A Mystery Novel

~ČĤÁPŤĔŔ 11~

"We're really sorry Ty," Savannah says remorsefully, "we wouldn't have forgotten you, we were just really scared."

Savannah stands beside his hospital bed, giving him her 'you can't stay mad at this face' look. Jacob gave up apologizing a long time ago and Jacqueline's just staring out the window.

"I was run over by my own car," Tyler says.

"I already said I'm sorry," Xander sighs.

"But you broke my leg."

"But you forgave me right?"

"Right."

"So let it go, will ya?"

"Guys, turn on the TV," Miley says when she walks in. She was able to pry Tyler's mom away from him, while in the hallway, she met one of her highschool friends and she's still chatting with her now.

Savannah turns on the TV in the room, there's a commercial for baby diapers.

"What are we supposed to be watching?" Xander asks.

"It was on the news a few seconds ago. Someone set the hunted house on fire, firemen were able to put it out before it spread and the house is still standing but I'm pretty whatever clue we were supposed to find has been turned to ashes."

"So we're at a dead end. I broke my leg for nothing," Tyler sighs.

~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~

The TV in the living room is still on but Xander and Jacqueline fell asleep a long time ago on the couch. The banging on the front door wakes them up.

Jacqueline grips Xander's arm out of fear. They look at each other, unsure of what to do. Xander finally stands up and moves towards the door and Jacqueline, not wanting to be left alone, follows.

Xander looks through the peep hole and then opens the door. Standing before them is a barefooted Savannah in nothing but a tank top and shorts, shaking like a leaf either from cold or fear. There's dried tears on her face.

She runs into Xander's arm and starts crying again.

It takes half an hour to get her to calm down and tell them what's going on.

"He....he was in my room," she says, sitting on Xander's laps and resting her head on his chest. She's directly opposite him with her legs crossed behind him and her hands around his neck, she's not letting go anytime soon.

Xander slowly rocks her back and forth and Jacqueline can't help but think about how cute they look together.

"The killer? Did he attack you?" Xander asks softly.

"No, when I woke up, he was just standing by my window, staring at me."

"Did you see his face? Is he someone you know?"

"I didn't see his face," she says, "it was so scary. I thought he was going to kill me, I don't wanna die," she starts crying again.

"Its okay, you're safe now," Xander cups her face in his hands and kisses her, forcing Jacqueline to look away. Seeing your crush kiss another girl, how heartbreaking.

An hour later, Savannah finally falls asleep, Xander tries to pry her off him but her grip is firm.

"Jackie," Xander says low enough to not wake Savannah but loud enough to get the attention of Jacqueline who is staring out the window, "call Miley."

Jacqueline takes his phone from the coffee table and dials Miley.

"Xander, its five in the morning, what do you want?!" Miley snaps.

"Uh....Miley..." Jacqueline says, a bit scared to talk.

"Jacqueline? What happened to Xander?" Miley asks, her bed creaking as she stands up.

"Its Savannah."

"I'll be there sooner than possible," she says, the sound of her shoes hitting the floor as she runs down her stairs leaves no doubt.

~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~

"Savannah," Miley rushes into the living room still wearing her pajamas.

"That was fast, how many people did you run over?" Xander asks.

"The important thing is I'm here now. What happened?"

"The killer was in her room."

Miley gasps, "did he try to kill her?"

"No, he didn't even attack when he found out she was awake."

"Maybe he was looking for something," Miley suggests.

"He was just staring at her," Xander says.

"So if he didn't want to kill her and he didn't want anything, why was he there?"

"That's a question only he can answer," Xander sighs, "do you know if Jake and Ty are okay?"

"I'll call."

After about ten missed calls later, they start to get antsy.

"I'll go check on them," Miley says, grabbing her cars keys and bolting out the door.

Fortunately, she comes back thirty minutes later with Jacob and Tyler who can barely keep their eyes open. She holds Jacob's hand and leads him to a couch where he immediately snoozes off while she leaves Tyler to walk with a broken leg, he's eyes are still closed.

He makes it up to the porch before he falls on the ground and continues sleeping. No one bothers to go get him.

"They're totally fine. Jake's phone was turned off and Ty's battery died because he was up all night playing PUBG," Miley says.

"That's great. Now can you get Savannah off me? My back is starting to hurt."

"Just lay her on the couch."

Xander stands up and tries to but Savannah's still holding on to him. He doesn't even have to hold her, her grip is so tight.

"Xander? Why are you up so early?" Mr. Kresge asks, coming down the stairs, dressed and ready for work, not bothering to ask why there's a girl strapped to him.

"Mr. K? Why are you going to work by this time?" Miley asks.

"I have a lot of work to take care of, I should leave now, don't wanna be late," he says and hurries to the door. He steps over Tyler on the porch, also not bothering to ask why there's an unconscious boy on his porch.

"Doesn't wanna be late?" Miley reiterates Mr. Kresge's statement, "does he know that he's like three hours early?"

Xander replies with a sad smile.

"Sucks to be you," Miley says.

"Wow, thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," Xander says sarcastically.

"I try," Miley says.

~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~·~

So Savannah had another encounter with the killer. But if he's a killer, y didn't he kill her? Guess we'll never know...or will we?

U know wat 2 do. 💜 u lots 😘😘😘