Feral Hearts: Luna Rising

The panic crept in like a thief, stealing what's left of Kimberly's sanity, as her classmates goaded her to jump into the vast swimming pool.

"Jump! Jump! Jump," they chanted in unison, their voices echoing off the pool deck like a haunting mantra. Madison, the team captain, led the chant with a sinister grin, reveling in Kimberly's aquaphobia and distress.

Even her mind turned against her, whispering cruel truths to her; "You can't swim, Kimberly. You're a weakling! They will laugh at you. You'll drown!" Her eyes widened, her heart throbbing wickedly against her chest, her grip on the pool railing tightening.

Gripped by anxiety, she slowly stepped away from the pool's edge, her eyes frantically scanning the dim-lit hall in desperation. That's when she saw it; a bizarre figure lurking at the far end of the pool hall. Even without her glasses, she could sense its piercing gaze cut through the shadows, boring into her with an unblinking stare.

Kimberly froze, and her panic intensified, paralyzing her with terror. Just then, Madison blurted "Chicken!" and the hall erupted with laughter from her classmates.

Overwhelmed with emotional distress, she covered her ears to block out their jeering, but it was too late. The mockery had become a deafening echo triggering her reflex epilepsy. She fell to the ground and began convulsing uncontrollably.

The pool hall fell silent, with her classmates frozen in confusion. Suddenly, the Coach burst into the hall, shouting Kimberly's name as she rushed to her trembling body.

"We need to get her to the sick bay!" she yelled as she gently but firmly lifted Kimberly's body.

"What's wrong with her?" one student asked.

Madison scorned, "She's faking it, trust me."

"No! She's having a seizure!" another student cried out, rushing out of the pool, with concern etched on her face.

"Or, she's just seeking attention!" Madison, being the regular insensitive bully that she was, preferred not to take her seriously.

The coach's face darkened. She turned to Madison, "You're relieved of your position as team captain, effective immediately!"

Madison's smirk faltered as she watched them carry Kimberly out to the sick bay, from where she was taken to the hospital.

* * * * * * *

Hours later, Kimberly lay on a hospital bed, her hazel-brown eyes, dull and gloomy while her slender body curled up in a gentle arc. She couldn't shake off the fear that still lingered in her heart after the traumatic events from the pool hall.

Another public seizure, another furious mother. Her formidable mother, Rebecca Silversmith, had signed her up for swimming classes, in an attempt to get rid of her aquaphobia, because she only saw it as a sign of weakness.

However, Kimberly had defiantly stopped taking her medication, despite knowing the risks, simply because she hated them. But she also did it to spite her mother. For her mother, Kimberly's public seizures merely reflected her as a poor parent who raised a child with fragile health.

Kimberly had her back against Doctor Miranda, her family doctor, who was documenting her health status and medications on her medical chart. "Don't worry, Your brothers will be here to take you home shortly," she heard Dr. Miranda say in a warm tone.

"My mother couldn't come?" Kimberly asked softly. Not that she expected otherwise, she knew her mother would rather not miss her so-called business meetings than come pick her up from the hospital.

"No Kim, She sent your brothers instead." Dr. Miranda replied.

Just then, the ward door opened, and the Silversmith's twin brothers, Clark and Aaron, walked in, ridding the ward of its antiseptic hospital smell, and replacing it with their delicious cologne.

"Hello, Dr. Miranda," Clark, the elder twin, greeted with his signature charming smile. He walked up to face Kimberly, "hello, princess," he said, beaming at her. He was always the outgoing and affectionate one, and also Kimberly's favorite.

Aaron, the younger twin, simply nodded curtly at Doctor Miranda and stood at the door with his hands in his pockets, his broad shoulders slightly hunched expressing his stoic and antisocial nature.

Dr. Miranda's face flushed with a subtle blush as she heard Clark's pretty voice say her name, but she brushed it off, maintaining her professional composure. Meanwhile, Kimberly was unfazed by the presence of her brothers, her eyes gloomy with tears.

"What's happened? What triggered her episodes this time," Clark asked, his tone deep but laced with concern.

"Emotional distress," Dr. Miranda responded calmly.

"But that had never happened," Clark said, puzzled.

"Yes I am aware, this is new," replied Dr. Miranda

"Kimberly's reflex epileptic syndrome has now progressed to multisensory epilepsy. By that, I mean reflex epilepsy with multiple triggers. Emotional distress is just one of her multiple triggers, including high-pitched sounds, flashing lights, and even panic attacks. She now has heightened sensitivity to stimuli that previously didn't trigger her seizures." Dr. Miranda explained, in a calm, professional and empathetic tone.

