I know usually authors notes are at the end of the chapter, but I have to give a few warnings; there are heavy mentions of death and some descriptions of it, not too agonizingly detailed, but still.
Rebecca knew she probably seemed like she was a federal fugitive or just plain guilty of something as she muttered for herself to hurry up while searching for her debit card.
Finally paying for her gas, and ignoring the wary glare of the man across from her, she snatched her wallet off the counter and started towards the door at a brisk pace. Her head was down as she shoved her debit card back into its designated slot. Rebecca hardly had time to rear back and avoid a collision when the little bell on the door rang, signalling it was being opened. An apology was on the tip of her tongue until she saw who had opened the door. Would she never be rid of him?
Theo Raeken blinked, shocked to see her, or maybe at how close she had just been to running into him. She gave him an annoyed glare before trying to make her way by him.
"Hey," Theo said, his voice taught, as if his patience was already far past worn thin. He put an arm across the doorway so Rebecca couldn't exit. He leaned in a bit towards her, enough to make her uncomfortable. "When are you going to stop looking at me as if I threatened to kill your family?"
"When you actually do," Rebecca quipped, holding his gaze and sneering slightly. "So I have all the proof I need to get you arrested."
Theo stood up so quickly Rebecca had to take a step back to avoid knocking heads with him. He rolled his eyes and quickly flit his gaze across the store, as if looking for an answer to why the girl in front of him was being such a bitch.
He looked behind him, and upon seeing a man impatiently waiting to enter the store, he offered an apologetic wave. Theo then turned to Rebecca, grabbing her forearm just like she had done to him in the hallway a few days ago, and dragged her over to the nearest small aisle.
She shook off his grip, facing him with an irritable expression on her face. He was standing between her and the exit. She put her tongue between her teeth and cocked an eyebrow while simultaneously crossing her arms. She waited for him to speak.
"You know what? I'm done trying to be nice. There is no pleasing you," Theo finally said, exasperated. He had this way of arguing where he kept his voice low enough to not make a scene, but harsh enough to prove his point. Rebecca rolled her eyes at his words, which made his voice even more biting. "You seem to hate me, so, whatever. The only thing that matters is that I like Kamilla, and she likes you."
Rebecca's chin lowered slightly, as if looking at an obviously lying child. Theo looked to his right, probably thinking he'd have better luck talking to the Doritos next to him than to the girl in front of him, but he continued regardless. His voice changed, though, and Rebecca tilted her head at the sudden calmness in his tone.
"All I want is for this constant bickering not to ruin my friendship with Kamilla, because it is," Theo explained. He looked wounded; his eyes were wide and his tragically handsome face was pleading with her cold demeanor. "I don't want to fight with you. All I want is for us to at the very least coexist."
Maybe it was the fact that Rebecca swallowed slightly, blinking and looking him over one more time. Maybe it was the fact that Theo had finally made some sort of effect on her, that for that second Rebecca almost believed him.
But it was over in an instant, and Rebecca uncrossed her arms, reassembling her angry stance. With hands curled into fists, she looked about ready to start a fist fight.
"You know what? I probably would," Rebecca said. "Except you've had a history of not being entirely truthful, so I don't know if I can believe a single word that comes out of your mouth."
Rebecca side stepped Theo and marched out of the store without another word. Theo rubbed his jaw, muttering a string of curse words under his breath while he watched her car rev up, then practically fly away from the gas station.
Rebecca's favourite thing about Gus was that he knew how to tip toe around Myriam Virk almost as well as her own daughter. It was also fortunate that Gus was a relatively high ranked officer, a bit lower than her mother, but had just enough power to be able to smuggle Rebecca in to see Connor without arousing too much suspicion.
After the door was closed behind her, Rebecca's gaze settled on Connor Monheim, who had stood when she arrived. Rebecca let out a barely concealed sigh of disappointment.
She took a few steps closer to the temporary holding cell. He had just been thrown in, and a look of pleading sadness adorned his face. Rebecca, however, wasn't fooled.
"Hey Connor," Rebecca annunciated. Her hands were buried into her jacket as she struggled to find the right words that would express her anger. Connor wrapped his hands around the bars, waiting for her to speak.
