“How the fuck do you miss a dead body?” Sage snapped, her arms crossed tight over her chest, nails digging into her palms. “I’m sorry, did the body just stand up and walk away after being brutally killed and torn apart?”
Sheriff Galpin’s jaw clenched. “Watch your language, kid.”
Miss Weems turned sharply toward Sage. “Miss Cullen, please refrain from using such language.”
“No, but Sage is right. How do you miss a body?” Wednesday spoke up, his dark eyes fixed on the sheriff, unblinking and intense.
“Because it wasn’t there,” Galpin replied, irritation thick in his voice. “No footprints, no blood, no sign of a struggle. Nothing. Nada. My search party looked all night.”
Sage let out a humorless laugh. “Then your search party must’ve left their seeing-eye dogs at home. I saw that monster kill Rowan right in front of me.”
Galpin’s eyes slid to her. “Get a good look at this monster thing?”
“It didn’t stick around for a chat,” Wednesday replied dryly.
Sage scoffed. “Yeah, real rude of it, honestly.”
“Well maybe,” Galpin said slowly, eyes narrowing, “it was one of your classmates.”
Sage stiffened instantly. “Excuse me?”
Weems stepped forward, her voice sharp. “Sheriff, I find that question offensive.”
“Well I don’t,” Galpin snapped back. “I’ve got three other bodies in the morgue. Hikers, ripped apart in the woods.”
“The mayor said those were bear attacks,” Weems said, raising a brow.
“Well, the mayor and I disagree,” Galpin shot back, rubbing his face. “And I’m not ignoring a pattern just because it makes your school uncomfortable.”
“So you automatically assume a Nevermore student is the murderer, even though there’s no evidence a crime was even committed?” Weems accused, looming over him.
“I’m sorry,” Galpin muttered, “I forgot you only teach the good outcasts here, right?”
Sage’s eyes flashed. “Funny how ‘different’ becomes ‘dangerous’ the second something goes wrong.”
Weems exhaled sharply and turned. “My office. Now.”
★★★
The tension followed them in and settled thick in the air.
Weems stood behind her desk. Wednesday remained still, composed. Sage leaned against the wall beside him, arms folded, jaw tight, eyes tracking every movement Galpin made.
“My guess,” Weems said carefully, “is that Rowan ran away. State troopers have issued an alert, and I’ve contacted his family. They haven’t heard from him either.”
“Dead people are notoriously bad at returning calls,” Wednesday replied flatly.
Sage nodded. “He’s dead. I saw him dead. I smelled his blood when it stopped moving. You don’t imagine that.”
Galpin sighed and dropped into one of the chairs. “Then what were you doing out in the woods, Mr. Addams and Miss Cullen?”
“I was with Sage at the Harvest Festival when we heard a noise in the forest and went to investigate. That’s when we stumbled upon the attack,” Wednesday said, carefully skipping over certain details.
“Then what happened?” Galpin asked, eyes sharp.
Sage answered this time. “Bianca ran for help. And before we knew it, teachers were everywhere. Next thing we know, we’re being told nothing happened.”
“And just to be clear,” Galpin pressed, “this monster wasn’t a bear or some other wild animal?”
“I’ve hibernated with grizzlies,” Wednesday replied calmly. “I know the difference.”
Sage hummed. “And bears don’t vanish bodies.”
Weems straightened. “Thank you, Sheriff. I think Mr. Addams and Miss Cullen are done now.”
“Actually,” Wednesday said, stepping forward, “I’d like to speak to Sheriff Galpin alone.”
Sage turned to him instantly. “Wednesday—”
“I’m not sure I can allow that,” Weems replied.
“Well,” Galpin said lightly, “I could always take him down to the station for a formal statement.”
Sage’s voice dropped. “He already gave you one.”
Weems hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. Five minutes. Off the record. And if I hear so much as a raised voice, I call the mayor.”
She turned to Sage. “Miss Cullen, you’re needed for Poe Cup preparations.”
Sage didn’t move at first. She looked at Wednesday, eyes searching his face.
“Don’t let him twist this,” she murmured.
His fingers brushed her wrist, grounding. “I won’t.”
Her jaw tightened. “Good. Because I’m not losing you to whatever this is.”
Then she finally turned and left, heart pounding with a feeling she couldn’t shake.
Something in the woods was still watching.
And it wasn’t finished.
★★★★
So I'm done prepping and school is about to start again, YIPPPEEE
fuck me in the ass
Hope you all liked this. Are you proud that I stuck to the poll vote
Love
Kaelyn
Update:
How tf are we at 20k reads?
Thank you so much y'all!!!
Longer chapter as a reward😝
Love
Kaelyn
YOU ARE READING
Bloodly Murder
Fanfiction*ON HOLD* After a murderous incident at Wednesday's old school his parents send him to Nevermore. mysteries arise, Old cases become new and murder is swept across the streets. Wednesdays thinks it more, but what will it cost him? Friends, family an...