Clark exhaled heavily, "Isn't there a permanent cure for it? There has to be something," he asked, his tone low and somber.

"The only way of managing and treating it remains decreasing her exposure to the triggers and maintaining consistency in taking her medications," Dr. Miranda knew saying so wasn't helping. "Surgery is also an option, but then there's no guarantee that it would cure it permanently," She added, still not helping.

"I have prescribed additional drugs for her. I'll have the nurse get them for you before you leave," said Dr. Miranda, then turned toward Kimberly. "Kim, if you don't take your medications seriously, your condition could progress to even more severe forms. You have to keep taking them so you can get better and have control over your episodes, okay?"

Kimberly, who had her back against her, did nothing but breathe in response. Her face scrunched with distaste as the thought of taking more medications irked her. Infact, the whole situation irked her. Kimberly was exhausted from the constant medications, her difficult mother and her sky-high expectations, her insecurities and incapabilities, she hated it all. She began to sob quietly.

"Well, that's all. I'll have to leave now to go attend to other patients," said Dr. Miranda.

"Alright. Thank you, Dr Miranda," Clark said and she smiled briefly at him. Aaron, who had been standing by the door, gave her a tight-lipped smile as she walked past him.

After she left the room, Kimberly turned around to face the ceiling, her eyes still gloomy with tears. "Could my life be any more perfect," she said sarcastically, her voice crackling with emotions.

Aaron finally came closer, reaching out for her hand. His voice, calm and soothing, he said, "It's nothing you can't get through Kim, we got you."

"If mother were here, she'd rub it in about how much of a weakling I keep becoming" Kimberly mumbled in between sobs.

"Mother's opinion means nothing," Clark smirked, "and she's wrong. You are strong Kimberly, and we all know it, isn't that why we celebrate each of your episodes?" Clark tried to make her feel better. "Speaking of which, I have a surprise place for us to go celebrate your 61st episode," he added, his tone cheerful, in an attempt to brighten her mood. It worked. Kimberly forced a smile.

"Okayyy, so where are we going?" Her voice was suddenly giddy with excitement as she wiped her cheeks.

"It's called a surprise for a reason," Clark teased.

"Fine! Let me quickly dress up, I'll meet you guys outside," Kimberly said, standing up from the bed to go change out of her hospital gown in the bathroom.

"Okay, lady," Clark teased again, chuckling. They both left her to get dressed.

After a 20-minute wait, Kimberly still hadn't come out of her ward.

"She's taking too long," Aaron said and glanced at his watch.

Clark concurred and knocked gently on the door."Kim, aren't you done yet?" he asked, but he got no response. Opening the door, he walked into the room, calling out her name. "Kim? You good?" He began to feel uneasy.

"Kimberly!" He called out again and when there was no response, he rushed into the bathroom. He found it empty with the windows wide open, and the curtain billowing in the wind.

"Aaron!" Clark yelled, his tone laced with urgency.

Aaron burst into the bathroom, his eyes scanning the space.

"She's gone," Clark stated, as fear and worry enveloped him.

"You failed! Again!" Nicholas's gravelly voice thundered, the sound echoing off the dark wood panels that lined the walls of his grand mountain-top mansion. His fiery red eyes burned with fierce intensity as he fixated on his gamma, Kael, whose neck was below the heel of his boot, pleading for his mercy.

"Forgive.. me... Pl.. please... I was caught by the hunters! I hardly... escaped," Kael begged in ragged gasps as he struggled to free himself.

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the distant howling of the wolves seemed to fuel his anger.

"You've proved yourself useless to me, Kael," Nicholas retorted, his voice low, menacing, and icy with anger. He increased the pressure of his ponderous heel on his throat, taking pleasure in Kael's painful groans as he pleaded for mercy.

"Give.. me.. another chance... to..." Before Kael could finish his sentence, Nicholas swiftly decapitated his head from his body.

Just then, Nicholas heard his grandiose door slide open, and a sleek, gray wolf sauntered in, its amber eyes gleaming in the dim light. Nicholas's gaze shifted, his expression unyielding.

"You should have sent me instead, Nicholas," it said, its voice low and enigmatic. "Soon, she turns 18, and you know what happens then. It has to be done now! Let me kill her myself, Nicholas!"

