Short Story Time: Red Moon
Hey! Hey you, how are you? Doing good? Feeling fine? I hope so.
I’ve been on a rather lovely kick lately, and with good reason. All of the reading I’ve been doing has been serving me some good, and not just horror stories either. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t still write some horror, or just something suspenseful in the meantime.
I’ve also been very happy to see meetings with my favorite group of writers is coming back slowly, but surely. It’s nice to check in with people on what they’re doing and have been up to, to hold ourselves and one another accountable because hello, we’re writers! We should be writing! Admittedly, a lot has unfolded in the world that’s stranger than fiction (we even joked that the current events of our country/world and how it sounds more like a work of fiction than real life), so it was understood that a break was warranted. Yet, it also got to a point for us that we felt like things will probably never be “back to normal” any time soon, and that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we love. We had to get back to finding out way and getting back to it.
Writing is still what I love the most–aside from my child, of course.
I’m currently working on two short stories (“By Fire and Light” and “Bela’s Bride”) AND my third and final novel in my Makaela Williams series. I felt the number 3 was a good wrapping up point. I never envisioned having a long standing series, but I may change my mind one day on that…but don’t hold me to it *cackle*. I just wanted to give myself a chance to do a series and I think I underestimated the work and patience that goes into creating a series; all of that world building, making sure it’s properly fleshed out, character-driven, etc. I really didn’t think I could do a novel in the first place, and here I decided to do a damn series, who do I think I am? Silly me!
I have been falling more and more in love with mastering short storytelling because I find it challenging. I was always so long-winded but I also needed to let the story build, to ride the rhythm of the story, to let it breathe. Also, it’s just good fun! I don’t have to commit to it too much lol.
Speaking of a short story…I have one for you guys! This story came about as a flash challenge with my writing group The Inkwell (shout out to them for being so encouraging and always having great critiques). Grant it, it’s not going to be long, it’s not going to give you absolutely everything, but it will tickle your imagination and leave you to wonder…your mind will wander…and I think that’s exactly what I wanted *evil laugh*!
So without further ado, I give to you “Red Moon”.
Red Moon
“Are you going to the party tonight?”
Sandra’s brows bunched up. “What party tonight?”
Monica jabbed Sandra playfully. “The little party Brian and his boys are throwing!.”
“I didn’t hear a thing about this party.”
“Well, I’m telling you now. There’s a party. I’m inviting you. You should GO!”
Sandra shook her head. “I can’t. Internship starts Monday, and I’m using this weekend to get my shit together, like, all the way together!”
“Oh, damn,” Monica’s mouthed opened in an ‘O’. Sandra could sense the sarcasm and responded with a stifled laugh.
“Shut up! You know this is a really big deal for me. Interning for Ralph Lauren is no laughing matter, Mo. I have to be on my p’s and q’s.”
Monica grabbed her purse from Sandra’s bed as she stood, fixing her curly bob and smoothing down her shirt dress.
“I know how much it means to you,” Monica understood. “But, this could be a little night out for you before getting serious about your career! We only graduated, what, two months ago from NYU? Then you’re off to do your fashion stuff.”
“Excuse me, it’s not ‘fashion stuff’, heifah, it’s design! Fashion design! And it is a big deal, thank you for noting that.”
Monica jokingly rolled her eyes. “You know what I meant though. Anyway, you should think about it. For real. You-know-who might be there.”
Sandra’s heart stopped. “I don’t even know who you’re talking about.”
“Stop playing, you know exactly who I’m talking about.”
Sandra did know who she was talking about. And if he was indeed going to be there, she definitely wasn’t going. Keith’s tall, dark, and handsome self was an addiction she had kicked, and meant to stay away from. Monica knew that, but here she was playing devil’s advocate.
“All the more reason to stay my ass in this house tonight then,” Sandra stood up with Monica as she walked out of her room, Monica following as they made their way to the front door.
“Think about it, okay? I’ll be waiting by the phone.”
Sandra smiled. “Bitch, no you won’t! Get your lying ass out of here!”
Monica laughed as she stepped through the door, Sandra closing and locking it after her.
