The New Guy: Finn Harries Fan Fiction *SLOW UPDATES*

Chapter 8

*Spencer's P.O.V*

Up until today, I've never really understood the phrase "out of body experience". But seeing Eliza's lifeless body slumped against the tree, the image has been burned into my mind. I was completely paralysed, I couldn't move, I couldn't scream, I couldn't look away. Finn was the first to react, whipping out his phone to call the police. I was still staring at Eliza's body when the police arrived, even when they took her body away I couldn't stop staring at the spot where it had been. My mind was a haze, everyone's voices were slurring into one quiet noise and all I could do was stand still, completely frozen.

~*~

Sometime later I woke up in a white room. Slowly sitting up I realised I was in a hospital, and I began to panic. What had happened? Why was I here? Suddenly a small, blonde nurse came in.

"Oh good you're awake" she smiled. "Do you know why you're here or what happened?"

I could barely think straight but the memory of Eliza's body was still flashing through my head. "Um my friend, she, uh- she was, um, well... You know." For the first time since I saw her body I burst into tears. She was one of my friends, and now she's just gone. How did she die? Did someone kill her? How did she even get out there, in the forest in the middle of no where.

I looked up, my vision blurred by my tears but I could make out the nurse's sympathetic expression.

"I'm so sorry, I can't imagine what that must have been like for you to find your friend like that. But after you did, you went into shock and after about 15 minutes you suddenly passed out and your heart rate slowed dramatically which is why they wanted to keep you here just to make sure you're ok." I nodded slowly, but I don't remember passing out. It felt so much longer than just the 15 minutes I was there.

"We're just going to do a couple of tests to make sure you're fine, and then you can go. Would you like to see your visitors?"

"Yes please." I croaked. My throat was extremely dry.

When the nurse left, several people came into my room. First there was my mum, Melissa, Harrison and Jasmine. They all completely fussed over me, it was weird and I didn't like it, I felt helpless and I hate feeling helpless. Emma and Ryan came in shortly afterwards, I noticed the smudged mascara under Emma's eyes and burst into another round of tears, we cried together.

I can't really explain how it felt at that moment, it was a horrible feeling and although I have experienced death in my life before there was something about seeing Eliza's body like that that has really rattled me.

~*~

After a couple of tests they finally let me go from the hospital. My mum wanted me to come home with her, Melissa and Jasmine but I insisted I stay at the University. It was a mistake.

I was in Harrison's car as we drove back onto the campus where there were people standing in the carparks, yelling at me, shouting things like, "Dead girl walking" and "I see dead people" and they kept laughing at me. It took a lot of pride to not lash out or burst into tears but I got upstairs into my dorm without any breakdowns. Emma was there, sitting on her bed with a tissue box and her phone. I sat down next to her and we both cried together again looking through photos, also a bad idea.

I knew it wouldn't end up well, but once Emma had fallen asleep, I had the urge to go through Eliza's things. I knew her well, but not extremely well. She still hadn't unpacked some things from her cases and boxes and I was tossing up whether or not I should look at them or just keep them closed. I eventually decided to just look at them and burst into tears the second I did. Sitting at the top of the first box was a framed picture of Eliza and her mum.

I couldn't stick it, I had to get out of the room which suddenly became very hot and stuffy. I slipped on a hoodie and shoes and quietly as I could, snuck out of the room. Creeping downstairs, I was relieved when the cold wind hit my face and just started walking around the courtyard. Sitting down for a minute I closed my eyes, trying to get rid of the image the body of my friend but it was permanently burned into my brain, I couldn't un-see it. Somewhere in the distance I heard a twig snap and began to panic again. My breathing became loud and I frantically hopped up and snuck towards the door.

"Spencer? I didn't mean to scare you." I stopped in my tracks and turned around to shine the light of my phone to see who it was. "I had a feeling you might have been out here."

I ran over to Finn and wrapped my arms around his neck softly. "Shhh Spence, it's ok, it's ok." he gently whispered. "Don't cry princess, it's alright."

"Finn, I'm so sorry you were with me."

We walked back to where I was sitting before and sat down again. "Right, Spencer. Listen to me, look at me." he lifted my chin up and forced me to look at him. "It's not your fault ok? It's someone's but it's definitely not yours. I wouldn't take back the day we had because I really enjoyed it up until then. We'll get through this together. I promise."

I stared straight into his eyes, "I hope so." Resting my head against his shoulder I must have fallen asleep because I woke up back in my bed, Emma was still asleep when I opened my eyes. Looking around the room, shuddering at Eliza's empty bed I saw a note poking out from under the door. I shuffled over and picked it up immediately noticing my brothers handwriting.

'When you guys wake up, come over to mine and Ryan's room. You guys need to see something.

Harrison'

Confused, I ran a brush through my hair and washed my face before waking up Emma.

"Wake up Emma, you need to see this." she groaned and covered her head. I yanked the blankets back off her head and pulled them off the bed onto the floor. "Look alive sunshine, Harrison wants to show us something."

I faintly heard her murmur, "You bitch." before I went to go get us coffee. By the time I came back she was up, dressed and sitting on the bed with a sad expression on her face. I handed her the coffee and she cracked a tiny smile. "Thank you." she whispered. I nodded, taking her hand in mine and we walked to the boys room. Unfortunately it was across the courtyard which was really busy as usual. People kept making rude remarks but I did as best I could to ignore them.

"What did you want to see us for?" I questioned as we arrived at the boys' room.

Harrison spoke up, "I figured you would probably still be asleep so I recorded it." Puzzled, I watched as he turned the TV on and a clip of a detective came on screen.

"In recent investigation of the murder of Carlton University student Eliza Priestley and we can confirm that the 22 year old girl was murdered. Autopsy reports confirm that the victim suffered trauma to the head but the ultimate cause of death was strangulation. The local police department are furthering investigating the situation and will keep you up to date with any new information."

I stood there absolutely dumbfounded. Murdered? No, it couldn't be. But clearly it is. I looked up at Emma and she had the same reaction as me, complete shocked.

"Murdered?" she questioned quietly. Everyone nodded, not daring to say a word. "Who would do that?" she burst into tears, Ryan did his best to comfort her but I think even he knew it was useless.

"We should find out. I'm going to find out." I stood up strongly.

"How the hell are you going to do that?" Harrison asked.

"I have to go back to where I found her body." I said shakily.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

{A/N}

I've actually had a few comments saying to update the story and I know this is kind of a crap chapter but I want to get back into writing this (don't hold me to that) but I'm on my holidays now so I will try :)

Thank you xx