Nicholas's jaw clenched, his keen, long claws extending as he growled. "No one," he paused, his tone icy, "Not even you!" He snarled, "No one takes away my prey! Kimberly and her family shall die by my claws alone! Slay all the Silversmith hunters, but the family is mine!"

The name "Silversmith" echoed back in his head, the family that took away his family, pack, and everything else from him. The family that made him live in hiding and fear throughout his childhood. His thoughts were consumed by the burning desire for revenge and retribution. He wanted blood.

The gray wolf's tail wagged subtly, its eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "As you wish, Nicholas. Allow me to deliver her to you myself."

Nicholas's red eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing, "See that you don't fail me. You are of great importance to me and our plans for the future. I would hate to end you like I did him."

The gray wolf's ears perked up, baring its teeth in a wicked grin. "You know me, Nicholas, I never fail you."

* * * * * * *

Kimberly stood in front of her closet mirror, with her school backpack wrapped around her breast. Reluctant to leave for school, she gazed at her reflection, feeling insecure, her mind raced back to the day she sneaked out of her hospital ward.

She had told Clark and Aaron that she just wanted some time alone. Which of course, was a blatant lie and they sensed it, knowing fully well that Kimberly sucked at lying.

The truth was she had planned on attempting suicide. She snuck out of the hospital, overwhelmed by her condition only to come face-to-face with an eerie stranger.

As she recalled the terrifying chase that followed, her heart raced. Somehow, and thankfully, Clark found her just in time.

Kimberly had become weary of being a burden, and of her life being dictated by her health. But for someone who had planned on giving up on her life, Kimberly was extremely frightened of being harmed by whoever it was that chased her.

Just then, that intense feeling of someone watching her gripped her, just like that day at the pool hall. She looked outside her window, her mind racing with the worst-case scenario, as her eyes scanned the vicinity.

But all she could see were the familiar sights of her quiet neighborhood, nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, the feeling of being watched persisted sending shivers down her spine, anxiety washing over her.

"Kimberly! You're gonna be late," she heard her father yell, snapping her back to the present. Her father, Mr. Arnold Silversmith, who was barely around but now seems to want to bond with her. She thought to herself, "He's probably heard of my health status" She scoffed. Not caring.

Adjusting her bold round glasses, which she hated, she sighed. Her shortsightedness was just another defect she had to struggle with. Kimberly didn't know what it meant to be in perfect health since she was born and she hated it. Her mother only made it worse for her, always pushing her farther than her limit.

Her mother's scathing remark - "You are weak, Kimberly" - echoed in her head, cutting deep, it saddened her. But in that moment, she said softly to herself, "I won't let your words define me, mother," as she was ready to defy those words. She cautioned herself for becoming what her mother always described her as - weak.

Kimberly had always been bold, smart and witty. She wondered how she finally let her mother get to her. She decided right there on the spot to start living for herself and not her mother's expectations.

Smiling at the thought, she grabbed her remaining books and headed downstairs to her father's car, ready to face what the day had for her.

* * * * * * *

At school, Kimberly strode down the locker hall towards her locker to keep her books and other unnecessary items in her backpack, when she came upon her most dreaded person on earth. Madison Salts!

She quietly opened her locker avoiding Madison's attention, but it seemed impossible because their lockers were opposite each other. Once she was done, she closed her locker to leave, feeling relieved that she hadn't gotten Madison's attention.

On turning around, she bumped into Madison, spilling the cup of milkshake she had in her hand all over her shoes and dress. Kimberly gasped and was stunned at what she had done. She stood there perplexed, hands in the air, mouth agape, her face and blouse drenched in milkshake.

Madison's face reddened, "Bitch! How shortsighted are you!?" she hurled and Ella and Brenda, her two besties behind her, snickered. "My Prada shoes!" She gasped "These shoes cost more than your tuition! Oh my God, my Chanel top too! You've ruined my day Kimberly! And now I'm so going to ruin yours!" She bemoaned in anger.

Just as Kimberly was about to apologize, she saw Madison snatching two cups of milkshakes from each of her friends behind her. Kimberly knew what was coming so she raised her hands in a defensive shield waiting for another round of milkshake bath, but it never came.

"Who tf are you!?" Madison yelled.

Kimberly opened her eyes wondering who Madison had transferred her aggressions to when she saw a firm hand with neat manicured long nails that had Madison's hands frozen mid-air. Kimberly could never be more stunned. Nobody ever stands up to Madison, let alone defend Kimberly against her.

