Lon Chaney Has Nothing On You

Chapter 9

Needless to say, school was cancelled. Police worked fast to get kids off the campus, taking over the traffic flow. Rob helped Hunter get back into the car, while Rich called his parents and Mr. Sands. Eleanor tossed her keys to Rob, gesturing to Natalie.

"Ladies, you need to follow me," a police officer said, guiding them into the main office. Principal Dermott paced nervously in the office, cell phone in hand.

"God, did you girls find the body?" Principal Dermott asked, raking a hand through his hair. "We need to talk to you, to help figure out who did this, and once we're done you two are free to go. Natalie, I've called you parents already, but Eleanor, I didn't even know you were involved, so while the officers ask you questions, I'm going to call your mother."

The questioning went by in a blur, but thankfully, the girls were questioned together, with some teachers with them. Mostly, they were questions about how they found David, whether they knew what he'd been doing this weekend, and the like.

Once the girls were released, they sat in the main office, waiting for their parents. Natalie took Eleanor's hand in hers, squeezing it tight.

"Thanks for being there for me," she said, voice thick with tears. "None of my other friends even bothered." Eleanor thought about the cheerleaders, pale and sickly, standing at the edges of the crowd like zombies.

"We're friends," Eleanor replied simply, squeezing Natalie's fingers back. They didn't speak after that, Natalie lost in the beginning waves of grief, while Eleanor floundered under the crushing weight of guilt.

This was their fault.

No, this was her fault. She didn't stake the vampire like she should've, and they hadn't made sure he was really dead. Everything Saturday night had been so stressful, full of panic and a sense of recklessness.

They hadn't thought the vampire would've been able to get up and walk around after what they'd done, much less orchestrate such a vicious and gruesome murder. Eleanor leaned towards Natalie, putting her head on the girl's shoulder. She responded by laying her cheek on Eleanor's head. Though Eleanor felt guilty taking such comfort from the poor girl, she couldn't help it, needing someone to cling to.

The doors of the office burst open and parents rushed in. To Eleanor's absolute and utter surprise, both her mother and father were there. Eleanor burst into tears at the sight of them, barreling into her father's chest. She cried in earnest, for David, for finding him, for Natalie, and for herself.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's okay now. I'm here," William murmured, rubbing her back. Eleanor peeked over his shoulder, watching Delphine sign paperwork and talk to the officers, tears dripping dramatically down her cheeks. She'd always been a pretty crier.

Both sets of families were escorted out, following police cars out and onto the streets. Eleanor sat in the backseat, feeling like a little girl. For a moment, she thought about telling her parents everything that had happened, including her foray into the supernatural world. They shared a panicked look when they thought she wasn't looking, and the moment passed. She had to protect them.

At home, Eleanor excused herself to go upstairs, desperately needing a shower. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw David, laid out on the school rock, dripping blood into the grass. She scrubbed at her skin until she was raw and pink. Once she was dressed, she steeled herself to face her parents.

"—can't let her stay here! Not now!" Her dad was yelling. Delphine lay draped on a couch, sobbing openly.

"How much more can you take away from me, William? Huh? How much? You obliterated my marriage with your little assistant, blasted my life apart, and now, you're trying to take my daughter from me!" She yelled, bracelets clacking together as she waved her hands.