Dark Woods Academy

Chapter 7

I was there maybe for a few hours, I couldn’t tell what time it was since I was in somewhat of a holding cell, windows absent. Blaze had come in sometime again and asked how much I had to drink that night, the night my friends went missing. I had been sober, hadn’t had even a sip of the tequila that my friends had been drinking. It was just another accusation to be tossed in with the many others, maybe this one wasn’t as bad. Mr. Blaze kept saying that the reason I couldn’t properly recall the time I had emerged from the woods was that I had been drunk and that it was around four in the morning when I had emerged colliding with him on his routine check before he left campus.

I felt confused wondering what was up with the time and the fact that I couldn’t recall exiting the woods at that predawn hour. Blaze seemed to be truthful enough and he had no reason to lie but I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Could I have made a mistake? He said it was traumatizing that I was confused and that it was perfectly normal for me to be confused considering what had happened.

It wasn’t until a while later he showed up with food.

“Thought you’d be hungry by now,” he said sliding over a brown bag of food.

“Guess it would be a waste to charge me for kidnapping and murder if I starved to death huh,” I said sarcastically.

He ignored it, his expression unchanged, I unwrapped a burger and started eating non too ladylike. A glance at him showed he was eating too.

“So usually they have two cops when they do that good cop bad cop thing, you know,” I said wondering what he was up to.

“Am I not like entitled to a lawyer?” I asked through the bites.

“He should be here soon, your mother too,” he said casually like we were discussing the weather which infuriated me more, but I chewed on silently.

There was a knock at the door just as I was finishing my bottle of water and wondering about a bathroom break. They couldn’t deny me, right? That would be too cruel wont it?

“Ace, not a word,” a model worthy guy said stepping in. Wow was my very first impression. I stared for a few seconds at him. He was a damn Greek god. Wavy honey brown hair, the most stunning emerald green eyes and a jawline of a superhero.

“Guess your lawyer’s here,” Blaze said frowning at him. Where did they find this guy? I mean I wasn’t complaining, goodlooking and he was here to defend me.

“Elliott Carter,” he said shaking my hand in a firm grip. “Come on let’s get you out of here,” he said as I stood up giving Blaze a cold glare.

Elliott’s hand rested on my lower back as he ushered me out of the room.

“Where’s my mom?” I asked Elliot.

“She couldn’t get a flight in yet from home, she should be here in the next two days,” he said.

“So what now?” I asked wondering what would happen to me now. The anger was slowly draining out of me and I felt lost. My friends hadn’t been found yet and I was arrested for something I didn’t do.

“They can’t charge you but you’re not off the hook until the murder is solved,” he said.

“Jason Evers came in to clear your name and claimed that no one knew of his affair with the victim Bailey Matthews.”

I paused looking at him with a frown. “Jason did that huh?” I asked a bit surprised he would considering that he must be upset over Bailey’s death and wanting justice.

“I need to speak with him,” I said sighing.

“Its best if you isolate yourself from the investigation,” he said.

“Come on,” we’re not staying here.

“Wait what do you mean here?” I asked in confusion.

“You mean they’re kicking me out of the university?” I asked shocked.

“Well if I have my way they won’t be able to but its best that you stay away from the investigation and school grounds while they build their case,” he said.

“Where’s your dorm?” he asked.

“I’ll show you, come on,” I said.

“You’ll need your stuff, we’re going to find a nearby place to stay until your mother gets here to decide what’s going to happen next,” he said and I nodded letting out a yawn and realized it was late evening and a warm bed didn’t sound better.

I grabbed some clothes and essential items throwing them into my bag along with my phone and laptop and followed Elliott to the car park. It was dark by now, the sounds of insects calling in the night and a moon that shone from a clear sky. A chilly breeze bit at me and I shivered walking through the mostly deserted car park when a figure stepped in my path and I let out a shriek.

“Easy Ace,” Mr. Blaze said standing there gazing at me with an unreadable expression on his face. His gaze flicked to Elliott and a frown lined his face.

“I need to speak to you for a moment,” he said.

“What you need to arrest me again?” I asked with a bite in my words.

“No, I-its just a moment please,” he said his voice pleading which made me hesitate.

“Okay just say whatever you need to so I can be on my way and get out of this place,” I said.

“Alone,” he said his gaze shifting to Elliott and becoming hard.

I looked glanced behind me at Elliott who gave me a short nod and went to his car getting my bag in.

Blaze grabbed my arm and pulled me a little distance away.

“Listen Ace, I’m sorry that I had to do what I did today but -I, its complicated,” he said gripping my hand tightly.

His apology shocked me but I wasn’t ready to forgive him or believe him.

“I don’t want an apology Mr. Blaze,” I said emphasizing his last name and I could see he hated that I hadn’t used his first name. Too bad, he lost that possibility of a friendship.

“I-God Ace, look its hard to explain but I needed to warn you that you’re in danger and you can’t trust Elliott or anyone else,” he said his hands grabbing at my shoulders emphasizing his words.

“Right? ‘Cause I’m in danger of them helping me?” I asked in confusion shaking my head.

“Elliott got me out and he’s taking me away from here. He didn’t get me arrested for something I didn’t do,” I said the hurt evident in my voice.

“Look, I had no choice I had to Ace, I couldn’t show them that I was...” he paused his voice trailing off as he ran a hand over his head releasing his grip on my shoulders.

“God please don’t go with him Ace,” he said his tone pleading. I shook my head too hurt by his betrayal to allow myself to listen to him.

“Please Ace,” he begged again grabbing onto my hand to stop me from turning away from him.

I shivered from his touch as his gaze met mine and his blue eyes shone under the moonlight and it made me breathless standing there looking at the man who had helped me that night and then betrayed me and yet I still- no I wasn’t going down that road.

Tears prickled my eyes and I turned away my hand dropping to my side feeling a rush of cold and missing the warmth from his hand.

“Goodbye Mr. Blaze,” I whispered turning away and heading to Elliott’s car. The worst thing was that I felt like it was really goodbye and I had no idea why it hurt so much.