It had been less than half an hour since Diane's death but I saw York walking away from our group. A little confused I watched him and by some weird logic he was following a dalmatian. Being careful no one saw me I decided to follow him, keeping a safe distance until he came to a door set into the floor. When the dalmatian started to sniff at the floor I grinned only to freeze when the dog spun around, letting out a growl.
"So there you are." York said and I rolled my eyes as his new friend wandered over to me. After giving my shoes a quick sniff he wagged his tail. "There's someone in there." He added, pointing to the door before he knelt. While I watched he yanked open the door before he straightened and we both watched as a somewhat large man exited.
"Hey thanks for the assist." He said as I stared at me, unsure how he fit into that small space.
"What were you doing down there?" York asked before I could and the man grinned.
"I'm Forrest Kaysen and this is Willie." He answered, giving the dalmatian a pat on the head. "I was waiting for Diane to unlock the door but she never came back. Have you seen her?"
"I'm sorry to say but she's dead and you're now a suspect." York answered as I leant against the wall, still staring at Forrest.
Even after he explained that he'd come by to see Diane who was in a relationship with him (that made me grimace and even York had to stiffle a laugh), he was still not in the clear. Well, him and Nick who was now protesting his innocence locked in a cell back at the Sheriff's office.
"Did Nick say anything about why he hurt Diane?" I asked as we sat around the Sherrif's office and George shook his head.
"He keeps saying he didn't do it. Frankly I don't believe him even for a second." George answered as I leant back in my chair, a sigh escaping. "Maybe a few hours in a cell will change his tune."
"Maybe or maybe not. Right now I'm begining to wonder if he did attempt to kill her. He doesn't look like the sort." Emily added as York lit a cigarette, his lips curled up slightly.
"That doesn't mean anything. Anyone could be a murderer." York said and I growled, all eyes turning to be as I climbed from my seat. "Something to add?"
"Do you still think I'm a murderer? Because I'm not human?" I growled and he didn't answer, his finger tapping his tie. "Not this again! Haven't I proven myself to you?" I whispered, eyes amber as I glared at him.
"Until our murderer is caught everyone in Greenvale could have killed Anna, Becky and now Diane." York explained not even flinching when I rushed over to him, teeth bared and claws stretching.
"Audrey, get a hold of yourself!" George roared and I spun around. "Or I'll be forced to lock you up as well." He added, voice low.
"You wouldn't." I began and he frowned, staring directly at me. With a frustrated growl I willed myself to calm enough to transform back and once I was human, more or less, I stood as far away from my so called friends as possible. "Jerks, the pair of you." I whispered, arms crossed against my chest.
I didn't look up for the rest of the meeting, unable to believe that I was still not trustworthy enough to be cleared as a suspect. Even when the meeting was over I ignored Emily, who sighed and left me alone to think.
They think just because I'm not human that I'm a monster, I thought as I stared at the floor. Why is it everyone thinks that about me?
I didn't move for a while, still wondering what to do to prove I was completely innocent until the door swung open. Looking up I saw Emily standing in the doorway. "Sorry but I was just wondering if you'd like to join us at Galaxy of terror." She asked. After getting a blank stare she gave me a tired smile. "It's a bar owned and run by Thomas and Carol." She added and I nodded.
To be truthful I didn't drink but I came with her anyway though not before making a quick stop at the Great Deer hotel to change outfits.
Now dressed in a light blue shirt, a pair of black dress pants and a new pair of purple and white sneakers I drove myself to the bar, using the directions Emily gave me before she headed home to change. After taking a wrong turn I soon found my way safely to the bar, taking care to park my car close by before I locked it. Walking a few feet I opened the door and entered, immediately searching for my friends.
I found George and York sitting near the stage and as I wandered over I could hear their conversation. Feeling a little uncomfortable I was considering leaving, worried that my inner beast would react to all the noise, but then York waved me over.
With a somewhat awkward smile I ended up sitting at their table, glancing towards the stage to see Carol. Dressed in a crimson red dress she started to sing and just for a few seconds I forgot about our murder case. Then someone interrupted us with a cough and we all looked up to see Emily standing there.
Even I stared as Emily smiled, now standing in a long blue dress and with her hair done up in a bun. Suddenly i felt a little out of my depth especially when York stared at her, looking slightly shocked.
It was at that moment I realized that he had a thing for Emily and maybe she did for him, too. Which made me both jealous and a little hurt though I didn't know why. Not long after we all said goodnight and I headed in my car, my thoughts a jumble as I made the trip back to the hotel.
I should have realized he liked her more, I mentally scolded myself hands tightening on the wheel. She's trained and a kind person unlike me who could lose control and injure someone. Who would want a freak when they could have her instead?
