Philophobic : Tyler Galpin

28: Say It

Thursday, November 15th

[author's pov]

Mayor Walker had been killed in an unknown hit-and-run incident right before Wednesday and Victoria's very eyes. They had followed Mayor Walker for half of Wednesday all the way downtown when he was run over.

It wasn't looking good for either of them when Tyler's dad took over the case, suspecting the "daughter of a criminal" and the "daughter of Nevermore's principal" far more now. But Sheriff Galpin only saw Wednesday at the scene and not Victoria.

The sheriff was aware that Victoria had spent two nights under his roof (assuming Tyler took the couch), even though he'd been gone working or sleeping at the sheriff's station. He was aware of the break-in. And  Tyler didn't mind it though and to Victoria's discretion–she didn't either. It'd come to be natural for them to be so close.

Almost like their second nature.

Victoria was pacing in Tyler's room. It was getting late and he said he had to make a run, but didn't tell her where, even though she'd demanded answers.

She called him multiple times, but there were no answers.

It was nearing midnight when there was a violent knock on the door downstairs. Without hesitation, she sensed the urgency and ran downstairs to unlock it.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" she yelled as she unlocked it, overwhelmed by the presence of Tyler, Enid, Wednesday, and Xaiver.

All four of them were in sweats, Tyler in blood as her eyes widened. There was no time to react, only to think as she bolted for the bathroom where the emergency kit was. Tyler's shirt was tattered and there was a big deep claw mark across his chest as he winced.

"What the hell happened?" Victoria demanded the three as she returned with the kit. No one answered and Tyler couldn't even look at her to tell the truth.

She sat before Tyler. Seeing as she'd volunteered at the hospital, she didn't have trouble with the blood–but she had trouble with seeing Tyler hurt. The wincing on his face and the clenching of his jaw to keep his calm demeanor.

"You're too frantic to do this right," Wednesday said as she moved Victoria aside.

Victoria didn't protest. She wanted answers and for Tyler to be alright.

She turned to Xavier and he put up his arms as if to say, "Don't look at me, look at them."

Victoria noticed Enid's quiet and sad expression. It seemed as if Wednesday and Tyler were the only ones fit to answer as Wednesday stitched him up.

"The monster attacked him," Wednesday said vaguely.

"What? How- how did it find you guys? Why are you four together anyways?"

"We went looking for it," Wednesday said simply.

Tyler's expression changed–almost to guilt.

Victoria froze. This was exactly the one thing she'd asked Wednesday to not do. And Tyler had promised her that something like this would not happen. He knew he was wrong as he'd broken his first and only promise to her.

Victoria turned her heel for a second and walked into the bathroom. She felt a rising emotion in her, but wasn't sure what to make of it. Sadness?

No, she didn't cry out of sadness. She typically ever did from anger.

She found herself roughly wiping tears off her face. But she wasn't sure who she was truly angered at. Wednesday, Tyler, or even herself for letting him slip away like that into something dangerous.