Child of the Moon

CHAPTER ONE

So, I think the guy running the Ferris Wheel is checking you out, said Joan Culver.

What guy? said Carrie Beckett.

Joan pointed. That guy. See?

Carrie squinted across the midway of the carnival. It was early April, and it was unseasonably cold. Too cold for a carnival, but this one came through every year around this time. There was a guy standing by the Ferris Wheel. He was tall with long auburn hair in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He wore sunglasses and a tight t-shirt that clung to his well-defined chest.

Carrie cocked her head to one side. I know that guy.

You do? said Joan. How do you know him?

Carrie bit down on her lip. Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t sure, but there was something familiar about that guy. She knew him from somewhere. Where was it? She tugged on the sleeve of Joan’s jacket. Come on, let’s go get on the Ferris Wheel.

Are you kidding? That guy is staring at you like some kind of creeper, and you want to get closer to him? But Joan wasn’t resisting. She was following Carrie across the midway.

The air was chilly, somewhere in the mid-forties, and the sky was growing dark. Both Carrie and Joan were wrapped up in scarves and gloves. The cold was crisp—clean. The lights of the carnival rides cut a bright contrast against the night sky. If it had been warmer, there would have been a sense of anticipation in the air. But the cold air seemed to mute everything, even the smell of the popcorn and chili dogs in the food stands.

When they got to the Ferris Wheel, Carrie was staring at the guy just as much as he was staring at her. Neither of them seemed to be hiding it. The guy didn’t seem cold at all. He was only wearing a t-shirt, and it was so tight it practically looked as if it had been painted onto his chest. And his chest… well his chest was mesmerizing. Carrie couldn’t take her eyes off the swells of his muscles. His shoulders drew her eye as well. They were powerfully husky, sturdy. Finally, she raised her gaze to his face.

He took off his sunglasses, and she looked into his eyes. They were green—but startlingly green—bright and unnatural. He narrowed his eyes, and she felt caught in his expression.

Behind her, Joan cleared her throat.

The guy put his sunglasses back on. You two going on the ride?

Um… Carrie took a step towards him. I know you.

The guy raised his eyebrows.

Carrie felt embarrassed for having said it, but she was sure it was true. Some part of this man was familiar to her. She was certain of it. I know I’ve seen you… somewhere.

I work this carnival. We come through here every year. You been here before? he said.

Carrie nodded slowly. I guess that might be it…

You getting on or not? he said.

Carrie looked at Joan.

Joan shrugged, making a what-do-you-want-from-me expression.

Carrie reached back and tugged her onto the Ferris Wheel with her.

The guy closed the lap bar over them, securing it. He lingered to stare into Carrie’s eyes for several seconds.

She felt shivers go through her. There was more to it than seeing the guy at a carnival. She knew him better than that. But she couldn’t remember…

The guy went back over to the controls, and the ride whirred to life. They went backwards and then halted halfway up the wheel, as he let the next people in line onto the Ferris Wheel.

That guy is creepy, said Joan.

Carrie turned to her friend. But hot.

Joan wrinkled up her nose. If you like carnies.

Carrie laughed. I don’t think they even call them that anymore. I think they only called people that back in the day. You know with bearded ladies and snake people and stuff.

Why do you think he keeps staring at you?

I swear to God I know him, said Carrie. I can’t remember, but I’ve met him before.

Where would you have met a guy like that before?

Carrie shrugged. I don’t know.

The Ferris Wheel started moving again. They traveled nearly to the top before stopping. The air was even colder up here, and there was a chilly breeze.

Carrie shivered, huddling into her coat. God, this sucks. It’s so cold. We shouldn’t have even bothered coming.

Oh come on, everyone comes to the carnival in April. It’s a tradition.

It’s not usually this cold.

True, said Joan. Anyway, I thought you wanted to come. Didn’t you say Holden was going to be here?

Carrie sighed, settling back into the cart, which rocked back and forth, tilting the world askew.

Joan squealed. "Oh my God, don’t do that."

Carrie grinned. Scared of the Ferris Wheel, Joan?

Joan shot her a withering look. Hey, don’t make fun of me.

I’m not, said Carrie, sighing again. That wouldn’t be fair. After all, you don’t make fun of me for being obsessed with Holden, even though he doesn’t even realize I’m breathing.

Oh come on, that’s not true, said Joan. There was that time in gym when he threw a dodge ball at your head.

Carrie let out a helpless laugh. And I cherish that moment, because I’m pathetic.

The ride lurched to life again, and the girls continued their circuit, now heading down the wheel.

Don’t stop here, muttered Joan to the sky, clutching the railing. Keep going. Don’t stop here.

The Ferris Wheel stopped, the two of them right at the edge. Looking down over her feet, Carrie couldn’t shake the sensation that they were about to tumble out of the cart and down to earth.

I hate being stuck here, said Joan, who was scrambling backwards in the cart.

Carrie stared down at the ground. You know why I think it’s scary?

Do we have to talk about it?

"I think when you look down, some part of you feels how easy it would be to fall. And in that moment—just for a second—you want to fall, because it would be so easy. You lean forward…." Carrie leaned forward, rocking the cart.

Stop it! said Joan.

Carrie grinned at her friend, settling back. We’re perfectly safe, you know. They check these things every time they put them up or tear them down. They’re safer than the ones in amusement parks because they get more inspections.

Whatever, said Joan. I can’t feel my toes.

Carrie checked her watch. Well, I have exactly twenty minutes to curfew.

Curfew? I thought you were going to tell your parents that they couldn’t give you a curfew anymore now that you’re eighteen.

Carrie made a face. Yeah, I tried that. It would be easier to pull off if I could drive, you know? She turned to her friend. Or if you could drive.

Sorry, said Joan.

