We Light Up the Sky by Lilliam Rivera

Author:Lilliam Rivera
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

CHAPTER 16

Pedro and Rafa may not trust cops, but what alternative do they have? These men may offer some clues. Let them think she’s foolish. Luna doesn’t care. At least she’s taking some sort of action.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Walters,” Luna says as she approaches the detectives.

“Miss Mendez, we were on our way to your class. These two gentlemen from the police force have a couple of questions for you,” Principal Walters says. “Have you seen Mr. Estrada and Mr. Morales?”

“No, I haven’t,” she quickly says. Luna is smart enough not to turn to where she left them.

“Luna Mendez. It’s nice to meet you,” the casual cop says. “Is there a place we can chat privately for a minute?

Principal Walters pulls out a heavy set of keys and locates an empty classroom.

“We can use this room for a few minutes before the bell rings.” She opens the door. “Miss Mendez, take a seat.”

Luna sits in a chair while the adults stand. “How are you doing?” the casual cop asks.

“I’m fine.” She smooths out her jeans and adjusts her top. She doesn’t exactly have a plan. The impulsive act to speak to the two men came to her because of math. How else will she find out what’s going on if she doesn’t pay attention to the variables being presented to her? Luna needs answers, and they might have them.

Principal Water’s walkie-talkie goes off. “I need to take this.” She steps out of the open door of the classroom. She still faces them, so Luna doesn’t feel completely alone.

The serious cop in the suit pulls up an image from his phone and shows it to Luna. The grainy image is of Tasha, and Luna’s stomach sinks to the floor. They know!

“Have you seen this girl?”

“Last night. I saw her!” Luna is eager for answers, desperate for an explanation. “Who is she?”

“Where? What did she say to you?”

“Wait. Who is she?”

The serious cop already looks annoyed with Luna, so the casual cop takes over. Luna makes a mental note of this dynamic and how they’re playing off each other.

“You and your friends are not in trouble. We are just trying to locate her. She’s very sick,” he says, cupping his hands together. “We need to get to her before she becomes too ill.”

She’s sick, of course, Luna thinks. Does she have the same illness that took Tasha? Almost everyone received the vaccine, but what if she didn’t? Is this like some weird repetition, an echo of Tasha’s ailments? A ghost stuck reliving the pain?

“She’s real then,” Luna says more to herself than to the cops, but she needs confirmation. “Right?”

The cop displays a concerned look to his partner then turns back to Luna. “Of course she is, but she’s highly contagious. The longer she’s out there, the worse her illness will become.”

A weight lifts from her. To save this girl means to have a do-over, a chance to rectify her past mistakes. She might not be Tasha, but they’ve met for a reason.

“Who is she?” Luna asks again, and the serious cop answers.

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