Chapter Five: Late Night Discussions
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Later that night the group was getting ready to go to sleep.
Nikki was going through her pack for her blanket when she realized she had left it by the stream in her haste.
"Well shit.." she muttered. She looked as a blanket was handed to her to see who it was. "Thanks." She said taking it.
"Your welcome. We always keep an one or two extra just in case." He said before walking back over to his stuff.
Nikki was going to say something else but thought better of it and went to sleep.
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Nicolet crept out from behind the couch with tears streaming down her cheeks, "Daddy?" she said hesitantly crawling over to the prone body on the floor. She felt something warm, wet and sticky on her hands. Picking up a hand and looking at it she stared in mute shock as blood dripped from it to the floor. Suddenly she realized her father wasn't getting up anytime soon. Sobbing now uncontrollably all the while never tearing her eyes away from her hand. For the first time in her short life Nicolet understood what true sadness was. And for the first time she felt a very real hatred. A hatred for the man who took her father from her.
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Nikki gasped sitting up in a cold sweat. Breathing heavily she looked around the camp, slightly relieved that she apparently didn't wake anyone up. Throwing the blanket off of her and got up. She crept silently away from the clearing and soon found a large rock not to far away. She sat down on it and stared up at the sky. Hearing some leaves crunch behind her she jumped off the rock and faced the intruder in a defensive position.
"Whoa, relax, it's only me." Johnny said with both of his hands up in mock surrender.
Nikki relaxed immediately and sat back down and returned her gaze to the stars, "Did I wake you up?"
"Not really, I was having some trouble sleeping." He said sitting next to Nikki, "Nightmare?"
Nikki nodded slightly, "Nothing new though. Same old nightmare."
Johnny nodded understandingly, "What's that?" He asked indicating the locket around her neck that she was playing with.
"This? My father gave it to me for my birthday the day before he died. I think it may have something to do with the information my father had on Merrick. Only problem is I can't figure out what it means." She took the locket off and showed Johnny the inscription on the left side.
Johnny took the locket and studied the inscription for a few minutes.
"Owl…There's a man in some covert operations named The Owl. He might have something to do with it. Wouldn't be the first time, " Johnny said handing Nikki the locket back, "Tasha's Manor is nearby. We'll take it to her in the morning, if it does have something to do with the Owl she''l most likely be able to figure it out.""
Nikki put the locket back on, "What does Tasha have to do with this Owl person?"
"They're married." Johnny answered.
"I see." Nikki said staring at the stars again.
They sat in a companionable silence for a few moments before Nikki yawned.
"We should get back to camp. Try to get some sleep before morning." Johnny said standing up.
Nikki stood up, "Your probably right." She turned and started walking back to camp. On a second thought she turned back to Johnny, "Thank you."
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AN: Y'know…these chapters seem a lot longer when I'm writing them in class…..Please Review!