Chapter Four: Five Gifts "Oh, wow!" Serena squealed with delight. "Oh Darien! How in the world did you get your hands on this?" She held up a slender golden pendent in the pale moonlight shimmering in from the patio window. Darien hugged her from behind, and reached one index finger out to caress the rose in the center. "I had it specially made. Most of the gifts that will be given at the party tonight will be unique and one of a kind." Serena blushed. "I love the winter season. I love giving gifts and really love receiving them." She glanced down, and bit her lip. Her low voice drifted up, filled with tender meaning. "But even if I had all the gifts in the world, they could never replace you." Darien smiled softly down at her. The week had been heaven, spending every day with the Scouts training and every night with Serena alone. "I love you too Serena. Hey!" She looked up at the change in his tone. "Yes, Muffin? Pointing at the full moon hanging low in the sky, Darien pulled her closely to his side. "Do you remember the exact date we met, Meatball head?" She scowled at the name, but smiled tenderly at the memory. "Yeah. I failed a test and hit you with it when I was throwing it away. Why?" Darien looked down at his little princess and kissed the tip of her nose gently. "I have an idea. Why don't we set the date for the wedding on that day?" Serena raised her eyes to his earnest ones with surprise. "Are you serious? Oh Darien! You mean we finally have a date set?" He nodded and laughed as Serena leapt in to his arms with joy. "If you have no problems with that date." "Problems?! Not a one! Oh, Darien!" She kissed him passionately and the momentum of her joy sent them both to the floor still locked together in their heated embrace. "Uh HUM!" coughed a voice from above. Darien broke off the kiss reluctantly to find Ken and Lita standing above them with knowing grins plastered across their faces. "Would you two like to move the private party to the bedroom? The others will be here with the food and gifts fairly soon." Darien scowled at Ken as Lita lightly boffed him on the back of his head. "It's called 'tact' dear," he heard her murmur, "you might want to learn some." "Lita," Serena gushed, "We're sorry, but we just picked a date for the wedding!" "That's great Serena. Congratulations Darien." Lita arranged the new gifts under the tree. "When will it be?" Unanimously Darien and Serena spoke. "September 15th," Darien exclaimed. "September 5th," Serena laughed. Lita and Ken glanced at one another as Serena swiveled to face Darien. "Darien, dear," she insisted, "the day we met was September 5th." "Serena, love," he interjected, "No it wasn't. It was the 15th." "Uh-oh," Ken murmured to Lita. "This isn't going to be pretty. Let's hope that other get here soon." "Shh," Lita whispered. A low knock on the apartment door signaled the arrival of more guests. Serena flounced towards the door, seething quietly. With a low creak, Ami and Greg were revealed to be the next two guests. "Hey," Greg grinned, "I heard there was a party here." "Come on in," Serena mumbled, quietly shutting the door behind them. The couch sighed as Ami settled herself next to Lita and gave her a small hug. "Seasons Greetings, Ami. Did you get the surprise?" Casting a wary eye at Serena, freshly engaged in another wedding date discussion with Darien, Ami smiled. "Oh, yeah. The other Scouts will love it, but Serena will adore it!" Couple by couple they came, each bringing a large sack overflowing with gifts and presents. "Wow, check out all the goodies!" Chad exclaimed, diving for the sweet cookies and frothy apple cider and hot chocolate spread out on Darien's dining room table. "Chad," Raye warned, "keep room for the feast later. If you eat too much now, you'll be too sick to enjoy the presents." "Yes, Mom," snickered a high pitched voice behind Chad. Raye glanced up and glared at Ken lounging by the open door. "You know Ken, if you weren't such a good fighter, I would have to say you were worthless, you big dumb-butt," she snapped. Lita laughed as she wrapped her arms around Ken's waist from behind. "You need to behave yourself dear. If you don't, Raye might toast you." A shrilling sound cut through the air, Darien broke off his heated discussion with Serena to dive for it. "Hello?" he gasped. The room was silent as Darien listened intently. "Sure, no problem." A pause insued. "No, no, it's okay Nerissa, we'll just stick your gifts in the closet until you come back in to town." Another pause. "I'll tell them. Sure, no, it's okay. Okay. Happy Holidays. Bye." He turned to the room and smiled wanly. "Well, Corrine and company can't miss their next engagement, so Neptune, Saturn, and Uranus can't make it for the party after all. She was calling from the airport, but they promise to call as soon as they hit