Across the World

Chapter 7: Black Shadow

As they were falling down, Lucas gained strength to fly again but when he unfurled his wings, he shifted back to a human form and lost his wings. Lucas didn't expect this. He lost his balance and his grip on Luna.

"No!" he shouted and tried to chase Luna toward the bottom.

"Lucas, help me!" Luna raised her right hand, trying to reach for him.

Lucas tried to take Luna's hand in his but he couldn't. He tried to change his form back into a fallen angel and failed to do it. They both fell toward the bottom until their bodies splashed against the water. Their bodies were submerged in the water but Lucas quickly resumed his search for Luna.

"Lucas, help me! I can't swim!" Luna shouted while crying. Gradually, her body was sinking and soon, she disappeared from beneath the water.

"No! I'll find you."

Lucas dove down into the water again to search for Luna but it was really difficult for him to see Luna's body because of the darkness consuming them as they went deeper. But Lucas didn't give up. He continued to search for Luna's body until he lost oxygen. Lucas decided to resurface to breathe some air.

"Luna, I'll save you!" he shouted and dove under the water again.

Lucas didn't expect what he saw beneath the water. Luna's body was shining. He hurriedly came over to Luna's side and embraced her body tightly. Lucas swam upward into the water while carrying Luna. Lucas continued to swim until they reached the land. He then laid her on the lawn while her body was still shining. Lucas gently touched Luna's cheek.

"I wasn't wrong, you're not just an ordinary woman," Lucas whispered. The light from Luna's body started to fade.

Lucas opened Luna's mouth with his hands and gave her CPR. Luna started to vomit the water in her system and slowly returned to her senses. She looked around and when he saw Lucas, she embraced him tightly. Lucas was surprised and wondered about Luna's reaction.

"Are you not angry with me?" Lucas asked.

"No! Thank you for saving my life," Luna replied, beginning to cry again. Lucas just embraced her too, though he's still in wonder. Luna might not know that she wasn't just an ordinary woman. Lucas extended his arms from Luna and held her shoulders.

"From now on, I'll always stay by your side. I won't let any harm come near you. Do you understand?" Lucas swore with conviction, staring right into her eyes. "Don't be afraid of me. I know you're the one who will save me. I'll do all that I can to protect you."

"I don't understand you," Luna answered him back, and Lucas embraced her again.

"Someday you will, Luna. For now, let us consider our togetherness as an art and therapy for me." Luna finally agreed. In the middle of their conversation, she heard a noise.

"What is that sound?" Luna suddenly asked him and Lucas disentangled himself from her.

"The sound of water coming from the waterfall."

"Where?" Lucas lent his palm to her. "Come and hold my hand, I'll show it to you."

This time, Luna had no doubt about giving her hand to Lucas because he had saved her life twice now. She feels comfortable with him. They began to walk hand in hand and the moon shone more than ever to serve as their guide. They both noticed the surroundings as if it was like a paradise where fragrant flowers are scattered about. As they quietly walked into the waterfall, Luna thought of asking Lucas a question.

"Why were you turned into a human form earlier?" Lucas halted in his tracks and faced Luna.

"I don't understand, either."

They stared at each other and while they did, they noticed a dark shadow below them. Lucas quickly turned to being a fallen angel and lifted Luna in the air. Luna trembled in fear.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Lucas shouted. But the dark shadow crawled back on the ground and vanished without a trace. Lucas looked at Luna.

"Maybe we should go now. I'll take you back to your home and we'll return here one day," Lucas told her and Luna just nodded. They immediately reached Luna's room and Lucas told her to take a rest.

Meanwhile, a drunken man in his own room was crying. Jealous and anger clutching his heart, that he threw the bottle of wine on a wall.

"What you do now will not help you," a voice echoed and a dark shadow appeared.

"Who are you?" he told him in fear and sat on the floor. He wanted to get up and run fast, but he felt like his body was too heavy. The nervousness in his chest was different. It was only now that he experienced a horrible event which he never believed.

"You don't need to ask who I am; I'm here to help you and get what your heart desires," the dark shadow answered him with an evil laugh. The man rose and faced the dark shadow. Even if he was terrified. He was also preparing to flee from his place.

"What do you mean?" the man inquired.

"You want her and I want him!" Suddenly, the man stopped thinking about what he had heard. At first he was confused by what the shadow said. But he understood what the black shadow wanted to convey to him.

“Could the dark shadow be referring to Luna?” he thought. But he didn't know who the man was. The black shadow was referring to Lucas. He agreed because he really badly wanted to get Luna.

"Then, what will I do?" the man asked. The fear in her heart had somewhat disappeared. It was replaced by joy. Even though the creature that appeared in front of him was scary, it seemed he wanted to help him.

"Relax, I'll give you power to get that woman."

"But how?" the man replied quickly. It became more exciting for him.

"Let me use your body. I need a mortal body to approach them and use my power!" the dark shadow answered him, slowly nearing the man while floating.

"If this is the only way I'll get Luna, I agree!" the man answered fearlessly. The dark shadow quietly smiled and vanished into black smoke. He went straight to the man's heart and his eyes gradually turned red.

Lucas and Luna reconciled, but there was a danger waiting for them. Who is this man who is so possessive to get Luna? And, who is this mysterious black shadow that wants to capture Lucas? What is the purpose of this darkness? Will they succeed in their coalition?