Chapter 19
Luna Defined
The young rocker had no recollection of leaving the hospital, but somehow she was in that van, eyes barely lifting, family completely silent. Very little was spoken as wheels hit the driveway. A random deer ran off towards Grouse's lawn as the patriarch of the family sat firm and ready. He looked into the rearview mirror, and confirming Luna somewhat asleep, he ushered his family outside for a quick huddle.
Luna's eyes fluttered open, noticing them all holding one another in a quickened frenzy. Occasionally one would look back at her, before darting their gaze back to the group. With the windows rolled up, she could barely make out a word they were saying. Only a few passing phrases, that was it.
"Take...be kind... go easy..."
Beside her was that familiar soul, grinning slyly at her unfortunate victim. Arms folded, the ugly demon clicked their tongue, hoping to grab Luna's attention. "You do realize what they're talking about, right?"
No response. Was she that tired? The demon grew impatient. "I mean, it's freaking obvious. You just got out of the hospital, and they abandon you in here? Yeah, there's no doubt about it."
No response. The demon furrowed her brow. "Ugh, really? Not even gonna, I don't know, tell me to shut up? Laugh at my face pretending you're strong or something? Come on, babe, I'm a good gal! Give me a reaction!"
Nothing. Luna just kept staring at her family, watching as some sort of plan was formed. At last, a sigh broke from her lips, feeling both chap and weak. "It's me, isn't it?" She asked. Her eyes never turned, but the demon knew she was addressing her. "They're planning to help, huh?"
Her unfortunate partner stretched out her arms. "Jeez, don't tell me it took ya time to figure that out! I mean, either that, or they're throwing ya out like last week's trash. Either or, I suppose."
Those words hurt, and yet, Luna felt... comforted? How did that work? She couldn't say, but at the same time, she didn't want to know why. She looked to the demon, eyes half-open. "Do you think they're gonna try to hard?"
A simple question met by arduous shock. "Woah, what the? You actually asked me something? Like, an honest question?" No further word. Just a nod. What else could the demon do but rub the back of her head. "Well, uh... yeah, actually. Probably gonna pamper you! Hey, either that guilt will destroy ya, or you can run them to the ground. Look, if I was in your purple boots, I'd accept being a princess for a lifetime!"
Guilt. That disgusting word that flooded her system like the bubonic plague. That's all it was, huh? Guilt, worthlessness, stress... how much of those painful words described her these days? Yet all of them fit her perfectly.
Worthless due to all the worry.
Guilty over wasting their time.
Stressed over the previous two points.
She closed her eyes. No tears or anger or dread. Just... emptiness. Her heart had nothing left to give. Sam wasn't out there; must've been dropped off. Did she want to help her girlfriend? Heck, was it appropriate to call herself that now? She probably wanted the young rocker served on a silver platter, beaten and torn until there was nothing left to salvage.
She didn't even remember how many days remained until the concert. Did Lincoln even want her to attend? Why would he after all the hell she's been causing to him? And what about sleeping in the house? She knew Luan would be crying and stressing forever now. She screwed the bond between them so badly, didn't she?
And the money. Oh god, that money. How much will she waste until she finally dropped dead?
The demon chuckled. "Uh, babe? You do realize that's my job to make you feel that way?"
Luna ignored her. She stood up from her seat and shoved the ugly monster down to the floor, trying to flee out the other door. She rather not step out and immediately be embraced by that wacky family of hers. She didn't deserve it.
The demon looked wide-eyed at her, before smiling. "So... what's your choice? Also, feel free to apologize to me. I'm okay, don't worry and all."
"Yeah. Made my choice. Sorry, I guess."
"Woah, hey! What is it, then? Going the princess route?"
"... No. Just... walking into hell." She turned to the demon again. "You showed me that place enough. I think I'm ready."
The demon shrugged. "Well, I'll be ready for when it all falls apart."
"Yeah. Can't wait."
Luna closed the door a little too hard, causing her family to gasp. They watched as she emerged from the shadows, looking like a ghost emerging from her grave. To Lucy, that was probably awesome. For everyone else, terrified only began to describe it.
Their father saluted their children. "Okay kids, time to put our strategy to the test!"
Strategy? Oh boy.
