Page 16 of Lunar Desires
RILEY
The light twisted into the form of a blue figure, its arms folded, my dad’s features drawn across its face.
My heart almost burst out of my chest. “D-dad?”
He cocked his head, not attacking me this time.
Yet.
This can’t be you…
Can it?
I got to my feet. Drake and Molly both yelled something, but I didn’t hear it because I was too focused on him, the man I’d missed for so many years.
“Dad?” I repeated, glued to the spot with fear, confusion, and a nasty dose of heartbreak.
This couldn’t be him, not really. It didn’t make sense. Dad wasn’t some strange blue figure, or a shade. Impossible. He lived in America, end of story. He’d dropped me and Mum, living his best life with his new family.
Painful memories tore chunks out of me. So many tears had been shed for this man, and too much time spent on the hope that one day he’d come back to give me a hug. Tell me he lovedme so much and made a huge mistake walking out of my life. That he regretted his affair and would make up for lost time.
God, his letters to me were always so empty. Kind of cold, never giving any real details on his life other than he went for a walk or watched a film. He always sent me his best wishes, never responding to my requests for a video call.
This isn’t my dad…
The figure tilted his head to the other side.
Tears heated my eyes. “Dad?” The word fell out of my mouth, regardless of my denial.
“Moon… Moon is… Moon is mine,” the figure answered, its voice a cracked baritone.
I remembered my dad’s voice, andthatwasn’t it. Being from Manchester, he had a distinct accent, which was missing from this figure.
This had to be a game. A Jonathon Aurora game.
A crackle sounded in my ears, a stinging in my arm like an electric shock. Something went thud, Drake yelling words.
Can’t hear.
Can’t hear.
Can’t hear.
“Moon… Desire Moon,” the figure said in a lifeless tone. “Come… Come… Come here…”
“I—”
“Come here, son.”
Ice filled my veins, the hot tears breaking free. “What…what did you just say?”
No, no, no. I shouldn’t fall for this. My wretched uncle was behind this.
“Son…” He opened his arms. “Son is Moon. Son is Moon. Son is… Son is… Son is path. Son is… Son is… Moon. Moon mine.” He took a step forward, my scalp prickling in response.
“No,” I breathed. “You’re not my dad. You can’t be my dad.”
“Son. Son. Son. Son. Son.” Another step, the temperature dropping. “Son will give path. Moon mine. Desire Moon. Desire Moon.”
