I'll Help You Hide From Them

Neighbours

I immediately storm out of the house and grab the kid by the wrist. "What are you doing?" I growl.

The kid looks horrified and starts calling for help.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt you so you might as well tell me why you're writing on my windows. Did someone put you up to this?" I demand.

The kid just shakes his head, starting to cry.

"Come on, don't be such a baby, you're not in trouble yet but you will be if you continue to avoid answering my questions." I tell the kid. "I'm a police officer, see?" I try, taking out my badge to show the kid.

The kid keeps trying to get away but I don't let it.

"Did you see someone out here?" I ask it.

It slowly nods its head.

"Can you describe him?" I ask softly. "I promise you won't be in trouble if you tell me the truth."

"He was friendly, he smiled a lot at us but I found him scary. He'd look at us weird." The kid starts while crying.

"What did he look like?" I gently try to continue.

"He was wearing a police uniform." The kid tells me, only calming me down slightly. "Oh, he said his name was Shane."

I instantly feel panicked. He could've eaten my neighbours! It wasn't just a trick! He was actually here!

"You need to go home right now!" I tell him gravely. "Find your friends and make sure they all go home now!" I tell the kid, finally letting go of its wrist.

The kid instantly runs off, calling for its friends.

I look on the floor to see the officer I almost had a problem with last night in just his underwear. I freeze up and sit on the steps outside my home until a car pulls up.

Captain Beveridge and Dr. Illingworth instantly run over to me.

"Detective, I'm sorry about what happened but we're going to put you in a safe house now that it's been made clear that you're no longer safe here." The Captain tells me.

"I've rescheduled my appointments today so I can be here for as long as you need me." Dr. Illingworth adds.

Kier instantly comes out and wraps me in a warm blanket for my shock.

"How is he?" Dr. Illingworth asks Kier since I'm just staring at the officer's body, trying to figure out why it's making me so unsettled.

"He had a severe panic attack this morning when he saw the message Shane had drawn on the bedroom window. He needs help and I don't have the correct skills to help him medically." Kier reports.

"That's what I'm here for." Dr. Illingworth replies, taking my wrist in his hand to check my pulse. He gives me a concerned look when he realises that my heart is racing.

"What's wrong with him?" Laurence asks the therapist.

The therapist looks at what I'm looking at, shaking his head sadly.

I notice that what I was finding unsettling was that the officer's tongue has been cut out. I instantly turn over and throw up on the steps next to me. The thought that Shane was talking to my neighbours children makes me feel so much worse.

He could've killed them! My neighbours would never forgive me if he had!

Kier and Dr. Illingworth get started on cleaning off my puke.

"Kier, don't you need to go to your classes soon?" Captain Beveridge asks.

"I just figured I should stay with Drew until someone else can." Kier replies.

"We'll take it from here, get to the academy." Laurence tells him.

"But-" Kier tries.

"You still need to pass your exams if you're going to be permanently hired." The Captain points out.

Kier looks conflicted before nodding. "Take care Drew, I'll be back the second I'm done." He tells me before leaving.

I remain frozen. Dr. Illingworth carefully helps me to my feet, guiding me back in my house. He sits me down at my dining table, pulling up a bucket next to me in case I throw up again.

He pours out a glass of water for me and puts it on the table in front of me.

"How are you feeling, Drew?" He softly asks.

"I don't know..." I reply quietly.

"I was worried when you didn't turn up to our appointment. I was concerned something happened to you." He gently tells me. "Did you sleep well?" He checks.

"I think so... before..." I trail off slightly.

"It's okay, what you're feeling is normal." He tells me calmingly.

"I'm tired." I murmur. "What time is it?

"Do you want to sleep right now?" He checks, looking a little surprised. "It's only 8.37." He adds, checking his watch. "I mean, we were meant to work on relaxation techniques this morning so I could help you take a nap if you want." He suggests.

The fact that I'm so tired all of a sudden makes me a little confused. "What's going on? I don't understand." I ask.

"After seeing what was outside and throwing up, your body is trying to sleep it off. It's a perfectly natural reaction so there's nothing to worry about. I know that sleeping is a problem for you so I could help you to go under." He replies slowly so that I can't misunderstand what he's saying.

"Can you help me please?" I ask him.

He nods and gets me to close my eyes.