The taste was like iron, sweet iron. It was repulsive for a moment but then changed to be delicious, addictive, and she wanted more. A hand pushed the squishy, and slightly warm, object closer. Drinking the liquid was like being reborn. First, there was nothing, and then there was everything. But all good things do come to an end.

The fluid was torn away from her grip, and she groaned. Licking her lips, the remaining taste was marvelous, every drop of it gave her a new-found strength.

Lunette opened her eyes, prying them open as if her lids adhered to themselves, somehow returning from the dead. The world around her was bright and it took a while for her eyes to adjust. She could hear faint sounds of people talking as her other senses slowly returned. Lunette groaned once again and squeezed her eyes shut. As if being woken from deep sleep.

The last thing she recalled was expecting a disgusting creature at her face. There were bits and pieces afterwards, but it was muddy. Like looking through damaged film.

            “Maybe you should give her some more?” One masculine voice echoed. Lunette moved her arm to cover her eyes, shielding them from the brightening world.

            “She’s too greedy, she’ll be fine.” Another spoke, this voice was slightly deeper and huskier than the other. “Besides, who knows what this much can do to her.” He stressed the last word as if talking to someone lower than his own.

Lunette removed her arm from her face and tried to sit up.

“That’s not an invitation to get up.” The first voice uttered, now closer. Lunette opened her eyes once again.

She could see the intricate detail of the white ceiling and crown molding. It was like that of her own ceiling, but this was kept pristine. She closed her eyes and then turned her head towards the sounds of the voices, stretching as she did so. The joints in her body cracked and she could feel the tight, rough material of the couch she laid on.

But when she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see no one. She sat up with a pounding in her head and looked around.

“Where am I?” Lunette’s eyes darted all around the room. It was a large area surrounded by various bookshelves and display cases. A clutter of items filled the shelves with no rhyme or reason. Books, trinkets, sculptures, and other tools lined the walls,  and decorated the room to the point where it was almost overwhelming. She slowly rose to her feet, swaying at first.

She could faintly hear whispering coming from the far corner of the room. Lunette tried to step forward but felt her legs turn to jelly. Barely missing the corner of a coffee table, she fell hard onto her knees.

“Look at this. She’s just a weakling.” A voice came out, now closer, like it was right beside her. And, surprisingly, it was.

“W-Woah.” She felt her heavy body rise into the air and be placed back onto the couch.

Once properly sat, her dark eyes met her true opposites. She stared into the palest eyes she had ever seen. They appeared almost to be grey in color, like a sheet of ice over clear blue water. At first, she was drawn to them, but then pieces of anxiety flooded her mind.

“Where am I?”

“Does that matter?” A voice cooed to the left of her. She snapped her gaze to meet a pair of hazel eyes against a pale, glowing face.

 “Who are you?” she questioned. The two figures didn’t answer, but instead, looked to each other. “I said who are you?” Lunette demanded.

A scoff came from the first being. It was a young man with a slender build. He had tousled dirty-blonde hair that was slightly lifted at the front. His pale eyes rested on a rectangular face that seemed to gleam under the bulbs of light overhead. He stood tall and folded his arms across his chest, dawning an uncomfortable frown.

Lunette pressed herself into the couch while looking at him. Trying to appear fierce but lacking. To them, it was coming off as humorous.

“As I said, you should really take it easy.” Repeated the voice to her left, Lunette could now hear the undertone of an accent. She shifted her attention to the voice and noticed it also came from yet another man. He had a narrow face and dusty colored hair that fell to his ears. He didn’t seem to have a set expression, but Lunette noted he wore the frames of glasses, but no lenses.

He reached his hands for her shoulders, they were thin and slender, like the rest of his physique. Lunette slapped his hands away and scooted further from him. The first man’s laughter increased. “Pain in the ass, right?”

“I want to know where I am, right now!” Lunette told them sternly, no longer asking. The man in glasses walked to the other figure, showing that he was slightly shorter by an inch.

“You’re in our home.” He spoke, still with no expression on his face. Lunette studied his face and then turned her attention to the other man, he seemed to express feelings.

“And who are you two?”

“None of your business.” The grey-eyed man replied.

“It is my business!” She rose her voice; the man took a step forward.