She opened and closed her mouth, but all she could end up doing was shake her head.
"Rebecca, listen-" Connor pleaded, eyes wide. However, Rebecca found exactly the words she had been searching for as a wave of anger washed through her. She was done with people telling her to listen.
"No," Rebecca practically yelled, startling her and Connor both. "Connor, you were clean for almost two years now! What the hell happened?"
A tear slipped from Connor's eye, and she struggled to stay angry. Rebecca frowned, masking her concern with irritation.
"You don't understand," Connor murmured. He rest his head up against the bars. "I did it, but they haven't even asked me why yet. My family. They said they'd kill my family if I didn't!"
"Who did?" Rebecca urged, taking another step so she could read his expression better. "Who threatened your family?"
"I can't tell you," Connor whispered, and Rebecca groaned, rubbing her eyes. She felt Connor's hand on her forearm and she snapped to attention once more. He was hurt by her mistrust, but according to Gus, he had just eaten someone a few hours ago. She wasn't taking any chances. "Please, Rebecca. Go check on my family. I need to know if they're okay."
Rebecca nodded slowly. She thought of a few days ago when she was with Ren and Kamilla. His family sounded like they were killing each other; screaming and crying and smashing objects. Yet the worry in his eyes couldn't have be anything less than genuine.
He released her arm and Rebecca left the room quickly. It was time for a visit to the MonHeim household.
"Are you serious?" Rebecca cried out, rubbing her forehead. She felt a headache coming on as she watched her car being towed away. She was in such a rush, she thought she'd be out of the station in time to save her car, but it was too late.
Panic gripped her and she dug her teeth into her bottom lip. Placing one hand on her hip and one on her mouth, she tried to find a solution to the awful mess she was in. No buses reached the part of town where Kamilla and Connor lived. She could ask to borrow Gus' jeep, but that would risk alerting her mother she was there. Then would come the questions, then would come the scolding.
Rebecca gave up, throwing her hands in the air before pocketing them once more. She started walking in the direction she needed to go, bitterly cursing her own luck.
She was almost so entirely caught up in her own misreable thoughts, she nearly didn't recognize the blue truck that zoomed by her.
She blinked, stopping in her tracks and turning to see where it was heading. Wasn't that ... Theo's truck?
Rebecca thought she probably should know, seeing as it nearly ran her over, but she squinted to see where it's destination was anyway. Much to her dismay, however, it screeched to a halt in the middle of the street.
Luckily there weren't any cars going by at that time, so the truck was able to switch into reverse and backtrack all the way back to where Rebecca was standing with ease. She felt incredibly idiotic, waiting for the drivers window to roll to a stop beside her. The window was already down, and she was able to see Theo give her a thinly-veiled smirk of glee.
"Don't you have a car?" Theo asked. Rebecca huffed irritably, looking down the street to see if there were any cars that could ram into his. He didn't even bother really hiding how he enjoyed seeing her at the side of the street, alone and in need.
"Go to hell, Raeken," Rebecca spat. She started to continue walking, but the truck was quickly shifted out of park and back into reverse, matching her pace.
"Easy there," Theo taunted. Rebecca wanted nothing more than to grab the nearest sharp object and pop all four of his tires, but she tried to ignore him the best she could. "I just didn't take you for the type to take spontaneous night walks. People will start to question your occupation."
"Are you saying I look like a Hooker?" Rebecca blurted, glaring at Theo as he grinned smugly. "You're an asshole."
"Yeah, you made that abundantly clear," Theo shrugged, brushing off her words. Rebecca snorted. "Whatever. Where are you heading? Maybe I could give you a ride."
Rebecca glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but she still hadn't stopped walking. "First you call me a sex dealer wandering the streets, now you want to be my chauffeur? Dude, what is with you?"
Theo didn't reply. Rebecca sighed as he switched into drive and started moving in the opposite direction she was headed. She probably could have used the ride, but she was still wary to get in a car alone with Theo Fakin'.
He pulled up beside her again, this time the passenger side closest to where she walked. He had done a U-turn. "What a dork," Rebecca thought, but she stopped walking when he reached across and opened the passenger door.