The Ferris Wheel began to move again. This time, it didn’t stop. It made its slow circle, taking the girls from the ground to the sky and back again.

I need to get someone to teach me, said Carrie.

Joan shuddered. I don’t know. I don’t think I want to do it. I’m going to move to a city and take public transportation everywhere.

You don’t have my parents, said Carrie. I have to get away from them. They’re never going to let me grow up. She sighed. You know, I was realizing the other day that I’ve never spent a night away from either my mom or my dad. Not once, in my whole entire life.

Really? said Joan.

Really, said Carrie. They never let me sleep over with friends or relatives. They never trusted a stranger to watch me while they went somewhere else. They’re stifling me, Joan, and I don’t know how I’m going to get away from them.

Joan sighed. I guess daydreaming that Holden would want to give you driving lessons isn’t really providing a solution, is it?

No, said Carrie. Not really. I need to get away from them. They’re making me insane.

At the bottom of the Ferris Wheel, the man running the ride took off his sunglasses. He smiled.

The girls were high above him, careening through the night air. They were too far away for him to have heard what they were saying.

But he’d heard it anyway.

* * *

Holden Rane tossed the last ball at the tower of milk bottles.

His ball hit home, toppling them all.

The operator running the game gave him a bored look. Congratulations, you’ve won another stuffed animal, he droned.

Holden grinned. Who’d I promise this one to?

Me, said Ivy Manning, pressing close to him. Ivy was blond and curvy, but it was harder to tell at the moment because she was bundled up in a coat and hat. Her nose and cheeks were rosy, though, and he liked that.

He slung an arm around her. What do you want, darlin’?

She wriggled closer, grinning. Um… the dog.

That’s a wolf, lady, said the bored operator.

Oh. Ivy made a face. Never mind. I want the polar bear then.

She wants the polar bear, said Holden.

The operator took it off the shelf and handed it down to them.

Ivy wrapped her arms around the polar bear and squeezed. She beamed at him, and her cheeks looked even more rosy.

Holden grinned at her. He and Ivy Manning had hooked up before, once or twice. She had nice tits, but she had this thing about not going all the way. She’d only give hand jobs. Not that Holden would turn down a hand job if he was desperate.

But Ivy was hardly the only girl following him around that evening. He’d won stuffed animals for three other girls—Stephanie Jones, Alyssa Ripley, and Sibyl Patton—and those girls weren’t all so particular. Well, he’d never really gone beyond making out with Sibyl. They’d been interrupted before things could get going. So, he couldn’t be sure. Maybe Sibyl was a hand-job-only kind of girl too.

Still, he’d never gotten a hand job from Sibyl. The novelty of it sounded appealing.

He’d probably go with Sibyl, then.

The four girls were all staring at him expectantly, each hugging their stuffed animal.

Holden gave them an easy grin. He had to admit, it was good to be him right then. His life did not suck. He was a high school senior, he had an athletic scholarship to the state college, and chicks dug him.

But then Sibyl spoke up. Um, I think I’m going to go home.

Home? he said. Already?

Yeah, I’m freezing. She shivered, as if to emphasize her point.

He let go of Ivy and sidled over to Sibyl. But we haven’t even really gotten the chance to hang out.

Yeah… Sibyl looked back at the other girls. "You’re cute and all, Holden, but you’re just not worth all of this." She waved her hand around in an all-encompassing gesture that included the girls, the carnival, and the sky.

He furrowed his brow. What are you talking about? He tried to put his arm around her.

She ducked away. See you in school on Monday. She turned to leave, then stopped.

Holden thought maybe she’d changed her mind, but she just pushed her stuffed animal—a dolphin—into his arms.

Keep it, said Sibyl, and she was off.

Holden looked after her, feeling a little annoyed at the loss of novelty. He turned back to the other three girls. Alyssa and Stephanie were both fun. They were cheerleaders, and they liked to party. But Alyssa and he had hooked up a number of times, and every time he paid attention to her now, she pushed him for something more. She wanted a relationship. Holden didn’t want that. He was too young to settle down.

So, if we wasn’t interested in settling down, and he wasn’t interested in a hand job, that left Stephanie. He considered. Stephanie was pretty energetic. If she was on top, she’d piston up and down on his cock like a machine. There were worse options. He reached for her. Hey, Steph, you want to ride the Ferris Wheel?

Stephanie’s face broke out into a triumphant grin. Sure, Holden.

The other girls looked annoyed, but Holden smiled at both of them. It was really fun talking to you girls tonight.

Alyssa glared at him. You’re such a dick, Holden.

He raised his eyebrows, startled. She’d never insulted him before.

Alyssa stalked off.

Ivy hugged her polar bear close and shrugged. Um, I guess I’ll see you later, then.

Stephanie ran her fingers over his chest. We’re going to have fun tonight.

He grinned at her. He was counting on it.

Can we hit the bathrooms before the Ferris Wheel, though? she asked.

Uh, sure, he said.

He and Stephanie walked over to the bathrooms. There was a line for the women’s, but not for the men’s, so Holden was in and out before Stephanie was done. He waited for her outside the building. The bathrooms here were permanent, even if the carnival wasn’t. When the carnival wasn’t here, people sometimes rented out this place for family reunions and company picnics.

Holden studied his shoes and tapped his fingertips against his elbows, waiting for Stephanie to come back out. He was glad he’d narrowed it down to one girl for the night. It always got too difficult to concentrate on a bunch of them at once. He liked having all of those options, of course, but it was easier to actually get close to a girl if it was only him and her.

Holden’s sister Melanie scolded him constantly about the way he treated girls. She said he was an asshole, and that he should be ashamed of himself. Of course, Melanie couldn’t force him to act any different. She had her hands full with