Something Sinister • Ethan Landry

PART XVI

Mallory Macher sat with a blanket over her shoulders in the back of an ambulance staring blankly at her feet. Her knees had been bent up to her chest while her arms wrapped around her legs. That one still image couldn't dislodge itself from her brain, Ethans being the face under that mask. Initially she tried to blame it on being just a prank then she remembered Anika, whose body was now covered and being removed from the scene after evidence had been collected. Quinn who was dead on the floor of the apartment.

She hadn't thought much of her own injury which had now been stitched and bandaged. She could only think of Ethan, Ethan who practically ran as soon as she'd seen him without uttering a word. He'd picked up his mask pulling it back over his head before making a dash for it. She hadn't even seen how he'd managed to leave the apartment. In fact she felt as though she'd been sitting there alone cradling her legs in the bathroom for hours before Detective Bailey finally busted through to find her and his dead daughter. Everyone else seemed relieved that she was okay but she hadn't. Of course they'd narrowed that down to the fact she was just traumatised, just more than they'd realised. They tried to ask her what happened, how she'd survived after Sam watched her being dragged off. She didn't know how to respond. Not yet at least.

Her head tilted back against the edge of the vehicle while her brain ran circles around her. The feeling of revealing the one person she'd started to trust more than anyone else to be the killer. It had stung so much that she still couldn't think of anything else, hours down the line. The man she was falling for was a serial killer, he was out to get her friends which did include her.

"Hey" her head lifted upward again to find Chad who looked like a scorned puppy, "you still want some alone time?" He had been referring to earlier when she'd told him she needed time to herself, the only words she'd dare to speak since whispering his name.

Mallory swallowed loud enough for Chad to hear, Chad who had now sat down in front of her, "I uh-" she stuttered trying to find her words.

She could only shake her head while letting it fell into her hands. Chads own hand placing itself comfortingly on her shoulder, the one that hadn't been injured. Her hand, her back and now her arm had all been stitched and bandaged within twenty four hours. He knew how she felt because he'd been there before. He'd been stabbed repeatedly by a girl who was supposed to be his friend.

"I know how shitty this feels right now" Chad looked ahead of him to the scene, "after what happened with Anika-" to that Mallory started to vigorously shake her head.

"Fuck, I am a horrible person" she'd finally spoke up, "how's Mindy?"

Mindy who was one ambulance over.

Chad shook his head with a smile opening his mouth to talk before he started storming over to something or someone who had appeared, anger lacing his entire being at such a sudden moment. Ethan Landry had just ducked under the tape only Mallory couldn't see him yet. It had been a risk and he'd came knowing she more than likely told them all, he knew if she had he'd have to somehow try and flip it on her, blame her for what he had done despite dragging himself down with her.

Chads hands grabbed each side of Ethan's jacket slamming his back into one of the cars by the scene, that had been the moment Mallory caught a glimpse of the brown curls she'd loved so much.

"Where were you?!"

"What?" Ethan stuttered, "what? When?"

"Last night"

Ethan shook his head trying to scan the area for Mallory who who couldn't yet see due to the angle chat held him, "I had econ! You know this?!"

"Bullshit man" Chad spat back, "you disappeared and my sister almost gets killed" sucking in a breath he added, "my best friend too" he watched Ethan's expression change as he realised Mallory hadn't told anyone what she'd seen.