Spellbound [COMPLETED]

Chapter 18 Safe Return

"Mom, Dad, I can expla-" Ana started.

"I'm Arrianne Millers," Arrianne said, holding out her hand to shake with Ana's parents. "I'm part owner of The Brew, which is where Ana was tonight. So are Peter and Cam, these two other guys. We're also family friends of Ben and his sister, Carly."

Arrianne shook hands with the parents and gestured towards everyone as she introduced them. She quickly gained their trust, allowing her to continue her explanation with ease.

"You see, we were with her all night and she has been supervised by two very young, yet responsible adults. Cam's nineteen and Peter's twenty, but don't worry, they're wise beyond their years. Anyways, Ana had returned home and realized she forgot her phone. And she got on the accident on the way back, and we couldn't help but feel responsible for what happened to her.

"If she hadn't forgotten her phone, she would've been at home, safe. So we felt like visiting her was the least we could do."

"Well, that's very sweet of you all to come here and see my Annabel," Sherif Carter said, "But don't blame yourselves for what happened to her. Besides, I'm starting to think it wasn't an accident."

All the casters eyes widened, and they gave each other panicked looks.

"What makes you say that, sir?" Peter asked.

"I was at the scene just now, and the driver of that damned truck wasn't at his seat. And there was a note on Ana's car."

"What did the note say?" Carly asked, rather outspoken.

"That's classified information," he answered.

"Perhaps it's linked to all the murders in town," Cam said, steering the conversation towards something that could be useful.

"We are looking into that possibility," he said sternly.

"How are you, sweetie? Can we get you anything?" Ana's mom asks, sitting beside her daughter.

"I'm good, mom, thanks though," she answers.

"How are you feeling?" Ryan asks, her blue eyes filled with concern.

"I'm alright. A little sore," Ana says, rubbing her ribs that Peter re-damaged no more than ten minutes ago.

"I'll get the nurse," Ana's mom says, quickly leaving the room.

"I'm real sorry, sweetie. I want to stay, but I have to get back to the station," her dad says.

"Of course, yeah, go. Oh my God," she waves him off, giving him a don't-worry-about-me smirk.

"Okay, I love you, get well soon," he says, kissing her forehead before he heads for the door.

As he steps out, Ana call him one last time.

"Hey dad!"

"Yeah?" He turns to face her.

"Find the asshole who did this to me."

"I will."

• • •

"Okay, Ana. I think you're ready to go home," Dr. Den says. It's Ana's fourth and final day in the hospital. The doctor kept her under observation and prescribed her some pain meds. She made good and unusually quick progress, but that could be due to some of Ben's magic that was still coursing through her veins.

"Finally!" Ana rejoiced. She had grown wary of the fluorescent lights and the bland hospital room.

"I'll prescribe you some more pain meds and schedule a follow up in two weeks. Okay?"