Just One Bite

Chapter 10: Jack's POV

The silence that fell over the house was almost suffocating. Everyone's eyes shifted back and forth to one another, like they were waiting for someone to speak. But no one ever did for a long while.

"Someone's bound to have seen him," I finally say, trying to suppress my panic, "He's got to be somewhere. People don't just vanish into thin air!"

"Amy saw our dad with his Hunters Team at Laurence's house before they left," Louise explains with her jaw clenched, "She told him James was missing and he promised he would keep a look out for him."

"And what about the Rogue?" Rebekah asks, getting to her feet.

"Our dad wouldn't say," Louise replies disappointedly, "But he's pretty sure that everything will be revealed tomorrow on the 8 o'clock news."

"Jesus fucking Christ," I blaspheme, turning away and raking both hands through my hair.

"There's nothing more we can do," Louise states, her features grim, "We might as well go home and start afresh tomorrow morning."

Once everyone had left and Olivia got us settled into the spare bedroom, it was coming close to half past five. Paul called me shortly afterwards to tell me the petrol station was closed tomorrow so there was no need for me to come into work. Everything was at a standstill. And then I woke up mid-afternoon to fifty text messages, endless missed calls and thousands of Facebook posts.

But I couldn't bring myself to look at one of them.

"Would you like something to drink?" Olivia asks as I plod into the kitchen, "Preferably an espresso? You look awful."

"I feel awful too," I mutter back, taking a seat at the island counter and flinching when a sharp twang of pain shoots through my left shoulder. Bruises along my back made my whole body throb from the stampede of students last night. "Where's Holly?"

"In the shower."

I nod once in response, my eyes following Olivia's movements as she busily completed small chores about the kitchen. As usual, Olivia was dressed in a smart white blouse with light pink jeans, her hair curled and her makeup flawless. "How much sleep have you had?" I ask groggily.

"I woke up at half past seven this morning," she answers over one shoulder, filling the kettle up at the sink, "So only two hours."

"How are you still functioning like a normal human being?"

Olivia just smiles, setting the kettle on to boil and grabbing a mug from the cupboard above it. "It's nothing caffeine can't solve," she replies, "And besides, I wanted to watch the news this morning." Her eyes avert my gaze as she pours milk and sugar into the mug. "Have you heard?"

"I don't think I want to," I answer lowly, feeling my heart start to pound with nerves. She doesn't say anything else until she's poured the boiling water, grabbed a teaspoon out of a draw and re-joined me at the counter with the mug clenched in both hands. "I don't drink tea or coffee," I say, "But thanks for the thought."

"This isn't for you," Olivia replies, "And this isn't tea or coffee."

"Huh?"

"This hot chocolate is for me," she says with a humoured smile. Then she ducks into the cupboard next to her and brings out a can of Monster energy drink. "This is for you."

I can't help to smile back. "You know me too well," I reply before taking a long swig.

"Fifteen are dead."

Drink spurts from my mouth, just missing Olivia's arm.

"What!?" I splutter, "Fifteen!?"

"And one missing."