Chapter 20

Teaspoon and Buck stood inside his office as Carson and Raven argued. He kept stealing glances over to Jimmy who was sitting in the cell. Buck poked Teaspoon in the shoulder as the room got silent.

"What do you think, Teaspoon?" Carson asked pointedly.

"That's my boy and he ain't no murderer."

"He is not your so called boy anymore. He is a monster, and he will stop at nothing. Let me end this." Raven argued.

"He needs to be studied! I can find out more about his kind! Can you imagine the money that could be made from this!"

"Shut up! This is my destiny and you will not deny me this right!" Raven yelled back. "I will kill it!"

Raven went to pull her blade. Buck saw as did Teaspoon. They grabbed her arm. The sword fell to the ground. Carson kicked it away. Teaspoon and Buck pushed her into the other cell. They locked the door. Jimmy was watching in defeat.

"Get the sword Carson."

Carson walked over and proceeded to kick the sword back in their direction.

"I must gather supplies. Thanks for siding with me." He said before leaving.

"I didn't!" Teaspoon yelled.

Carson left so Teaspoon went over and locked the front door. Buck locked the back.

"Go get Cody and Noah. Grab some wood. I'm thinking we need to board up the windows and secure the building."

"On my way." Buck agreed as he ran out. Teaspoon locked the door behind him.

Raven was staring at Jimmy in the other cell. Teaspoon walked over to where Jimmy was.

"Son, I think it best that you stay in there. For your safety."

"Mine or yours?" Jimmy asked quietly.

"What kind of question is that? Look, do I know how to take this? No, I don't. I don't know how I feel about this as of yet. I'm just as worried as you are but, I think it best to keep you here. There is no telling what these folks could do. I believe in what Buck said. Jimmy, you didn't hurt anyone."

"I'm not so sure."

"I am."

"This is my life here. I can't deal with this shit. Let Raven end it. She knows how. Then it will be over."

"You can't mean that."

"I do. It's my life, my decision."

"Then I'm taking the choice from you. That ain't happening."

"Teaspoon, you have no right!" Jimmy said standing.

Teaspoon stepped away as Jimmy growled deep within. He watched in amazement as he began turning into the thing that haunts dreams at night. He heard a key in the rear door. Buck, Cody, and Noah rushed in but stopped. It was standing in the cell. It was growling and waiting.

Cody felt himself tense. He smelled it. It was here. He felt his heart begin to pound. Jimmy stopped and slowly turned to stare red eyes straight into Cody's blue ones. He dropped the boards. Buck ran over to Cody.

"Cody, you have to stop right now! Calm down! That is Jimmy!"

Cody was scared. He was frozen. Noah stood in shock. He felt his heart start to race. Jimmy turned to him then. Buck had to get control.

"Deep breaths. It's Jimmy. He can control it. He won't hurt us."

Cody and Noah held their breath which slowed their heart rate. This was their family. They had to help him. Buck looked back at Teaspoon who just stood in place. Everyone could feel the tension start to leave the room. As it left, Jimmy started to shrink back down to normal size. He groaned as he fell to the floor. Teaspoon ran over to the bars.

"You ok?"

Jimmy nodded.

"I think it best I stay here." He agreed slowly.

"Good. Boys, board up every window. We can't take no chances."

Carson stood outside the marshal's office. He couldn't see inside. He held the syringe in his hand.