This is a short chapter, but I needed to get it done. I've had so many thoughts and ideas whizzing through my head for my other stories but none for this one, so hopefully this gets my ass into gear and I can update this one just as frequently as my other ones. Writers block suck a giant dick.
Sirens threw me from my thoughts and back into reality. I was daydreaming at work, filing papers when the loud blaring tore through the comfortable silence, indicating that something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
The building was on lock down within the minute. Doctors moved fast and ran from their offices to shut and bolt every door and window in the building. They ordered us to hide under the desks before killing the lights and finding their own refuge. The office I worked in was attached to the Edison group's main medical facility, so we were safer than the rest of Blackbridge, but that still didn't calm the nervous feeling that I had in the pit of my stomach. Whispers echoed throughout the room as two other receptionists huddled together between a cabinet and the photocopier, and from what I could gather they were theorizing on what could possibly be happening.
The sirens rarely sounded, but when they did you could bet that a werewolf was on a rampage, or a sorcerer was wreaking havoc on the town.
"I bet...werewolf... disgusting." I caught snippets of the conversation from the other side of the room and my heart ached for Derek. Werewolves were looked down upon with such disdain in Blackbridge and while many of them had tempers, so did witches, sorcerers, half demons and necromancers. While Derek didn't seem to care too much about what others thought of him, he did seem hurt that day when I found out what he was, and I understood why.
Where was Derek? Was he safe? Could he be in trouble? I panicked, but there was nothing I could do other than be a sitting duck until we were given the all clear.
We waited in the foyer for two long, grueling, panic filled hours before the mediators announced it safe over the speaker system. The lights flickered back on, doctors retreated to their offices and I moved back to my desk with a sick feeling in my stomach and Derek on my mind.
Five o'clock took its sweet time to roll around, and I was more than ready to leave the office and find Derek. A cold breeze hit my face as I left the building and I marveled as I watched everybody go about their day like normal, as if most of them weren't stuck in lock down for two hours.
I took the shortcut through the town center, the most populated area during the day. Hushed whispers filled my ears as I passed groups of people.
"Werewolves... terminated."
Was this person saying that werewolves should be terminated, or that it was a werewolf that caused this panic?
"Wolf... creature... unnatural."
None of us were natural. We were all supernaturals created through a science experiment. What was natural about that, and why were the werewolves the weird ones?
I grew more nervous with each mention of the word 'werewolf'. Could this mean that it was a werewolf that was the source of this drama? They weren't as common as the other supernaturals so my panic grew further, worrying that Derek was in some sort of trouble surrounding this.
The light outside diminished as it became later in the day and I approached Derek's house, noticing that none of his lights were on. Against my better judgment, I approached the front door and knocked.
There was no answer so I knocked again, this time calling his name.
"Derek, it's Chloe. Can you please open up?"
I gave him a few minutes before real panic started to set in. The heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach grew along with the tears in my eyes. I rummaged around the perimeter of his house, praying that there would be a spare key somewhere - anywhere. When I came up with one, I inserted it in the lock and pushed the door open.
His home was in its typical state - not a thing out of place. While that should have calmed my nerves, the absence of any noise unnerved me. In my panic I called out his name, pleading for him to be there. It wasn't usual for him to be away from his house this late and I knew something was wrong.
In my hysterical state I collapsed on the sofa. Hot tears prickled at my eyes and spilled over when I didn't make any effort to blink them back. My breath became shallow so I focused on keeping that under control.
Where was Derek? I didn't know if he was safe, I couldn't lose a friend in Blackbridge. Not another one...
"Chloe?" A deep rumble shook me from my thoughts. I turned around to see Derek in the doorway, looking completely unharmed.
The sight of Derek overwhelmed me and I launched myself at him, trapping him in my arms where he froze in shock. I wasn't sure how long I had him trapped for, but it was long enough for my tears to soak through his shirt and leave mascara stains on the fabric.
"Where the hell were you?!" I yelled at him.
He stepped back. "I was at the store." He held up a frozen dinner. "What happened?"
"Did you miss the fact that the whole town was on lock down for two hours?! People thought it was a werewolf, I was worried about you, you idiot."
Derek's face hardened. "That's because it was a werewolf. Nice to know you thought I was capable of causing such trouble, though."
"I didn't mean it like that-"
"I know, Chloe." He sighed, almost sounding defeated.
"Look, you're the only werewolf I know apart from Liam. It's easy to worry considering that not even the authorities take kindly to werewolves."
Derek proceeded to the kitchen and leaned up against the counter. "They'd shoot us just for looking at them funny and not even feel an ounce of remorse."
"So you can see why I was frantic then?"
He nodded. "Sorry I scared you." He looked at me and scrunched his nose up. "Hey, how did you get in here?"
I held up the key to his house. "You're bad at hiding stuff. Keep it at mine so it's safer." Derek nodded in agreement.
"Did you want to come over for dinner?" I asked him. "I know you've got your microwave meal but-"
"That'd be good." He cut me off.
"Okay, give me five minutes to tidy up my kitchen."
Derek nodded and I was heading out the door before he could answer, but he stopped me in time by gently taking my wrist into his big, warm hand. I stared up at him as he looked down at me, a confused expression painted on my face and a questionable one etched on his.
"Thanks... thanks for caring, Chloe."
I smiled up at him. "It's okay, Derek."
Okay, I think I know what to do for the next chapter now. Please review, let me know if I'm doing okay with this story. I love hearing from you guys.