Luna stumbled her way up, immediately receiving Lana and Lola to hold her hands. "Don't worry, big sis! We got ya! Easy does it, don't worry. Think of me like a, uh... a thing!"
"Wow, Lans, real creative!"
"Well at least I'm not covering her palm in glitter!"
"I'm not the glitter queen!"
Luna sighed. So it begins. They reached the door, which was kindly locked by Leni. "Yep, I'm being responsible!"
Lola slapped her head. "Leni, we're not in the dang building!"
"Well, robbers aren't either!"
Seeing this won't be resolved, Lucy unlocked the door. "Gasp, our lovely sister. How much we care for you and like you." She looked to the floor. "Sigh. I don't do pampering."
Pampering. The demon gleamed from the van. Luna was escorted in and brought towards the living room. Right off the bat, her parents sat so kindly. Her father looked so ready to help, while Rita, already feeling strange with this whole plan, still filled with great concern over her daughter. There still was no smile on the young rocker's face.
"Hey honey. Are you feeling okay?" She asked.
Luna forgot to breathe for a second. "Yeah," was all she said.
The twins gulped. One-word answers weren't Luna's specialty. This was worse than they thought. Even still, the show must go on. "Well," Rita slapped her hands against her thighs, "I think I know what will get that face glowing. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." She elbowed her husband. "Maybe watch something nice to calm down!"
Lynn Senior was more than happy to respond in earnest. "Oh yeah! Luna, I heard Mick has yet another special called "Yet Another Mick Swagger Special!" Let's watch it!"
Another sigh. She really didn't like where this was going. Even still, she couldn't disappoint her dad. Not again. "Okay," was all she said.
And so she watched. The whole time she sat ruminating, all while her father was more excited than... well, there's a lot of comparisons, but the best one was like the guy who will one day catch the Glitter Queen. Let the record show Lola wasn't her.
Sigh after sigh after sigh followed, until Rita called from the kitchen. "Guys, dinner!"
What was it? She didn't know. Luna at least was able to reach the dining room herself. However, that was the extent of her independence, for as soon as the table came into view, everyone was staring. The young sports star giggled, struggling to keep her smile.
"Hey hey! Heard you liked this chair! Next to bro, right? And for some reason, Lisa?"
Glasses were smushed against the genius's face. "Ah yes, singled out. Thank you, my perspiring-prone older sibling." Still that didn't stop her from acting. "Still, I am flattered. Here, let me pull out this sitting apparatus meant for our behinds."
And the chair was yanked. Luna closed her eyes. This was gonna be a long night. From the window, the demon shouted. "Night? Funny way of saying your whole life!"
"Thanks," Luna said nonchalantly.
It was the same food they were served the day she began freaking out. Simple pasta, nothing special. Probably didn't cost that much. Well, for a small family. Eleven kids was a lot.
Ten would be fewer.
She had her fork ready, and it quickly dawned on her that she wasn't even hungry. How did that work? She should be starving. She ate that morning, but... wait. How long has it been she's been like this? Forever? A few days? Was she in the hospital for a long time or a few hours?
None of those could be answered, as her eyes were distracted by her whole family zooming in. All were eyeing that plate. She had to take a bite, right? If anything, just to satisfy them. Hey, maybe it would make them finally stop pampering.
"Yeah, and that shirt will be destroyed by that bulging belly!" the demon shouted.
Luna took a small bite, and felt the pounds adding up. Another bite, another pound. The demon smirked. "Wow, you really did it. Damn, I'm good!"
Her family saw that grip shake. Lana grabbed her wrist. "Don't worry, sis. I'll help you eat!"
Leni grabbed another plate. "Hey, seconds are always cool! Wait, if you didn't finish your first, then that must be... ooh, your second first!"
She ate and ate and ate, but by the sixth bite, she was able to stop. An excuse was formed. "I'm, uh... not feeling good," Luna said. "I'll hit the bathroom."
Lisa beamed. "Oooh, I'll escort you, cacophonous sister! Perhaps now I can-"
"What she means is I'll help you!" Lynn offered, quickly grabbing her sister's hand. It should've been easy: get Luna up those stairs, and all will be grand.