London." "Oh, no," Auriel murmured. "We were going to introduce them to Solan." She glanced beside her to the dozing young man. Chad smirked, "I guess it's a good thing. Training has worn him out and a sleeping Solar Knight wouldn't seem very professional to Uranus." "Who cares about professional," Mina murmured softly under her breath. Aurora moved beside Mina and gathered the lovely young woman in her arms. "Are you all right, Venus? You haven't been yourself lately." Mina glanced around the room, her large blue eyes taking everyone in with a bittersweet sadness. "I'll be fine," she murmured, "I'm just tired and achy. Filming is finally over so I have time to myself now to think before the next publicity signing for Sailor V." Leaning in, Aurora felt wisps of lavender hair loosen from her bun, and fall to frame her delicate face. She brushed them away and concentrated on Mina. "Sounds rough," Aurora whispered gently, squeezing Mina gently. Mina blinked, the room was warm and the aroma of the food was making her faintly nauseous. "I know, I know, I sound horrible. I feel like a huge whiner, "...I need to think..." bleh, bleh, blah." She paused, her eyebrows creasing together, "But I do need to think. I feel so...empty inside. Look at everyone," she gestured to the couples gathered together around the room. Solan was sprawled out on Darien's couch, one arm flung above his head, the other wrapped tightly around Auriel, his fingers woven through her thick red tresses. Just behind them Raye and Lita were quietly talking, both keeping a watchful eye on the boys who were squatted in front of Darien's t.v. playing the newest Sailor V video game. Serena and Darien had ceased their arguing and were playing house in the kitchen, a cozy scene of Darien carving the turkey and Serena pouring the drinks in to tall crystal goblets. Greg was passed out in the recliner, a large computer manual open on his chest. Ami rounded the corner with a small blanket, marked his place in the book, and covered loosely with the afghan. "What about them?" Aurora questioned, her eyes straying to Ken, Chad, and Apollo near the television. Luna and Artemis were curled up in his lap, both purring faintly as he stroked their backs. His elfin face and shimmering hair were fairy-esque in the flickering light from the game. Mina paused in her perusal of the room. "I just feel lost now. I had less then twenty-four hours of complete happiness before it was ripped away from me. I need to discover how I am going to survive without Adam." The clanking in the kitchen continued, the faint purring ebbed and flowed, Solan began snoring, and Aurora turned to Mina. "Mina, I don't know the Adam of this lifetime. The only Adam I remember was the one from the Silver Millennium, but if in this life he was anything like the warrior you gave up General Malachite for, then I am certain he was a worthy man. I..." "Gave up Malachite for?" Mina interrupted in disbelief. Her voice cut through all other sounds and everyone turned to the pair. "Is this a private conversation?" Auriel asked timidly as Solan's eyes fluttered open. "Who did I give up?" Mina insisted of Aurora. Aurora glanced around the room in confusion. Her eyes met the curious ones of every scout in the room. "I thought that their full memories had returned. Apollo, do you...?" "Are you referring to the Generals?" Apollo asked, his brows furrowing. Serena and Darien rounded the corner. "What about the Generals? We are talking the four Generals, right?" She wiped her hands on a dishrag and glanced to Ami and Raye, the only other Scouts who had faced all four of the Generals with her. "Can we tell them?" Aurora bit her lip and rose to move closer to Apollo. "Other than Mina, they don't remember, and I don't think it would hurt much. She did remember, but...due to altering timelines, it has faded drastically in the past few weeks. Do we want to remind them?" They clasped hands; a low warmth filled the room as a faint light began to emanate from their connected forms. "It won't disturb the timeline," he whispered. "But it will alter their perceptions of destiny," she replied, her eyes still tightly clamped shut. "No matter, they have to find out eventually. Fate can be changed, but not destiny." Apollo powered down and turned to the confused and surprised Scouts and Knights. "You don't have all of your Silver Millennium memories intact. For some strange reason, meeting your Knights was not enough to bring it all back to you. Mina..." "I think we should save this breakthrough for the end of the evening," Aurora interjected. "Dinner, gifts, then surprises. Okay? Mina was a special case." Serena stepped forward, her green skirt swinging as she moved. "But..." "No," Aurora interrupted, "nothing can make us tell you before it is time. Forget it for the time being and