Bookview Valley 3

Chapter Twenty-Eight: One More Time

Friday, September 10th

Soft music plays as Nick drives me home. The stars have come out, and I've seemed to have calmed down. I still can't believe Angelica had the nerve to be like that. She had no right. 

"I'm sorry about her," Nick speaks up, "I didn't know..."

"It's okay. It's not your fault." 

"I know, but I feel like I should've known. Then I could've prevented..." 

"Nick, It's fine," I glance at him, and he returns my look before staring back at the road. 

"Whatever she says, it doesn't matter. In fact, I'll go to whatever school you want to go to." 

"What?" 

"I mean it," He gives me another glance, "If you want me to, I will go to whatever school you go to." 

"Actually?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Even if it's against your sister's wishes?" 

"She doesn't pay my tuition." 

"You have a point," I laugh, "I don't know why she got to me so bad." 

"Because a part of you believes she's right," Nick says, "but, before you get angry, that part of you is wrong. None of this is your fault, you don't magnet killers to you, and just because your brother was part of this doesn't mean that you are." 

"Nick..."

"It's not your fault." 

"Okay." 

... 

It's not too long until we've arrived at my house. Nick opens my door for me and walks me up the front door of the house. We stand on the top step for a second. 

"I'd say thanks for dinner, but..." I chuckle.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Nick shakes his head, "I will never ask you to go to dinner with my sister again." 

"Well, I wouldn't mind going to dinner with you sometime," I say shyly. I'd say this isn't the time for this, but there's never going to be time for this unless I make time. 

Nick grins, "I would like that." 

"Sometime after the funeral, though," I say.

"Agreed," Nick nods, "Have a goodnight." 

"You too," I smile, "I'll see you later." 

He waits for me to go into the house before I hear his car pull away. I head up the stairs, trying to avoid any contact with my parents. I really don't want to explain everything that happened tonight. It's already a bit too much. 

I pause in front of my bedroom door and turn around, facing Luci's door. Taking a deep breath, I walk over and open the door. His bedroom is exactly as it was when he was still here. The bed is unmade, clothes are on the floor, and everything seems untouched. 

Shutting the door behind me, I come to stand in the middle of his room. The memories seem to flow through me, Luci laughing, yelling, and crying. Even though I'm pretty sure his crying had been a lie. 

"Remembering?" I turn to my right to see Vincent sitting in the open window. How did he open that without me noticing. 

"How the hell are you here?" I ask, stepping back. My brain scrambles to remember where the antler knife is. Oh, yeah, it's in my bedroom; across the hall. 

"Forget about me?" Vincent flashes me a wolfish grin. 

A little bit, "No, I just assumed you were part of the ones captured by the police, or still stuck in that pit." 

Vincent laughs harshly, "I wasn't captured and I climbed out of that pit, with a little help." 

"Erin? Is she not in police custody?" My eyes widen, they didn't get everyone.

"No, she managed to make her escape, and she's not the only one." 

"There are others still out there?" 

"Yes, there are," Vincent smirks, "I could take you them. I could take you to the Crimson Skeleton."

"Why would I go with you?" I sneer up at him, not moving away from him. I'll beat him with my bare hands if I have to. 

"Because if you don't," Vincent's eyes narrow, no longer smiling, "I'll go after your precious Nick. We already took one of your boy toy's, don't think I won't take out the other. The Crimson Skeleton wants your head, and I still want a higher rank."

"You wouldn't dare," I snarl, taking a step closer to him to where we're barely touching, "If you lay a hand o-" 

"Keep it in your pants, Morgan," The smile is back, "I won't hurt him, if you come with me." 

"What if I call the police, instead?" 

"I'll kill everyone in the station," He says simply, as if it's as easy as making popcorn. 

"You can't do that," I laugh mirthlessly, "You're not powerful enough."

"How would you know?" He asks leaning in, his breath tickling my ear, "You don't know how powerful I am." 

"Let's find out," I growl, elbowing him in the stomach, and shoving him backwards. I have no plans of going with him. As much as I want to catch those who remain and the Crimson Skeleton, this would just lead to my death. 

He lets out a grunt and stands back up straight, "You asked for it." In the middle of  a second he completely disappears into nothing. 

"Nick," I murmur, my eyes widening, as I race out and back to my room. I snatch up the antler knife from where I had left it. Then I rush back out of the house and down to Nick's house. I hope that's where he is, and not still at Applebee's. 

I hate how slow I run, and it takes me about ten minutes to get there. When I finally get to Nick's house it's dark and quiet. I hope I'm not too late. I bang on the front door, but no answer. Shoving it open, I let myself in. The living room is dark, the rest of the house silent. 

"Hello?" I call out. Maybe they aren't home? I flick their living room light on, and that's when I spot the trail of blood leading down into their basement. Fear flows through me, "Nick!? Are you okay?" 

I can't help, but think that maybe Angelica was right. Making my way down the stairs, I hold the knife up, ready to defend should anything attack. The stairs creak with age as I continue my trek. When I get to the basement it's pitch black. Finding the light bulb, I pull the little string. A warm yellow glow warms up the horror before me. 

"Vincent?" A Skeleton stands not too far from me, Vincent in his grasp; choking for air. The Skeleton turns to face me. The skull mask frowns at the sight of me. They squeeze once more, cracking Vincent's neck and dropping him to the floor.

I take an involuntary step back, "Stay away." 

"Speak of this to no one," The Skeleton says, before they completely disappear into thin air, just as Vincent had. That's when I hear the sound of a car engine. This is going to be awkward to explain.