Chapter 47: Green Green Grass of home.

Luna begins to retell the events of that fateful day with her brother, Silver.

"I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was fifteen, and he was sixteen—the second-born son of our family, with our eldest sister eighteen at the time. I was the youngest… the unwanted child. 'Bastard,' 'cheat baby,' and countless other cruel names followed me.

We were on vacation in California, exploring the majestic redwood forest. Silver and I wandered through towering trees that felt like they touched the sky. He was the only one who treated me like a person—he loved me for who I was.

But that day felt off. Silver kept glancing over his shoulder, his face tense with concern. When I asked what was wrong, he said he thought we were being followed. I still remember the worry in his eyes. He handed me his switchblade. 'Use it if you feel threatened,' he told me.

As we kept walking, he picked up a large rock and tied his handkerchief around it, crafting a makeshift sling. He started spinning it faster and faster. I didn't understand then, but now I realize he was likely channeling psycho waves to enhance it.

Then... everything went black.

When I woke up, darkness surrounded me. I coughed up blood, but felt no sharp pain. Reaching into my jacket, I cracked a glowstick from our trip, its soft light guiding me as I stumbled through the forest, searching for Silver. But he was nowhere—no sight, no sound.

Then I noticed something horrifying—blood beneath my fingernails. My heart pounded, panic tightening my chest.

I kept moving, my eyes catching a glint ahead—a switchblade, stabbed into a tree. But as I got closer, I froze. It wasn't just embedded in the wood... it pierced through something else.

A human finger.

A thumb.

I collapsed, horror choking me. My stomach turned, and I nearly retched.

Holding back the urge to scream I got up refusing to touch the switch blade after all that might be evidence as I walked forward a bit more my vision started to get blurry and I thought I saw someone before blacking out again. When I had awoken I realized I was near a river I stood up and I spat some more blood onto the ground. Their I saw Silver standing in the river walking away I shouted for him to stop but he didn't listen. I squinted my eyes and I saw that he was missing a thumb. I got up I wanted to chase after him but before I could I blacked out again and when I woke up I was in hospital room with my sister sitting in the room reading a book."

The group falls into a heavy silence, each member processing Luna's chilling account and forming their own theories about her brother's fate. Luna's downcast expression, a mix of anger and sorrow, says more than her words.

Sunny is the first to break the tension. "Luna, the figure you saw—did they appear human in height?"

Luna nods. "About six feet, maybe a little shorter."

JJ raises an eyebrow. "Did you notice any weapons?"

Luna shakes her head. "It was too dark to tell."

He taps his foot, thinking. "What about their clothing?"

Luna pauses, recalling the memory. "A cloak... with the hood up."

JJ's eyes narrow. "You couldn't see their face at all, could you?"

Luna's expression tightens. "No. It felt... like something was preventing me from seeing it."

Priscilla snaps her fan shut. "A cloaked figure... It may have been a hunter from Sanctum."

Luna's eyes widen. "What...?"

Priscilla takes a slow sip of coffee. "I considered a beast at first, but the state your brother was in suggests something more sinister—mind control. That thumb you found embedded in the tree may have been an offering, part of a sigil to control him. Likely, his severed thumb was the catalyst, but such control would only last twenty, maybe thirty minutes."

Her crimson eyes glint with curiosity. "But the real puzzle... is why you blacked out three times. That, Luna, is the mystery I intend to solve."

Luna looks at Priscilla, confusion flickering across her face—then it clicks. "Wait, is it possible he used a spell, psychic technique, or a will ability on me?"

Priscilla nods. "Yes. Given the blackouts, it's likely psychic or will-based, so we can rule out magic." She pauses, thoughtful. "But you woke up spitting blood. If he knocked you out with sheer speed, it would've killed you. However, if he attacked your brain with psycho waves, you'd likely suffer lasting damage—and you seem fine. My best guess is a will technique."

Tera chimes in, "Why not find someone to help her relive the memories?"

Sunny glances at Tera, genuinely surprised. "That… could actually work." Tera beams with pride as Sunny sighs, impressed by her rare good idea.

Jamal adds, "I've met a few psychics who can replay memories from a third-person perspective."

Priscilla chuckles softly. "I know one as well—he lives in Mexico City."

Sunny folds her arms. "How convenient. That's where we're heading soon."

Priscilla smiles slyly. "Then, perhaps I'll join you—if you'll have me."

Sunny studies her, sensing no ill intent from the bold offer. She thinks to herself, A powerful vampire—Dracula's daughter, no less. Sure, why not. Finally, she says, "Yeah, you can come with us. It's not every day you travel with someone famous."

The group, visibly surprised by their guest's sudden decision to join them on their trip to Mexico, exchanges glances.

Priscilla fans herself lightly after finishing her coffee. "Oh, but if there's any combat, I'll be sitting it out. I'm not particularly fond of bloodshed."

"So," she continues, curiosity in her tone, "what brings you all to Mexico?"

Sunny sighs, her voice casual but slightly tired. "Helping out a botany lab. We don't know much—just that they're running some kind of experiments on plants or something."

She steps over to Luna, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Thanks for sharing that story with us. If you ever need to talk more about it, you can always come to me."

Luna offers a soft, grateful smile. "Thanks. I'll remember that."

The group, now joined by a temporary member, begins preparing for their journey. Meanwhile, Luna steels herself—after all this time, she may finally get the answers to what truly happened that night.