Blood Lust

Chapter Four

Date: Tuesday, February 23rd.
Time of Death: 2:09 a.m.
Victim: 10

After Tyler dropped me off home hours after I my curfew, I met Atlas in the living room.

I shut the front door quietly. "Oh hey Atlas." I walk into the living room. "Hey," he says quietly. "What are you doing up?" "Waiting for you." "What?" I ask. "Why?" "I don't trust Tyler." He says casually. "What's not to trust?" "A lot," is all Atlas says. "Okay you're acting like Forrest. I think he's rubbing off on you, and not in the good way." I laugh. Atlas frowns. "What's wrong?" I sit on the couch beside him. "I told you, you can talk to me." "Nothing." He murmurs, rises from the couch and walks away. Not upstairs, but outside. What does he do outside? Unless he's meeting that girl again. It's not my business, I decide.

I shake my head of all Altas thoughts. Maybe he's just having a rough time, especially with his parents gone, but I wish he would talk to me or someone. Maybe he talks to that girl, again, not my business. I rise from the couch and head upstairs. He's really difficult and moody. I'm truly confused by him. I'm trying to be his friend but... I reach my bedroom and stroll over to the window. I see Atlas and the same girl outside by the fence again. The same position as last time, but I can see more this time. His lips are on her neck. Maybe they're together, I think. I leave from the window and crawl underneath by bed covers.

He knows he can come inside with the girl doesn't he? And why is he with her in the cover of darkness? Nothing makes sense. But I save it for the morning.

                                 ******
I wake up to the sound of my phone ringing. "Elinor?" I rub my sleepy eyes. "What's up?" There's raw fear in her voice. "There's been another death. Scarlett Jines." I sit straight up and rub my forehead. She's only a freshman. "Seriously? This is getting a little too crazy." "Yea." Elinor agrees.

"But the worst part," she continues, "is they found her head ripped from her body." "What the fuck?" I say. "That's insane." "Schools canceled the rest of the week, so at least there is some good." "Yea." I say, absentmindedly. How is there so many people dying? Not just dying but getting murdered. If the police won't catch this person, and soon, nobody is going to be alive.

News of the murder spread like wildfire. Scarlett being posted online everywhere, her picture on the news. The same as Angelina. And Harley. And Fiona. And so many before them. Yet, there has been no clues. No evidence. Nothing to even suggest a suspect. It's absolutely madness.

After ending the call with Elinor, I leave my room. I need fresh air but I don't want to go outside by myself anymore.

"Morning." Altas greets me as I pass him in the kitchen. "Good morning." I say back. "Did you hear about Scarlett Jines?" I nod, grabbing a cup from the cabinet and filling it with juice. "I'm scared." I confess to Atlas. "Like genuinely scared. I could be next, or Elinor." I shake my head, leaning against the counter, holding my cup with two hands.

"Hey," he walks over to me. Softly speaking, "I get it. It's a lot for everybody but you're not going to get hurt. I'll make sure of it." He gets close enough to where I have to look up to see his eyes. I give a weak smile. "Thanks. Actually," I clear my throat, "if you want to play hero, can you go on a walk with me? I need fresh air and I don't want to go by myself." "Yea, of course."

So that's what we do. Atlas and I take a walk around the block. We talk about school, what I'll major in college in the fall, and just about everything except for the murders. My mind, for once, is at ease. Thanks to Atlas.

"Thank you for walking with me." We take to block back to the house. "We don't have to stop now. I don't want to." He quietly adds while looking at me. "Me either."

So we keep walking. And we keep talking. And to think, I never thought he would talk to me and now he won't shut up. I smile to myself.

"What?" He says, looking at me once again. "Nothing." I smile. "This has been nice." He bumps my arm with his. "You're not too bad to talk to." Atlas teases.

"Thalia," he takes a breath. "What do you see in Tyler?" Not the Tyler slander again. "He's nice," I begin. "That's it?" "You didn't let me finish. He's also kind. And funny. And a flirt. He also gives me attention. Which I like." He nods slowly, looking at the pavement ahead.

"So do you have a girlfriend?" I ask curiously. "No." He curtly replies. "What about that girl? I see you with her outside at night sometimes. Who is she?" His jaw tenses. "No one. Let's get back." He walks faster not waiting for me to catch up.

"Sorry if I touched a sore spot Atlas. I didn't mean to." I say softly, genuinely meaning it. "Don't you ever mind your own business?" He turns sharply to face me. I stop walking, shocked at his sudden outburst. "What are you talking about?" "Don't pretend Thalia. Don't fake either being the victim here. You know what you're doing." His arms flare around with his outburst. "Who I am with," he says tensely, "is none of your concern. Am I clear?" Still shocked at his mood swing, I only nod.

"You're so difficult." I mumble under my breath, incoherently, when we begin to walk again. He doesn't reply. Either he didn't hear me or he's so pissed he's done talking. Fine with me.

When the house finally comes into view, I rush past him into the safety of my bedroom. I grab my phone from where I left it on the charger and check my messages.

1 New Message

Tyler: hey, sorry this is so late notice, but we had a family emergency and had to leave immediately. I won't have service for a few days. sorry shortie, see you when I get back :)

Fuck. Seriously? First Atlas and now Tyler.

I plop onto my bed. Utterly and totally exhausted. It's barely 9:30 and I am pooped.

I fall asleep before I even know what I'm doing.