MichaeLuna - I'm Not Like Other Girls - Part 5 -Luna's Hiding Place

"Michael," Luna whispered intently, as she stopped playing the black and white keys while he sang.

"What is it?"

"I think that's enough...for now. I love your new songs..." Luna could feel Michael's hand on her shoulder as she leaned toward it to touch it with her cheek. She sighed deeply, speaking in hushed worried tones that didn't escape Michael's tender empathy. Still, he hoped that they could continue at least a little longer.

"Oh, can't we keep going? I love this one," he leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"No I - I have to stop. I'm sorry," Luna was feeling a bit dizzy. She heard a faint growling in her head. It seemed to be getting louder.

"It's okay," Michael breathed sweetly. Luna struggled to smile. Her temples were beginning to ache.

"I found you!" A ferocious voice cut into Luna's brain.

She jumped in her seat, startling Michael as she swung around on the tufted black piano bench. She was facing him and shivering. She put her hand out to stop him from approaching to comfort her. Michael slowly stepped back. Shock covered both of their faces.

"Luna, what's wrong?"

She couldn't speak. Michael had seen that look before and it frightened him no less this time.To go from such beautiful harmonies with her, to the discord of soul-shattering fear, left him both terrified and determined.

"No! This time I'm not leaving you here. Not again. You're coming with me, Sweetheart." Michael raised his voice to be heard over the noises in her mind that seemed to be shutting him out. "I can't let this happen," he thought. He tried to move closer to her, but the air around her had turned cold, so cold he could see his breath.

Luna closed her eyes tightly, as if she were trying to block the sounds assaulting her mind. When she opened them, Michael called to her. She wouldn't look at him. She was staring past him, concentrating with all of her strength. She seemed to be looking at some devilish apparition. It was happening again, whether Michael wanted it to or not.

Luna closed her eyes and whispered to him, "It's time. I must send you back. If they get in..."

"I won't go without you! I'm stronger now. You can't just send me away!"

"Miiiiii-chael..." Her voice became like calming waters, more heavenly than human.

"No, no, no!"

His hands were growing more and more transparent. He could barely feel his feet under him.

Luna's loving eyes were glowing like the moon.

"Baby, you need me. Don't do this. I have to take care of you..." Michael pleaded.

"It's done." Luna's words, lost in a sea of sadness, felt like a rush of cold wind surrounding Michael's body. As he disappeared she had no time for tears.

They were beside her. She had to use every ounce of power she'd ever dreamed she'd had, in order to escape this time.

Michael awoke with a start. He was sitting against his favorite tree. How long had he been there? How long had he been asleep? His mind was spinning like the ground beneath him.

He put his hands down beside him and tried to use his arms to push himself up. His head hurt. His whole body ached. Where had he been? He couldn't remember. He saw his favorite black Fedora lying on the ground a few feet away. Absently, groggily, he moved to pick it up and place it on his head. He knew he was back home - his beautiful Neverland spread out before him like a dream. But he felt he'd come from someplace even sweeter...if he could only remember where it was.

Growler reached for her first, as Rasper's long, thin, bony hand came slowly up to grasp Luna's face. He had longed to see that face - dreamt of it often. He told himself that he loved that face, but in truth, love was something that eluded his heart entirely.

Seconds after making his move for her, Rasper found himself drooling very close to Growler's gruesome mouth instead of the heart-shaped lips he'd obsessed over for what seemed like eternities. He shuddered like a scared child, at the sight of Growler's face in his hand.

"What the hell?" Rasper exclaimed, as he jumped back from the hideous mocking eyes that stared into his with smoky disdain.

"She's gone - FOOL!"

Rasper let out a scream of frustration that almost scared his ghoulish partner. Both ghosts were left staring at a gorgeous lonely black baby grand piano. Though it truly was a splendid sight, its beauty was lost entirely on the angry pair.

Growler touched the keys of the exquisite instrument, and then pounded them like he was reaching a crescendo at a sold-out rock concert. Within a matter of seconds, the piano burst into flames, turned to thick airborne ashes hovering over the shiny hardwood floor, and then loudly dropped with a thud, leaving a cloud of dust around them.

"Damn you Luna!" He yelled and stormed toward Luna's apartment door. Rasper grunted and followed.

Luna sat quietly sobbing in her heavenly hiding place. Sometimes nothing was quite as painful as remembering everything.