let's eat. It is not terribly important in the scheme of things, therefore, it can wait until later this evening." Racking her brain for memories of Malachite just beyond her reach, Mina nodded quickly. Rising from the couch, she moved past Serena in to the kitchen and gathered up the plates to bring them to the table. One by one the other members of the Sailor team rose to do the same, moving the appetizers from the table and setting the table with delicious food. Greg awoke with a gentle touch from Ami, and minutes later they were all around the table, eating and joking gently. An hour or so later they all gathered around the tree and shared a toast to the holidays. "I would like to say I have never had such good friends," Auriel announced, "and that I wish the best for all of you in your future endeavors." Ami and Lita shared a quiet secret smile as they all drank to that. Darien stood up. "You all know I am usually the one making flowery, impassioned speeches," he began. "No, Darien, not you!" Ken catcalled. Lita hit his with a pillow as the group dissolved in to laughter. As they calmed, Darien smiled and raised his glass higher. "But," he looked meaningfully at Ken, "despite that, I will be short and brief this evening. I wish all of you a wonderful year to come and would like to make an announcement." "Oh PLEASE don't let it be something like, 'Don't eat too many sweets, for they make decay!'" Chad guffawed safely by the door out of Raye's range. Again, the group broke up in to hysterical laughter. Raye picked up the pillow Lita had used on Ken and launched it across the room, hitting Chad dead center in the chest. "Behave!" she scolded. Shaking his head, Darien continued. "Serena and I have finally chosen a date for the wedding." Serena moved closer to him and he clutched her to his side. "We decided on May 1oth," she explained. "The day we had planned on in the Silver Millennium." "Oh, Serena, that's wonderful!" Aurora cried. The group congratulated them one by one, and continued their toasts. Solan wished his new family a happy year, Chad and Raye offered each of them a free fortune telling, much to Auriel and Solan's amusement, Aurora and Apollo made each of their glasses glow with a pale golden light, and good will permeated the room. They finished the toasts, moving on to the gifts. Raye swirled around the room, holding up her new scarlet dress from Serena. "Oh wow, thank you Serena! It was the one I was looking at in the mall wasn't it?" Serena laughed and clapped her hands, "Yes! I am so glad you like it!" Murmurs in the background and Ken jumped up and threw a small package in the air. "Final Fantasy Twelve?! Whoo hoo! Lita, I love you!" Raye glanced over at Lita, a curious look on her face. Ken grabbed Lita and swung her around in a huge arc, laughing maniacally. Lita shrugged in return to Raye's gaze as he gently set her down, her long chestnut ponytail swinging. "The tie didn't seem right." Squeals of delight were rampant in the room. Serena glanced at a long, thin envelope with her name scrawled across it in Ami's loopy cursive. "Ami?" "Just open it," the Sailor of Mercury replied, her eyes flashing with mirth. Serena sliced open the envelope, and slowly pulled out a folded sheet of manila paper. "What is this, Ami?" "Read," Ami urged, leaning forward. Her dark hair brushed her cheeks and Greg reached over and smoothed the wisps away tenderly. Serena's large blue eyes widened as she read. She looked up at Ami for confirmation. "Is this for real? I mean, are you sure?!" "As sure as I'll ever be!" Ami exclaimed. "What?!" demanded Auriel. "What does it say?" "Dear Serena," Serena began, "I know you will probably be surprised when I when I give your gift to you, so I decided to do it in this manner. The other day in the mall really got me thinking. I had a gift for everyone but you. You were talking about the possibility of going on to college and I support that one hundred percent, so I called my professor back in Germany and discussed the possibility of you getting into a German college. Upon hearing the situation he suggested a small college I hadn't heard of called Columbine University here in Tokyo. I checked them out, and they have the perfect program for you. I hope you don't mind, but I talked with the scholarship office, pulled a few strings, and providing you can pass a few tests, you will have complete tuition paid for to begin learning law. I hope this wasn't too presumptuous of me, but seeing the opportunity, I grabbed it. Love Ami." "Full tuition?" Darien exclaimed. "Ami! Want to pull a few strings on my behalf?" She smiled at his teasing tone. "That's not the best part. I was so impressed with Columbine's curriculum; I signed up for intercession classes. If they go well, I may transfer to Columbine. They are less expensive, would give