Without saying a word, Kimberly's savior grabbed the milkshakes from her hands and splashed it on her face leaving Madison in shock. Madison gasped in disbelief, blinking hard to see through the milkshake on her lashes. "How dare you!? Do you know who I am!?" Madison freaked.

"You are nobody, Madison. Now beat it! Or I promise to ruin more than your designer shoes" said her savior, in a low but demeaning tone.

Kimberly snorted a laugh, she was in awe.

Madison, who was in utter shock and embarrassment scowled, "This isn't over!" She spat. She turned on her heels and stormed off, her friends scrambling to keep up with her haste retreat.

Kimberly felt her shoulder relax in relief as Madison disappeared. Her eyes sparkling with gratitude, "Thank you for saving me," she said with a slight chuckle.

"It's no biggie, I'm Sheila Black," she replied with a warm smile, extending her hand for a handshake.

Kimberly's eyes shone in admiration at the beauty, boldness and strength that was being displayed before her.

"Uh, I'm Kimberly, Kimberly Silversmith," Kimberly chuckled.

"I know," Sheila smiled, "And you Kimberly, is going to be my new best friend!"

"Huh?" Kimberly was starstruck! She barely had friends not to talk of a badass best friend like her. It had an air to unreality.

"Clark, get your brother! We're going to have dinner together as a family tonight!" Arnold yelled, calling down his two sons from the dining room, excitement evident in his voice.

Kimberly, who was already seated at the dining-table, scoffed inwardly. "Since when," she thought to herself. She knew it was her father's idea, still trying to make up for the times he spent away from his family.

Soon, Clark arrived with Aaron whom he had trouble convincing to join the family dinner. Aaron found it ridiculous.

As soon as they were all seated, Arnold smiled at the wholesome sight before him, then said, "Let us say grace." Holding each other's hands, they prayed, then bowed their heads and began feasting on their meal.

Kimberly, who was ridiculing the whole thing, rolled her eyes. Family dinner was barely a Silversmith's family tradition. But she couldn't blame her father, his family was drifting apart.

Aaron barely spent time at home. Not that he wasn't old enough to move out, he was just always sleeping out and she never knows of his whereabouts. Clark didn't either, but even his attempts to stay home sometimes were sporadic. Arnold, her father, was the usual absentee. Then her mother, a workaholic. Her job? She doesn't know.

The whole dinner felt like a group of housemates coming together to dine. Each with their own secrets and separate lives. Kimberly wondered why they even bothered pretending to be a family.

Few moments later, Arnold decided to break the awkward silence in the room, raising his head to face his family.

"I must commend my wife for this delightful meal," Arnold began, " Still the best cook the town of Lunadelephia will ever have" he teased, chuckling. He was greeted back with awkward smiles from Clark and Kimberly. His wife, Rebecca, and Aaron remained unfazed.

The whole family knew Rebecca hardly cooked, and the spaghetti bolognese they were having was bought from a restaurant. But they dared not disrupt the charade.

"So Kim, how was school today?" Arnold jerked his head towards Kimberly, still trying to clear the tense air in the room.

"Fine,"Kim replied reluctantly, not wanting to have the 'fake-daddy-daughter-bonding-conversation'. Kimberly's parents were too busy to be interested in her personal life, except if it had to do with the whole family.

Arnold dropped his fork and spoon, his voice rising in irritation, "Is that it? Just fine?" He raised his brows in question. The room fell silent. Kimberly knew how incredibly quick to anger her father was and the reason behind his sudden irritation. So she knew not to render his efforts in trying to make a 'simple' family dinner conversation futile.

She gulped down the food she had stuffed in her mouth before saying, "I made a friend" A 'friend', she liked how it rolled out from her tongue. She hadn't had a friend since her childhood best friend died from leukemia when they were 11. She smiled inwardly in delight.

Arnold's face lit up, "Oohh that's new! What's her name?" he asked, a smile appearing on his lips, he picked up his cutleries and began eating again.

"Sheila," Kimberly replied meekly, without lifting her head.

"Well, I'm happy for you Kim, good to know you've finally begun to socialize. Maybe you would even have a date by prom," Arnold teased and snickered.

Kimberly raised her head to meet the supportive smiles that beamed from all of their faces. She smiled back, then grinned at the thought of having a prom date. She went ahead to finish her meal. The rest of the dinner continued relatively peacefully with occasional attempts at small conversations.

* * * * * * *

Unlike other days, Kimberly enthusiastically raced downstairs like a giddy school girl - literally, alerting her father that she was done and he happily drove her to school.