“Silas…” The slender man grabbed him by his arm. Lunette flinched at the sudden exchange.

“Oh, so now we’re on first name basis? Thanks, Jerrard.” Silas turned to the other man, visibly infuriated with him.  Lunette wondered why knowing their names was such a big problem. Her mind wandered and concluded it must be because they mean to do harm.

“It doesn’t matter right now.” The man who adorned fake glasses turned back to Lunette, “My name is Jerrard. What may be your name?” Lunette raised her eyebrows slightly. It was such an innocent, and very formal, exchange that didn’t fit the situation.

It looked like Jerrard was grinning. But that quickly changed as he stepped past Silas who was now pacing. Lunette shook her head as he walked towards her. “Don’t come close,” she commanded, pressing her back into the chair. “I don’t want either of you near me.”

Jerrard raised an eyebrow and stopped just as Lunette ordered. “Fine.”

“Fine?” Silas repeated, raising his voice and turning to Jerrard. “She doesn’t order you around. Just wait until Walter gets here…Or Vera.”

“Walter will be fine, I phoned him earlier, he should be here soon. Vera on the other hand,” Jerrard paused, looking to the side and then back to Lunette, “she may prove to be a problem.” He inhaled deeply, though it wasn’t as noticeable to Lunette. “You really shouldn’t be acting in such a manner, you’re the one that wanted this.”

Silas curled his lip, “No, I did not want this.” His large finger pointing to Lunette’s figure. Something was oddly familiar about the rude finger.

The conversation between the two was causing her to grow impatient. “Where am I?” She repeated once again.

“I already –”

“No. Where am I, specifically.” Lunette cut him off. Her head was lightly pounding, and she wasn’t sure if it was from her irritation, or from her sudden movements.

“You’re by Half Moon Cove,” Jerrard answered. Lunette’s gaze fell to the side, trying to remember where that was. If she was correct, she was a few miles north of Eastport.

“Why am I here? A-are you two kidnappers?” Lunette naively asked, trying to run through all the capable scenarios she could.

“What a stupid question to ask possible kidnappers.” Jerrard grinned, “You don’t remember, do you?” His hazel eyes looked as though they were amused though his face remained unphased once his smirk dissipated.

Lunette took a moment before she was suddenly overcome with memories, more vivid than those she encountered when she first woke up. She was being assaulted, by a monster “I –” she looked down, and then grabbed her neck. She felt a slight bump where the quill had entered her neck, but there was no longer a wound. “What happened to me?”

“You were attacked.” This time Silas spoke. He was swaying lightly as he stood next to Jerrard, apparently gaining composure throughout the short exchanges. Lunette noticed that even though the two were not overly muscular, Jerrard was thin compared to Silas, lean in both is his muscles and limbs.

“B-by what?” Lunette stuttered out, her voice wavering as she recalled the events. Images of the beast running towards her seemed to haunt her. The two men looked to each other, unsure of what to reply with. After a few minutes of silence had passed, Lunette rolled her eyes slightly and tried to stand up.

“Don’t,” Jerrard said, somehow by her side. She looked at him, surprised at his speed.

“How did you?” Her eyes flashed to him and back to where he was standing. Though it wasn’t a great distance to cross, his sudden closeness came unnaturally. He showed no signs of answering her question, so she scooted away to the other side of the couch.

The sofa was a rich red color with intricate designs of vines and greeneries in shimmering gold fabric. Most of the room was stylized this way, red with gold accents, with dark wood used as the building blocks. Lunette took this silent opportunity to look around the room, hoping for a door.

“If you’re looking for a way out, I’m afraid you’re not allowed to leave.” Jerrard answered her unspoken question.

What!? Lunette shouted in her head. Why wasn’t she allowed to leave? She looked at both men, shocked.

“What do you mean I can’t leave?” Her heart rate started to quicken, and the muscles in her core tensed up. “I want to go home.”

“Not yet,” Silas growled, and Lunette felt the fear rise in her.

“I want to go home! Now!” She shouted at him like a child. Silas’ face twisted from shock to anger. He walked towards her, no longer held back by Jerrard who was now watching the scene unfold.

“You don’t tell me what to do. You’re lucky you’re even alive. The sooner you become complacent the sooner we can get this over with.” Lunette couldn’t believe what she heard.

