Luna stood in her apartment, staring at the card the stranger had given her earlier that morning. His words echoed in her mind, promising connections and answers about her past. It seemed too good to be true, yet she couldn't resist the pull of hope. She twirled the card between her fingers, battling her doubts, but ultimately slipped it into her pocket.
She glanced at her phone, considering calling Faerie to share this strange encounter. But something stopped her—maybe it was the promise she made to keep it quiet, or maybe it was the nagging thought that Faerie wouldn't understand her desperation. Instead, she left her phone on the counter and paced around the room, wrestling with the decision.
Meanwhile, across town...
Lucas sat in a dimly lit bar, the scent of alcohol and smoke thick in the air. His phone buzzed with another update from the man they had planted near Luna, and he smiled as he read the message: She's interested. Wants to meet.
Lucas took a slow sip of his drink, glancing out the window as evening began to settle over the city. The plan was moving faster than he'd expected. If they could earn Luna's trust, she might just lead them straight to the deeper secrets Faerie was hiding. He dialed Carter's number, the line crackling as it connected.
"Carter, she's biting," Lucas said, his tone calm but tinged with excitement. "We've got her right where we want her. She's desperate enough to believe anything we say."
Carter's voice came through, smooth and commanding. "Good. Keep her in your sights, and don't let Faerie find out. If she gets even a hint of what's going on, she'll vanish. We need her to believe she's safe."
"Understood. I'll take care of it," Lucas replied before ending the call.
He looked at his own reflection in the bar mirror, his smirk fading as a moment of doubt flickered across his features. For a brief second, he thought about the twisted game they were playing with Luna's emotions, but he quickly brushed the thought aside. He had a mission, and there was no room for second thoughts.
Back at Luna's Apartment...
Night had fallen when Luna finally decided to meet the stranger again. She put on her jacket and headed out, her steps echoing through the quiet hallways of her building. As she walked through the chilly streets, her breath clouding the air, she clutched the card tightly in her hand. The address led her to a nondescript building downtown, one that looked like any other.
She hesitated at the entrance, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. Little did she know, Lucas's men were nearby, their eyes on her every move from the shadows. Taking a deep breath, Luna pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The stranger was already waiting in a small, dimly lit room, sitting behind a plain table. He smiled when he saw her, gesturing for her to take a seat. "I'm glad you decided to come, Luna. I knew you were serious about finding answers."
Luna slid into the chair across from him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "I'm here. So what's this all about? How exactly can you help me?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, the shadows playing across his face. "It's simple. We have resources—ways to dig into the past that others might not. We could find out what happened to your parents, why they left you behind. But we'll need something from you in return."
Luna's stomach twisted with unease. Of course, there was always a catch. "What kind of 'something'?"
The stranger smiled, almost as if he had expected her question. "Information. You're close to someone we're interested in—Faerie. We want to understand her better, her connections, her... motives. You feed us little bits of information, nothing too serious, and in exchange, we'll dig up whatever we can about your past."
Luna's mind reeled. Faerie had always been there for her, even when she had nothing left. She couldn't imagine betraying her friend's trust. But the promise of finding out about her real parents was too tempting, tugging at every lonely part of her. She looked away, feeling the weight of the decision press down on her shoulders.
"I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Faerie's my friend. I can't just spy on her."
The stranger's expression softened, his tone taking on a more sympathetic edge. "I understand, Luna. It's a hard choice. But think about it—how long have you been searching for answers? Don't you think it's time you finally got some closure?"
Luna's heart pounded in her chest. She could see his point—her entire life had been defined by this void, this endless search for a past she barely remembered. But betraying Faerie... Could she really live with herself if she did that?
After what felt like an eternity, she met his gaze, her voice wavering but determined. "I'll think about it. I'm not promising anything."
The stranger's smile widened, and he leaned back in his chair, satisfied with her response. "That's all I'm asking for, Luna. Take your time. We'll be in touch."
As Luna walked back out into the night, her mind spun with a thousand conflicting thoughts. She had come looking for hope, but instead found herself teetering on the edge of a dangerous choice, one that could change everything.
Elsewhere: Faerie's Suspicion
Meanwhile, Faerie sat at the edge of her bed, staring out at the city lights through her window. Something had been bothering her all day, a nagging feeling she couldn't shake. Luna's call the night before had been too desperate, too unlike the Luna she knew. Faerie wondered if there was something she wasn't telling her.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling through their recent messages, debating whether to check in on her again. But before she could make a decision, she noticed a shadow moving outside her window—a figure disappearing around the corner of the building. Her heart jumped, and she hurried to the window, peering out into the darkness.
Nothing.
But the feeling that something was off settled deep in her chest, and Faerie's eyes narrowed. She didn't know who might be watching her, but she knew one thing for sure—she needed to be on guard. Whatever game was being played around her, she couldn't afford to be caught unaware.