Welcome to the Shit Show

Chapter 12

Juniper

Didn't exist? I wished. But the fact that something like that was possible at all was concerning.

To exist, or not to exist, that was the question. Dozens of faces peered at me, ghoulish spectators curious about the current unknown shit storm that had fallen on my head.

I could already feel my temper rising. This was why I had asked Kline about the woods. I hated being surprised. Even when I tried to stay three steps ahead there was always someone else already there waiting to fuck me over.

Felix continued his verbal rampage for a few minutes, and I let him. It didn't matter what I had to say anyway because he was right.

I left without telling anyone where I was going. I had assumed they would know where I was, but that didn't mean they really knew. Note to self; assumptions and facts are two separate things.

I stood there running horror scenarios through my head at lightning speed. If that thing this morning had caught me, I would possibly be dead without anyone knowing where I had gone or what had happened to me. If I had taken a different path in the woods or gone down a different fork in the road. If Olivia.....

Olivia Sandival walked me home. She either intentionally protected me or unknowingly kept me from facing whatever was following me. That was concerning. If she knew Felix must know right? Fuck! They all must know! WHY DIDN'T KLINE FUCKING TELL ME THIS YESTERDAY WHEN I ASKED!!!

Whatever was out there could erase scents. I didn't even know that was a thing. I can't even imagine what COULD do such a thing. Maybe a chemical spray? But that would leave a different smell. What about the dream thing? If that was at all connec—

"Hey! You!" My eyes finally registered his hand moving in front of them. " Are you even listening to me right now?" I looked up into Felix's face scanning for answers. He looked scared.

Whatever that thing is should be handled with extreme caution if Mr. Macho over here is scared for MY well-being.

"No. Can you talk slower? My head is racing my heart at the moment. They want to see who can run faster." I heard Sy choke out a laugh from my shoulder which was now soaked in what I was hoping was only tears.

Sy lifted her head off my shoulder but kept her grip tight as she pierced my pupils with her corneas. "They said you were gone. That the only way for your scent to disappear meant that you were erased- ," she burst into another round of tears and I lifted my arms to push her away. If only my efforts were fruitful. I huffed out a sigh. This was exactly why I preferred being an emotionless bitch. I don't have to deal with tears. Unless I have a panic attack. Those suck.

With no success on the freeing myself front, I looked back up at Felix who was looking grimmer and grimmer by the second.

"Where were you?"

"I told you, down the road at a dressmaking store. I've been there since about ten this morning," he crossed his arms over his chest unsurprisingly.

"Prove it."

"Prove what?"

"Where you were. Prove to me you really were where you say you were." I wanted to pull out this man's tongue and drop it in a blender. Maybe then he will seem a little less infuriating to me.

"I was at a shop sewing sequins on a dress from early this morning to maybe twenty minutes ago when Mommy Vention said I was done for the day."

"Oh really? What color is his beard then?" To anyone else that question would have been a neat trick to trap them in a verbal corner with, but I don't like lies.