Chapter 8

Doctor Sharp

The two walked for what felt like an eternity, one Luna held close to her heart. Hand-in-hand, she felt comforted being with Sam. Watching her girlfriend's quick movements down the hill made her heart skip, and even with the quiet solitude that became Royal Woods, she never lost that smile. While the Loud sibling slowly lost her mind, the other rocker appeared completely normal and wise. She really was an angel, wasn't she?

Thinking on that made Luna stare at the ground. In her pocket, her uncharged phone appeared to call for her. Curious fingers grazed its top, but it was useless to pull out. Not even enough energy to show what time it was. An inkling in her heart told her to ask Sam for a charger, but another side of her quickly quelled that. As the sun slowly descended over the high-rise buildings, she began seeing her family in the back of her mind. A bunch of kids coming home, questioning where on earth that wacky sister of theirs went once again. Two parents wondering where they went wrong to have such a wanderer.

A sour look played on her face. "If they even care..."

Sam turned, face concerned. "What was that?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just... thinking on things, I guess."

Sam sighed, grimacing at the litter clouting the streets. "You're feeling scared, aren't you?"

Luna looked down as well, never breaking her stride. Was that the best word for her predicament? She's been scared plenty of times throughout her life, but this felt far worse than that. At least the horror she knew had some sort of explanation. Here, anything she did was merely grasping at straws. Heck, she began question her own existence at this point. Was that being afraid? Was it?

But thinking on it, maybe it was guilt she felt? Feeling worthless in the face of a dilemma she assumed existed. Questioning if her own family cared or even knew she was gone; making everyone worry over what could be nothing. Luna held her tongue hard. She even dragged Sam into this. She was insane; that was all.

In the end, though, she didn't know. Whatever the case, she shook her head, and looked deep into Sam's eyes. "I love you, Sam," Luna bluntly said out loud.

Her girlfriend paused for a moment, taken back by the sudden affection. She scratched her cheek, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Woah, where'd that come from?" she clear felt bad saying that, and quickly backpedaled back into that smile of hers. "I love you too, Lunes. You know I do."

Luna nodded, trying her best to fake a smile. With the sun descending further, she knew it wouldn't be possible. Not even the light could save her now. "Didn't mean to just shout that. I guess, you know... if I'm losing it, I didn't want to forget that."

Her saddened words was met with a playful shove. "Hey, I know I can't tell what's going on, but if there's one thing I do know, it's that if you really are going insane, I'll be there to help you." She broke her walk to embrace Luna hard. The Loud sibling jumped, but didn't let surprise stop her from embracing it back. That sudden warmth brought a tear to both their eyes. "I hate knowing you're in pain. No matter what, I'll stick by you, okay? We'll get through this."

What was that feeling? Hope? She really didn't deserve Sam. She was just too damn perfect for a crazy girl like her. "Thank you, Sam. Thank you..."

The two crossed their way through the quiet town, restling through dilapidated streets and barren corners, with only one seemingly questioning the void Royal Woods had become. Was something happening they should know about? Well, perhaps it was just her head making excuses, but Luna didn't mind in the end. If the whole world just became her and Sam, then what else did she really need?

It was peaceful. A peace she was glad to have found.

But their journey had to end. Before them stood a house against a quiet suburbia, and one that strangely stuck out. Its appearance should be unnoteworthy, but only a quick glance at the walls showed how unique it really was. Against the wood and around the windows, green vines stretched up to the roof. Its blue walls perfectly matched with the suddenly entrenching nature, as if both were always meant to be together. A perfect little abode, as if ripped straight from the fairy tales.

Sam chuckled nervously. "Heh, sorry for... y'know, its look. Dad always liked nature, heh."

She thought it would be embarrassing, but Luna was far from that. She stood enamored at it. All this time, Sam always came over to the Loud residence, but it was never the other way around. Seeing it for the first time was something quite magical. For a brief moment, any problem the young lady had felt obsolete; peace once again.

"Heh... it makes sense," Luna commented, slowly making her way to the front door. "You always had a thing for nature. Guess your pa gave you that?"

Sam looked to the ground, trying to hide the red on her face. "Yeah... though he sometimes takes that love a little too far, y'know?"

They stood before the front door. Even that looked strange and unique. A wooden slab decked with a design more befitting of fantasy over reality. It showed a man leading off towards a beautiful sun, children in hand as they concluded a journey over a wooden hill. A far-cry from Luna's home, which was just a pasty red entryway offering little else. Was she in a new world? Who knows, who cares? All she knew was that she loved this place already.

"Dad also an artist?"

"Tch, he wishes. Just has a strange eye for design, is all."

