A Rose With Teeth and Claws

Lost lives

     In New York, there were many things to do but Daniel was not doing any of those things. He was too busy grieving to be having fun.
     "It's alright Dan, there was nothing you could have done." and "It's not your fault." or "I know it hurt but you'll be alright." were the words people said to him. But that's not what he wanted to hear, contrary to their beliefs.
     What he wanted to hear is that the news anchor and his eyes were lying to him. They had to be. Because this wasn't true. She wasn't gone. And he didn't find her body in the woods, bloody and broken.
     It was just one big nightmare and he was ready to wake up.
     He slung his feet off the side of the bed and groaned. I need some time to think about everything. I can't lie here forever. Three weeks is long enough.
     Dan heaved himself up off the bed. He was actually going to do something other than lie in bed and cry today. Gathering himself, he made his way toward the kitchen, which is right by the door.
     "I'm going outside. Don't call for me fore a while!" He heard a faint yell from somewhere in his mother's bedroom to be safe and he was gone.
     His dark brown hair was a mess on top, his fringe all over the place, but the shaved sides were alright.
     Green eyes scanned his appearance. He was still in his orange nightshirt that he thought was too bright for his mood, blue jeans, and his old grey sneakers Rose used to laugh at him for.
     Rose.
     Rosaire Adam. His best friend.
     She was the reason for all the sad news lately. Three weeks ago, she died the woods outside his house. Dan was the only one grieving for her at the moment as her father was in the hospital, comatose.
     He and Rose had had a fight the day she died and Mr. Adam ended up hitting the wall with such force it cracked his skull.
     Considering his and Roses weight and build, there was no possible way the she could have pushed her father hard enough to cause the damage done. He's alright now but he hasn't woken up.
     Dan looked up and glanced around. Seeing where he'd wandered aimlessly left him more upset then he had been moment before. He hadn't noticed he'd walked right to the place he wanted to be least.
     This was where he had found her.
     The blood stains having been washed away by the rain but the smell of her lingered with the metallic tang of iron. She looked like she had been attacked by some wild animal with large teeth and claws, but there were no large predators in New York and most of it had been inflicted by other means. That was the worst part. The large bruises and small sits were inflicted by a person, but not herself.
     What happened to you Rosey?
     He sat down on a fallen tree they used to sit on and talk about adventures they want to go on, and lost himself to his thoughts once more.
     I don't know what to do. Your death just doesn't add up, but there's nothing to go off of. No clues to piece together. It's all missing. Along with your body.
     "Where are you?"