Evil Within

CHAPTER 21

Carla arrived at Mrs. Parnell’s house just as she had promised, the familiar warmth of the quiet neighborhood surrounding her. She made her way to the door, greeted by the frazzled mother of two young children who were already running in circles around the living room. Carla barely had time to exchange pleasantries before the children pulled her into their whirlwind of playtime. But as the laughter and chaos filled the air, her mind couldn’t stop replaying the conversation she had just had with Lucas.

Sighing deeply, she stepped into the living room and quickly excused herself from the children, slipping outside into the cool evening air. Her phone was already in her hand, and she dialed Luna’s number without hesitation. The phone rang for a few seconds before Luna picked up.

“Carla, what is it?” Luna’s voice came through, sharp and annoyed. She had already guessed what this was about.

“Luna, you need to calm down. It’s not what you think,” Carla began, her voice a bit more hurried than she intended. “Lucas showed up at my house, and he was asking a lot of questions about you. He’s worried. He’s been noticing... well, that you’ve been different lately.”

Luna scoffed from the other end of the line. “Different? You mean because I’m not sitting around pretending everything is fine, like always?”

Carla hesitated. “No, it’s not that. It’s just... he’s concerned, Luna. He thinks something is going on, and he’s trying to figure it out.”

Luna’s frustration was evident, even through the phone. “He always thinks something is wrong with me! He can’t just let me live my life. I’m tired of him trying to control everything I do. I don’t need him, and I don’t need him to keep questioning me like this.”

Carla chewed on her lower lip, torn between loyalty to Luna and the uneasy feeling that had settled in her stomach since her conversation with Lucas. “I know he can be overbearing, but you have to admit that something’s different. It’s not just him... there’s a lot going on, and maybe—maybe you should talk to him. Set some boundaries.”

Luna was silent for a moment. Her thoughts were racing. What was the point? She knew Lucas. She knew how he thought. He would never stop trying to fix her, trying to tell her what to do, even when she didn’t want it.

“I’ll talk to him, alright?” Luna finally said, her voice cold. “But I’m not going to let him treat me like some little kid. He can’t just control me. I’ve had enough of that.”

Carla sighed, sensing Luna’s anger seeping through her words. “Just... be careful, okay? You know how he can get. He’s your brother, but that doesn’t mean he always knows what’s best.”

Luna’s frustration was palpable, but a small part of her appreciated Carla’s concern. “I’m fine, Carla. I’ll deal with Lucas. Don’t worry about me. Go take care of Mrs. Parnell’s kids.”

Carla reluctantly agreed, but her worry lingered. She knew Luna was strong-willed, but there was an edge to her anger that made Carla uneasy. She didn’t know if this confrontation with Lucas would help or make things worse.

As she ended the call, Luna’s thoughts turned inward. The conversation with Carla had only fueled the fire that was already burning inside her. She was sick of being controlled, of being treated like she couldn’t handle things on her own. But Lucas... her brother... he was her family. She loved him, but that didn’t mean she had to let him dominate every aspect of her life.

Luna paced around her room, her mind racing with ideas. She had to confront him. She had to make him understand that she was her own person. It wasn’t about being rebellious—it was about asserting her independence. About finding her own path, without his constant interference.

With a sharp exhale, she made her decision. The conversation with Lucas was inevitable. She couldn’t run from it anymore.

Later that evening, Luna stood at the top of the stairs, staring down at the closed door of Lucas’s room. The weight of the upcoming conversation pressed heavily on her chest. She had waited long enough. It was time to face him.

Taking a deep breath, she descended the stairs slowly, her footsteps heavy against the quiet of the house. She stopped outside his door and knocked lightly, trying to steady the surge of emotions that bubbled to the surface.

“Lucas,” she called out, her voice firm.

The door opened moments later, revealing Lucas standing there, his expression unreadable. He didn’t say anything at first, simply watched her, as if waiting for her to speak.

Luna’s pulse quickened, but she pushed forward. “We need to talk.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed, sensing the seriousness in her tone. “About what?”

She took a step closer, crossing her arms in front of her. “About you. And about how you’ve been treating me. You think I don’t notice? I’m not a child anymore, Lucas.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but Luna cut him off.

“No, let me finish,” she continued, her voice rising. “I get it. You care about me. You want to protect me. But this—” she waved her hand between them, “—this control? I’m not going to stand for it anymore. You can’t keep making decisions for me. You can’t keep thinking you know what’s best for me. I’m my own person, and I need you to understand that.”

Lucas stood there, taken aback by her words. He had always known Luna was strong-willed, but this was different. The fire in her eyes was something he hadn’t seen before, something he hadn’t expected.

“I didn’t want to control you, Luna,” Lucas finally said, his voice softer. “I just... I’m worried about you. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did. But I get it. You need space. I’ll back off. But just know this—I'm always here for you, no matter what.”

Luna looked at him, her anger simmering down just a little. “I know you are. But I need to do this on my own. And I need you to respect that.”

Lucas nodded slowly, the tension between them easing, though the air still felt thick with unspoken emotions.

“I will,” he said quietly. “I just want you to be safe, Luna. But I’ll respect your boundaries.”

For the first time in a long while, Luna felt a small sense of relief. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. And that was all she needed.