Painted Smile: The Return of Jeffery Woods

Hunted...

Ten o'clock at night, a woman, daughter and dog plodded along the dark and empty streets of Clairville, panting. The sheepdog walked with his head down but could still see where he was going. Bella spoke, breaking the silence, "Mam? What are we going to do? He's after me." Becky hated listening to her daughter worry and tremble. She replied without making direct eye contact, "I don't know Bella. But what I do know, is that no matter how hard he tries, he's never going to get to you. Not when me and Baxter are here." Both mother and daughter stopped as Baxter had stopped and stared behind them. As she looked behind to her pet, Becky asked, "Baxter, what is it boy?" The dog pricked up his ears as he could slightly here a noise. A faint noise of a siren. He then started barking. "Baxter! Baxter, what's going on?" Bella then told her mother as she pointed in the distance, "Mam look." Becky squinted her eyes until she could see a red and blue flashing light. Becky gasped and whispered under her breath, "The police. But how did they know?" Becky then grabbed Bella's hand and commanded Baxter to follow as she sprinted in the reverse direction of where they were going. Closer and closer they got to the police car, with Baxter running in front of them both. Becky and Bella then shouted as Baxter started barking to get the polices' attention, "Help us! Help!" A policeman and doctor ran to the three of them. "What's going on? Are you alright?" Becky kept Bella close and replied, "He's here. He tried to kill my daughter. He's after us!" The policeman replied as he pondered, "Wait, stop stop. Who's trying to kill you?" The doctor then said, stopping Becky from speaking, "Who do you think is trying to kill them? Jeffery. This is his daughter and his sister. He's back and now he's more angrier than ever." Becky then responded to the doctor, "You're Dr Winters, right? The one who had been studying my brother? We met in the hospital six years ago." Dr Winters smiled. "You remembered well. Look how big Bella has gotten. You do realise what you're gonna have to do, don't you? You now have to do everything you can to keep her safe. In my gut, I feel like he is only after your poor daughter, and I don't think it's for a good reason." Becky then frowned and Bella stayed close to her mother, gently stroking Baxter.

"Ok, I'm gonna take you both down to the station with me," said the policeman. Bella then asked, hugging her beloved dog, "But what about Baxter? We can't leave him here. What if the boogeyman gets him? I don't want to go with you if my doggy can't come." The policeman looked at Dr Winters and sighed, "Oh, alright then. But make sure he stays with you the whole time." Bella smiled and Becky took her and Baxter to the police car. But Baxter stopped and stared at his house. He was sensing something, but at this minute he couldn't make out what is was. He pricked up his ears to see if he could hear anything. "Baxter? Baxter what is it," asked Becky, kneeling down next to him. The dog sniffed through his nose to try and increase the scent. Then, he was able to track where the scent was coming from, and who it was. His tongue hanged from his mouth as a smile appeared on his face and his tail wagged from left to right, rapidly and repeatedly. He then ran to the side of the house, into the darkness where no one could see.

Bella climbed out the car and started to run in the same direction Baxter ran in. But Becky grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Mam! Mam let go of me! Baxter has ran off!" Dr Winters stepped in front of the two of them. As he saw a shadow approaching them. It was Baxter. "Look! He's back," exclaimed Becky. Dr Winters responded, "He's brought someone with him." Baxter walked back into the light and Bella ran to him, giving him a hug. A woman then slowly approached the two of them and when Bella made eye contact, she and Baxter ran back to Becky. "Mam, who's that lady," she asked. Becky replied as she stared at the woman, "I don't know." The lady had long, brown curly hair and wore a red shirt with blue jeans. "What are you doing here," asked Dr Winters as he recognised the girl. "After what had happened, you were told to stay away from Jeff and to make sure not to go somewhere he had been, incase he came back. We don't want a repeat of the incident with you and him." The lady looked at the floor with a frown on her face. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't want to risk having someone else die. What if it was someone I knew? Someone I was really close with?" The doctor replied, "You mean like, family?" The woman replied, "No, I mean a friend. I've lost one already and I don't want to lose another one." Baxter ran towards the woman and jumped up at her wagging his tail. "Baxter! Baxter, come back here," commanded Becky. The dog disobeyed as he tried to lick the face of the lady. The woman suddenly looked at Becky, "Wait, did you just say, Baxter?" Becky pulled a look and replied sternly, "Yes, he's my dog. Why?" The lady replied shaking her head a little, "Oh it's nothing. I was just asking." The policeman came over to them and said, "Come on, I'm taking you to the station. And you, you're coming with us too. What's your name?" The policeman asked as he pointed at the lady. The lady replied, "My name's, Amy."

Becky then turned back around so instead of looking towards the police car, she was looking at Amy. "Did you just say, your name's Amy?" Amy slowly nodded her head. "Yes, why? Do I know you?" Becky slowly walked towards Amy, causing her to slowly walk backwards, nervous about what Becky was going to do. "Do you happen to know someone called Becky Eleanor Woods by any chance," Becky asked, leaning in as she squinted her eyes. "Yes, she was my best friend. We were thirteen when me and my other best friend last saw her." Becky asked, "What do you mean by 'was'?" Amy replied, "Well, something happened with her. There was an incident. Me and my friend never saw her again. So now it's just been the two of us." The policeman yelled, "You two, what are you waiting for? Christmas? Come on let's get going!" Bella shouted along, "Mam, come on!" Baxter then barked. He was layed on Bella's lap with his head facing the window. Becky and Amy then headed for the police car and sat in it. Bella and her dog were near the window, Becky sat in the middle and Amy sat near the other window of the car. The doctor was sat in the front along with the policeman. He then drove to the police station to question Becky on what had happened. All the way to the station, there was silent. Not even Baxter made a sudden noise. Bella's hand was gently stroking Baxter's head. Her eyes were getting droopier by the minute. She hadn't got that much sleep. She was thinking that maybe she was never going to sleep. That's what Becky was thinking. Why couldn't her brother just leave her alone? Why was he tormenting her like this? Even his own daughter wasn't safe. Becky couldn't think like this, it'll only weaken her. Bella then started to drift off. But she suddenly woke up with a gasp as she saw her father's face. "Bella? Are you alright," asked Becky. Bella nodded her head. She then stared out the window and watched the street lights pass by.