Chapter 3: A Trusted Friend
I ran as fast as I could and turned down his street. How I remembered where it was, was simple. I had seen it many times in my dreams. But I suppose dreaming and going to a place is different.
Bolting up his pathway I jumped the stairs and pounded rapidly on his door.
"Coming, I'm coming calm down!" I heard him say from the other side of the door.
I stood there anxiously as the door opened and Monroe looked at me.
"Chantelle?"
"Hi, um can I come in... Please." I said, in a quiet voice.
He nodded and stepped to the side letting me into his home. I hurried in and sat down on his couch. He walked in and sat in a chair facing me.
"I'm sorry for coming unannounced, but it happened again." I said in the same voice.
He looked at me in concern, "What happened?"
"Well I fell asleep in class, don't judge me, and I had the dream again. But there were... Things added." I said my voice a little stronger now.
"What things?" He asked, urging me to continue.
"Well, you were in it as, usual but you telling Dad that if you could just reach a certain spot you'd be safe." I began, "But you never reach it."
I felt tears rise to my eyes and I wiped my eyes rapidly, it did nothing. They just fell faster and faster.
I looked up at Monroe and said "I don't want my dad to die Monroe! How do I stop it?"
He stood and sat down beside me, "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. I promise."
I lay my head on his shoulder and felt my shoulders shake. He was the only one who'd understand right now.
He, awkwardly, placed an arm around my shoulders and patted my arm. It was plain to tell that he wasn't used to comforting people.
"Does your dad know your here?" He asked after awhile.
I gave a smirk, "No one knows I am here."
He shook his head, "We should call your dad and let him know, shouldn't we?"
"Not yet. First I need to ask you something." I said sitting up and looking him in the eye, "Do you know about such a place in the woods?"
He looked thoughtful for a minute. Unsure. "Um... Well there is this place in the woods that me and Nick helped a girl at. But it is really high in the tree and I doubt that would be the safe place mentioned in you dream." He finally said.
"So you have no idea what it might be then?" I said in an urgent and deflated voice.
He shook his head, "No I am sorry."
I sighed and lay my head back against the back of the couch, "I don't know what to do Monroe. My dad is most likely going to die now because I can't find a way to help him!"
Monroe sat there silently as I sat there with small tears pooling in my eyes again.
Was there now way to save my dad? Could I not look deeper into my dreams and find some possible way to save him? There had to be a way, there just had to be.
A phone started to ring and Monroe pulled his out and gave me a look, "It's your dad." He picked up the phone, "Hey Nick what's up?"
He paused, "Chantelle ran away from school? What?"
Again he stopped, "Okay, okay Nick calm down! Its okay, she is here with me. Well come over here and we'll tell you. Yup." Pause. "Okay see you in a bit."
Looking up at me he said "Your dad is coming."
"Well then," I replied, "Saw that one coming now didn't we?"
Monroe nodded and ran his hands through his hair. He looked stressed out. I guess we all were at this point.
"Monroe?" I said in a quiet voice again.
"Hmm?" He said looking up.
"Thank you."
He gave a curt nod and a smile.
We sat in silence, waiting for my dad to arrive. I couldn't help but know that he was going to be angry with me for leaving school grounds. But it wasn't my fault! I had been scared and had no one else to turn to! This was something the people at my school, just honestly wouldn't understand.
When a knock sounded at the door, I don't which one of us jumped the highest. To be perfectly honest, it was probably me.
Dad rushed in and pulled me to my feet looking me in the eye and shaking his head, "Why did you leave the school Chantelle? What happened?"
"If you'd give me a chance to tell you!" I said shrugging him off and pushing his hands off my shoulders. I sat back down on the couch and looked up at him in complete innocence but with a hint of anger. I really didn't like to be pushed around like that.
"Fine, tell me. Now." He said sitting down across from me. Monroe stayed standing, watching us cautiously.
So I explained to him all about the dream and the strange place in the woods that would keep him safe if he could make it. But he never does.
He sat there looking stunned at my explanation. "So there is a place I can go and be safe at?" He said looking stunned and slightly excited.
"I guess so. But Monroe doesn't know where that is. And I don't." I replied.
"I don't know one in the woods either." Dad said with a sigh, "I guess we could go and look for one..."
Monroe nodded and Dad stood up. I figured there was no point in me going back to school so I stood too and Dad looked at me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"With you." I replied.
He shook his head "oh no you're going back to school."
I snorted "Right. Come on lets go." And walked past them out the door. They followed, of course, and I led the way into the woods.
We walked for awhile and I pointed out important parts and landmarks in my dreams. They looked around and looked at each other. Both of them had apparently seen this place before.
"You guys have seen this, haven't you?" I said looking at them, with a sideways glance.
They looked at each other again and then Dad answered, "Yes, we have. The first case I did as a Grimm was around here. Chasing a Blutbad, a bad one, Monroe helped me."
I nodded and looked around the green forest. Soon the leaves would start to disappear and then the forest would be lit up with fire. It was going to be beautiful.
"So where is this house then?" I asked turning to look at them as we continued to trudge through the brush.
"Close." Monroe replied, sniffing the air. "The bridge is very close."
"Why would you be safe there?" I said curiously.
"Because no creature would go near a Blutbad's place of residence. Not out here at least where they are most likely vicious and wild."
I nodded slowly and, without thinking, moved slightly closer to Dad. He placed an arm around my shoulders and said, "Don't worry. We caught the guy. He's in jail now."
Again I nodded, only slightly reassured.
Monroe gave me a reassured smile and we continued on.
I don't know how long we walked before I heard it first. A low rustling from behind.
Pulling closer to Dad I glanced behind me but saw nothing. There was no sign of a creature anywhere. Shaking my head I turned back forward and continued on. Another few feet of walking and I heard it again. The same rustling. I spun around and Dad looked at me in confusion.
Slowly and inched backwards and looked up at him "Didn't you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"The rustling!"
"Chantelle, it was probably just some animal. Don't worry about it." He said patting my shoulder and guiding me back on path, following Monroe who hadn't even noticed us stop. "Besides, if there was anything, Monroe would've heard it."
I knew he was right, but I just couldn't believe it. There was something out there with us, just biding its time to attack. Would the dream happen today? Was that why I was so edgy? No it couldn't happen today. It just couldn't.
As we walked a little farther, the trees cleared and there before was a wooden bridge. It had moss growing on the sides and looked to be, well really old. Slowly we made our way towards it. Just before we crossed though, Dad pulled me back and shook his head.
"Not that way."
"Then what way?"
"Through the river."
I looked at him and laughed, "You're joking right?"
He shook his head, "We won't go now though. There is no point."
'Thank God.' I thought.
We turned back around and I heard the movement again. I spun around once more, but still saw nothing. Dad led me away and we began the walk back through the woods.
"Dad... There is something out there." I said looking around me urgently.
"No, Chantelle it's fine." He said and Monroe came beside us.
I looked at him in defiance and stopped, "Monroe, sniff. Please."
He gave me an annoyed look but obliged and sniffed the air and his true form came out as he said, "She's right Nick, There is someone here."
I gave him a 'See' look but he just ignored me and looked around. We all were. I could hear something but still not see it. I had no idea what we were facing.
And then the beast jumped out and tackled me to the ground.