Except, as one could tell, Luna didn't want this happening. Growing mad, she swatted Lynn away. "I can do it myself!" She shouted louder than ever before. Everyone froze as the rocker stood up. "I'll be back," she coldly stated.
Whatever reactions her family had went unnoticed, for she quickly ran into the bathroom on the second floor. She closed the door behind her and immediately stared at the mirror. What was that thing staring back? An ugly duckling who had only one power: waste.
She was a ghost. She was too full of life. She was thinning. She was getting fat. She looked worthless. She looked way too full of wasted money.
The demon at last crawled through the window, shaking her head. "Damn, good lock down there. Anywho, What's the plan? Hey, I'd be killing to make my family suffer like this!"
Luna pushed her away. "I know what I'm doing."
"Well, what? What are ya planning, babe?"
Luna looked at her hand. She was taught of a technique in health class. A technique that made her sick. A technique that was far from healthy.
A technique that would stop her from looking like an ugly monster. And if not, it'll make her hurt.
Like it should.
The demon gasped. "Oh... Oh wow, even I think that's dark. Do it!"
She regretted it immediately. She left the bathroom feeling worse than before. All that food she ate, no matter how small, was gone like that. Did she seriously do that to herself? Of course she did. Idiots like her make mistakes all the time. She knew that.
She barely could stand as she tried to make it to her room. It was so close too, and yet it felt like walking the last mile to the chair, ready to see the end of her crimes.
Only, she never made it. Luan and Lincoln blocked it, looking at her with the most powerful signs of concern ever noticed. Luna looked at them suspiciously.
"You too, huh? What? Need to bring me to my bed?"
Luan sighed. "Lincoln told me," she said downtrodden.
Confusion. "Told you what? Linc?"
Lincoln shook his head, looking at the bathroom in fear. "I... won't ask what you did in there. All I know is... you told me once my room gave you comfort, right?"
Her eyes grew wide. "Uh... I mean, uh..."
Luan nodded. "I understand. I won't stop you, Lunes. I just want you to be happy." She seemed like she was holding back her cries. "Just please... don't do that again!" She shouted at her, before running deeper into her room. Lincoln tried catching her, but there was no point.
Luna scratched her wrist, feeling those wounds rather harshly. "Linc, I need to..."
He stopped her. "I'll be in her room tonight. You? You're sleeping in my bed."
"W-Why?"
"Because if it helps you, I'll do anything!" He proclaimed, not taking no for an answer. She was dragged down the hall towards his room. He didn't look back at her, but she knew he was filled with determination... and disappointment. "I know you won't go back down. It's useless. Heck, I know all of them helping you is pissing you off, right?"
"I... yeah..."
He swung his door open. This plan must've been thought out long ago, for her blanket and pillows were already stretched out. She was honestly touched; he really was the man with the plan, huh?
But she knew her own mind. She was touched and guilty too, huh? That was getting old.
"Lincoln," she said downtrodden, "You don't have to do this."
He didn't immediately answer. Instead, he embraced her hard, hoping to never let her go. "I do. If it means saving you...," he broke it, smiling up at her. "... I'll do anything. Just... if you need me, come get me, okay?"
He didn't waste time. He walked off towards her room, leaving her silent in his tiny little abode, now temporarily hers. Once he shut the door, she found herself collapsing on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
The demon sat in his closet. "Kicked your little brother out of his own room, just to save you, eh? Wonder if he's good at sleeping in new places."
Her eyes were shut. The demon spoke louder. "Hah! You rejected being a princess, and what do you get? Even worse guilt! This is classic!"
Hands slammed the blanket. More harsh words. "But hey, this is your life! No girl, family struggling to make ends meet now suddenly pampering their useless daughter, and my favorite part? You're literally throwing up to lose weight! Holy crap, this is awesome!"
She looked at the demon, before growing pissed. She stomped towards that small closet and slammed it on her face. "I'm already screwed. Just die already."
Her voice was muffled, but the demon could still be heard. "Whelp, just wait until the pills arrive! Oh man, you'll be in an institution in no time!"
Luna slammed back on the floor, refusing to look at the bed. "Stupid... Stupid... Stupid..."
"Stupid stupid stupid! Ah, babe, I'm gonna miss ya when you're gone."
A sigh. When she's gone.
That was soon, huh?
