Velvet's Story Ch.15: "Luna"

Instructions

Ch.15: “Luna” “What’s your name?” “Luna.” “I like that name.” The Orange Imposter smiled at him. She might as well show him her actual form as well. She began to shift until she was no longer orange with a pink flower on her head, but light blue with a white moon on her head. “Woah… is that—” “My natural form. Yes.” “Wh-why…” “It just… happens. When I feel threatened. And I didn’t really have the ability to undo it until recently because Axel was draining my power.” “Oh, no... but you’re okay now?” “Yes. Mostly. I’ll just be recovering now.” “Well, you can stay here as long as you want.” Luna nodded. She opened her mouth to stay something else, but was interrupted by a loud alarm. Velvet gasped softly. “Oh my gosh!” he turned to Luna, “d-did you do that?” Luna hissed. “I was hungry!” she whispered, backing up from Velvet. “Wh-who—” “It was white with a yellow crown on its head.” Velvet’s eye filled with tears, recognising the description. “L-Luna, y-you can’t do that…” Luna growled, and Velvet backed up fearfully. She felt a pang of guilt, and apparently she had made it too obvious. “It’s okay, just please let me know if you’re hungry…” Luna nodded. She wasn't about to try to explain the complexity of that statement. He would never understand her. Luna watched Velvet leave the room and turn to the Cafeteria. She followed after him silently, seeing him sit down next to a tan Crewmate with a purple bow. Silently, she masked herself by becoming invisible. It was a difficult task to manipulate so many Crewmates at once, making it hard to do anything but listen and concentrate. “Okay,” a voice said. It was steady and firm. “Where did he die, Starlette?” A pink Crewmate replied, “Electrical. I-I didn’t see him exactly, but I saw...” she trailed off. “Where was everyone when this happened?” Luna listened to each Crewmate state where they were. When it came Velvet’s turn to speak, he said, “I was eating breakfast with Dianne” —the tan Crewmate, Dianne, nodded at this— “and then I went back into my room…” Luna balled her fists together nervously. Was he about to tell them about her? But he didn’t say anything else. A black Crewmate with a red bow tie sitting across from Velvet seemed to think about this for a minute. “…Electrical? Velvet’s room has a vent directly connected to Electrical.” Oh *no*. Did I just frame him? Luna thought frantically. “I-I didn’t leave my room until I came here…” Velvet replied. “But it’s a bit suspicious, that’s all. Were you by yourself?” Velvet nodded. “That’s enough,” said Dianne. To Luna’s interest, she squeezed Velvet’s hand affectionately. “Velvet’s innocent. I saw him walk into his room, he’s telling the truth.” Velvet smiled at her. She continued, “And that red Imposter? Axel? He called us” —she gestured to herself, Velvet, the owner of the firm voice, and a lime Crewmate with a yellow child— “‘four Crewmates and an infant Crewmate.’ He knew the truth. And he had no reason to lie.” The owner of the firm voice, a blue-purple Crewmate, nodded. “It may be a coincidence that Velvet’s room connects to Electrical.” The other Crewmates chattered in mostly agreement. The black Crewmate seemed to be withdrawing from her statement. “So, I suggest we skip for now and be cautious, as always,” said the purple Crewmate. Luna assumed the meeting would be over soon, so she relaxed her invisibility and made her way into the vents in Velvet’s room. She was glad she did: a few minutes later, both Dianne and Velvet made their way into Velvet’s room. “Thank you, Dianne,” Velvet said to her. He seemed happier in her presence. “Of course. No one hurts someone as innocent as you,” Dianne’s voice was soft and friendly. “…I’m sorry about earlier…” “No, it’s okay, Velvet, everyone needs their space.” Velvet gave Dianne a look of appreciation. “It’s time you know the truth, Dianne. I can’t keep this from you… let’s go to your room. We can talk there.” His voice was fragile. Luna would have followed them if she hadn’t already known what he was going to say. She watched them through the slits of the vents as they got up and walked out into the hallway, towards Dianne’s room. Now she would wait for them to come back. Luna’s mind wondered, as it often did. Velvet was a Crewmate, yet Luna cared about him. For some reason, she liked to think Velvet's days of suffering were over, since he had finally escaped from that horrible brute. But what if... She wondered if their crew had any Imposters or other creatures. It seemed to her that they were all Crewmates, but she couldn’t tell yet. She was still recovering. What if Dianne is an Imposter? Or that purple Crewmate? Or the black one? Luna tried to imagine one of Velvet’s crewmembers being an Imposter— this could mean Velvet was in danger. She thought back to Velvet's kind smile... [Continued in the Notes and Credits]