Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist tightly.
Luna froze.
For a second, her mind went completely blank. She turned around, heart pounding, trying to see who it was—but the figure was already pulling away. Wrapped in a black cloak, he disappeared into the shadows before she could react.
"What…?" she whispered.
Her eyes dropped to her wrist. For just a moment—barely a moment—she had seen it.
A bracelet.
Its stone was red, deep and dark, almost the color of dried blood. The band around it was black.
The exact opposite of her own.
Her fingers instinctively touched her bracelet—the blue stone, the white band. That couldn't be possible. Why would something like that even exist?
She shook her head, forcing the thought away.
"I'm just imagining things."
Her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen and answered quickly.
"Yes?"
"Where are you?" her uncle asked.
"In a small park, in the alley behind the street."
"Good. I'm almost there."
"What—?"
The call ended.
Luna looked around.
A moment later, aunt Suzy appeared, walking toward her with a relieved smile.
She hugged Luna tightly.
"Oh wow," she laughed, pulling back.
"Look at you. All independent already."
Luna smiled weakly.
Aunt Suzy placed a key into her hand. "Here. Your key. Go home—and take care of yourself, Luna!"
"Yeah… I will."
Luna opened her mouth, wanting to say something. Anything.
But the words wouldn't come. She wasn't even sure what had really happened.
"…I love you," she said instead.
Aunt Suzy smiled softly, nodded, and walked away.
***
The apartment door creaked as Luna pushed it open.
She stared inside, eyes wide.
"Jesus," she muttered. "This place seriously gives abandoned-house vibes."
She stepped in anyway and climbed the stairs.
"Okay, let's see… what floor am I on?" she mumbled.
She paused, staring upward. "Fourth floor? In a building with no elevator?"
She dropped her boxes inside, unpacked her books, and lined them up carefully. The familiar comfort of them eased her nerves a little.
Finally, she lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
*This is perfect, she thought. "A place like this is made for getting lost in books."
She picked one up—but her eyes drifted back to her bracelet.
Her fingers brushed the blue stone.
"…Maybe," she whispered, "this place knows me already."
The room stayed still.
But not silent.