“No! I’m not just going to sit here and – and be a captive!” She yelled back at him, she stood up and the throbbing pain in her head increased with her elevation. Jerrard grinned at the exchange, appearing to enjoy the drama in front of him.

“You don’t even know who you’re talking to, do you? Be silent, child.” Lunette lowered her brows; Silas didn’t seem like he was any more than three years older at the maximum. None of his features rang out that he was any more than a young adult, like herself.

“Look, I don’t care about any inferiority complex you have going on here,” Lunette began, purposely trying to poke a jab at Silas, who’s face rose in shock, “I have to go home! I have my–” She stopped herself. “I have people who are expecting me.” She rephrased.

Silas opened his mouth to counter Lunette but suddenly turned his head to gaze at the corner behind him. Lunette followed his line of sight until she noticed a bookcase slide out from the wall and open like a door.

Nagging soon filled her ears like nails on a chalkboard. “- And you! Silas, you’re welcome,” the female voice approached the room. Before Lunette could even process, Silas was somehow now in front of Lunette. She stared at his broad back, unable to look past him “You’re honestly useless when it comes to cleaning up your own messes. That thing was disgusting! I hate touching –” her voice cut off when she entered the room.

Lunette peaked at the woman from behind Silas’ frame. She was tall and slender, but heavier at the bottom. She was pale and had intense, flowing red hair. She reminded Lunette of Kiara. But in comparison, this woman was much more beautiful. She had plump pink lips, freckles that kissed along her face and shoulders, and emerald green eyes.

But Lunette’s trance of the woman was cut short. “Oh. You brought a snack.” The lady sniffed the air, “She smells exceptionally…delicious.” In an instant, she was inches away from Lunette.

“Stop it, Vera!” Silas pushed Lunette further behind him just before Vera could reach her. Lunette’s eyes widened as she noticed the woman’s long canine teeth. Her eyes glared to Lunette, no longer beautiful but instead haunting.

Vera eyed him in annoyance before groaning and backing out of the grip Silas had on her. “Oh, I see, it’s her.” She snorted and turned away. “Not what I was expecting at all from what you told me, but now you got me all riled up.” She confessed, trying to regain herself.

“What do you want?” Silas’ voice grew darker.

“Nothing. Just to tell you I’ve done my job.” Vera turned to look at Lunette one more time and licked her lips, “It’s just, she smells so good.”

“Not that.”

The woman rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her thick hip. “Walter’s waiting in the next room. Wanted me to let you all know.” Vera’s gaze crawled back to Lunette and she bit her supple lip.

“Out.” Silas commanded, and the woman’s figure shook with laughter, starting her exit from the room.

“See you soon, cutie.” Vera teased, fluttering her fingers as she waved goodbye. Silas let out a sigh of relief and muttered to himself unintelligible words.

Lunette stood gawking at what had unfolded and found herself falling to the couch. Holding her throbbing head between her hands. “I have to go home, now, right now.” Lunette panicked, looking about the room unable to do much else, “Where’s my bag?” She faintly remembered throwing it at the beast she encountered hours earlier. “And my phone?” Lunette then patted the pockets of her blue jeans but there was nothing. The jacket she once wore was not on her either.

“Here.” Silas said blatantly, handing her the black bag. She took it and couldn’t help but feel relieved that there were only a few small holes and loose fibers.

After prying the bag open, the inside revealed all her belongings including her jacket and phone. She picked up her phone first and examined it. The touchscreen was cracked in numerous places revealing the circuits inside, the outer case was missing, and upon trying, it would not turn on.

“Are you decent to stand now?” Asked Jerrard. Just looking at Lunette could answer this question. The girl looked up at him in shock.

“Why?”

“Walter’s waiting.” Silas quickly answered.

“Who’s Walter?”

The two men took glances at one another. “You’ll meet him. C’mon, stand up.” Silas grabbed her arm and guided her up rather hastily.

“W-wait!” She scrambled to hold all her things as she was steered away and past the bookcase door. Lunette unceremoniously followed the man out of the room, down a tight, spiral staircase, and into the foyer of a large home. She heard the loud echo of the bookcase closing from upstairs like a thick door closing in an echo chamber.