Embrace

Chapter 7

A/N: Fair warning once again. This chapter, while devoid of sexual scenes, does depict some scenes of violence. It's not too graphic, but for those that are uncomfortable with such things, remember no one is forcing you to read things that make you uncomfortable. Feel free to skip the chapter because as long as you are happy that's all that matters.

Niall tried his best not to look. They all did. But there lay Jason for them all to see: neck splayed like a rubied-crescent, moon up turned to the egg-shell white of the bedroom ceiling. His mouth hung open lazily, the sheets soaked through with red, until a stifled dripping of blood oozed through the mattress and onto the hardwood floors.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!" Jess proclaimed, clutching at the side of her head and making fistfuls in the hair that lay there as she paced irritably on the spot.

The window had been open when they first discovered the body. Spitting flecks of rain on to the dark brown of the ledge, but Jennifer had closed it after inspecting it incredulously. Having pulled herself together after passing over the initial shock of the discovery. The window was three storeys off the ground. Or rather, it would be if the ground wasn't totally hidden by five inches of tumultuous, writhing, dirty, water.

For the storm continued to rage on outside, occasionally barrelling through with thunder and lightening as it hammered with rain from the blackened clouds. This had brought Jennifer to the deduction that the likelihood of someone actually using that as an entrance being unlikely, and therefore it was a decoy. She readjusted the glasses on her nose, and began inspecting Jasons body a bit closer.

She took note of the lack of noticeable bruising, the state of the bedsheets, the somewhat relaxed position of the body. He didn't seem to have struggled. Jason was in good shape, he shouldn't have had much issue fighting off anyone here.

Her investigative mind was in overdrive as she inspected each of her companions and the room with the utmost scrutiny:

Emma was the last person to see Jason alive, that Jennifer knew of, and given that Jason clearly didn't put up much of a fight means that he probably knew his murderer and didn't think they would cause him harm. She was legendary for her temper. Maybe the little session they had didn't quite go to Emma's liking?

Jess was arguably the most able bodied out of them all. Physically strong and trained, she could've quite easily, and efficiently, performed the neat cut Jasons body displayed. Except she had been physically right next to Jennifer since they left the lake until now.

Niall was the least imposing in Jennifers eyes. Timid. Quiet. One of the lucky ones when it comes to metabolism and health as he can seemingly digest anything and not have it effect him one bit. She reckoned he was the least likely to do this, but that same aura of harmlessness is probably exactly what would make him so efficient. She had spotted him going to the bathroom numerous times, leaving so quietly: his sudden absence did nothing to disturb any room he was in. Unless you were particularly observant. Or Will.

Will was strong, handsome, friendly. He could approach anyone and they'd be convinced they had been friends for years. If it wasn't the fact that he seemed to have a physical need to be within ten feet of Niall at all times, he would be Jennifers top suspect.

The only thing she was missing for any of her friends: was motive. Jennifer hated the idea that one of these people could be a murderer, especially a murderer of sweet Jason, but she had no time for attachments. As much as she wanted to. There were lives at stake, possibly more, and being the closest thing to law enforcement here she had to take the reigns.

The group had already established that the phones were without signal and the Wi-Fi was a no go, the storm entirely cutting them off from the rest of the world. It was surprising to them all that the houses power hadn't been shut off entirely and leaving them in the dark, but it would seem they would have to wait until the storm passed before anything could be done.