Midnight Shadow

Chapter 14 - Complications

I recognized the huddled, sobbing human on the ground without even seeing her face. I should have recognized the voice the first moment I'd heard it but I had been so focused on Mia that it eluded me at the time. This could not be happening...

I stepped lightly over to the shaking girl and knelt down. She sensed the closeness and began to hyperventilate, shaking violently and she gasped for breath. I sighed and spoke in the calmest voice I could muster.

"Jennifer? It's ok. They're gone. You're safe. I'm going to take this bag off your head ok?" I whispered to her. She froze as she realized what she was being told. We meant her no harm. I could feel her crazed emotions flying all over the place and Mia's complete confusion at my familiarity with the human girl.

Jennifer? THE Jennifer from school?  I heard Mia's thoughts racing through her mind. This was not a thought she'd intended for me. It was in her own head as she understood immediately the implications of our actions. Well, this ought to be interesting... Mia thought to herself as her emotions gave her away. She was jealous? I shook my head lightly and looked up at Mia standing off in the shadows. Very gently I reached down to help Jennifer up to a sitting position. At first she jerked convulsively away from the contact but my whispered assurances seemed to help her accept the help. I reached up carefully and with one final sigh I slowly pulled the cloth bag away from her face.

Jennifer looked terrible of course. It was obvious she'd been down town trying to slip in to the bars while underage. She was dressed like she was going to a party but the outfit was damaged beyond repair and filthy by this point. Her hair was matted to the side of her head where it wasn't sticking out in every direction and her make up had run all over. Fear and shock contorted her face into an almost unrecognizable expression as she slowly realized who was helping her.

"Ash?" she whispered in a trembling voice. "Ash? Oh my god, ASH?" she was very close to losing her composure completely and passing out.

"Yeah Jen, it's me. You're ok now. You're safe. They're not going to hurt you, ok?" I whispered to her as my hands untied the cloth strips at her wrists and ankles. The shock on her face was severe but completely different as she realized that she was safe and that I was the one telling her she'd be fine.

"Oh, thank you Ash thank you!" she whispered. I almost gasped as the full weight of her anxiety and relief fell on me. The emotional climate was so thick with fear and surprise I almost lost myself in it. This human had simply known she was going to die. Realizing now that she was going to live was almost too much for her to bear. Her body involuntarily shook as it shed layer after layer of the pent up fear of the ordeal. I could tell she was severely in shock.

"It's ok Jen, It's over" I whispered to her as she met my eyes. She locked gazes with me for a long second. The truth of my assurances rang through her and a puzzle piece clicked into place. She gasped and flung her arms around my neck as grief overwhelmed her. Instantly the front of my shirt was wet from the flow of her tears. I felt uncomfortable. Her anguish was very real and consuming. I was also very aware of Mia's feelings on the matter of Jennifer's vice like grip around my neck. Under any other circumstances it would have been comical. Mia had nothing to worry about. But this human girl, at this time and under these circumstances was a little much for her to laugh about. I watched her pull out her cell phone in the shadows and dial 911. She quickly explained to the operator our location and gave them Jennifer's description. She was just a little petulant when describing her features to the dispatcher on the other end of the call. I distinctly heard her use the word average in reference to Jen. She clicked the phone shut and studied me for a moment while she very carefully controlled her thoughts. It was no good though. Her feelings told me a million things that words could not. She was jealous. She wanted to make sure I was ok from the fight but couldn't because this human girl was in the way. This human girl was where she wanted to be. Close to me, locked in an embrace. I could she her thoughts instantly go dark as she realized I was looking at her.