In the Light of the Moon by Noelle Upton

Author:Noelle Upton [Upton, Noelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Orion

Sylvie’s eyes were wide with rapt attention at the killer chasing the female protagonist through the graveyard. I was reluctant to admit that the film was quite entertaining, but what drew my focus more was the way Sylvie reacted to it.

She hyped the film up to me as one of the best horror movies to come out in recent years. I had little to no frame of reference for that, but, despite her sweet exterior, my little witch loved all things scary.

Though she’d already seen the movie in theaters, I watched curiously as she flinched at the first stab in the character’s back. More gore and blood painted the screen, and though she had the urge to look away, Sylvie’s heart rate and scent picked up in the way she normally did when she was excited.

“You’re going to miss details if you keep watching me like that, baby,” she droned without taking her eyes off of the carnage. I huffed and tried my best to refocus on being frightened. About halfway through the movie, my phone began buzzing on the coffee table. That was the second time this week Meredith had called me, and I promptly ignored the call, as I had done all the others.

Sylvie was tucked into my side with a mug of hot chocolate in her hands, though it had long gone cold. I balanced a bowl of popcorn on my lap, but it seemed I was the only one that remembered to eat any. She was sucked in, my Sylvie, and I had to admit that the movie wasn’t terrible. Though, I was able to quickly deduce the identity of the killer, which I whispered to Sylvie fifteen minutes into the film. Much to her chagrin.

Once the credits began to roll, we turned off the television—it was one that mimicked a painting when turned off, and Sylvie marveled at it for at least ten minutes when I’d shown her the deception—and began to get ready for bed.

The pleasant pattering of Sylvie and I walking about the house was a rhythm I didn’t realize I would welcome or love as much as I did. We worked with a familiar ease while she helped me put mugs and the popcorn bowl in the dishwasher, fold the blanket we’d sat under while sitting on the couch, and turn off all the lights inside and outside. It was a lengthy and pleasant routine as I put things back just so, making sure my appliances and kitchen utensils were lined up and in their proper places, that the blanket was placed in its particular perch on the couch. But Sylvie followed my direction without question, just with sweet enthusiasm.

I watched curiously while she spread creams and serums on her face while I brushed my teeth, the large bathroom feeling less cavernous with both of us standing before the mirror. It had been nearly a decade since I’d spent the night with someone, and, though I had been excitedly anticipating tonight, I’d worried that I wouldn’t enjoy sharing my space with someone.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.