Poison Ivy

Epilogue

I made it back to Badge's house a little after sunrise. I had stopped by the lake to think. I thought the peacefulness of it at an early hour would help me ease my mind some, but I was wrong. How could I expect to try and save the world from some supernatural threat, when I could barely at this point save my GPA from dropping? Badge said that my powers were given to me for a reason. That I was meant to have these. But for what? For good? For bad?

I parked Hannah's car and took one last long moment for myself before getting out of the car, and walking into the house. All the cars that the other shapeshifters had come in were now gone. No one got seriously hurt, thankfully, besides Badge. I still don't know how the skinwalkers got past the shapeshifters who were supposed to be guarding my house. If they even were. But I couldn't think about that now. I couldn't let myself get distracted.

Everyone was waiting for me in the living room, buzzing with questions. I explained everything to them. Who the skinwalker was. What I was. I replayed the whole conversation. The only thing I didn't mention was handing over my powers to the skinwalker. Something told me to keep that bit of information to myself.

"I don't trust her." Scar objected.

"She has my mom. I have to do this."

He was quiet for a minute, and then breathed out a sigh. "Did she tell you where to start?"

"All she said was start with water. But I don't know what that means."

"Rayne." Ace spoke up, getting up from the couch and walking closer to us. "Do you remember the story I told you about her?" He asked. I nodded my head. Rayne was the girl Ace came across in Florida a few years ago who had the ability to control water. "I'm sure she's still living in The Keys. Start there."

Scar dug through his pocket and took out his wallet, handing it to me. "Here." He said, placing it in my hand when I wouldn't accept it.

"Scar, I can't–"

"Pay with cash only. Card if there's an emergency, but try not to. We don't need to leave any trails." He interrupted, not taking no for an answer. Reluctantly, I closed my fingers around the wallet, and shoved it carefully in my pocket.

"I don't think she should go alone." Ryder said. "I'll go with her."

"No." Said a voice coming from behind me. I turned around and found Badge leaning against the wall in the hallway, perfectly healthy and healed. I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around him, but then I remembered that we were no longer together. The smile that appeared on my face when I saw him, slowly faded away. "I'll go with her."

I stared back at Badge for a moment, and then gave my attention to Scar, who was giving Badge a long, hard look. "Then it's settled." I announced, bringing his attention back to me.

Scar gave me a long, concerned look. "Go safely." Was his only reply.

* * *

Before we left on the road to Florida, I asked Badge to make a stop at Hannah's house. She had left me a dozen texts and called me over twenty times, but I never answered. I didn't know what to say to her, but whatever I was going to say, I didn't want it to be over the phone.

"You weren't supposed to be in the woods." Badge said through gritted teeth as he pulled up into Hannah's driveway. The whole car ride here was an uncomfortable silence. I was starting to think that he was never going to speak to me again.

"Badge, I had to be there. My family was in those woods. And friends. Would you have stayed if the roles were reversed?"

"Don't turn this around on me!" He barked. "You were supposed to stay inside the house where you were safe! And then I find out that you go and meet the skinwalker after you promised me that you wouldn't! You lied!"