I had only just changed into a t-shirt and shorts, heading towards the bed when I heard voices close by and after opeing my door a crack I saw Emily standing in front of York's door. Even with my hearing I couldn't make out their words but when she disappeared into the room, the door gently closed behind her I sighed.
Closing my door I sagged against it, wondering if it was possible for a beast to have a heart.
I think so, I thought as I blinked tears away from my eyes.
After losing another innocent victim to our mysterious killer, I had hoped to have a quiet rest in my room. But fate seemed to have it on for me once again and I soon found myself following York as we wandered deeper and deeper into the otherworld.
"I still can't believe we're trapped in here." I grumbled as I followed close behind him, clenching and unclenching my fists.
"You should have stayed behind with Emily and George who needed your help finding Thomas." York replied, gun out and aimed towards the darkness and I rolled my eyes. At least I can fight the Raincoat Killer unlike you, I thought a tiny smile emerging as we picked up the pace. But I soon learnt otherwise when my sensitive ears picked up the sound of heavy boots and I froze, unable to move without giving our killer a chance to find us. "Audrey?" He asked, stopping and I shook my head.
"He's here." I whispered just as I heard a metallic noise, the noise of his axe ripping into the floor and I growled eyes glowing. "Stay there." I told Agent York who raised an eyebrow as I raced off into the darkness, shedding my clothes as my wolf side emerged. Leaving a trail of clothing I raised my nose into the air, slowly searching for our killer but to my shock I ouldn't pick up his scent. "What the hell?" I growled, voice deeper and that's when something whistled by my ear. I dived to the floor at the dull thud inches from my head and as a trickle of blood flowed down my neck I lifted my head to find the axe inbedded in the wall.
"Audrey!" York called out and I snarled as the Raincoat Killer appeared, taking several steps towards me. "He's here." He whispered and I rolled my eyes, quickly leaping to my feet as the Raincoat Killer rushed us. Moving quicker than it I ran towards our enemy, running on all fours and just as I reached it I snapped my jaws.
But I missed as the Raincoat Killer dodged, grabbing its axe and when it moved past me I whirled around. "He's after you!" I yelled at York who opened fire but the shot missed by the briefst of margines and I snarled, rushing to help my friend.
York leapt to one side as the Raincoat Killer swung his axe, nearly decapitating York who only just escaped in time. He righted himself and I grinned, fangs flashing as I rushed to help only for the killer to head further into the building. Snarling, I gave chase ignoring my friend's call and as I disappeared into the darkness he followed.
"She's a handfull wouldn't you agree, Zach? I think she likes you better." York commented, taping his finger against his tie before he ran after me. I didn't get too far ahead when the killer slowed down and I leapt up into the air, hoping to knock him down. But getting me alone was his plan and he struck, swinging his trademark axe at my face.
Thinking fast I used my claws to grip the ceiling and the axe whizzed past my back, leaving a shallow cut. I growled, enraged as I landed immediately launching a counter-attack that he dodged. This time he let fly with the axe, not at me but towards York who had just caught up to us. Skidding to a halt he slipped on the uneven ground and as the axe spun towards him I made the quickest decision of my life.
In a heartbeat I was standing in front of York and I screamed as the axe slashed open the right side of my hip, a gush of hot blood flowing down my side. Furious and in pain I took a step towards the Raincoat Killer who lifted his hand.
Waving his finger towards me he spun around, running towards the back of the building. I gave chase for a few minutes until York's voice called to me and I slowed, waiting for him to catch up.
"I'll go after him and you stay here." York told me and I growled, shaking my head at him. He looked at the gash in my side and as he reachd towards it I snapped my teeth inches from his face. Without thinking he slapped my muzzle and I froze, eyes burning into his.
He took a single step back, hand moving towards his gun as I rose up over him. For the longest time I glared at him, sides heaving as my blood continued to flow and when his hand moved away from his weapon I snorted.
I started to head after the Raincoat Killer when I stumbled, claws scraping the ground and this time I didn't react as his hand went to my side. The moment his fingers came away bloody I whimpered, head lowered as I blinked the spots from my eyes.
A short time later...
"Be careful." I growled and he shook his head, hand over my wound as I knelt on the ground. When his fingers probbed the wound I snarled, fighting the urge to bite him and he stared at me.
"This would work better if you changed back. I can't see the gash through all this fur." York told me and I sighed, focusing. In less than a minute I knelt, naked and panting hard, in front of York. Thinking quickly he removed his jacket, drapping it over my shoulders and I pulled it closed. "Now let me see." He said and this time I allowed him to get close enough to check my injuries. "It's still bleeding."
"Don't worry it'll heal in a few hours. Anything thing short of silver won't leave a lasting scar." I muttered, leaning back and he grinned at me. "What's so funny?"
