Hunted

Mind Games

*Aura's POV*

Sam is finally out of surgery. It took a lot longer than I thought it would but I'm just glad she's okay..for now. The doctor came out and told us that even though she made it through the surgery, she wasn't out of the woods yet. If she lived through the next twelve hours then it was a good chance she would be okay but it wasn't a guarantee. "Can we go see her?" I asked, moving towards the door. "She really needs to rest right now but if you go in one at a time I don't see any harm. Just don't stay too long." he replied. I walked out of the room, giving no one else the chance to go in first. I really needed to see her with my own eyes. I needed to know that she was okay.

I stopped at her door and took a deep breath. "You can do this." I reassured myself and opened the door, not sure what to expect. There were so many tubes and wires coming out of her I didn't know what to think. She was hooked up to an oxygen machine and at least three or four different types of medicine were slowing dripping into her body through IVs in her hands and arms. Her skin was deathly pale, no hint of color at all. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only good thing I could find. I walked over to the bed and just stood there. I didn't really know what to do or if she could even hear me. I touched her hand but pulled it back instantly. She was so cold! It was like she was already gone. "Stop thinking shit like that." I scolded myself and reached out and took her hand again. Even though I knew what to expect, I still couldn't help but shudder. "Sam..you gotta fight okay? You have to get better and go home. I can't lose you..I just can't. Please.." I begged, tears freely falling down my face.

"Hey.." Rose said, laying her hand on my shoulder. I looked at the clock and was surprised to see that I had been sitting here for over an hour. "You okay?" she asked and I shook my head no in response. "Me either..but we gotta stay strong. We can't let this sicko win." She stood behind me, neither of us moving until a nurse came and told us that visiting hours were over. I didn't want to leave, but the nurse told us that if we didn't, we wouldn't be allowed to visit her anymore and I really didn't want that to happen. I left reluctantly, every fiber in my being fighting to stay with her.

When we got back to the conference room, the officer that took all the notes about the incident was there. "Did something happen? Did you find Lacey?" I asked, not waiting for an answer between each question. "Miss, slow down. We haven't found her yet, but we did find a trail. We've already dispatched a team to follow it and we are hoping it will lead us to where she is being held, but there's a chance it might not. Please try to be patient. We are doing all we can." I rolled my eyes, annoyed with his nonchalant attitude. "We need to send a unit out to where the first attack took place and we need to do it tonight, before any evidence is lost. You are free to go back to the house if you need but I ask that you please do it while we are there so we can keep an eye on you. It is unclear whether or not the attacker is still there and it is not safe for you to go alone. I will give you guys a few minutes to decide what you want to do but we cannot wait long so please hurry." he said and quickly exited the room.

"So..are we gonna go back?" I asked the group. No one answered at first so I added, "Well, I for one need to go. I want to stay up here with Sam until she can come home so I need to get some clothes and stuff."

"I guess I should probably go too then." Rose said, walking towards the door. "I think we should all go. Safety in numbers right?" Dimitri added. I walked out, not waiting for a response.

*Dimitri's POV*

In the end, only Rose, Aura, Chester and I went. Tyler decided he was going to stay at the hospital in case they found Lacey or Sam woke up or something. I personally think he just didn't want to come back here and I don't blame him. I really didn't want to but there was no way I was gonna let the girls come back alone.

By the time we got back to the house it was almost five in the morning and I was beyond tired. Rose had fell asleep on the ride home so I decided not to wake her up. It would take a lot less time if I just got her clothes myself cause trying to wake her up is like pulling teeth. She actually woke up swinging once, hit me square in the jaw. She was so upset about it I couldn't help but pick on her. Needless to say, I learned my lesson so I try to avoid having to wake her up whenever possible. Besides, with a few officers wandering around collecting evidence, I figure she'll be safe enough out here, right?

"I'm Officer Jones and I'll be stationed outside the house if you need anything. Please get what you need and don't go near where the attack took place. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be taken in for interfering with an investigation now would you?" a stout balding man with really bad breath said when we finally made it to the house. "Don't worry we won't." I replied, sarcasm in every word. I'm in no mood for a snarky cop. I just wanna get all our shit and get the hell outta here and never look back.

I held the door open, letting everyone inside and then locked it behind me. This place has always kinda given me the creeps, more so now with everything that's happened. Aura and Chester immediately walked off, wasting no time in collecting their stuff. I slowly headed upstairs, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I've always been the calm one in tough situations but this time it's different. I mean, Lacey is missing, Oliver has lost his mind, and Sam could very well die. I really don't think I could handle another tragedy right now. I walked to my room and started packing everything I could find. Luckily, Rose is a very neat person so all her stuff was in one place. Me on the other hand, not so much. I only packed what I didn't have to look for; screw everything else. I had just zipped my bag and turned to leave when the lights went out.

I flipped the switch but nothing happened. I bet one of these stupid cops did it, I thought to myself as I felt my way down the stairs and to the front door. "Hey guys! Are you ready yet?" I yelled, but got no response. "Come on guys, I'm leaving!" I called, opening the front door. I sat down on the porch and waited for them to come out. After ten minutes I started getting annoyed. I opened the front door and yelled, "AURA, CHESTER, LET'S GO!" but still didn't get a reply. I sighed and walked in to find them.

"Chester! Aura! Guys!" I called, slowly making my way back upstairs in the dark. "Come on, this isn't funny." I added. I stumbled around until I made it to Chester's room and opened the door, but he wasn't there. "Maybe he's helping Aura." I sighed. When I finally made it to her room, I opened the door and instantly started panicking when they weren't there either. Where the hell are they? I made my way back downstairs as quickly as I could and threw open the front door. The sun was just beginning to rise, the sky slowly becoming lighter. I waited for my eyes to adjust then looked around the yard. I could just make out Jones in his car, sound asleep. Lazy bastard, I thought as I walked past his car and headed towards mine. Maybe they had already finished and went back to the car to wait for me. I peered inside, expecting at the very least to see Rose but it was empty. "Rose? Where are you?" I called, dread filling my chest. I looked around the car but she was no where to be found.

I ran to Officer Jones' car and knocked on the window. He didn't even move. I opened his door to wake him up but stopped, frozen. His throat was cut, blood running down his shirt and filling his lap. His eyes were open, a look of terror forever etched on his face. I screamed, not caring who heard me. "This can't be fucking happening." I cried as I tried to think of what to do. A blood-curdling scream resonated from within the house, the hairs on my neck standing up in response. That sounded like..no..it can't be..please, I thought as I rushed towards the house.

Right as I stepped on the porch, the lights came back on. Thank God, I thought as I reached out and opened the door. I crept inside, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Everything looked exactly as it had always been, not a single thing out of place.

I heard footsteps and ran towards them. I had just turned the corner into the living room when I slipped, hitting my head on the floor. Confused, I looked down and saw blood. Way too much blood. I looked around, trying to find the source but saw nothing.

I felt something land on my face and touched it, my fingers coming back red. I looked up and screamed, the sight too much to handle.

It was Rose. My Rose. She was hanging from one of the wooden beams that ran across the ceiling. Her body had been mutilated, her stomach cut open deep enough that her intestines were visible. Hot bile rose in my throat, choking me. I rolled over and vomited, not caring that I was laying in her blood. I heard a chuckle from the corner of the room, my body instantly tensing. I looked over but saw nothing. "Why you sick fuck?! Why did you do this?" I screamed, not expecting an answer. " Because I can." I heard a voice from behind me sneer, right before everything went black.