That Girl (Part 2)

Chapter 12

"Jessica!" She didn't answer me again as I bolted up the stairs.

"Haylie!" As expected Derek was on my tail. He could have stopped me if he wanted to but for some reason I still made it to the wide open door before him.

Jessica stood with her back to the door her hands must of been up to her face so I was gentle with her as I approached. "Jessica what happened? Are you okay?"

When she still didn't answer, I let Derek grab my arm and pull me behind him as he approached her. Even know it was always so easy to let him protect me. "Jessica?"

She finally turned round to face us. Her green eyes wide with tears as she looked up to Derek's unnaturally gentle face.

I pushed him out the way without thinking and stood in front of her. "What is it what happened?"

She didn't say anything as more tears fell. Instead she just pointed behind me.

I turned but Derek's back was already blocking the view. He can't protect me forever. It's not his job anymore and even though it's easy. It's not right. "Derek move."

"Haylie you don't want to see..."

I cut him off by pushing past him and I lost my breath at the sight.

Behind the door, Charlie lay on the floor covered in his own blood. His own heart was on the floor next to him as if it were a present to whoever might find him. There were five marks from his hairline down to his chin. Claw marks.

"Oh my god." I finally let out in a breath like it was the only thing sufficient. I felt a hand on my shoulder for only a moment before Derek moved past me and towards the body.

"The bloods fresh. He can't of been dead for more than an hour."

"It was a werewolf wasn't it?" Jessica's voice cracked and as I turned back to her I saw she already knew the answer. Derek only analysed her like I did before nodding. "What's that?"

I looked to the green stem in his hand and Derek gently moved his fingers to get a better look. "Wolfsbane. It's probably why I didn't smell the blood sooner."

"He tried to protect himself." I stated but kept my eyes on Derek as he stood back up and took a few steps back from Charlie.

"He knew they would come for him." Jessica whispered.

"That information you have." I said and couldn't help the water forming in my eyes as I turned back to her. "Do I want to know it?" She sighed.

"Want. Probably not. But I think you need to hear it. Especially now." I tried to wipe my eyes and think logically instead of emotionally.

"Derek. What do we do about Charlie?"

He shook his head in response before looking at both of us. He must have seen something on our faces because then he shrugged with a sigh. "There's nothing we can do. Whoever did this could be coming back to clean up so we need to get as far away from this town as possible."

........................................................................................

"I cant believe we just left him there." Jessica said while we sat down in the cafe we first met at. "We didnt have a choice." Derek said taking a seat in the middle of us. We were sitting at a four table and he had ordered a water for Jessica and a coffee for myself. He didnt get anything, I guess he wasn't as shaken up as us two. "Dereks right. If we had stayed then that could have been us." She nodded and took a sip of her water.

"Okay, Come on, crying fest needs to stop." She said with a smile and wiped her eyes. "Where do you want me too start?" She said while pulling out a small folder like the one she gave me a month ago. Except this didn't have as many papers. "Just start small." I said with a smile and she nodded.