Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

This is bigger than any of us imagined." Ama said.

"I think this is something you and Logan need to decide what's best for you both. Ryder and I will always be here to support you, I continued, watching Penelope's face carefully.

"So... Tansy and Jericho are my... my parents?" Penelope asked hesitantly. I could see the complex emotions swirling in her eyes, and I knew she needed time to process this earth-shattering revelation.

"They are. I think it's best to give it a day or two before you see them. Talk to Logan about how to handle this, but I suggest waiting a day or two. I didn't want her to see the condition of her mother's neck just yet.

I noticed Penelope opened her mouth but then closed it, nodding instead. She must have understood what I was implying and decided not to go against my advice. I would never steer her in the wrong direction, so I was grateful she agreed. But not knowing who your parents were for all these years, then having all of this dumped on you? My heart ached for her.

I was quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath and made a decision that surprised even me. But it felt right-filling that room that had once been full of pain with happy memories instead.

"The nursery," I said quietly.

"What?" Penelope looked confused.

"Turn my old room into a nursery for your future children. You were right before- I'll never see this place as my home, but I want to see it filled with all the happy memories I never had. I know you'll be living in that house, but when you're working here, make that room a nursery, or even just a playroom. I'll come visit, especially when those babies are born, but I don't want that room. Put Mom's old furniture in there. She wanted it to be loved, and you want to redecorate the house anyway."

"Then that's what I'll do," Penelope smiled at me, and for the first time since we'd started this conversation, the smile reached her eyes.

"Come on, let me take you to the room I've been staying in to shower. I have clothes you can wear too," Ama stood up, preparing to help me to my feet.

'Perfect. Thank you," I smiled at Ama, letting her help me stand. I turned to look at Penelope. "Are you okay? Do you want to come sit with us while I shower?"

I could see Penelope was trying to stay strong, but the vulnerability in her eyes didn't escape my notice. I knew she needed time to process this shocking truth, but I also didn't want her to bear it alone.

"No, I'm not sure if I'm okay, but I will be. I just need to digest this! I'm going to go check on the women and the food," Penelope sighed, then stood up herself.

"Okay, we'll see you downstairs," Ama said. We walked in one direction while Penelope walked in another. Neither of us spoke again until we reached her

room.

'Do you think she'll be alright?" Ama asked as we entered.

*Eventually. She probably dreamed of finding her parents, then discovering what happened to them..." I gave Ama a look as I headed toward the shower.noveldrama

"William's about to land... Ama looked at her phone.

"Go! I know how to shower,' I smiled at her. She nodded and ran out the door, disappearing before I could even turn around.

Honestly, I was somewhat grateful. I wanted a little quiet time to myself, just to process what had happened. Everything had occurred so quickly that I hadn't even processed it myself. Since Ryder and I had bonded, I hadn't even found normal life. Everything had snowballed so fast I couldn't even remember what day of the week it was.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, the sound of rushing water filling the space. Accidentally catching sight of myself in the mirror, I saw a stranger I barely recognized. Pale face, sunken eyes, and that bandaged stump where my left hand used to be.

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I looked down at the wrapped end of my left arm, where five nimble fingers should have been, now just gauze-covered emptiness. Was this what I looked Chapter 286

like now? An incomplete person?

My mind raced through countless "can'ts." I couldn't ride motorcycles anymore. That bike that had been my companion through countless nights, that feeling of freedom with wind against my face, that thrill of the throttle roaring in my hands- all of it was now in the past.

What about my shop? Those modification jobs, welding that required both hands, adjustments that needed nimble fingers-what could I do now? A broken person who couldn't even ride her own motorcycle, let alone talk about modifications? Even worse were the looks. Sympathetic, curious, pitying stares would follow me everywhere. People would whisper behind my back: "Look, that's the Luna who lost her hand." I would become fodder for gossip, a disabled person who needed to be taken care of.

I clenched my right hand into a fist, nails digging deep into my palm. I didn't want to become a pitiful creature in others' eyes, but what could I do?

The bathroom door exploded inward with a violent crash that made me jump back against the sink. Through the steam and spray of the shower, a figure lunged at me-desperate, reeking of madness."Martha!” The name tore from my throat as she tackled me to the wet tile floor.

She was barely recognizable. Her once-pristine hair hung in greasy tangles around a face twisted with rage and desperation. Her clothes were torn rags, stained with dirt and something darker. The stench of decay and waste overwhelmed my senses as she straddled my chest, her weight pinning me down.

"You destroyed everything!" she shrieked, raising a jagged piece of metal-broken. Martha's eyes were completely mad now, pupils dilated with fury. The makeshift blade trembled in her grip as she prepared to plunge it into my chest. "Now I'll take everything from you!"

I managed to grab her wrist with my right hand, our strength matched in this desperate struggle as the weapon hovered inches from my heart.

Chapter Comments

Heather Hudson

why tf is that b even still alive?

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