me more scholarship funds, and I would feel better about Sailor Moon not having to fight evil all by herself." "Oh Ami!" Serena threw herself in to Ami's arms, squeezing her friend tightly. "You can have no idea how much this means to me! Thank you!!!" The gift giving continued for several more hours. Finally it came down to the five original Scouts each holding Darien's gift. "So what is so special about these that we had to wait?" Serena asked jiggling her box slightly. Smirking, Darien righted the box in her hands. "You'll see. I think the gifts should be opened all together." "Okay," the Scouts agreed. Wrapping paper fell to the floor as each girl tore in to her gift. "Oh..." Ami whispered. Raye's eyes widened in disbelief. "Darien!" "It's lovely," Lita gasped. Mina drew hers out of its box. "You shouldn't have." Serena touched the silver chain and smiled gently. "How did you know?" Smiling smugly Darien swaggered over to the fireplace. "I just had a feeling. Last month I was going through the boxes I didn't unpack after the last move to get closer to Serena. There was this old carved box in the corner that begged me to open it. I couldn't remember what was in it, so I complied." "There were five necklaces?" Mina glanced up at Darien in disbelief. Darien shook his head. "No. There were five large stones. I don't know what the others were except for the moonstone, but I thought they were all amazing. A few days ago I took them to a jeweler friend who carved them especially for me. So," he gestured to the girls, "there you have it, identical necklaces with a special meaning for each of the original five Sailor Scouts." "Greg," Ami invited, "would you help me put this on?" Greg stepped behind her and raised the shiny chain to her neck. The clasp was warm in his hands and difficult to close. She raised her fingers to the symbol of Mercury engraved on the flat, star shaped stone. It pulsed faintly beneath her fingers, warming to her touch. Mina's necklace warmed in her palm. She reached behind her head, and slipped it on, the golden links easing over her skin. "Darien, did your jeweler friend tell you what the stones were called?" Darien blushed. "He did, but I forgot almost all of them except for yours and Serena's. Hers is, naturally, a moonstone, but yours is called Kunzite." Following Mercury's example, each girl donned her necklace and ran the tips of their fingers over the engraved planet symbol on the front of the star shaped stone. They stood a moment, before quickly walking over to Darien and embracing him in a thankful hug. "Thank you, Darien," Lita whispered before grazing his cheek with a soft kiss. "I'll always wear it." "Ditto for me," Raye exclaimed squeezing him tightly. "And for me," whispered Ami. Serena waited until last to hug her fiancé. Turning in his embrace, she then faced the Goddess and God of the Sun. "Well," she sighed," the evening is almost over except for one thing. You promised you would give us back a few memories from the Silver Millennium." Aurora and Apollo glanced at one another before nodding imperceptibly. Aurora stepped forward and faced the group. "Tonight you shall all sleep the moment your head hits the pillow. You must sleep with your beloved, so when the morning comes, all fears will be put to rest. Tonight I shall weave a dreamscape of memories and past actions and one by one, you shall succumb to history forgotten." She touched each Scout and Knight on the forehead, tracing a faint pattern in their flesh with her thumb. "I command it with all the powers of the Stars within me. Tonight all shall come to pass." Lita shivered under her touch and Ken hugged her closer to his body. "Are you certain that is such a good idea? I mean, are we going to want these memories?" Aurora sighed softly. "The Knights will be perplexed and perhaps a bit sad. The Scouts need to know this in light of recent events. Especially you, Mina." She turned to the Sailor from Venus. "I mentioned that your circumstances are special. They are. You once were the sole Scout who remembered the Silver Millennium in its entirety. Something happened when Adam perished, and your memories faded away, one by one. Only a few weeks ago you could remember the Generals as they were in the Silver Millennium. Now there is a void where your memories of only a week or so ago once were. You are in desperate need of answers that only these recovered memories can give. Go now, all of you, and dream you sweet dreams." In silence they each filed out of Darien's apartment, glancing timidly at one another. Venus clutched her necklace and as she walked to her car, slow tears worked their way down her face. Solan and Auriel drove off just as a voice shouted from across the parking lot. "Solan! Solan!" Turning towards the voice, Mina watched as the man from the diner, Jeremy chased