Horrors Edge {Preview}

Chapter 2: A Hunt in Huntsville

March 13th, 4 years ago:
The sound of arguing could be heard from the seventeen-year-old Jocelyn's room. Though she was considered to be a part of a nuclear family, the girl never liked it when her parents argued; despite it to be a rarity in the Howell residence. Tonight in comparison to other arguments, was a night that forced Jocelyn to question her morals.

Logan's voice rose slightly. "Explain to me why my daughter came home tonight in a police car and won't tell us what happened to lead up to Alic-."

"Logan, if she wants to talk about it then let her talk about it when she's ready to. She's been through a lot tonight and we're lucky that she's alive," Jocelyn's mom, Samantha, interrupted her husband sternly.

Jocelyn's father responded with a heavy sigh knowing that his wife was correct.

In her room, Jocelyn could hear her parents' voices die down. She stared at her bruises littered on her ribs, knees, and upper thighs from tonight. While the wounds were covered in bandages, she couldn't unsee the sight of the spirit from tonight. 'My friends are dead... All because of a stupid dare.'

It was an accidental hunt. Jocelyn and two friends of hers decided, at least the two friends, to visit a supposed site where a spirit resided. The Principal's daughter, Leah, had dared Jocelyn, Alice, and Megan to come with her into the house. The quartet clearly had no clue what they were doing, but they not only saw the ghost but were nearly killed as well. At least Jocelyn and Leah nearly were; her friends, however, weren't as fortunate. Megan and
Alice's bodies were now dead on the front porch of the abandoned house.
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Waking up after a hunt was always the hardest thing for Jocelyn. Her muscles were sore and so was Jocelyn's head. She didn't complain but, to her defense, it was getting harder to get up after four days of inconsistent sleep.

She didn't want to remove the blanket that was covering her at first. Her body was protesting against her mind, begging for five more minutes. Jocelyn knew there was no point in staying in bed all day, so she got up and went to take a proper shower.
Now wearing a red tank top with a gray hooded jacket and blue jeans, Jocelyn heard the motel room door open and Eliza's voice announcing her presence.

"I brought food, kid," Eliza declared. "And I got you some coffee as well."

Suddenly perked up, the exhaustion Jocelyn once had vanished in thin air. To Eliza, the young woman, in the split second it took to sprint out of the bathroom to the living room/bedroom, looked like a child excited to see their parents come home and show them what they did in class that day.

The older woman watched as Jocelyn snatched the cup of coffee and a bag of food from her hand while simultaneously thanking Eliza. Eliza and Mark, who had just woken up, raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Looks like the Featherhead isn't much of an early bird after all," Mark commented, his voice husky from just waking up.

Rolling her eyes, Jocelyn attempted to ignore the comment and started to eat her food. This only fueled Mark's shenanigans further. "What's the matter, cat got your tongue?"

"I'm half tempted to take this steaming hot coffee and pour it down your pants," Jocelyn replied, invisible daggers poised to strike.

"Aha! So the Featherhead sings her first song of the day," Mark sniggered after he sat up and stretched.
Eliza sighed with a knowing yet exasperated smile, handing Mark his food. "Shut up and eat your food love birds. We've got a long day ahead of us. Leo called and said that there's a Hexpaw in Huntsville, Alabama."

Both Mark and Jocelyn stopped eating. Mark was the first to speak. "A Hexpaw? I thought Hexpaws avoided the cold."

"That's why he called, " Eliza added. "Leo believes that something's up. The monster rate in that area has gone up recently and he thinks that someone or something is causing this."

"So that's why you called me all the way from Middlebury?" Mark inquired. "It's the Winchester house case all over again."

Eliza rolled her eyes at Mark's childish behavior,

"They're two different things, Mark."

"So? I still think it's Leo losing his mind, remember when-" Mark was cut off by Eliza, who was getting annoyed by her nephew's attitude toward her friend.

"Leo is a good Parahunter, but he's also human. He made a few mistakes in the past, so what? It's not like you had anything going on besides failing to get a girlfriend."

Jocelyn had to contain her laughter as Mark's face lit up red with embarrassment and based on his reaction, the things Eliza said were true.

"Now, get ready," Eliza added, her phone rang and soon Eliza was outside the room, answering the call. Jocelyn drowned out the conversation between Eliza and Leo as she finished her food. She sighed contently as she chewed her breakfast, and crumpled up the paper that had once contained her bagel sandwich.

After taking a sip of her coffee and setting the cup on the table, she started to hum a tune that she couldn't remember where she heard it from. She continued to hum as she packed up her stuff into her bags.

Mark leaned against the bathroom doorway; now wearing an olive green shirt with jeans, his hair was messy and the towel he had used to dry his hair was wrapped around his neck. He stared at Jocelyn as she packed smiling a little when he heard her switch from humming to singing softly. Mark smirked, taking the opportunity to tease the copper-haired woman once more. "Look at that," Mark said making Jocelyn visibly flinch, clutching her knife and quickly turning to face him, "The Featherhead can sing."

Jocelyn groaned. "Will you quit calling me that!" she hissed as she went back to shoving her clothes in her duffle bag. Before Mark could add his two cents, Eliza interrupted.

"We got a bigger problem." Eliza said looking grim as she hung up the phone and closing the door behind her, "Some Parahunters have been going missing... in the past day or two."

Confused, Jocelyn looked at Eliza almost not bothered at all, "So? Some Parahunters are careless and get killed or lost-"

Eliza's expression grew worried, "Jocelyn, almost forty Parahunters have been announced missing in the past day. Parahunters going missing and monster numbers are going up?" Eliza questioned.

"Something's up and we have to check it out."

"Looks like we're going to Huntsville," Mark replied.
Jocelyn glared between Mark and Eliza, "Does he have to come?" she asked, turning her attention fully to Eliza.

"That's why I called him here," Eliza added. "So stop complaining and let's get a move on."

End of chapter 2 really hope you enjoyed it!