“We wouldn’t be letting him in,” I start.
“No, no, no. We’d be like the white knight. Gathering our forces of good to outshine the army of darkness.” James leans forward, his hands working feverishly in his delivery.
A soft rap turns our attention toward the door. It swings open and an older couple step into the room. Luna leaps to her feet.
“Grandma. Grandpa. How did you know?” Luna rushes forward, stops short.
“Exactly,” Luna’s grandmother says. “How did we know? You would have thought our sweet granddaughter would have called us as soon as her mother ended up in the hospital.”
“You would have thought,” her grandfather repeats.
“But no. We had to receive word from an outside source.” Her grandmother’s gaze narrows on Luna.
“I’m sorry.” Luna droops her shoulders. “I’ve just been so overwhelmed.”
“That’s understandable, darling.” Both grandparents wrap their arms around Luna, squeezing her between their care.
“Who called you?” Luna asks, a clear press of curiosity folding the lines of her forehead.
“It doesn’t really matter.” Her grandmother waves the question away. “The important thing is that we are here now, and there is no need for all these extra, unfamiliar bodies.” She glances over James, Jeanna, and me.
“These are my friends, and I asked them to be here with me,” Luna protests.
“But there is no longer a need for them. We’re here for you darling.” She pinches Luna’s cheek.
“Yeah, you know what.” Jeanna tugs on James’s sleeve. “We need to check in with my mom downstairs. We’ll catch up with you guys later.” She pulls him toward the door. Grabs my hand in passing and pauses. Leans close. “We’ve got the gist of what we need to do,” she whispers. “We’ll start drafting a game plan.”
“Thanks.” Our hold drags, pulls long, and releases.
“Catch ya later, doll.” James kisses my cheek and follows Jeanna from the room.
Luna’s wild stare finds me and refuses to release my attention. Don’t leave me her gaze silently screams. Her hand reaches out, searching for mine. Our fingers connect. Hold tight.
“Belle is providing me emotional support,” Luna says. “I want her to stay.”
“This girl?” Her grandfather swings a lazy jab in my direction. “She disrupted your father’s service.”
“She did.” Luna straightens and stands tall. “And rightly so.”
Her grandparents scoff. “Your father deserves more respect than that.”
“My father deserved a lot better than he got in countless areas. Including your treatment of him.” She releases my fingers and grabs hold of my arm. “I think I am beginning to understand why you were never a very large presence in my life.”
Her grandmother gasps. Her grandfather’s forehead presses tight with tension.
“Did you know that those men leading dad’s service were going to resurrect him into a life of servitude?” Her grandparents exchange a not-so-surprised glance. “You did, didn’t you?”
My gaze bounces back and forth between Luna and her grandparents. My feet, my legs, are growing ever heavy, the air thicker. And I’d swear, the scent of bleach, blood, and urine, stronger. I bite my lip.
“There are many things in this life that you don’t understand.” Her grandfather steps forward and places his hand on Luna’s shoulder. She shrugs him off. Steps back.
“These people that you allow into your world… accept into your life… they killed my dad and did this to my mom.” She swings a flat palm toward her mother.
“Oh.” Her grandmother shakes her head. “I don’t think he did this—”
“He did.” Luna cuts her off. “I know he did. This happened to her right after she visited him.”
Her grandparents exchange another loaded gaze. I detect frustration, irritation, resignation.
“Whatever has happened, we will get to the bottom of it. Get it sorted.” Her grandmother tightens her clutch on the handle of her purse.
“I sure will.” Luna punches her fists into her hips. “And without your help. I want you to go.” She jabs a pointed finger toward the door.
“But Luna, your mother is ill. Who will watch over you?” her grandmother says.
Her grandfather wraps his arm around her grandmother. “That’s right. You’ll be coming home with us until your mother is better.”
Luna’s mouth drops open. “I will not!” He reaches for her, and she jerks away. “I’m staying here in the hospital, with my mom. I was told I could.”
“This is no place for a young girl to sleep.” Her grandmother frowns and lowers a woeful gaze on Luna.
“I don’t care what you think,” Luna blurts. “I am not going home with you. And if you try to force me, I’ll run away.” She shifts around the outskirts of the room. Maneuvering herself between her grandparents and the door.
“Luna,” they both say in unison. “We only want what’s best for you,” her grandmother adds. They turn, following her movements through the room. They remind me of tigers, watching and waiting to pounce on their prey.
Luna raises a pointed finger in the air. “I’ll run away.”
“Hey. What’s happening here?” Luna’s uncle swings into the room. Luna spins toward him, then dashes out the door.
I’m left alone with her father’s family and her ill mother. I chew on my lip. Wiggle my foot left then right. Step to the side. “Sorry,” I mumble and speed walk out of the room and down the hallway, moving in the direction I know Luna went.
I turn the corner and find her pressed against the wall, dropped to her butt on the floor. She’s pulled her knees into her chest, and she hugs them so tight it’s like she is attempting to flatten herself into the wall.
I crouch before her and place my hands on her knees. Say not a word.
“I won’t go with them,” she whimpers. “I won’t. I won’t. I won’t.”
“Okay,” I say matter-of-factly. “Then don’t. I won’t make you. In fact, I’ll help you avoid them if that’s what you want.”
She lurches for my hand. “Yes. Please. Would you do that?” She raises her tear-stricken gaze to
