The Wolf That Lies Beneath

Chapter two: Cameron the Canary

  "So what are they going to do now?" I asked Amber. After a few pieces of chocolate and half a cup of coffee she had calmed enough to carry a conversation.

"Hold an investigation," she answered with a shrug eating the last piece on the counter. "It's so crazy to think he was actually mu..murdered," she whispered. "We've had people die, sure. This is something different. There is someone out there right now that could be killing someone."

Her words sent a violent chill through me as green eyes flashed in my vision again. I shook my head and walked my cup to the sink to avert her eyes. "Yeah, I hope my parents don't hear about it. They're always looking for a reason to move," I mused, trying to slightly shift her attention.

It worked just as I hoped it would as she got up to check the fridge she replied, "Where did they even go this time? Isn't this like the fourth or fifth time they've taken a vacation in like . . . what -- two months? Not even?"

"Close enough," I said, "they claimed they need more sun than this town is giving them. Who knows? Maybe that means Egypt or something. They always show me pictures once they get back."

"That's so weird," she commented. "Why don't you go if it could be somewhere cool like that?"

"Well I would be with my parents so any place would lose the coolness either way. I just like to have the house to myself sometimes." Today not included.

She finally closed the fridge with a huff and turned back to me with a slight smirk on her face. "You're crazy. I would skip school to travel any day. Now let's go get breakfast somewhere." Apparently my fridge had disappointed. I normally ate cereal and called it good.

"Sure. Let me grab my stuff," I said as I picked my phone up and left the kitchen to hunt for my purse. As soon as I found it I dropped my phone inside and met Amber in the foyer.

It wasn't so cold, but I was sure I'd have chills most the day so I grabbed a small grey hoodie off the coat rack and slipped on some flats with it before following Amber to her car. 

She chatted about school and wondering if she could set up a service for Bobby with some committee she was a part of. I gave simple answers while my mind racked over my dream. What if the nervous pit in my stomach wasn't from just his handsome looks; what if he was out there killing..

By the time she pulled into the diner I had convinced myself I was being paranoid and no handsome boy would be running around draining the blood from random people and eating them. So why was there still a knot in my tummy as  I followed her inside?

"Morning ladies," the elderly hostess greeted as soon as the bell rang. "Just the 2?"

"Yes," I answered with much enthusiasm, noticing Amber watch me as I did.

She nodded and grabbed two menus, but as soon as she turner away Amber stopped walking and said, "are you okay? You look a little sick."

"Maybe I am," I deflected. In truth I felt scared for no reason. "I'm going to go to the restroom. I'll find the table." I turned and started toward the bathrooms before she could reply.

I walked past a few tables blindly and through a door in the back that led to a small hall with two restrooms and a door to the kitchen. Only the kitchen was marked so I knocked on one of the other doors.

If it didn't make me feel so crazy I would say the response I got was a full-on savage animal growl - a bear roaring before it charges mixed with a wild dog fixing to attack. But that was crazy.

It couldn't be.

So I turned and knocked on the other door.

When I got no reply at all I walked in. The brightness after the dim hall and dining area hurt my eyes, but opened my senses more. I turned the water on and splashed my face a few times with the icy stream.