Chapter 14: Call upon the Doctor

Zack walked through the woods at the outskirts of town. It was early in the morning and it was already the worst day of his life. He had gotten up early to go and see how the villagers had spent the night at the hotel. It was to his horror that he saw the massacred body of Harris lying right by the front door. There was nothing he could do. Nobody would believe he was innocent anymore...

Mary woke up and stretched. It was a miracle that she finally fallen asleep after all that happened last night. She looked around and saw that a crowd was gathering over in the kitchen. Mary tried to wake Grey up to go see with her, but he still slept soundly no matter what she did. Aggravated, Mary growled and ripped the blankets away from Grey. He rolled across the floor and responded with an very loud stubborn snore.

Mary huffed and stormed away to go see what was happening in the kitchen. Something was very wrong. The doctor rushed in through the door followed by the mayor, then Jack. The crowd pulled apart to let them through. Mary caught a glimpse through the crack and immediately wished she hadn't. She sat down and cried. Dear Carter and Manna killed? It wasn't right...

The doctor examined the two bodies carefully. Never in all his years had he seen anything like these murders, nothing had ever prepared him for anything remotely like this. Even now, he was still fighting back the urge to run away. It was beyond horrible to have to touch them. It sent chills up and down his spine. Even his well practiced professional detachment from his patients did little to help him now. He placed two fingers to Manna's neck and felt for a pulse. Somehow, he felt everyone in the room already knew what he was going to say, "She is dead."

With a sigh, the doctor moved over to Carter. It hurt so bad to do this. To get everyone's hopes somewhat rekindled then shoot them down. He brought his face back to it's normal state of coldness. He had to remain professional. He checked for Carter's pulse and like before, "He's..." the doctor felt something. There it was again, it was really faint. "He's not dead! But he's just barely alive! Quick somebody, um, rip up a shirt, I need something to help bind his injured head!" He was in a virtual panic...

A terrified look crossed Jack's face for a split second, but he quickly composed himself. It didn't seem like anybody had noticed. He quickly took off his shirt and ripped it into several strips to hand to the doctor. "Please, you have to save Carter! He was my best friend." A tear rolled down Jack's face...

Mary crawled through the crowd upon hearing this to see Carter closer. She couldn't stand the thought of Carter being dead. She wanted him to live so badly. Finally getting a clear view of the scene, she nearly gasped. The mayor was trying his best to keep everyone back from getting in the doctor's way. The doctor was carefully wrapping Carter's head in Jack's shredded clothes. Jack was... wow he had some good muscles under that shirt... weeping over Carter...

Mary snuck past the mayor and put a hand on Jack's shoulder, "It will be okay Jack. I'm sure Carter will be fine."

Jack stared at Mary blankly, "Yeah, I guess he will... Hey mayor, I want to know... Since Harris is no longer with us," Most everyone gasped. Apparently nobody had told everybody in the building yet about Harris. "Sorry about that, Harris was murdered too. Anyway, I would like to take command of this case. I want to bring Zack to justice for hurting Carter. I want the one who hurt Carter damned forever."

The mayor took a step back, "Harsh words there Jack, but true I suppose. There is nothing left to do but admit the truth. Zack was the murderer and he tried to kill all those who accused him. It appears that nothing will stop him. I won't give you exclusive rights though Jack, almost everyone has been hurt here tonight in someway. Therefore I give license to everyone in town to kill Zack if there is no other way. One more death of a criminal, no matter how horrible it is to say it, is better than the death of many more innocents."