"Mom! I'm heading to Emma's now!" Luna shouted from the living room, hoping her mom could hear her in the kitchen. Footsteps approached, and her mother peeked out from the kitchen arch.
"Alright! I'll see you later. I'll be home late, buy yourself some food, 'kay?" her mother said, hurriedly putting her packed lunch inside her tote bag.
"Okay," she replied, grabbing her backpack with her phone and wallet.
Her relaxed-fit denim pants, a simple printed black shirt, and her usual Vans were her go-to outfit. Luna adjusted her cap, letting her dark, wavy hair in a ponytail pass through it. She smiled at her reflection, then finally headed out.
Luna began to walk the two-block distance from their house to her sister's. Ever since Emma got married four years ago, she would often go to their house and meet with her adorable niece to play.
Today was little Lily's third birthday, and they decided to celebrate simply over some good breakfast. As she always said to them, it's pointless to have a grand celebration when the celebrant wouldn't be able to remember it.
She smiled at people she passed, ignoring the ghastly fog above them. She stopped by a bakery to buy a mini cake with the money her mom gave her, choosing the fresh cream with fruits, her sister's favorite.
As the cashier handed her the change, Luna shivered at the dense darkness hovering above the person in front of her. "Thanks. Please be careful on your way home," she said without thinking, as the cashier only looked at her puzzled as she exited the store.
Luna had long seen the smoke, yet she didn't remember when or how it started. She thought of it as a premonition of death rather than ghosts. Denser smoke meant a closer approach to possession and thus, death.
Strangely, this didn't bother her since her family was plenty righteous. Their smoke was faint and not as alarming as the others.
Lost in thought, Luna arrived at her sister's house and saw them setting out food for breakfast.
She let out a deep breath and cleared her mind before entering. "Emma!" she called as soon as she stepped into their yard. "I bought cake."
"Luna! Lily's in her room. Wash your hands before you handle her!" Emma greeted from the grill.
Luna placed the cake on the table and headed to her niece. She saw her brother-in-law in the kitchen and waited for him to finish to wash her hands.
"Hey, Kin," she greeted.
"Hey, Luna. You're here. Mind helping with those?" He pointed to dishes on the kitchen island.
She frowned. "I just got here, and I already have an errand?"
"Those who don't help don't get to eat!" He grinned. "And some plates would be helpful... please!"
She washed her hands and grabbed a tray for the dishes. "Alright. The food better be great compensation."
Carrying plates and utensils outside, she saw Emma coughing from the grill smoke.
"I'm sure you said no when Kin offered to grill, am I right?" Luna said to her, handing over the plates she needed.
Emma drank from her glass of cold water. "I told him I could do it this time."
"They're just burger patties. Look at you sweating." She replied, as she sat in one of the chairs.
Emma looked sullen. "They're not just burger patties. They're THE burger patties. The most delicious patties you'll ever eat." Emma clicked her tongue and pointed at her.
Luna chuckled. "If you say so."
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Breakfast passed amid long conversations. Luna's niece, Lily, immediately went back to sleep after she had her share.
As her father put her back in her crib, the sisters continued to talk outside, and the sun's dappled light, which scarcely lit their outdoor table, became warmer.
It was only 10 AM, and in the past few hours, they had already spiraled through multiple topics. From their parents' divorce to Emma's concern about experiencing the same, the sisters shared a good heart-to-heart talk, despite the 10-year age gap.
Luna felt a sense of comfort in the familiar chatter. A moment of bonding she wished she had every day. Unlike the cold, empty space two blocks away that she called her home.
As their conversation continued, Luna could feel a subtle shift in her surroundings. She didn't know what it was, yet the feeling of wanting to escape grew stronger.
She glanced around, expecting to see smoke, but there was none, so she brushed it off.
Suddenly, a visitor appeared at the fence, and Emma noticed him, her face brightening.
"Kief!" Emma stood up to open the gate, and Luna looked back at Kin's twin.
Her eyes widened.
A sight imposing, demanded her gaze. Its size, unusually elongated, displayed faces. The damned, appearing and vanishing within the blackened swirls of their own revelry. The bereft.
She could hear it—the murmurs and snickers of entities deprived of their vessels. The bereft.
Luna jolted upright, retreating a few steps. Her hair stood on end as her eyes traced the oppressive smoke towering over the man's back. It was as though dark flames ignited from behind him.
Emma talked to Kiefer as they walked towards her, the ghastly plumes ever so close.
"Hey, how you been?" Kiefer greeted, his voice tired, almost forced.
"Good, you?" Emma replied, her breaths quickening.
"Nice, I'm doing good too."
Luna locked onto his stare, his eyes sunken, haunted by dark circles, yet displaying an oddly relaxed gaze.
With a smile, they went inside the house. Luna, who was frozen in place, released the breath she didn't know she was holding. Weakened knees pushed her back onto her seat, and she tried to control her breathing.
"No..." Luna's face drained of color. Her shoulders tensed, shaking.
She knew the smoke couldn't harm them directly, yet its sheer size suggested otherwise. Thoughts of what to do next flooded her mind. It wasn't possession, not yet. Dialing 112 did not seem wise, as she believed a mistake like that was a lesson learned once.
Should she brush it off?
Right then, Luna saw Emma and Kin walking back to the table. She promptly walked toward them, steeling herself as she balled her fists. Yet she noticed there were only two of them.
"Um, where's Kiefer?" She hid her hands in her pockets as she noticed Emma looking at them.
"He said he's too tired. He was around the block and decided to crash here to sleep," Kin explained, while starting to gather up the plates.
"Why? Do you need something from him? He's in Lily's room," Emma added. "Maybe you could ask him before he falls asleep."
"What?"
"I said you can ask him before he—"
Luna bolted inside without a second thought, straight to her niece's room.
"Luna? What's wrong?" Emma called after her.
As Luna abruptly opened the door, the parents caught up behind her.
Three pairs of eyes frantically swept across the room and locked on the crib across from them.
Kiefer stood beside it, cradling Lily in his arms.
"Shh..." he gestured a hush.
A hoarse, deep voice resounded. Different. Inhuman.
"The baby is sleeping."