"I'm just surprised you sound happy for once about being a werewolf." York answered as he sat beside me. "Why did you protect me?" He asked a few seconds later and I lifted my head, eyes staring at his face.
"Because you were in danger." I answered after a pause. "Sorry just angry that I couldn't beat him." I muttered, hoping he couldn't see my eyes glow. But York didn't seem to notice, looking at the direction our enemy had taken and so he didn't see me staring at him.
Letting out a low growl I started to walk away from York but I paused, realizing that leaving him alone might be what the Raincoat Killer wanted. Stopping I waited and he gave me a grin, his gun trained on the darkness in front of us. After taking a moment to transform I gave him a grin. Together we headed forward, both just as eager to catch the murderer.
But all we found were those creepy backwards monsters and with no sign of the Raincoat Killer, I took a break. Even if it hadn't been silver the wound still bled and after stopping I bumped into York who had been watching for any sign of danger.
"Audrey, we need to figure out why we're here." York said and I glared, head snapping up at the sound of his voice. Between my wound and the heat burning me from the inside I couldn't focus and I stumbled, whimpering when my blood loss took its toll. "You're hurt worse than you let on." He muttered, moving to my side and I growled.
"Go away, I'm..." I mumbled only to see spots. Just for a few seconds I felt woozy and the next thing I knew he was kneeling beside me, a slight frown on his face.
"She's a pain, right Zach?" York said, not noticing that I was conscious. In more pain than I let on I watched, eyesight blurry as my friend pressed his open palm against my open wound, "Still she protected me and that's something. I guess I owe her." He sighed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
The sudden movement sent a jolt of pain ripping through my hip and I yelped, sending us both crashing into the dirt. It wasn't until I forced myself to change back, the pain making me realize he couldn't carry me (at least not in beast form anyway), that York helped me up again. "You're heavy in that form." He commented, getting a low growl and a groan soon afterwards. Carefully he led me further in the Otherworld, looking for a way out.
"Don't...call me...fat." I gasped, keeping my eyes firmly on the path in front of us. Soon we came to a doorway and after carefully releasing me, York causiously approached it gun out and aimed.
"Stay behind me." York ordered and I snorted in response as he gripped the doorknob. As he yanked oppen the door, gun trained on the doorway he stared for a moment before a chuckle emerged.
"What is it?" I asked taking a shaky step forward only to see Emily and George, standing beside the patrol car. Just where we'd left them some time ago. "What the hell?" I muttered only to feel my mind going blank. Seconds later I found myself falling, a dull thud and then nothing.
"The way she just hit the ground without a single warning." York's voice whispered as I slowly opened my eyes to find him standing over me.
"Can you keep your voice down?" I groaned, trying to sit up and he gave me a tiny smile. "What happened to me?"
"You hit the dirt." York replied, not really answering anything. I sighed, managing to sit up after a second attempt.
"That really doesn't help but whatever. Wait, where am I?" I asked, my eyes searching the room only to see his suitcase sitting on the nearby desk and I blinked as the fog cleared from my mind. "Okay why am I in your room?"
"Because it was closer than mine." York answered with a shrug, cracking a grin when my cheeks started to burn. "Why, is that a problem?"
"Only if you think it's approprate for us to be the same room together...alone." I pointed out, rubbing my forehead with an open palm.
"We're not alone, Zach's here too." York answered and I groaned, moving towards the edge of the bed. Only to fall and he was instantly at my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he helped me stand. "That was another pretty impressive fall." He said, a slight grin on his face while I grmaced back at him. "You're on a roll today."
"Being serious for a moment why am I here? I can't remember anything after walking through a door." I told him and he grinned, helping me back onto the bed.
"Well after you fainted I checked your wound, dressed it and brought you back here." He explained and I suddenly froze, looking down at myself. "Don't worry I covered you with my jacket."
"That's not really the...ow!" I yelped, hand flying to my hip. When my hip came away bloody I whimpered, breathing heavier. "Don't touch it!" I yelled the second York's fingers reached towards my side.
"It's okay, Audrey." York answered while I stare at him, eyes wide with fear and pain. "I'm just going to look."
For some reason I decided to trust him and after lifting the blanket covering my body I bit my lower lip, the bandage soaked through wih blood. "W..why is it still bleeding? It should have healed by now." I whimpered, watching York closely.
"I'm not sure. Has this happened before?" York asked me while I remember how to breathe. "Audrey, is something the matter?"
"Yes of course it is! My leg's bleeding and I'm scared." I snapped at him, not meaning to. "Sorry, I'm sorry." I muttered but York doesn't seem to mind. Unable to help it I suddenly move close and York's freezes this time when I wrap my arms around his neck.
"What are you scared of?" He asked me when I finally stop shaking, eyes bright with tears.