"Come on, even you're not that stubborn," Theo said, raising his eyebrows. He seemed to know before Rebecca what her decision would be.
Taking a deep breath then releasing it quickly, Rebecca finally started walking towards his truck and climbed inside with ease. "Fine."
As soon as she shut the door Theo pulled away. He waited for her to get settled before saying: "So I know you're going in this direction, but I'm going to need a bit more specific address."
"583 Montgomery Place," Rebecca replied, staring out her passenger window. The sun set not too long ago, making the sky a rich purple colour. She examined that instead, pretending not to notice when Theo gave her a bemused look.
"You know, when you told me your mom was the deputy, I honestly didn't believe you," Theo admitted. Rebecca tilted her head slightly to show she was listening. "But over the past few days I really can see the resemblance."
"Why?" Rebecca asked. Her tone of voice sounded like she was challenging Theo, and telling him to chose his next words carefully. He let out a soft chuckle.
"Because you fight to the death about everything then just shut down when you finally admit you're wrong," Theo replied. Rebecca turned to look at him, and seeing the slight smile on his face, she decided not to play by his rules anymore. He thought she would get angry, instead her voice was calm.
"I didn't know you had so much time to get to know my mom," said Rebecca.
"Yeah, one of the desk people - he goes by the name Gus, I think - has been really helping me out these past few days. You're mom's really intense," Theo responded.
"What have you been doing at the police station?" Rebecca inquired, placing her index finger on her cheek and resting her elbow on the window ledge.
"Well, as much as it shocks you and your mom," Theo explained, turning a corning and glancing at Rebecca out of the corner of his eye. "I actually don't know much about these murders going on. And I wasn't lying when I told you I wanted to be ready for them."
"So you, what?" Rebecca asked, sarcasm dripping in her tone. "Decided to actually become a detective and save the day? Why the hell is Gus of all people helping you anyway?"
Theo hesitated before speaking, and Rebecca grew suspicious at the slight pause. "Me and Gus, we ran into each other a few weeks ago. We're, well, more similar than you think. I said I'll help the best I can, and have been helping him out ever since. Your mom doesn't like that Gus brought me into it. And I also think she just hates me. Does it run in the family?"
Rebecca let out a humorless laugh at his last comment. Gus and him were more similar than she thought, huh? As she pondered his words, Theo felt obligated to speak in the silence.
"Listen, I wasn't even supposed to tell anyone that Gus and I were working together," Theo explained. Rebecca looked over at him curiously. He stared right back at her. She supposed he wanted her to feel special or something because he shared a secret with her. Or maybe he wanted something in return. "And so I suppose it's fair that you haven't told anyone how involved you are in these cases as well."
Rebecca faced forward, unable to look at the boy next to her for a second longer. Gus had told him? She felt an unexplained rush of betrayal. Theo was slowly taking everyone she cared about one by one. First Kamilla, now Gus. At least Ren wasn't so naïve to fall for Theo Fakin's charm.
"But when I heard that you framed Connor MonHeim, and without even a second thought he was arrested, I began to wonder," Theo continued. She saw out of the corner of her eye Theo had once again brought his gaze back to the road. "That is where we're going, right? Connor MonHeim's house?"
"You ask a lot of questions," Rebecca replied. She couldn't help but feel the space between them had become claustrophobic. So Gus had told Theo about her? "But that's why you were going to the station, yeah? Gus called you? Why does he trust you so much?"
Theo made a noise that was a cross between a sigh and a groan. "Why don't you, Rebecca? You don't even let me explain myself before I become number one on your hit list."
"Because I know you don't actually care about me, even remotely," Rebecca exclaimed, her voice growing louder. She shook her head. Her words sounded too personal. She wasn't jealous of the attention her friends were getting, she was angry because for some reason he liked Ren, Kamilla, and Gus, three of the most powerful supernatural beings in the entire town. However, if she hadn't openly expressed her mistrust for him, Theo might not have even remembered her name. All the hints that he had dropped pertaining to her friends made her wary. "You're only after my friends. And just because they believe that you're harmless, I won't until I figure out why you're trying to gain their trust so bad."
