Ghosts of the Past

Chapter 14

So, Ned was in jail, ghouls were invading Grandview, and Kaneki was having even more nightmares than he'd had before. All in all, things weren't looking up.

Hide also had his own problems. To Hide, it was his job to keep anybody from causing harm to Kaneki. When Hide discovered Melinda had eavesdropped on a conversation between Ned and Kaneki, for once, Hide wasn't too chipper.

"You've got to be kidding me." Hide grunted, pulling his hair. Melinda flinched when he glared at her, cold anger evident in his usually warm, brown orbs.

"I don't understand." Melinda said. "What's the problem?"

"The problem, Melinda, is that you listened to a private conversation!" Hide barked, sending daggers her direction. "I don't know if you can relate, but I find it my job to protect my best friend from harm."

"And that has anything to do with me eavesdropping because?" Melinda asked, but apparently Hide didn't like her tone, because his frame shook and he growled.

"Because Kaneki has a right to his secrets and who to share them with! He never told you anything, and I'm sure he'd like to keep it that way."

"The animal attacks aren't animal attacks. That's all I got from their conversation, and where Kaneki was the one who did the killing. I know Ned helped, that's it." Melinda promised.

"It still doesn't give you the right." Hide hissed.

"I know, okay. I'm sorry. I've just been on edge and well, Kaneki and Ned's conversation seemed to hold answers I desperately needed." Melinda confessed.

"You mean, answers you desperately wanted." Hide corrected her like a parent would his child.

"Yes." Melinda nodded. She was surprised that Hide could be so mad, especially because of the attitude she'd seen him have for a while.

Was it a mask to hide the pain and nervousness of failing Kaneki? She didn't know.

"Ned helped Kaneki kill a man." Melinda stated. "It was one of the people killing and tearing apart victims lately, wasn't it?"

"Monsters, Melinda." Hide corrected. "Monsters. The things that have been killing people aren't human, and they aren't ghosts either."

"Then what are they?" Melinda was positive Hide knew. He had to.

Hide shook his head, as if he was disappointed. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that."

"Why not?!" Melinda cried. "Do you want more people to die!?"

"Of course not!" Hide replied. "I just want Kaneki to live more."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Melinda asked.

"It doesn't matter. We don't talk about this anymore, okay? You won't speak of this to anyone and you won't bring it up ever again, do you hear me? Promise me. Please." Hide requested, desperately.

Melinda hesitated. Should she really just drop it? Hide seemed so persistent, and Hide was the type of kid to look over others. Would he really tell her to drop it if it brought others harm?

"Okay, I promise."

That was the end of the conversation, but Melinda always had it on her mind.

__________________________

"This could go one of two ways, kid." An officer said. "This could be easy for you and I or it could be difficult. It all depends on you."

Ned nodded, preparing to make the session difficult.