"Of getting close to someone and not being able to control my beast side." I replied, hands now sitting in my lap while York works on my injury. "What if I attacked them and they...changed too?" I let out another gasp as he gently wipes the blood from my leg then applies a clean bandage.
"Emily did say something about this being a unusual thing for a werewolf." York muttered, his finger lightly tapping his tie only to hear a warning growl.
"I thought Emily was my friend and she tells you that I'm in heat!" I growled, trying to climb from the bed but my injured leg buckles under me and I cry out. "Stay away!" I snapped as York moved to my side. My eyes glowing I can feel my beast side rising up and without thinking I gripped the bed in my hands, claws digging into the mattress beneath me.
"I asked her why you're acting so angry all the time but Emily wouldn't tell me. So I spent some time working it out until i realized that, like a wolf, you going into heat. Audrey, if you transform now you'll hurt yourself." York warned me, his hand unconsciously moving towards his firearm lying on the desk and I growled. Time seemed to freeze as York moved towards me again, eyes staring into mine. "Just stay calm." He muttered, returning to my side and I gasped willing myself to listen.
Eventually he managed to get close enough to check my gash fully, not even looking up when I whimper. "Sorry...I couldn't control myself." I soon muttered and York finally looked up, apparently not worried.
"Don't worry about it. So how is the leg?" York asked as he leant back, putting away a roll of bandages. "Not to sound nosy but why hasn't it healed?"
"I have no clue. Usually I'd be left with maybe a mark and even that would disappear. But this time..." I trailed off with a sigh, hugging the blanket to my chest. "It doesn't matter anyway. It should be gone in a few hours."
"Really? I'm not sure I believe that. Right, Zach?" York said and I snorted, pulling the blanket around me.
"I think I'm starting to like Zach more. I'm sure at least he believes me." I muttered, turning over onto my side. Ignoring his chuckle I closed my eyes and soon I began to doze, a dream soon making me fidget.
Can you hear me, Audrey?
Who's there, I whispered as I stood inside a bright white room and after a pause someone answered.
You know who I am, don't you?
Is that you, Zach?
As I stood there someone stepped through a door and I blinked as someone that looked a lot like York only different gave me a small smile. Wearing a white shirt and jeans he nodded, his hair cut short like York's except it was pure white and his eyes...
When he noticed me staring he chuckled and I blushed, turning my head slightly as he stepped towards me.
Nice to finally see you up close, Audrey. Is York giving you any trouble? Zach asked when I turned back.
It's nice to meet you, too. You know up close you two could be mistaken for twins aside from the hair, I told him and he grinned. "Wow." I said only to realize I had said that out loud but Zach seemed to find it pretty funny and he burst out laughing. Before I realized it was I staring directly into his eyes, one bright blue and the other a deep red.
On anyone else the effect would be a little weird but on him it was oddly attractive.
I opened my mouth, about to ask another question when I heard a voice calling to me.
I struggled awake to find York standing beside my bed, that same lopsided smile on his face. "Ugh...something I can help you with?" I groaned, sitting up as he sat beside me.
"Zach told me something interesting. He said you think he's cute." York told me and I blinked, my mind still a little foggy. Seeing me struggling to understand he sighed. "Is that true?"
"About...liking him? I'm not sure if I need to answer that." I mumbled, lying back. "Wait...so where is he exactly?" I asked, finding myself unable to go back to sleep.
"That's a secret. On a more serious note how did you find him? He never speaks to anyone but me. He's a little shy like that towards women, unlike me." York told me as I stared up at him, one eyebrow raised.
"I was dreaming of a white room and...he just appeared." I answered, rubbing at my eyes. "Okay why am I still in your room?"
"Well it would have been rude of me to throw you out with an injured leg. Anyway there was another room that was going to waste so I borrowed it for the night." York explained and I sighed, climbing to my feet. "Where are you going?"
"To my room to get changed. I need to make up for not helping with the murder case. Plus I still owe you one." I replied, heading towards the door. I had just set my hand down on the doorknob when I finally looked down. "Oh...hell." I muttered, cheeks turning crimson as I hurried towards the bed to grab a blanket.
"Actually I thought you might need this. Unless you want me to arrest you for public indecency." York told me, holding a purple backpack in his hands.
"Thank you." I whispered taking the backpack from him. As I headed towards the bathroom York just grinned, walking over and taking a seat. Since I was using York's bathroom instead I quickly dressed and after I walked back into the bedroom he smiled. "That's much better."
"Yes now you won't get arrested." York admitted and I couldn't help giving him a quick smile.
"If I did would you or Zach arrest me?" I teased and for once he stared, completely speechless. Letting out a giggle I headed back to my room and just as I closed the door I heard a chuckle.
"I think she really likes you, Zach." York said, his lips turning up into a smile. "And all this time I thought she had a crush on me. I'm a little jealous but I won't stand in your way if you like her too."