Don't tell me bye bye (mystery/ thriller)

Chapter 28

The paramedics tended to Dan and Namjoon while Jennie and I told the police everything that'd happened. Jennie was so high on adrenaline I think the police thought she was on drugs, so they didn't really take her seriously until she played the recordings of Dan admitting what he'd done. She'd managed to record just enough information so that there was no mistaking what he admitted to, but she'd thankfully missed the part where he'd said Jules had known about what happened.

Namjoon blinked at me above his oxygen mask and waved a limp hand as I watched them close the ambulance doors on him and drive off to the hospital. I thought I'd won the biggest family secret award, but after the last few hours I think Namjoon is the more worthy winner.

The second ambulance contained Dan, the paramedics, plus two police officers. Jennie slung an arm around my shoulder and stuck her middle finger up at Dan as they closed the doors and took him away. They assured us that although he was on his way to the hospital, he was technically under arrest and they would be questioning him once he'd been stitched up. His wild hair and the dark circles under his eyes made him appear more like the menacing psychopath we now knew him to be, rather than the parish priest.

We both got dropped off by the police, but not before we insisted they take us to the hospital to see Tae. Jennie was practically running as we pushed past the nurse and burst through the doors to Tae's ward, I think a part of her believing that he would be awake. But he wasn't. She told him about what happened as she wiped a tear away from her eye, seeking out my hand as she addressed his motionless body.

The late night doorbell and the lights from the police cars meant that mum and Jin were at the door when we arrived. Mum grabbed me by the top of my arms, pulling me into her then holding me back at arm's length so she could check I wasn't injured, before Jin took me into the kitchen to make me a cup of tea. I was grateful for the police being there so they could relay the night's events instead of me having to go over what happened.

Mum took me up to my room, my head on her shoulder all the way up the stairs, and I think she would have carried me if I'd asked her to. Even though my mind was racing I managed to fall asleep almost instantly, the safety and warmth of my bed embracing me in its comfort, hugging me into a deep, restful sleep.

That was, until now.

I wake with a jolt and spring up in my bed, panting. I catch my breath and look at my clock through squinted eyes. Unbelievable; I've only been asleep for an hour. My body feels like it needs another day, or week, of rest.

I rub my eyes and fall back on my bed, trying to rub away the feeling of unease but it's still there, pressing on my chest like someone is straddled across me, forcing me down with all their weight. I was dreaming about something; about Teddy. I can't breathe properly and I can't centre myself, his face swimming around in the shadows that dance across the ceiling. I sit up again, and swing my legs off my bed. If I check on him, maybe I'll be able to get back to sleep.

I stumble out of my room head towards the warm glow of Teddy's nightlight outlining his bedroom door. I push the door open and tiptoe in, not wanting my irrational mind to wake him from whatever dreams of cake and candyfloss he's enjoying. The familiar shapes of his stuffed animal companions standing guard against the boogie monster calm me, and I make out a Teddy shape curled up like a Swiss roll in his duvet. I tease back the covers, unable to resist giving him a sweet dreams kiss.

I freeze.

He's not there; he's not in his bed.

My breath catches in my lungs and I pull the duvet all the way back, exposing two stuffed characters from his favourite TV show. I knock them to the floor and yank the duvet off the bed, scattering his stuffed toys around my feet and drop to my knees, knowing there's no reason why he would be under the bed, but checking anyway. I trip over his stuffed animals and throw his wardrobe doors open, pulling his clothes and shoes all over the floor.
"Teddy?! Teddy?!" I manage, my vocal chords pinched tight with fear.