Chapter 6

Owen watched Abby disappear into the apartment with some consternation. Something wasn't right. There was something about that man which Owen did not like at all. He quickly crossed over to the door and listened. The latch on the door clicked home and the conversation inside faintly floated out to Owen's ears.

Suddenly Owen heard Abby yell. He immediately thrust both hands forward and sent the door careening into the apartment in several pieces. He stepped forward but realized that he could not enter. A sick feeling began to bubble forth in his belly as he neared the threshold. All the strength drained from his limbs and his head began to ache. He hesitated.

Sounds. A crash. A yell. Owen prepared himself...he was going in.

Abby appeared. She was completely naked.
"Stop Owen! Don't come in!"

Owen was dumbfounded. Abby disappeared around the corner and reemerged seconds later dragging the man behind her. His mouth was bleeding and he moaned in pain.

Abby looked angry.
"I'm so stupid!"
She dropped him just inside the apartment and stepped into Owen's arms.
"I can't believe I didn't see what he was doing...I thought he just wanted me to go to sleep."
Owen felt anger rising in him. He tried to push past Abby.
"No Owen! You can't go in!"
"Then bring him out here!"

Abby hugged Owen tightly and tried to restrain him. Though they were about equal in physical strength, Owen was very angry and she knew from personal experience that anger boosted their strength and speed dramatically.

"Stop..." she whispered into his ear. Her whisper had a calming effect on Owen. His eyes cleared slightly. He turned his attention to Abby.
"Are you ok? What happened?"
"Of course I'm ok...I just wasn't thinking. I thought I could stall long enough to find out what he knows about your Mother."
Owen glanced down at his mate's nude form.
"How did you get...undressed?"
"He pulled my dress off. He said he wanted me to get some sleep...but..."
"That wasn't what he wanted I guess?"
Owen's eyes changed again to an opaque blue-white and his lip curled in anger.
"No...I've had it happen before...should have known...but Owen...wait..."
"For what?"
"He still may know where your Mother is."
"So?"
"So don't...do what you're thinking of doing..."
"He's bad Abby."
"Maybe but..."
"Not maybe...he is...I can tell."

Abby didn't know what Owen meant by that. She heard people stirring in some of the other apartments. Owen had awakened some of the other tenants. She shook her head.

"Doesn't matter...we need to go inside and talk to him...wait here."
Abby stepped into the apartment and crouched down beside the man.
"Invite Owen in."
The man looked at Abby with a dazed look in his eyes.
"What?"
Abby grabbed his throat.
"Invite him..." Abby pointed at Owen, "...in."
The man felt the strength of the grip around his throat and decided he should comply with the strange request. He looked at Owen.
"You...can come in."

Owen stepped forward and stopped with a pained expression on his face. Abby looked at him puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
"I still can't come in."
Abby paused. Was it because the man didn't really mean it? She had always assumed it was the words that mattered. But it must be deeper than that. The person that invited you in must REALLY have to want you to enter their home.

"Darn...you may have to go hide before anyone sees you, Owen."
"I'm not leaving, Abby."
"Don't be stubborn...he can't hurt me."
Owen looked at the man and tried to calm himself.
"Ok...I'm not going to hurt you...please invite me in."

The man looked back at Owen and at the ruined door that lay in pieces around him. None of this made any sense. The two kids were strangely frightening. He wanted no part of the little boy.

Abby leaned down and calmly reassured him.
"He won't hurt you...I won't let him hurt you."
The man looked at Abby. In spite of his current situation, he couldn't help admiring her pretty face and naked body. Somewhere in his sleep deprived mind, he decided there was still a chance for him to have her.
"Ok...ok...you can come in."

Owen quickly entered the doorway with no ill effects. Abby pulled the man back into the apartment as Owen followed. He protested weakly as he was dragged by his shirt collar.

As Abby placed the man on his couch, Owen picked up her dress and handed it to her.
"Here...he keeps looking at you."
Abby glanced at the man and caught him sneaking a look. She sighed, turned sideways, and took the dress as Owen glared at the man.
The man stammered, "I didn't mean nothing...I just wanted to help her to relax before."
"Oh stop it!" Owen snarled.
The man drew back at the savagery in Owen's eyes. He looked at Abby as she slipped the dress over her head.
"You said he wouldn't hurt me!"
"I won't...this time." Owen snapped.

Abby thought they should find out what the man knew and leave quickly.
"We just want to know where the woman is...just tell us and we'll go."

Two small figures darted through the streets. As they leapt over a fence, a dog barked an alarm. They were blocks away by the time the dog was able to investigate the spot where they entered the enclosed area. The poor creature ceased barking abruptly upon catching the hint of a smell it had never encountered before. Its primitive brain decided it was best to let the matter rest and the dog returned to its small doghouse.

The pair arrived at a small RV park and stopped to survey the landscape.
"A bunch of trailers here, Owen."
"Yeah...he said she was renting one of them."
"You think he was telling the truth?"
Owen scowled.
"If he was lying we can go back and see him again."

Abby eyed Owen curiously. He was still obviously upset about what the man did to her. But there was something else there...she made a mental note to ask him about it later.
Owen suddenly pointed.

"There."
Abby looked at the trailer Owen pointed to. It was adorned with religious symbols of various types. Crosses and images of Christ mostly.
"That's probably her place" Owen said with a touch of nervousness.
He began walking toward the trailer tentatively. Abby lagged behind.

"Should I...wait here?"
Owen grabbed her hand.
"No...I want you to come with me."

They crept up to the door more silently than other creatures could. Owen often marveled at the fact that if he could not be detected by any living thing if he didn't want to be. The lights were on inside the trailer. Owen raised his hand to knock. Abby huddled behind him.

The woman sat alone at the small table. An open bible lay before her. She was deep in prayer. Her hand reached for a glass and she sipped from it before returning it to its spot.

She was in her early 30s but had a haggard appearance and a sad emptiness in her eyes.

A sudden knock at the door startled her from her dazed state. She glanced at the door with a worried look. Reaching for a baseball bat kept handy for just this sort of thing, she rose and moved to the door.
"Who is it?"
A muffled voice answered. A child's voice. A boy's voice. A voice she knew...
"It's...me..."

Her heart jumped in her chest. It could not be...no...she wouldn't let her mind play tricks on her again. This was a prank. Hand shaking, she reached for the curtain over the glass in the door and pulled it aside. There were two children standing there in the dark. The boy in front raised his hand in a slight wave. She couldn't see him clearly. He stepped forward into the light spilling out from the small window.

"Owen?"
Her breath left her body. She grabbed at the door handle and tried to open it while fumbling with the lock. Finally she flung the door open.

"Owen? Is that really you?"
"Yes Mom...it's me."