Lured by the Moon

He chuckles at Atlas's annoyance that screams across his face. Sebastian tells him that he comes across as someone to be obeyed, "Like I said, it won't take too long. My sister is here, so you're safe here."

Atlas rolls his eyes frustratedly, "You mean babysit me?"

Yes, she'll watch your every move, so I don't need to worry about anything that happens in my absence.

He thought, still wearing the same smile that seemed stuck on his face like a tape.

He pats his shoulders gently, but firmly as he responds, "She's not going to hover over you, so don't complain about it. You have the whole house to yourself, so don't do anything stupid."

Those were his last words before he left the kitchen, leaving Atlas behind to dwell in his own thoughts.

As he walks out of the kitchen, he grabs the keys from his pocket and heads towards the black sleek car, which is parked in the driveway, resembling a sleeping creature in its long slumber.

The engine turns on as the car drives out of the driveway and towards the college campus.

As he steps out of the car, the sun in the sky stands out against the dim background, a flickering orange and yellowish hue, with grayish clouds billowed like thick cotton balls across the horizon, suggesting rain is imminent.

The college campus is a large building that's divided into two sections. On the left are the dorm rooms, situated next to each other, whereas the other is an academy for students.

In front of him stands a large white sign that reads 'University of Lakeside,' but he ignores it as he surveys his surroundings. He notices a young woman carrying several books, her black hair braided backwards down her neck. He flashes a charming smile, one that puts people at ease, unaware that a deceitful predator stands before them. The woman swallowed hard before she lowered her eyes bashfully. 

He approaches her as he asks, "Hello, do you know anything about a party that occurred?"

The woman nods before she replies, "Y–Yea. It was a Christmas party down the street on the corner. You'll see a red deserted house surrounded by white daisies across the green lawn, that's where the party was."

He tilts his head as he pulls out his phone and pulls up a picture in front of the woman. A fleeting flicker crossed her eyes, sending flashing signals to his mind, and then he asked as if he hadn't seen it. "Do you know him? I've been looking for him."

Her hands clapped loudly together, and her eyebrows shot up as if she had recalled a distant memory. "Yes! I do remember him! He's the guy from the party who was dancing on the table."

His eyebrows rose in response, "Uhh? Dancing on the table?"

I never heard that before. Are we talking about the same person? I've never seen Quinn dance on the table in the past one hundred fifty years. It would hurt his fragile pride! 

The woman nods confidently, laughing as she recalls something, 'Yes. He was really, really drunk. He was dancing like a drunk pirate singing like a wailing cat. That guy couldn't even sing in the first place."

Wow! Singing a pirate or wailing like a cat. That can't be right. As he asked again to confirm, he thought to himself, "Are you certain this is the same person you're talking about?"

The woman nods positively before she asks, her voice light and curious, "Who is he?"

"My brother. Did you see him at the end of the party?"

"No, did something happen to him?" she asks, her teeth biting the lower lip with worry. Sebastian reveals the same appreciative smile he gave to his sister. "No, I just haven't been able to find him. Thank you for answering some of my questions."

The woman nods with a warm smile before they walk in different directions. Where Sebastian couldn't see, the woman's eyes hardened, like smoldering ice, contained only within a person's gaze.

Sebastian headed down the street, where the woman pointed him out. From the corner, he saw a red house with layers of bricks stacked like an endless task. Across the lawn were hundreds and thousands of daisies; white little flowers surrounded each other like a dancing shadow amidst the wind. 

He walks toward the house, careful not to step on the small shards of glass that are scattered across the stained white sidewalk, which is dirty and littered with drink spills. A furrow curls over his brow, and a foreboding feeling creeps over his neck, like a prickling sensation.

He knocks on the door. He knocks again after the first two times. The young man opens the doors there. His face was stuck in a scowling expression that changed when he came into sight.

His smile curves at the corner of his lips, reminiscent of a cunning tiger, and the sheer lust in his eyes makes his skin crawl, as if worms are gathering underneath.

Don't do anything stupid. It's that simple. If he does anything, I can kill him once I get what I want.

Despite the urge to gouge out his glassy-beady eyes with his fingers, that sunken that clings to the skin. "Hi. I apologize for bothering you. I'm looking for someone; a brother of mine has been missing."

The man's smile widened, revealing a complete lack of sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that. Would you like to come in? What's his name?" As the door shuts with a click, Sebastian walks. An awful smell lingers before him in the air akin to rotten socks and overloaded dirty dishes in the sink. 

His eyes observe the room; everything is a mess. Everything was scattered everywhere – clothing, plastic cups and bowls, cigarettes, and more – sprawled across the floor. The man next to him chuckles sheepishly, but that doesn't erase the creepiness that pervades his very pores.