Evil Within

CHAPTER 20

The warm light of the dining room flickered in the evening as Luna’s anger simmered just beneath the surface. Her hand gripped the edge of her plate, the porcelain teetering as her frustration mounted. Lucas, sitting across from her, wore the expression of someone who couldn’t fully grasp the situation. He had been trying to get Luna to open up all evening, but every time he tried, she pulled further away.

“You’ve been acting strange lately, Luna,” Lucas began, his voice tinged with concern. He was trying to make sense of her behavior, but every attempt only seemed to push her further. “You’re distant. What’s going on?”

Luna stared at her plate, the food untouched. She hated the way he always tried to control things. He didn’t get it. He never did. The whole world seemed to bend around him, while she was stuck, suffocating under his watchful gaze.

“I’m fine,” Luna muttered under her breath, her tone tight.

Lucas leaned forward, his brows furrowed. “No, you’re not. Something’s wrong, and I need to know what it is. You’ve been acting like—” He paused, trying to find the right words. “Like you're someone else.”

Luna slammed her palm onto the table, making the dishes rattle. “I said I’m fine!” she shouted. Her voice echoed off the walls, sharp and cutting. The force of her anger sent a wave of silence through the room, thick with tension.

Lucas sat back, stunned. He had never seen her this angry before. The Luna he knew wasn’t like this. She had always been quiet, reserved, but never confrontational. Something had shifted, and it unsettled him. It was as if she was no longer the little sister he had watched grow up.

Without another word, Luna pushed her chair back, sending it screeching across the floor. She shoved the dishes aside with force, making them clatter noisily. Her chest heaved with frustration, and without a glance at her brother, she stormed out of the room and up the stairs. The door to her bedroom slammed shut, rattling the walls.

Lucas sat there for a moment, frozen. His mind raced. What had just happened? This wasn’t just a typical argument. This was different. Luna had changed, and he couldn’t put his finger on why.

The following day, Lucas was restless. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, not just with Luna, but with everything. Her strange outburst, her refusal to talk, and the way she seemed so distant—it was like he was losing her. And the worst part? He didn’t know why.

Determined to get to the bottom of it, Lucas decided to pay Carla a visit. After all, Luna’s best friend was the one person who might know what was really going on. He had to know who Luna was hanging out with when she wasn’t around him.

Carla’s house was quiet when Lucas arrived. The driveway was empty, no cars in sight. He rang the doorbell, and after a moment, the door opened to reveal Carla, dressed in a casual outfit, her eyes wide with mild surprise.

“Lucas?” she asked, her voice a little uncertain. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you,” Lucas said, his tone serious. “It’s about Luna.”

Carla frowned slightly, her posture stiffening. “Luna? What’s wrong?”

Lucas stepped forward, his gaze firm. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. She’s been acting... different lately. And I know something’s going on. Is she hiding something from me?”

Carla hesitated, a slight unease flickering in her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean, Lucas. Luna’s been through a lot recently. She’s just... dealing with stuff.”

Lucas didn’t buy it. He knew his sister better than anyone. She wasn’t the type to “deal with stuff” quietly. Whatever it was, it was more than just that. “Is she hanging out with anyone new? Anyone I should know about?”

Carla’s eyes darted away for a brief moment, a nervous gesture that didn’t go unnoticed. “No, Lucas. She’s been spending most of her time with me. I’m her best friend, after all.”

Lucas didn’t miss the subtle shift in her tone. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make him suspicious. He narrowed his eyes at Carla, trying to gauge whether she was lying to him. He could see the unease in her posture, the way her hands fidgeted.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, his voice low, almost too calm. “Because Luna’s behavior doesn’t add up. Something’s going on, and I know you know more than you’re letting on.”

Carla stiffened, crossing her arms over her chest. “Lucas, I’m telling you. She’s just... going through a phase. And I’m here for her when she needs me.”

A lie. That was all Lucas could think as he studied her face. The way she avoided his eyes. He was certain now: Carla was hiding something. She knew more, but she wasn’t going to spill it.

“Right,” Lucas said, his voice a little sharper now. “And what about a new friend? Anyone who might be influencing her?”

Carla’s lips parted, but before she could respond, she looked over her shoulder, her gaze shifting nervously. “I really don’t have time for this, Lucas. I need to get going. I’m babysitting for Mrs. Parnell next door.”

Lucas glanced at the clock. It was a convenient excuse, but he wasn’t going to let her off the hook so easily.

“Carla,” he said, his voice soft but firm, “I need the truth. Please.”

Carla shifted uncomfortably, but her eyes softened. “I don’t know anything, Lucas. I swear.”

She stepped back, ready to leave, and Lucas watched her carefully. He had no choice but to let her go, but the doubt lingered in his mind.

As Carla walked down the path, Lucas stood still, watching until she disappeared from his sight. His gut told him that the answers weren’t in the words she had said—but in the things she had carefully avoided saying.