The Carcajou

Chapter Thirteen: The Shrine

Mindy, who had a bandage over her cut, sat with Tara in the back of an ambulance the next morning while Luke leaned on the vehicle's side.

    They were all in shock. Not only did Ghostface find them and try to kill them again, but the killer got Chad, Quinn, and Anicka in one night. This didn't happen last time. Tara lost her friends and roommate, Luke lost his friends and wingman, but most of all, Mindy lost her twin brother and girlfriend.

    Sam stayed near the gate of the apartment, smoking a cigarette. She watched one of the officers talk with Bailey when Danny approached her.

    "Hey," Danny said, causing Sam to turn and face him. "Are you okay?"

    Sam didn't answer but looked him in the eye. Her silence was her answer. Danny, the supportive boyfriend, said, "This isn't your fault, Sam."

    "But it is," Sam argued. Holding back her sobs, she looked at the ambulance where the other three survivors of El Núcleo Cinco sat, still in shock.

    "Someone took our knives," Sam said, "so we couldn't fight back. I don't know who I can trust."

    "Then don't trust anyone," Danny answered. "Not your friends. Not me. Not anyone."

    "I have a few more questions for you," an officer told Danny as he guided him away. Sam pondered her boyfriend's words. Don't trust anyone. Who could she trust?

    Ethan then ducked under the yellow police tape and made his way over to the group. When Luke noticed, rage filled his brown eyes.

    "Luke," Ethan said to his roommate. Luke didn't say anything right away. Instead, he grabbed Ethan by the throat, slammed him into a nearby news car, and after making sure no one else was looking, popped his claws so the tips were centimeters away from Ethan's eyes.

    "Where were you?" he growled.

    "What? When?" Ethan asked, eyes wide as he stared at the tips of the bloody blades.

    "Last night!" Luke screamed, keeping his claws level with Ethan's eyes. More dark blood began to pour from the gashes, but his anger kept him from groaning at the pain.

    "What?" Ethan asked. "I had Econ. You know this."

    "Don't lie to me!" Luke shouted, tightening his grip around Ethan's neck. "You disappear, and Chad, Anicka, and Quinn get killed!"

    "Dude, I was in a study hall with a hundred other people," Ethan defended, raising his hands in surrender. "You can ask any of them."

    "Forget it," Luke muttered, letting Ethan go. He then retracted his claws, but the gashes still weren't healing. Ethan rubbed his neck lightly as he saw the crime scene in the alleyway.

    "Chad, Anicka, and Quinn?" Ethan asked. Luke nodded as he rejoined Tara and Mindy.

    "Mindy, I'm so sorry," Ethan said.

    "Step back," Mindy warned. "You're at the top of my list."

    "I had Econ!" Ethan said again, but no one seemed to believe him.

    When Detective Bailey stepped away from the crime scene, Sam noticed the look of pain on his face. He first lost his son, now his daughter. Tara and Luke noticed as well.

    "I'm gonna be right back," Tara said to Mindy as she stood up.

    "Same," Luke agreed as he followed her. The trio then faced a grief-stricken Bailey, who looked like he was on the verge of tears.

    "I'm really sorry about Quinn," Tara said.

    "Thank you," Bailey said, failing to hold back the tears. "Both my kids are gone. My whole family... is gone.