Chapter 10

Nick opened his eyes slowly, feeling the dry blood on his face. He had fallen asleep on the couch, exhausted from everything that had happened last night. In his mind he went over what happened, but he could only really focus on one thing.

Jake was gone.

His ears flattened on his head and his tail hung behind him. He didn't know where the killer could have taken him, or if he was even alive, but he knew he had to do something.

He sat up, looking around. Everything in his house seemed just as it was yesterday, yet everything felt so different.

He swung his legs over the side of couch and stepped on to the cold wooden floor. He walked around, noticing the dried blood in the hallway and a trail of it going to the front door. He looked at the clock on the wall and swore loudly. It was already almost time for work.

He grabbed something to eat, cleaned the blood off himself, and put on his uniform. Before leaving, he went to his room, getting sadder as he saw the crimson that stained his carpet. He thought of Jake as he stared at the ground.

I miss him.

xxxxx

As he walked through the precinct's doors, he saw that a crowd filled the lobby. They were all talking and asking questions. All of them seemed to be looking at something in front of them.

"Excuse me. Sorry!" Nick said as he shoved his way through the mess of animals. When he got to the front, a grin spread across his face. Standing in front of him was someone he'd thought he had lost for good.

Judy.

"C-Carrots!?" He shouted. The bunny looked up at him and made the warmest smile Nick had ever seen. In a fraction of a second, she was in his arms, crying. He petted her slowly as she buried her face in his chest.

"Nick…I…I missed you so much," she said.

"I missed you too," he replied. She pulled back and looked down, shaking.

"I have something to tell you…"

"What is it?"

"Nick…I…L-Love you!" He looked into her eyes, smiling warmly.

"I love you, too."

And then, her lips were to his. The crowd awed and cheered. Inside, Judy felt joy like she never felt before.

But Nick didn't feel anything.

xxxxx

Nick was silent for most of the day, but Judy was rambling on and on excitedly.

He decided he wasn't going to tell anyone what happened to Jake, as he was stressed and didn't feel like working too hard. And finding that wolf would be hard.

Judy held his paw tightly, and he tried his best to seem happy.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem distant…" the bunny asked.

"I…I'm fine…" he replied.

"No you aren't. I know that face, Nick. What's going on? You can tell me anything." She put a paw on his arm.

"It's nothing. I'm fine, Judy."

She let go of his paw instantly and stood in front of him.

"Something's definitely not right. You never call me Judy, unless something big is happening."

"I'm fine!" he snapped. He started to walk away and she followed.

"Nick!"

"Leave me alone!"

"Stop this!"

"No!"

"Fine. I'll go ask Jake. He'll tell me what's wrong with you."

"No you won't."

"Watch me."

"JUDY! JAKE IS GONE! He's…gone…"

"What do you mean?"

"A killer took him away…"

"What!?"

"He's probably dead now. I couldn't save him."

"He can't be dead! What did this killer look like?"

"He…looked…Just like Jake."

At this, Judy went completely silent.

Nick leaned against a wall, holding back tears. After about a minute, Judy spoke.

"Nick… The killer who took Jake…He's the same animal that took me. I..I think I know where he lives." Nick's ears perked up and he grabbed Judy's shoulders.

"You do!? Then we need to go! There could be a chance Jake is still alive! C'mon!" He started running off.

Judy shook her head.

"Nick, wait. Is something going on between you and him?" Nick stopped and turned around.

"What do you mean?"

She looked down. "A-Are you in l-love with him?"

"No…"

"Then why did you two sleep together?"

"We didn't."

"Nick, don't lie."

"I'm serious!"

"Nick, I saw the picture!" She started to tear up.

"…"

"…"

"…I did sleep with him, but we were drunk as hell!"

"Then why did you lie about it if that was all it was?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"Plus, you are acting like he's the most important thing in the world!"

"No I'm not!"

"I bet you didn't jump at the thought of rescuing me, did you?"

"Jake and I were looking for you, but a murder stopped our investigation."

"Nick…I can see the love for him in your eyes…"

"I…"

"Just tell me…Please…"

He shook his head and slid down the wall slowly, until he was sitting on the ground.

"Say it!" the bunny demanded.

"Fine…I'm in love with Jake!"

Judy started crying. "I knew it." She told Nick the address of the killer and then ran off quickly.

xxxxx

When Nick arrived at the kidnapper's home, he was glad to find that the evil wolf wasn't home. Nick knew the killer wasn't dumb enough to sleep there, now that Judy knew his address.

He walked to the front door, expecting it to be locked, and it was.

It would take forever to call a locksmith, so Nick did the next best thing.

He smashed a window and crawled inside, cutting his leg on a sharp piece of glass.

Blood was leaking from his leg as he searched the home. When he found the door leading to the basement, he stared into the darkness ahead. He flipped the light switch next to him, and the stairwell was lit.

He descended the stairs slowly, every step creaking as he got closer to the bottom.

He arrived at the door and opened it slowly, a line of light illuminating the cement room down the middle.

What he saw was enough to make him drop to his knees.

In front of him, a pool of blood expanded slowly.

In the middle was the most horrifying thing Nick had ever seen.

The cold, unmoving body of Jake.