after the car a moment before sputtering to a breathless stop. "Jeremy?" she called. He turned at he sound of her frightened voice. "Mina?" he whispered in awe. She stepped towards him; her heals clicking softly on the concrete. "You know Solan?" Jeremy nodded in confusion. "Yes. We've been best friends since I was little. We were both the outcasts of our school, so we hung out. You know Solan?" "He's dating my friend, Auriel." Mina turned away to wipe the last tears from her face. "What did you need to talk to him for? Auriel is taking him home, but I think she's spending the night." A strong hand clasped her shoulder. "Mina..." he began softly. She brushed his hand away. "Don't touch me." He sighed from behind her. "I'm sorry," he groaned in despair. "I freaked out. You were taking everything so calmly and...it's not an excuse I know." Shaking her head, Mina drew out her car key. "No. It's not." "Can we go somewhere and talk? I know I don't deserve the time of day from you, but would you give me some time to explain?" Brushing her fingers along the kunzite stone, Mina felt a low strength work its way up her body. "You were wrong, you know," she whispered. "Adam and I didn't have a fight. He died, and that's why I was alone." "Is that the guy you were telling me about in the diner and the next morning?" Jeremy whispered taken aback. Mina let her head nod once before the tears began falling again. "I'm so sorry," he whispered drawing her slender frame away from the car and in to his arms. "I had no idea, I didn't mean to hurt you." She shook her head against his shoulder and drew away. "It's not your fault. I know I didn't seem very upset, but...I was screaming inside." "Can we talk now?" Mina sighed. "I have a very comfortable couch if you'd like to talk all night." He nodded. "That sounds good to me." * * * * * * * * * * * Serena tossed and turned in her sleep. The dreams flitted quickly through her head, images she'd never seen, but somehow knew had happened. "Malachite!" Zoisite screamed as he flew backwards under Queen Beryl's wrath. The wave of energy brushed by him on its deadly mission. Malachite screamed in anger as the body of his friend skidded across the ground. "Zoi! No!" "Let that be a warning to you Malachite," Beryl hissed. "I want that Silver Crystal!" "Yes, my Queen," he ground out. The scene shifted, edges blurring and Serena found herself staring at Lita's tear streaked face. "What am I going to do, Princess?" Lita wailed. "I can't reveal my love to my father, he'll kill Nephrite!" "Princess Jupiter," Serena began but the scene faded again, swirling around her in slow motion. A low sobbing tore at her heart, Mina's form staggered in front of her. She morphed from Sailor Venus to the Princess of Venus as bruises broke out along her skin. Adam appeared and scooped Mina up, cradling her tightly to his chest. "I love you Mina," his voice carried over to Serena, fraught with tender passion. Serena reached for the pair, "Venus..." They faded away and the smoke of the dream cleared, revealing the Moon Palace of the Silver Millennium. Serena watched as Princess Serenity ran in to the arms of her Prince Darien and they clung together a moment before the sky was filled with negative energy. Her former self screamed as he died, throwing her body from the balcony she tried to reach for him.... "DARIEN!" Serena sat up abruptly in bed, sweat gushing down her body. She turned to her love and sighed softly in relief. He slept peacefully beside her, one strong arm throw above his head in respite. She snuggled in to the open space beside him and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you," she murmured before drifting off to sleep. * * * * * * * * * * Each of the four Scouts drifted in dreams, memories overwhelming them. "Zoi! Please understand..." Ami began. "Jadeite, my father came home today," whispered Raye. "Malachite, no! We'll be caught!" Mina protested. Lips caressed her own, and Lita opened her eyes. "Nephrite!" In dreams they fought and wept, in the end they each lost their loves to the Nega-verse. Ami shot up in bed, drenched with a clammy sweat. "Greg! No! No! Not Greg!" She turned to her love, calmly curled beside her in bed. His dark hair lay across his forehead, drooping gently into his eyes. She let the tears begin to flow at the sight of that droop. "Greg," she whispered brokenly, "How did you ever forgive me? I love you, I am so sorry. If I had known..." Ami shook her head, and lay down again, wrapping her slight arms tightly around her love. "I will never forsake you or lose you again!" she vehemently declared. "I swear it!" Across town, Raye awoke in a similar manner. "Chad!" she gasped. Rising from her bed, she moved quickly to the door of her room. Sneaking silently down the hall, she slid open the door to Chad's room and peeked