As Kimberly climbed the sleek stone stairs of the school entrance, she heard a cheerful voice call her from behind. It was Sheila.

"Hey Kim!" Sheila hollered, beaming with her infectious, gorgeous warm smile as she quickened her pace to catch up. "Did you hear? There's a pre-prom-bonfire party at the Lightwood's beach tonight, you're coming right!?" She asked, barely containing her excitement.

Kimberly chuckled, slightly taken aback by Sheila's energy. "Uhh, no, I don't do parties Sheila..my parents would kill me, plus I have this thing..." her brows furrowed as she tried to explain but Sheila cut her off.

"They don't even have to know! Girl!! You have to loosen up a little, it's a party, come have fun!" Sheila coaxed, "besides, Jordan is gonna be there" she added, grinning.

Kimberly raised a brow in both surprise and wonder, "Jordan? Jordan Hawkins? The baseball captain? Why would I care if Jordan will be there?"

"Oh my god, Kimberly! Are your glasses making you even more shortsighted?" Sheila teased chuckling, "Because Jordan has a huge crush on you dummy!" She said, laughing hysterically.

Kimberly's cheeks flushed,"I don't believe you," she replied, shrugging her off.

"Kim! It's obvious! The way he looks at you in the hallway, during classes, each time your dad drops you off in the morning... I'm telling you, he's into you!" Sheila said, sounding so certain. "If he doesn't talk to you today, then you can choose to never believe a word I say," she added, smiling at Kimberly who was starstruck with skepticism.

Just then, the school bell rang and Sheila ran off saying, "oops, we gotta get to class."

"But the class is that... way," before she could complete her sentence, Sheila was nowhere in sight. She dropped her shoulders and quickly climbed up the stairs, dashing to her class.

During lectures, Kimberly could barely focus as her thoughts were consumed by Sheila's words about Jordan's alleged crush - her. She couldn't help sneaking glances at him sitting two desks behind her, until unluckily, he caught her looking. She gasped, "Oh shit! He saw me," she thought to herself, her cheeks flushing hard with red.

Jordan, the school's finest suave, who used to be her crush since grade 8 but since she realized she could never be his type, she gave up. Plus, he's with Madison. "Wait, Madison!" She thought to herself as her eyes widened at the realization that Jordan and Madison had been together since last semester. "Urgh! How could I forget?" she muttered inwardly. But how could Jordan possibly crush on her when he has Madison? And Madison has everything! It wasn't making sense, not yet.

She imagined how furious she would be if she finds out that Sheila was just pulling her legs. But what if she wasn't? Kimberly tapped her foot restlessly, she couldn't wait for classes to be over.

Finally, the school bell rang, and Kimberly swiftly packed her backpack to go home, her disappointment evident as Jordan exited the class without talking to her. "Sheila was totally lying" she huffed, her pessimism taking hold as she marched towards the school exit.

After a 45-minute wait at the almost deserted school parking lot, Kimberly pulled out her phone to dial Clark's number for the umpteenth time. And just like her father's, who was late to pick her up from school, it went straight to voicemail.

She huffed in annoyance watching the school empty gradually. Due to her reflex epilepsy and her brothers' overprotectiveness, she was driven everywhere. Their vigilance now seemed pointless to her as she waited for nearly an hour, feeling frustrated and forgotten.

Soon, the sky turned into a deep foreboding gray. The air became heavy and humid, and a sudden gust of wind whipped her bronze-colored hair into a frenzy. "Not the rain, Please!" Kimberly groaned, her frustration intensifying. Just then, it began to drizzle.

She rubbed her chilled tender hands together as shivers coursed through her body. Clutching her jacket tighter, she hastened pace towards a shelter. "Could it get any worse?" she lamented, heaving sighs of exasperation.

Just when she thought she'd lost hope, and was already half drenched in the cold, a car pulled up beside her.

"Hey! Kimberly! Get in!" she heard a familiar voice yell from the jeep.

Her eyes widened in surprise at the last person she expected to see, "Jordan? What're you doing here?" she asked, her voice quivering with disbelief.

"I saw you standing there all alone, I thought I'd give you a ride," Jordan replied, his baby blue eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Plus, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Kimberly hesitated, her mind racing with questions.

"Well, are you getting in or not?"Jordan asked, his eyebrow raised in amusement.

She took a deep breath and made a split-second decision. "Okay, fine," she said, opening the door and slipping into the passenger seat.

As the jeep pulled away from the curb, Kimberly felt a thrill of excitement mixed with anxiousness, as her mind replayed Sheila's words.