"How do you even know that I'm just after your friends? You don't even know me, you just accused me of something I didn't do, then hated me," Theo bit back. Rebecca noticed they accelerated just a bit. She took a deep breath. Arguing with the driver might get them both killed.
Theo readjusted his grip on the steering wheel. Every second she spent with him it made her more suspicious, and she couldn't just ignore the obvious signs that he was irritated with her for hating him, not for accusing him for lying per say.
"What's your story, then?" Rebecca asked, her voice quiet. She cleared her throat, and she watched his Adam's apple bob up and down as he swallowed. She hated backing down, but she needed to see if he would lie to her face again.
"I was home alone," Theo started. His voice lowered considerably as well. "I just finished up my homework when the hospital called; my mom had just been brought in because of a heart attack. Of course, I rushed out, then about five minutes later I nearly hit you."
Rebecca didn't realize she was staring at Theo until he turned and held her gaze. She blinked, trying to pretend she wasn't intensely interested in what he had to say. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. Damn it, he knew.
"After that I kept going, but the road I was going down was blocked. It was the murder scene. So I got out, and started to look around. Of course, me and Gus have been working together for quite a bit now, and so I decided to see if I could figure something out while I tried to ask someone for a different route to the hospital." Theo's voice lilted at just the right moments. If he was anything, he was an excellent storyteller. "After that I saw your mom. I'm assuming she told you what happened. Then I went to go see my mom at the hospital."
"Is she okay?" Rebecca asked after a pause. She didn't mean to sound so fragile, but her voice betrayed her. Theo's story sounded believable enough, especially since Gus snuck and told her information all the time. Maybe her and Theo were his field workers, but neither of them knew the other was involved. Rebecca couldn't help but feel a little bad, but she still didn't know what his obsession with her friends was about.
Theo smiled, but he tried to hide that he was laughing at her. Rebecca huffed indignantly.
"What's so funny?" Rebecca asked irritably
"Nothing," Theo lied. He turned to her, still beaming. He shook his head a bit. "Okay, it's just that one second you're dead set against me, the next you're trying to look out for my family? Dude, what is with you?"
Rebecca opened her mouth then closed it, turning away to try and hide the smile that cracked her sullen expression. She shook her head as well when she heard him laughing slightly. "Watch it, Raeken. I can switch back and forth quicker than you think."
"Oh I bet," Theo said. He looked back at her, and she turned to give him a wolfish grin. Their eye contact lasted for a few seconds before Rebecca cast her gaze downwards, smile melting. He looked back at the road.
"Okay, so your story is acceptable," Rebecca admitted. Theo rolled his eyes playfully. Rebecca didn't know if she liked hating him or liking him more. Their little happy moment scared her a bit. If he could manipulate her like that, no wonder Kamilla was so spellbound. "But that still doesn't explain why Gus trusts you so much."
Theo started to say something, but it died on his lips. He tried again: "It's a bit complicated."
"How is it complicated?" Rebecca urged, cocking her head. Theo seemed frustrated as he took another slow breath, contemplating his next words.
"Listen, Rebecca, I know you're the Deputy's daughter and you probably think you can handle anything, but the truth is, there are things that no one can really understand," Theo said, looking over to gauge her expression. It showed nothing but confusion. After he finished, it dawned on her that he didn't know she was aware of the supernatural. More similar than you think. He was similar to Gus? Was Theo Raeken a werewolf too?
"Are you trying to tell me something?" Rebecca said. She sounded irritated, because she wasn't sure she wanted Theo to know everything about her just yet. She looked beyond him and sighed. This conversation would have to wait. "We're here."
Theo parked his car at the side of the road, turning to Rebecca quickly. Her hand rest on the handle but her attention was on Theo.
"Listen, I know I sound crazy, but you have to believe me on this one, alright?" Theo begged. He seemed desperate to keep tiny bit of trust he managed to get. Rebecca furrowed her eyebrows, pursing her lips together.
"Thanks for the ride," she said while climbing out of his truck. She swore she heard a groan of frustration, but her attention was fixated on the MonHeim household.
