The Midnight Within

Chapter 24

Shaking like a leaf Kate walked from the pagan bookstore down the few blocks to Rocks. It was still early but going to the school without a few drinks in her would not be a good idea. She didn't even know how she would be able to return to her job without falling apart in front of everyone. Daniel was not a killer. He wouldn't have hurt an animal let alone knowingly kill Nick. She knew that in her gut that he was not responsible for whatever happened to Nick and although she had ended it a while a go she had never stopped loving him, even after falling for Sam she had spent many nights crying over Daniel. Pushing open the back door she walked into the darkened bar and was not surprised to see Scott and Joe sitting at the far end. They were yelling at the game on the big screen TV and drinking pitchers of beer. So more than likely they didn't know what had happened and she hoped she could keep it that way for now. Sliding onto a stool she ordered a beer as Scott waved at her. The place was empty except for Blaze and Remmy tearing down from the night before and suddenly she felt like crying again. How had things gone so horribly wrong in such a short period of time? " What are you doing here so early? " Shannyn handed her the beer with a worried smile. " Something bad happened last night. " " Yeah. Isn't that crazy. Do you think that kid really did it? " " Absolutely not! " " Of course he did. " Joe wrapped an arm around Kate's shoulders. " Should have done it a long time ago. Nick was a huge dick. " " It was probably self defense. " Scott sat down on the stool next to her. " So you guys know then? " Kate drank down her beer and the shaking stopped. " I know sweetheart. " Shannyn slid her another one. " On me OK. " " Thanks. " " You should probably go home before that cop comes back here. " Rem spoke from the shadows. Kate turned to see Remmy at the end of the bar. He looked tired and sad. " Cooper? He's only trying to help find Sam. " " No one's going to find Sam. " Blaze said from the stage. " Excuse me? " Kate got up and went over to him. " I said that no ones going to find Sam. " Blaze blew smoke into the air as he torn down his drum kit. " Don't talk like that. " She thought she saw him smile and it made her skin crawl. He came over to her and took the beer out of her hand. " You and I both know what you did. " He glanced at the bar and handed the beer back. " What I did? " Kate felt her stomach roll. " You blacked out while fighting with him. That's why you don't remember, but I got your back. " " What are trying to say? " Her eyes narrowed as she began to shake again. " It's all good. " Blaze held out his smoke to her. " Sam was a dick. " " He's your brother. " Kate began to cry again. " Was...But you took care of that. If you need anything just let me know. " " I would never hurt anyone...." Kate was horrified. " Are you sure about that? " Blaze reached out to tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear. " This town...It changes you. Sometimes we do things that we might not want to remember. " " I have to go. " Feeling sick she turned to wave at Scott and Joe who were still at the bar with Remmy. " Don't be afraid of it...Embrace who you really are. " Blaze stood up and went back to his kit without looking back. Kate left Rocks and headed right for the school. Did Blaze know something about her past? Her fight to have a normal life? Had she really killed Sam? They had fought and then what? She had woken up in Aaron's bed. It wasn't her best night and she had never thought twice about it. Blaze had to be wrong and if he knew more than she did then why stay silent? What did he have to gain by covering up his own brothers disappearance? and now this....She would have to find Daniel before the police did but first she needed to go to the library to pick up a few things and hit the liquor store on her way there.