Fight Till We Die

The Lies We Tell

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.

- Carl Jung

Cam took her to dinner. A small Italian joint off the side street of Cherry. He seemed close with the workers like he'd been there often. They'd stayed for a while and Libby's heart warmed at how he didn't seem to grow bored of her. It was sweet and he was kind. Best of all, the food was utterly amazing. The best food she'd had in years. Cam had convinced her to try chicken scarpariello and it was delicious. The lemony tang mixed with the meat and earthy pepper was good enough she'd asked for a dish to go. 

He drove an old, beat-up Mustang that she was sure Derek would've loved to take a look at, but he didn't seem embarrassed of it, and for whatever reason, Libby liked that. Talking the whole way, he drove the pair to the movie rental store and told her he had a surprise for her. It was half past eight when they arrived, the sun had already faded as they moved deeper into October. 

When they pulled up, there were only two other cars in the lot, indicating a slow night. Cam circled the car before Libby could protest and he opened up the door for her. Offering her a hand, Cam pulled her out of the car and didn't let go as he walked them up to the doors. Libby's smile was incessant and her blush remained permanent since he picked her up earlier that night.

He held the door open and Libby walked in, head ducked, trying to hide that smile. She got two steps into the building before she came to an abrupt stop.

She smelled blood.

The smile on her face dropped and she pushed Cam out the door. Her eyes darted back into the building and she said, "We should go. Now."

Cam's smile faltered and he looked into the store, noticing the flickering lights. His gaze darted toward the ground, and his face drained of color. 

"What the hell?"

"Cam."

He pushed past her gently and hurried into the store. When Libby followed, cursing under her breath, she heard another voice.

"Hello?" Jackson. "Anybody working here? Anybody at all?" His voice trailed off and Libby contemplated how she would extract both boys without too many questions. 

Catching Cam's wrist, she yanked him back until he smashed into her and they both stumbled. "Jackson!" Libby shouted, drawing the boy to her.

Cam tried to pull from her wrist and said, "Libby, that man is hurt." His face was full of concern as he looked at the pair of feet that were exposed behind a shelf. He called out, "Hello? Sir, are you okay?"

"Cam. Let's go." She tugged his arm, making the boy stumble. Jackson walked out from around a corner. The corner of a shelf next to the body. Libby released Cam and aimed for Jackson but she was too slow. He'd already seen the body.

With quickened breath, Libby could feel the fear and panic radiating from both boys and just before she grabbed Jackson he stumbled into a ladder sending wires hanging from the ceiling flying. The lights went out, and the store was only lit by the moonlight outside. Cam had stepped up and aimed for the man coming to an abrupt stop. She couldn't see his face but she heard his heartbeat quickening.

Cam caught Jackson's wrist and pulled the trembling boy backward, "Libby, don't look."

Behind the three students, a shelf rattled and a low growl ripped from the throat of an enemy. Libby's eyes widened and her instincts screamed for a fight, but moreso, to protect. Libby darted backward and shoved the two boys behind separate shelves, praying the separation could save one of them.