She tried to shake out any anxiety she had while walking up their driveway and climbing up their porch. She turned around, and saw that Theo hadn't drove off yet. Knowing that she wasn't alone, even if her company was someone she didn't really trust, emboldened her.
She knocked on the door three times, and on the last rap the door popped out of its place and creaked open. Uneasiness washed through her as a smell that made her gag wafted out of the dark house. She pushed the door open all the way and nearly threw up. What the hell was causing that awful stench?
She took a few more steps, hand trailing the wall to her left as she searched for a light switch. The smell got more and more awful as she went deeper into what she knew was the living room.
Rebecca finally found the tiny plastic rectangle she had been searching for. She flicked the light switch with her finger.
Light illuminated the room, but her eyes were riveted on a hand print right next to the light switch. Her stomach clenched. It looked like it was made from blood.
Rebecca spun around, her left hand still on the light switch as if trying to glean support from the wall. Furniture was discarded all over the room. And much to Rebecca's utmost horror, so were the MonHeims.
Connor's mother was held up against the wall, stapled there by her clothes as blood trickled out of her mouth and from the gaping wound in her stomach. She looked like she had been impaled. Connor's older brother, however, had been drowned in the massive fish bowl that took up almost an entire wall. The water level was lower than usual so his body and slack expression were visible from where she stood. He bumped against the glass but Rebecca couldn't breathe, much less react.
Finally, Connor's second brother, who was eight years old, was decapitated, his body at his mother's feet. Almost all of his exposed skin was covered in blood from various scratch wounds. A trail of blood dribbled across the floor. Rebecca, still in too much shock to do anything but stare, followed it with her eyes.
The boy's head finally had rested only two feet from where Rebecca stood. She could see his empty eyes and the flesh in his neck.
It was when she saw this, she snapped out of her trance.
Rebecca opened her mouth and screamed.
The noise was high pitched and sliced through the silent night like a blade. She gathered in her limbs, and tried to cover her mouth to stop the awful wail that emerged from it, but her hands were shaking too ferociously. Her neck whipped from body to body as she slammed her back against the wall. Her legs were too weak to move any farther.
Around her vision, black spots danced. She was going to pass out soon, but horror surpassed any other emotion.
She faintly heard someone yelling her name. She stopped screaming with a deranged gulping noise. Tears streamed down her face as she shook horribly. She turned to see Theo had run into the house as well.
He looked at the bodies, a mortified expression on his face. He brought his attention back to Rebecca when she started to hyperventilate. She was staring at the youngest boy again.
"Rebecca," Theo said, his voice loud enough to be heard over her panicked breathing. He grabbed her arm, turning her to look at him. Her hands extended, grabbing his jacket and pulling him closer. Rebecca buried her face into his neck, squeezing her eyes shut.
Theo didn't even hesitate before wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. Her chest heaved, trying to erase the image of the MonHeim's from her mind. Rebecca could feel Theo's rapid heartbeat along with her own. In a weird way, it made her panic lessen ever so slightly. It was proof that she wasn't crazy, that the MonHeim's were dead, but without actually having to look at their bodies.
Rebecca subconsciously pressed even closer to him, and he rubbed her upper back soothingly.
Rebecca hiccuped, and she opened her eyes fraction. She could hear other people, most likely from the houses nearby, mumuring about what could be happening. Hopefully they had called the police.
Finally Rebecca took a deep breath, releasing the fabric of Theo's jacket. She was still trembling, and her fingers ached from being clenched for so long, but she wriggled out of Theo's embrace and wiped a few tears from her face.
Taking a deep breath, she allowed Theo to put a gentle hand in the middle of her back and guide her out of the house. When the cool night air brushed past her face, she shivered. Confused and curious faces barely held her attention. Instead, she walked with Theo until the edge of the driveway.
She ignored any questions about what was inside. A few people, she knew, ventured into the MonHeim home, and she could hear the faint sounds of puking. Rebecca bit her lip as if it would stop her from shaking. A woman had informed them she had called the police, and now they just had to wait.
Rebecca allowed Theo to wrap his arm around her body, his hand coming to rest on her arm, for two reasons. It was mostly because she was still in shock, and in denial that what she had just seen was real. Yet another part of her was grateful he hadn't bothered asking if she was okay or not. She might have been recoiling from him as usual if he had uttered something as idiotic.