A quick turn of the knob brought them into the home, and for Sam, it was a relief to know it looked absolutely sane within. A standard looking home, with standard looking furniture on top of a standard looking rug. A small hallway lead the way to an open door at the end, which showed some steam rising out of a kitchen. A beeper was going off, with the voice of a disgruntled man ringing through the quiet house. "Blasted stove!" he shouted, "Why do you burn so much? I thought we had a deal!"

Sam shook her head. "I got this, Lunes," she remarked, before taking a step forward. "Dad, we're home! You doing okay? I got a guest!"

Whatever anger the man had suddenly subsided. As if the stove and him came to a righteous conclusion, the chaotic kitchen drew silent, and a blond man emerged in the doorway. One look at him showed the amount of stress and fatigue he dealt with on a daily basis. Bags covered his eyelids, with his skin appearing grim from an overload of work. Even still, it was remarkable how lively his eyes were, and his posture, though clearly befitting a man in his forties, was almost that of a teenager. If it wasn't for the food particles covering his apron like a madman, one could say he was the perfect dad.

A perfect dad that froze Luna's blood. She studied the man's face, growing more and more horrified by the second. Everything from his cheekbones to the frazzled hair on top of his head made a cold sweat break out against her brow. If Sam didn't relinquish her hold on her hand, she probably would've seen the zombie her girlfriend was slowly becoming.

She knew this man. Dear lord, she knew him well. And if it wasn't the appearance that got her, it was certainly the voice as it spoke more clearly. "Howdy, Sam! Sorry, dinner's gonna be a little delayed. Freaking top decided to run counter to my...," he stopped himself short as he caught sight of the petrified Luna. His restless gaze studied the young lady, and though it was hard to tell, there appeared to be fear crossing between his irises. Couldn't blame him; Luna had the same sensation.

Sam could only stand by in confusion as the two became quiet, both growing a whiter shade of pale. Both seemingly appeared to have seen a ghost, and were afraid to share it. The older man gulped, straightening out his collar as he tried to regain his composure. "Oh! You must be Luna, right?" he interrupted his fright. "My Sammy always talks about you! Glad to see you here! Like the outside? Took a long time to get those vines just right!"

His daughter shot him an accusatory look. "Dad, seriously? You really got to advertise that? Jeez, if Sully wasn't impressed, what makes you think-"

"They... look nice."

"Gah, she liked them!"

It sounded innocent coming from her mouth, but Luna's expression never changed. Mr. Sharp's appearance was unmistakable, and his voice matched perfectly. The man she saw in the hospital, and the man she saw at the park. The voice that kept repeating those words to her time and time again, along with the silhouette she saw in the distance. A blond man. A doctor.

The man who knew what was happening.

Luna quickly coughed away her paleness, growing back to looking normal. She pulled off a remarkable smile, and walked up to the man. "Glad to meet you too, sir. I just want to say Sam's the best person I've ever met." Her kind words were met with hesitance. The man did his best to smile back, but the rocker saw his face contort. He tried so hard to stay calm, but she knew he hid something. What it was, she wondered if she should fear it. Even still, she did her best to remain composed. "Um... is it all right if I stay for dinner?"

Mr. Sharp looked at her, seemingly frozen in place. He took a deep breath, almost falling asleep with those restless eyes. The smile returned; Luna could tell where Sam got it. "Absolutely! I've been waiting to have you over, after all!" He turned towards Sam, raising his eyebrows up a peg. "Mind getting Simon, Sammy? Just let him know he might be waiting a little bit."

That made Luna jump. She wasn't just here to talk with the man. Her trusted purple guitar was most likely in Sam's room. She looked over at her girlfriend, but it seemed the other young lady already had her mind made up. "I'll get him, and don't worry, Lunes. I'll have the guitar all set up. Go on! Might as well 'bond' with him, right?" she spoke, raising her own eyebrows in the process. "Apparently you like the vines, so I think you'll get along real smooth!"

Mr. Sharp folded his arms. "Hey, that sounds pretty good. And hey, when you get older, you'll appreciate why those are there." His smile turned to a frown, a sigh emerging from his tired mouth. "Well, at least someone does." He looked back at Luna, moving from the door and pointing into the kitchen. "Care to join me? Not gonna lie, seems you have something you want to discuss."

Sam vanished down another hallway, leaving the two alone. Luna felt awkward standing there, but in the end, the man was right. She had plenty to discuss. Maybe a little too much. She looked back into his eyes, and noted he had that same feeling she was experiencing: dread. Why that? What was there to fear?

"I... do, sir."

"Then come on in, Luna. I think I can answer a thing or two."

Man, wouldn't that be lovely? "Thanks, Mister Sharp."

She can still find peace. She knew she could.