Failing Moon

That Was Close

With the hoodie pulled up around her hands, Josey wiped at the tears. Her pride was hurt. She knew that the friend of Jared's wasn't sincere and really did mean to hurt her, but it didn't matter. Tarrin's actions still pissed her off.

Going in her apartment, she noticed all the lights were off. Removing her shoes, she walked to the kitchen and flipped the light on. There was a note from Emily saying she was staying at her friend Clarrisa's house and would be back in the morning. Emily also said she had leftovers from the get together and they were in the fridge.

Being thankful to her sister, Josey grabbed a small plastic wrapped paper plate holding 2 chocolate cupcakes from the fridge. It was just what she needed after the evening she had.

She was hoping Emily would be home but at least she could try calling Cece to console her.

"Hi, you've reached the lovely Cece's phone! Leave her a message, and if you're lucky, she'll return your call! ..where's the bee..BEEP." Josey hung up smiling at Cece's message.

She decided to just text her instead.

Polishing off the first cupcake, Josey covered the other one back up and stuck it in the fridge. Checking her phone again and noticing that Cece hadn't even read her message, Josey let out a heavy breath going back to the fridge and grabbing a 6 pack of malt liquor out.

They were strawberry flavored and left by Cece the last time they had a girl's night with Emily at her apartment. Josey didn't like malt liquor but it was better than not having a beer when you needed one.

After grabbing a blanket off the couch, she went out her front door to sit on her doorstep. It was pretty late and the cold air had really set in.

Having sat there for a well over an hour, Josey started talking out loud as the effects of the 3rd bottle of liquor kicked in.

"Who asked you for help? Not..not me! I can perfectly help myself, Mister Stormway...stormy way.. I don't need you.. You rude, mean..mean person! You made me get a ride..made me! Then you..YELL at me to get out? Who said you could yell at me? Are you..you my dad? Nooo...my dad, he's dead. So!! YOU can't yell at me.." Her ramblings lead her into thinking about her parents.

She tried avoiding the memories and events of when they died, but once again, the images and words from the cops flashed in her mind. She shook her head trying to clear the thoughts out but then stopped and rubbed her eyes. The trees and walkway looked like they were moving

"They didn't kill themselves, my dad..he didn't kill himself. They were happy..happy. You're wrong..one day you'll find out..I will find out. So you just..stand still." She mumbled as she pointed at a small bush by her step.

Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the white metal support beam.

"It was ..on purpose! The fire wasn't..from my dad..your wrong..wrong..I know...don't know who did it..Someone did it..not my dad..not ..my mom.." Josey softly whimpered as she started to doze off.

Tarrin had made it barely to his drive way, parking the car askew. A world of darkness was swimming before his eyes. The full moon wasn't close yet, but the effects of the serum still made an impact on all his senses. He needed a treatment a day ahead of his normal schedule and he blamed it on Josey.

Luckily it was only seconds after Tarrin arrived, when Linux pulled up.

"Hurry.." Tarrin breathed the words out as Linux ran from his car, seeing his friend collapse into the front door of the home.

Sounds around Tarrin were magnified. Hurting his ears, the few crickets bearing the cold air before winter, sounded like a symphony of violins. He couldn't focus. The smell of oil burning and his own cologne assaulted his nose.

"Alright, take deep breaths. Let's get you inside." Linux said quickly as he opened the front door.

Helping Tarrin to the sofa, Lunix quickly ran to the small wooden cabinet by the tv. Using his thumbprint on the small scanner on the side of the cabinet, the face of a drawer popped open to reveal a keypad. Rushing to enter the code, he missed a number making it screech out a beep. Tarrin growled loudly.

"Sorry..sorry!" Linux said frantically as he entered the code more slowly and correct, making the mechanism of the false drawer lightly beep, then unlock. The entire front of the cabinet popped open and Linux grabbed out a hypodermic kit with a vial of treatment serum put together in case of moments like this.

Taking the syringe out of the packet, he filled it with the entire contents of the vial. Walking over to Tarrin who was writhing and gritting his teeth to fight it, Linux stabbed the small need into his back right above his kidneys. Tarrin immediately relaxed, laying against the sofa and breathing heavy. His polo shirt was drenched in sweat.

"There. You need to put a kit in your car. If you're so damn worried someone will find it, put it where they can't find it. Also, if you're going to be playing hero to that little lady, you will start needing a nightly treatment." Linux said, wiping away the sweat that had formed on his own head.

"Uhg, I hate sweating. I'm staying over and stealing your cloths as payment." he complained as Tarrin finally started breathing slower and was able to sit forward.

"Fine, fine. Do as you please, it's not like you don't. And no, I don't plan on playing anyone's hero. I just couldn't live with the guilt if it came across the news tomorrow that another body appeared on Walker's beach." Tarrin coughed, suddenly feeling sluggish from the injection.

"Emm hmm. If you say so. Where's Mara by the way? Weren't you supposed to meet her?" Linux asked, plopping down in the sofa chair.

"Shit, yes. She's still over at Bob and May's. Call her and tell her I will be right over. I need to check something really quick." He said to Linux as he pulled out his phone.

"You have your phone out, call her yourself!" Linux pouted, turning away from his friend.

Taking a deep breath, Tarrin pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Thank you, Linux." He forced the words out even though he knew he owed his friend appreciation.

Linux turned and cocked his eye at Tarrin, expecting more.

"I mean it. I am very grateful to you." Tarrin said through gritted teeth and a smile.

Linux suddenly smiled huge and turned back to Tarrin bouncing in the sofa chair.

"You are welcome. And since you are so grateful, tomorrow, come with me to the clinic, I have an emergency and no nurse to help me on a Sunday. The poor little guy was hit over by Cibus street. Mara called me after she had dropped you off there earlier today." Linux said, beaming like a child at his friend.

"If you two are going to play bleeding hearts to every stray, then you two, can play doctor." Tarrin responded.

"Please, Mara sucks as a nurse. She tells me to get the instruments myself. I can't do that while cutting the poor things open." Linux pouted and clasped his hands together to beg Tarrin.

"Fine! As long as it's nothing serious at Bob and May's tonight. Now call her." Tarrin snapped going back to his phone.

"Yay, thanks buddy!" Linux responded giddily and headed to his car to grab his phone and call Mara.

Tarrin had pulled up the security app on his phone and selected the camera angled at Josey's door apartment. He wanted to see if she had another visit from Jared before he left to meet Mara.