"Looks like you were right," said Theo, looking over her head to see if a police car had come racing around the corner yet. Rebecca looked up at him, her face almost devoid of all emotion. He looked down at her, and his expression seemed to say a million different things. "About coming here."
"Yeah," Rebecca said, her voice only quavering a little. Her mouth dipped into a slight frown, thinking over what Connor had said. Who had killed his family? It didn't look like they had been dead for very long...
Rebecca refocused, and she noticed how Theo was looking at her: Like he was surprised she had recovered so quickly from the sight she had just seen. As much as it pained her to remember, however, the MonHeim's definitely were not the first bodies she had seen in her lifetime. Yet there was a bit of awe mingled in as well, and she had to look away. Every part of her that was pressed against him seemed to coil up. She felt wrong for being so close to someone she knew she couldn't trust, but she let him hold her anyway.
Even though she tried to hide her brief flash of discomfort, she could feel Theo shift, releasing his hold on her. His arm dropped to his side and Rebecca quickly took a step away. Despite knowing that he was looking at her, Rebecca couldn't tear her eyes away from the street. Even though he was a safe distance away, his presence seemed to take up more space than when they were touching. Great. They stumble on a murder together and now things are awkward.
Distant sirens got closer and closer every second, and soon about three police cars were zooming around the corner at the end of the street, approaching quickly. Rebecca let out a breath of relief when they pulled up to the house.
A gruff officer she didn't recognize hopped out of the first car, ordering everyone to vacate the property, waving away people with his arms. A couple approached him and began whispering and pointing at Rebecca and Theo. After a few seconds, the officer nodded and motioned for his partner to follow.
They rushed into the house, and Rebecca could see them gag at the smell of the dead bodies. One of them continued into the house, talking furiously on his walkie-talkie, calling for backup.
The other one approached her and Theo. He gave her a greeting nod and spoke in a firm voice: "Miss Virk, we understand that you entered the house?"
"Uh, yes," she said, hugging herself tightly.
"Could you tell me why?"
"I was just going to check up on my friend."
"Why?"
"I ..." she said, her voice cracking. Theo stepped up to her, placing a hand around her shoulders.
"She's kind of shaken up," Theo said as if that needed to be vocalized. "Maybe-"
"Who are you?" the officer said, sizing him up.
"Uh, Theo Raeken," Theo said, shrinking at the officer's tone.
The officer makes a noncommittal noise at the back of his throat. "You're that kid that hangs around the station all the time, aren't you?"
"Yeah?" Theo said, dropping his arm from around Rebecca. "So?"
"Just because old Gus likes you doesn't mean you're a cop," the officer sneered. "So how about you step off, Theo, and let me do my damn job?"
"I'm just saying-" Theo said.
"Well don't," he said. "And watch your tone with me, boy."
"Take it easy," Theo said as the officer poked Theo in the shoulder.
"Hey," Rebecca said, stepping forward. "He didn't do anything..."
"Back off," the officer grunted as Theo stepped up to him. Theo did no such thing and earned himself a punch in the face.
"Stop!" Rebecca exclaimed, tugging on the officer's arm, to no avail. By then, more officers had arrived on the scene and one came to pull her away. The first officer pinned Theo to the ground and cuffed him with more aggression than was needed.
The first officer jerked his chin towards Rebecca. "Load her up. We'll take her statement at the station. The second officer nodded and pulled her towards the road.
"If you'll please just follow me," he said.
The first officer was hauling Theo upright, listing off his rights. Rebecca managed to catch Theo's eye for a brief second, enough to see bewilderment and a bit of fear in his expression. His eye was swelling.
The officer opened the back seat of his car and gestured for her to get in. Rebecca's eyes widened as she watched Theo be shoved into a different car by the other policeman. She dug her heels into the ground as a minute protest.
"Miss Virk, we don't want any trouble. " The officer once more gestured for her to get in. She unceremoniously entered, and the door was closed after her. Her heart was pounding, but soon they were pulling away from the MonHeim household, the car she was in not too far behind the car that held Theo.
