Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 9: "I think he was murdered."

"Harp-" Julian begins. He shoots forward to catch me when I trip on a tree root, but his arms go right through me. He sighs angrily. "I'm sorry." He says.

I'm freaking out because I got lost, separated from everyone two hours ago and only Julian is with me.

"I hate not being in human form!" he groans. "Are you okay?" I grab my flashlight and stand up.

"No, I am not okay. I'm scared and lost."

"At least you aren't alone." He says.

"That's true." I mumble. He may not be human, well not exactly, but he's nice, and he can think, he just can't touch.

"You're bleeding." He points to my knee. My jeans ripped right open when they got hooked on a tree root and I cut my knee.

I sigh. "I'm freaking out." I admit, trudging through the woods. I slip again, this time on something slimy, and I scramble to my feet, and I hear a loud crack.

"That's a lake!" Julian says frantically. I jump back until the ground is beneath my feet. The ice begins to break, and the lake turns to water.

I'm quiet for a really long time. "Maybe he drowned." I say. He frowns.

"I don't know...he had magic...drowning seems..."

"Too easy?" I ask.

"Yes."

"I think he was murdered." Julian says.

"Me too." I sigh.

We're wandering, lost, not clue where we are, or what direction the house is in. I walk around the edge of the lake with Julian following me.

"You know, if he was murdered...someone could have hid his body."

"He admitted to killing us." Julian says. "Someone could've gotten mad and killed him...I don't mean to sound...so stuck up, but we were kind of liked..." he sighs. "I bet someone killed him."

"Any ideas? Even though they're dead, anything could help."

He's quiet for a while. "How about...well, my uncle..." he seems confused for a moment. "If he lost his cool, he could have done it."

"What was your uncle's name?"

"David Jefferson. My Dad's brother." He says.

I hear a twig crack and I freeze, and so does Julian.

"HARPER?" Collin screams.

"COLLIN?" I scream back.

"I HEAR HER!" he yells. "WHERE ARE YOU?"

I start moving towards his voice, and run right into Will, who grips my arms.

"Oh thank god." He hugs me.

"Oh, you're bleeding!" Mom pulls me into her arms.

"I'm fine." I reassure her. "Julian thinks his uncle killed the guy." I say.

"That makes a lot of sense." His Dad says.

"But how would he do it?" he asks.

"I haven't got a clue." Mrs. Jefferson says. "Let's go back. Harper is bleeding and I'm sure you guys are tired."

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I'm sorry this is so short but please comment and let me know what you think!