Discovering the Moonlight

6

Chapter 6

Sitting in the back of my dad’s police cruiser I hug a blanket tightly around my chest. My eyes swollen from the crying and my cheeks still wet from all the tears. The sun had begun to set giving the park a glum setting. Bright lights flashing from all around the car made it hard to keep from squinting.

Caution tape was strung up around the dead girl’s body. The coroner was zipping her up and taking final notes of the scene.

The door opens. “Claire, were all done here. I’m gonna take you home now sweetie.” My dad’s voice echoed through my head.

He had seen the pain in his daughter’s eyes. She was too young to witness something as horrible as this. He placed his hands on both sides of her head and reached over and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. She slowly looked up at him but nothing was there, she seemed so distant.

I grabbed his hand. “I’m ready to go home.” I tried to block out the images of the girl’s naked body, her ripped out throat, and all the blood. She was just a girl; she didn’t deserve to be dead.

He shook his head. “Sure thing sweetie.” He gave me one last smile and shut the door before jumping in to the driver side. He mumbled something to another officer before we backed out and headed for home.

“Claire, when you’re feeling better we need to talk. I know this isn’t the time to bring it up but why were you at the park with that young man?” My dad’s voice reaching to the backseat.

I had almost had forgotten about Wyatt. “Where did he go dad.” My voice barely above a whisper.

He looked at me through his rear view mirror. “He left awhile back. He kept asking to see you but I told him no. I knew that you needed some quiet time.” He put his blinker on and turned down our road. “Who is he?”

I wish I could really answer that question. Who was Wyatt? He seemed so calm to see that body, but then again maybe he was just being strong for me. I didn’t know what to think anymore. “He is just my teacher dad. He was helping me with a project,” I said hoping my voice reassured him. “He was probably worried because I had just seen a dead body. You could have let me see him.” My words coming out a bit harsher than I wanted.

Dad pulled into the drive way and looked over the seat at me. “Do you have feelings for him Claire? If you do you need to get them out of your head now!” His soft tone had now turned into a harsher one.

I glared at him and threw the blanket off of me and just stared out the window. “Dad, it’s not like that with him. He is just my teacher! Now let me out of the car. I want to go take a nice hot bath and forget about the DEAD body that I had just seen.”

“Claire, sweetie I really do love you and I only want the best for you.”

I looked up into his pale blue eyes. My father was only concerned. I guess if I were him I would be worried too.

I nodded my head. “Ok, I’m sorry.”

**********

I had so many questions running through my mind. What kind of animal was doing this? We had never had this happen before. We have never had a wolf or even a bear accident.

Ring. Ring.

I flipped my cell phone over and seen that mom was calling.

“Claire? Are you alright sweetie?” My mother’s voice sounding panicked. I knew dad had to have told her by the tone of her voice.

“Yes, mom I’m fine.”

“I am on a plane first thing tomorrow morning and don’t think that you can argue with me on this.”

Mom was really upset this time. I don’t think no matter how much I begged; she would still get on that plane anyways.

“I’m sorry mom.” I burst into tears recalling the memory of the dead girl.

“Sweetie, don’t cry none of this is your fault. Grandma will be just fine if I come up there for a few days. I have a neighbor looking after her.”

Tears streamed down my face as my voice came out in between broken sobs. “Thanks mom. I really need you right now.”

“No problem baby girl. Now quit crying and get some sleep. We have some things to talk about when I get back tomorrow.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Don’t worry about it tonight. Just go to bed and I will see ya sometime after lunch tomorrow.” Her voice now echoing into the receiver. “Bye sweetie.”

Before I had the chance to respond she hung up the phone.

 Hey guys been pretty busy up till now. I know this is an uneventful chapter but I just wanted to let you know that her mom was coming back. Sorry for the long wait! I am just glad that I have readers that want to read my stuff still! Thanks so much! Oh and what I think Lydia looks like on the right!