Sandra laid on her bed, going over the forms for the internship with the fashion house of RL, trying to understand the verbiage, feeling confused. It also didn’t help that she had the TV on and would hear bits and pieces of the news, distracting her from fully focusing. The news of the party from Monica also swirled around in her brain, making her feel like Monica was right, and she should definitely go to the party. Those thoughts turned into memories of Keith that then turned into anger. Anger that turned into ‘I should go so he can see how good I look’. Sandra hurriedly signed the documents for the internship, putting those thoughts out of her mind with a shake of her head. Her phone buzzed but she swiped the text notification away. She figured it was Monica anyway, and she’d answer it later. Then she looked at her closet. ‘I know I got the perfect get-back dress in there’…
“Yes!!!! You look so good!” Monica screamed into the night as Sandra came out of her apartment building. And Monica was right, Sandra did look good. Too good, perhaps. She opted to wear a black silk thinly strapped slip that she never got a chance to wear. It hugged her snugly at her hips and thighs, holding her tight in all the right places and clinging in others. Against her smooth, brown skin that shimmered from body oil. Her makeup was a deep purple smokey eye that accentuated her almond-shaped brown eyes. Glossy lips completed the look as she pulled her thick brown hair up into a ponytail. She didn’t want too much skin showing, grabbing a cream cardigan to put on, but wearing it in a way that left her shoulders bare. Her black ankle boots with the stilettos made her calves work, but she knew this was the night Keith would cry once he saw her. Monica confirmed it.
“Oooooooweeeee, look at you! Miss thang came out tonight, are you ready? We’re going to have so much fun!” Monica rushed Sandra to the car as they both scampered in their heels.
“I hope so because I didn’t wear these boots for nothing!”
“Trust me!” Monica said as she got in the driver’s seat, slamming the door shut. “You will have an amazing time tonight, I’ll make sure of it.”
Sandra smiled to herself. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘tonight is going to be amazing indeed.’
Traffic heading to the party was moving at a snail’s pace. Monica was cursing up a storm as nighttime swept in quickly. Sandra leaned back against the passenger seat, taking note of the people in their cars next to theirs. New York streets were always packed, so Sandra wasn’t sure why Monica thought it would be any different tonight. Especially on a weekend.
“Ugh, this is the shit that makes me so glad I don’t live in the city anymore! I hate this traffic.”
Sandra just went on staring out of the window until boredom made her pull her phone out from her small purse, a notification from Twitter on her screen. Then her phone vibrated. A text from her mom popped up. She unlocked her phone, going to her mom’s text.
Hey baby, just making sure you have everything you need. I’m so proud of you for getting this internship. You worked so hard. I love you.
Sandra smiled as she replied then began scrolling down to another text that she figured was just Monica that came in earlier that day. The number wasn’t saved to her phone, but since she was bored she decided to give it a read.
There will be a red full moon tonight, but no matter how beautiful it is, do NOT look at it. No matter where you are, do not look at the moon tonight.
Sandra read it numerous times, wondering if it was a joke. She looked around at the other drivers, wondering if they got the same text as her, but they all appeared to be in blissful ignorance. She gave the text one more look. Then a text from her roommate came in, saying how pretty the moon looked tonight. A notification from her Facebook, then her Twitter, and her Instagram all said the same thing. All of them about the red full moon.
Sandra turned to look at Monica. “Hey, are you getting any of these things about the moon tonight?”
Monica pulled out her phone. Same notifications, but no texts. “We wouldn’t be getting these or caring if we were at that damn party already but noooo, we just had to get stuck in NYC.”
Sandra wasn’t sure why exactly, but she was getting goosebumps all over her body. It was still a warm night by NYC standards, so she knew she wasn’t cold as they prickled along her skin.
She looked up to see people getting out of their cars. They had passed Times Square, but traffic was still held up long enough for people to get out. And they did. They all were looking up. Every one of them.
“What the fuck are they doing? Get back in your cars, dummies, so we can go!” Monica yelled.
Sandra’s goosebumps grew to her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach as she watched more people getting out of their cars. The guy next to them got out, staring up at the sky, a look of awe on his aging face.
Sandra tapped Monica who was in a fit of rage. “Mo…stop and just look for a second.”
Monica finally settled down and took note of what was happening. Confusion spread on her face.
“It’s the moon, Mo. Don’t look at it.”
“What’s wrong with the moon?” Monica said, quickly poking her head out of the window. There was no time for Sandra to stop her.
Monica stared up, and was stuck. She opened the door to her car, Sandra yelling after her, but powerless to stop her now entranced friend.
Sandra watched as one by one, more people got out of their cars. Men, women, children, women carrying their babies, pedestrians. They all stared and walked in the same direction.
‘Don’t look, Sandra, don’t look!’ She told herself over and over.
Her phone was buzzing incessantly in her hand as she tried to ignore it but couldn’t. She looked over the notifications.
All of them were about the moon and how everyone should look at it. Then a text from her mother came through.
The red full moon looks so beautiful tonight!
Sandra shook her head, still trying hard not to look. Then a loud mechanical noise sounded across the city. One by one, the city lights went out, until Sandra was shrouded in darkness.
