In Every Bird.

Chapter 12: The Beginning of The End

Cole puts his head in his hands as he leans over.
He's shaking his head, his world is collapsing more than it already has.

"You're dads under arrest for the murder of your mom and sister." The cop says.
Cole breaks down, and Caleb is brought into the room to support him.
He just sits and rubs his back while Cole cries for almost an hour and that's when another cop walks in.

"Mr. Walker." They say and both Caleb and Cole look up.
"Would you mind telling us where the last place you saw your dad was?"

"Um when I was at the hospital, he called me and asked why I wasn't home. I'm assuming that's when he got there." Cole replies.

"Do you happen to have a secret room in your house anywhere? Crawl spaces in weird spots? Openings to the attic we should know about?"

"No mam." Cole answers.
"Why?"

"Well, your father's car is still at your house, but he is no where to be seen." The cop explains.

Helicopters are sent out to shine light down around the town.
Graham can't be far if he left on foot.
Cole and Caleb are sent back to the hospital while the police announce a man hunt.

The boys sign back into the hospital and are walked to Olivia's new room.
"Cole." Emily says.
He doesn't speak, he just walks over to me and looks me in the eyes, tearfully.

"I'm so sorry." Cole says as his voice breaks, and I start to cry again.
"I... I brought you into all this, and I can never forgive myself for doing that." He cries.

"Cole... you didn't know." Emily says.

"She's right." I say and sniffle.
Cole then breaks down and begins to cry again.

Cole, Caleb, and Emily spend the night at the hospital with me.
I know they were uncomfortable but I do appreciate it, and wouldn't have had it any other way.
I was up til 2 talking quietly to Emily, but she eventually fell asleep.
I try my hardest to get some rest, I'm exhausted, so I'm able to fall asleep, but not even an hour later I am screaming in terror as I feel a slap come across my face.
"What!?" Cole asks as he wakes up.
Caleb stands up and looks around.

I'm gripping my chest as I breathe heavily and Emily puts her hand on my bed.
"What is it?" She asks.

"Nothing I- I had a nightmare." I say.

"Oh." Caleb says.

"It's okay." Emily says.

"I'm sorry." I say back.

"No it's okay don't be sorry." Emily says.
Cole is calming down and sits back on the couch behind him.
I look over at him and his running his hands through his hair as if he's trying to relieve himself from stress.
I lay back down on my bed and everyone ends up falling back asleep besides me.
I watch tik toks on my phone and play games to pass time until around 5 am when I drift back to sleep.

The next morning I hear the door open.
I jump up, gasping for air and Emily looks at me from the door.
"I'm sorry, I'm just headed to the cafe." She says.