inside. He lay curled on his side, shivering slightly because his blanket had slid off and on to the floor. She tiptoed inside and cautiously shut the door, edging past piles of dirty laundry to the bed. He shivered again as she neared and Raye smiled tenderly. Picking up the blanket, she tucked it gently around him, rolling the bottom under his feet the way he preferred. "Silly Chad," she whispered. "Defending my honor against a foe who could have destroyed you in one swipe even then. No matter how well they trained you at the Academy, the Generals' training was certainly better. Only with the three of us together were we able to defeat Jadeite, but even we didn't kill him." She brushed his shaggy hair from his face. "If only you knew exactly how much I cared about him, you wouldn't be so cocky about us. He loved me, and not because he had to, but because...well, I'm not sure why, but he did." Chad sighed and rolled over in his sleep. Raye climbed in bed beside him and wrapped her arms gently around his waist. "I still can't believe you camped out in my sitting room to protect me. How...chivalrous." Laying her head on the pillow, she squeezed once lightly then drifted off to sleep. Feeling her body finally relax, Chad cracked open his eyes as Raye's breathing slowed. He turned in bed beside her and brushed his lips across his fiery maiden's forehead. "If only you knew what I would have done to him had he tried anything," he told her sleeping form. "You may have loved him, but you are my only love, and I was bound and determined to keep it that way." He shook his head. "I don't think I'd put up with what you put me through from anyone else, my bossy beauty." Tenderly gazing on her face he shook his head and settled once more in to the firm mattress. "Good night my love." Down the street Ken also gazed at Lita's sleeping form. She turned gently under his gaze, caught in the drift of nightmares he himself had just woken from. "Shh," he soothed. "Calm down honey, it'll be okay. I'm here. You got me back, Nephrite went in to the darkness, and we are free. Shh, it's okay." Her eyes drifted open and met his worried gaze. "Ken?" "Yes, my lovely Lita?" he leaned down and brushed her lips with his. She coughed and clutched him tightly to her svelte body. "I am so sorry. I..." He silenced her apology with a kiss. Drawing away, he brushed her face free of tears. "No, no tears. It's over, they're gone. I promise I never blamed you, not once." "But..." "No," he insisted. "No." Leaning in, their lips met again and the sheets rustled as they sunk in to one anouther's embrace. * * * * * * * * * * * "Malachite! Adam! No!" Jeremy slammed open the door to Mina's room. She tossed and thrashed on the bed, her back arching and plunging as she screamed in fear and pain. "Mina! MINA! MINA!" he yelled, grabbing her arms and dragging her convulsing body tightly to his own. "MINA WAKE UP!!!" She slowly stopped twisting and began to shiver and shake. Jeremy wrapped his arms tightly around her body, letting her hot tears drench his shoulder. "Shh, Mina. Don't cry it was just a nightmare. It's okay--it wasn't real. Calm down, calm down." "It was real," she mumbled against his neck, sniffling. "It happened. It happened and I couldn't stop it. And..." she broke off, a new wave of tears gushing down her cheeks. Jeremy rocked her like a small child, cooing quietly, soft calming sounds intended to ease her suffering. She hiccuped and ripped herself free to race to the bathroom where she promptly lost the contents of her stomach. Jeremy held her hair as she clutched the toilet. "Are you going to be okay?" She staggered to her feet and limped to the sink. Cupping her hands beneath the stream of water, she rinsed her mouth out and spit. Resting her arms on the sink, she turned her head to Jeremy and sighed. "I'll be fine. I was just having a flashback of Adam's death." "You yelled out 'Malachite' first, not Adam," Jeremy pointed out. Mina licked her lips. "Malachite was the boyfriend I had before Adam. There was a...power struggle when I met him." "Do you want to talk about it?" Mina shook her head. "Not really." Jeremy pulled her in to his loose embrace, resting his chin on top of her head. "Okay. Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?" Mina nodded mutely. * * * * * * * * * * * Hours later, each of the Scouts slept peacefully beside their Knight. Mina curled gently in Jeremy's embrace, her thick blond hair cushioning her head against the bed. The dawn was still hours away, the moon was at its peak. All was still and silent as a low glow ebbed in each of the bedrooms. Four mirrors began to glow, shimmering faintly with the pale moonlight. Dim shadows beat against the glass, pressing flesh to smooth cold surfaces. Trapped, captured, the forms faded as the moonlight drifted from the sky.