to explain."No, I... I got flustered and said the wrong thing. What I meant was that her death really was an accident, and Ezra shouldn't keep blaming himself."Mom sank to the ground, as though seeing Seraphina for the very first time."That's your sister, Seraphina. She's dead. She's lying right there. How can you say something like that?"Dad stared at her too, red-eyed and utterly disappointed."Seraphina, we couldn't be more disappointed in you!"Seraphina was so flustered she couldn't form a sentence. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but this time, nobody rushed to comfort her.She grabbed Ezra's arm, trying to win him over the way she always had."Ezra, you wouldn't misunderstand me, right?"Ezra peeled her fingers off one by one, his gaze terrifyingly cold."Sending Elowen up to fix the rooftop railing was your idea.""You said you wanted me to take

The truth Ezra posted caused an immediate uproar.My fans and outraged strangers overran his social media accounts. Online, he became the very definition of a scumbag.But Ezra didn't care.Or rather, he accepted it. He agreed with every word.He read every comment condemning him, his expression intent and earnest."Elowen, look. They're all tearing me apart. I deserve it.""When you were alive, you were always so careful to keep me out of the spotlight. You said you were afraid people would come after me because of you. You wanted to protect me."Over the past few days, Ezra had taken to talking to the empty air like this, as though I were still beside him."Your parents posted a clarification online too.""We were blind. We took your love and your devotion and used them against you.""We all regret it now, Elowen.""I'd give anything to see you one more time. You won't even visit me in my dreams. Have I disappointed you that completely?"Ezra pulled my moon necklace from the pocket s