Lured by the Moon

Atlas tightens the jacket around his shoulders. Warmth fills his heart; he couldn't remember the last time someone showed him a simple, kind gesture.

Then an uncomfortable rush of memories flashed through his mind, making his heart ache slightly; his blood ran cold like freezing weather.

You beast! You never should have been born!!

Drowning under thousands of memories, not finding an anchor amidst the raining storm, drowning beneath the stormy waves that continue to submerge him.

I can't breath! Let go of me!

He cries out in his mind, his heart gripped in terror. There's no word to describe what he's feeling. A rough, cold hand touches his cheeks, startling him so much that he flinch backward.

A soft, harsh voice whispered next to his ears; the words were barely audible. "Hey. Come back to me."

Who's that?

Opening his eyes with a soft gasp, a burst of tears crawls down his cheeks. His body trembled greatly like a flower in the wind. In front of his trembling eyelashes was Sebastian.

Sebastian was gazing at him with inscrutable eyes. It was unreadable, yet there was a rare frown at the corner of his lips.

Sebastian was gripping his cheeks in a solid hold, yet it didn't hurt him at all.

Sebastian whispers, yet the look in his eyes was dark. "Focus on me. Take a deep breath."

Listening to his words, Atlas wasn't aware that his hands were gripping his elbow in desperation, yet there was no warmth. His skin was frozen like ice.

Atlas did as he was instructed. Take a deep breath as he exhales. He did again and again until he calmed down, where his heart wasn't gripped in anxiety.

Atlas saw his lips arch into a smile across his face. He looks deeply into his eyes, which somehow eases the knot in his stomach. "That's good. You're doing just good." Sebastian saw that he calmed down. A soft sigh was released from his lips afterwards. What just happened? One moment I was giving him the jacket. Then his face had that look—a look of fear and despair, like there was no hope.

Sebastian wipes the lingering tear that slides down his cheeks. It was wet and cold. Sebastian released a sigh, "Why you're such a crybaby?"

Atlas should've felt offended, but he wasn't. Maybe it was because he was too worn out. All he could do was sniffle as a heavy lump lodged in the back of his throat.

Sebastian decided he wouldn't say anything. It wasn't the time. Sebastian could see the car he parked from the corner of his eyes. He gripped Atlas's neck in a comforting hold, leading him toward the car. Yielding and soft. He heard how humans can get sick in the winter. Although he had a feeling that Atlas wasn't an ordinary human, he was weak like a human. A perfect example of a delicate glass. If he said the wrong thing, he fears he would shatter Atlas's delicate heart, which seems to be barely holding on.

Shaking his head with a sigh. What bizarre thoughts is he coming up with? Why is he becoming a mushy person all the sudden? How annoying.

Getting Atlas tucked into the car without any protests, he slides into the other side door as well.

Turning on the engine, the car turned on like a roaring dragon that woken from its slumber as he drove out of the driveway.

All he could hear was the sound of sniffles in the car. Sebastian decides to text his mother. He doesn't know how to comfort someone. With one hand steering the wheels, the other hand started texting on the phone.

[Mom, how do you comfort someone after a panic attack?]

Then his phone started beeping in a high-pitched tone.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Looking down at the phone, he was filled with exaggeration.

[What did you do?! You better not break someone's heart. Alright, I'll tell you. You can take them to the movies.]

Setting the phone down without expressing any gratitude. Well, why should I say thanks? She thinks it's my fault anyway!

Looking down at Atlas, who quieted down, although the rim around his eyes is red like he had been crying. Although he had been crying.

Shaking his head, he tries to curve his lips into a casual smile. "Want to go see a movie?"

His forehead creases as he tilts his head innocently. "What is a movie?"

Uhhh?! Did I mishear him?! What does he mean, What's a movie?! How could he not know what a movie is?!?

He wasn't aware that his lips twiched like he was trying to hold a comment back. Combing through his messy hair that keeps flickering in his eyes, he asks with a sigh, "You really don't know what a movie?"

Atlas tilts his head as he wipes the last tear from his cheeks. With an annoyed voice, "I just said so. What is it?"

Well, it's good that he seems to be back to his normal self. Sorta. Well, he's still a feisty puppy.

His eyes glance at him with mischievousness that dances within his eyes. "You'll see once we get there."

——-

Pulling before a large building, where thousands of cars are seen everywhere. Cars that are parked within each parking lot. Turning toward the boy as he turned off the car. "You ready?"

Atlas looks around him with wide eyes. Atlas asks in a soft voice, "Why are there so many people here?"

Getting out of the car with Atlas, who followed his lead as well. Sebastian strode across the parking lot, where Atlas was looking at the people around him. People were dressed in casual outfits, while others were more dressed up.

Some people were wearing a black leather jacket, a shirt with a spongebob in the middle, and other outfits as well.

Out of the blue, Sebastian grips Atlas's neck swiftly as he pulls him toward his body as the door opens with a bang.

Two people walk out, stumbling toward them and laughing so loudly that it would grate on anyone's eardrums, especially for a vampire who could hear from a distance away.

Sebastian's entire countenance changed, a familiar sneer appearing on the corner of his lips.

These fools! How dare they—