First, I must apologize for the GREAT delay in updating... I feel terrible. Second, I must thank the White Prince for giving me just hte right advice to get this chapter written. Third, I hope you enjoy as always and I hope you will share your thoughts with me in your reviews. I believe I left you with another cliff hanger, so I do plan to update quickly. I seriously hope my fans havent lost interest... I do feel terrible.. Im filled with this trerrible guilt. But as always Happy reading.
I love you guys, all my fans. Truly. I am terrible to you though.. I promise never to make you wait so long again..
*Ray-Ray
Slamming the snooze button, Bug turned over in his bed. For several nights now he had been dreaming of the Ripper. Things seemed to only be going downhill. The whole town was in complete chaos. The funerals for the victims of the recent murders were being held this week and the night watch had been increased, a demand from the sheriff. Aunt May insisted on going to prayer group every Wednesday night due to the tragic events. The coordinator was determined to get Bug to talk, open up about his feelings.
"Now son," he would say. "You were greatly affected the last time something like this happened. How does this make you feel now?"
"What do y-you mean?" Bug would ask.
"Well, are you scared?"
"Of course," he would reply every time.
This Wednesday however, he pretended to be ill. He waited in his bed until he heard Leah and his Aunt pull out of the drive way; when the coast was clear he opened his window and climbed out.
"Finally," Seth said. "I thought you had forgotten."
"Dude, I wouldn't forget." He shook his head. "My aunt wouldn't let me be. She wanted to stay home and nurse me back to 'heath'." He chuckled. Seth only shook his head.
They were sitting outside a gas station waiting for Seth's latest girl. Bug was feeling skeptical; he figured he would end up being a third wheel, and not for the first time. Seth was swearing that it wouldn't be like other times.
"Hey, there she is." He smiled as he stood from the curb. Bug looked over and saw a thin girl walking their direction. As she got closer, Bug realized who it was.
"Are you kidding me?!" He hissed. "Dude how could you!"
"Whoa, hold up bro." Seth said holding up his hands as a sign of surrender.
"You knew I liked her!" He was flailing his arms now. Seth was grinning madly, which only infuriated Bug more. "You really hit an all-time low man… not cool." He was fuming; flailing his arms uncontrollably.
"Calm your shit dude." Seth said his face serious. "I called her so that you could hang out. I'm going to go out with someone else. Look she is coming around the corner now."
Bug stopped short of his next retort and looked past Hayley. Another girl was walking up behind her; she was wearing a low cut shirt and a short skirt. Bug thought that that she fit Seth's type. He relaxed.
"Sorry dude…" He said softly. Seth put his arm around him.
"It's cool," he waved it off. "I wouldn't do that to you though, you know that man."
"Yeah, I'm sorry." He shook his head. Hayley had reached them.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hi," Bug said just as soft. He looked at Seth who was already making his way to his girl. "How are you?"
"I'm okay; I haven't really felt like myself lately though." She said; Bug gave her a look asking her to elaborate.
"Well, I don't know." She began, "Everything is so messed up right now. I just went to my friend's funeral a few days ago, and I don't know what to do. It seems like the whole down is falling to pieces. We all thought it was over. Everyone believed that you had fixed everything. You were our miracle Adam." She was crying; Bug stared at her horrified.
"A miracle…" He whispered.
"You were the miracle child, while I was the painful reminder." He could hear Leah screaming. It was happening all over again. He couldn't shake her voice from his head now.
"Adam," Hayley was standing inches away from him now. "What is going to happen?" He could see the fear plain as day in her eyes. He didn't want to make anything worse for her, but he didn't want to lie either.
"Honestly, I don't know." He put his arm around her to comfort her. One of the boldest things he had ever done. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Do you want to know what I think we need to do?" She nodded. "Stick together," He started. "All of us. I mean you, me, Seth, and Leah. It doesn't have to stop there though, everyone needs to stick together. It is the only way we can survive this. No matter who is behind this. We cannot let them rip us apart; it is what they want to happen. That sort of thing makes it easier for them to attack us.
"W-we have to stay strong." He began to falter and he hated himself for it. He wanted to be strong for Hayley. He swallowed his pain and continued. "We have to be strong for those we have lost."
Hayley looked at him with teary eyes, but she was smiling.
"That was beautiful." She said, leaning close to him. Bug's heart rate increased. He knew what she was doing; he didn't know what to do about it.
She wrapped her arms around him and planted a small kiss on his lips. Bug started at her closed eyes in great shock. Slowly he found himself wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her up to him. He closed his eyes and kissed back; which was the boldest thing he had every done.
He felt clumsy, but she didn't seem to notice. When she pulled away, Bug was a little disappointed.
"I've wanted to do that for a while now, I was just too shy." She grinned and took hold of his hands. He was so self-conscious; he didn't even register what she was saying. He was too worried about whether or not his breath smelled, or if his palms were sweaty. He needed Seth there to tell him what to do, or… Alex, he thought sadly.
'I am always here Bug.' Alex said cruelly.
'I know… But I mean in person.' He thought silently.
I am only messing with you Bug'. Ale reassured.
"Where did you go?" Hayley asked, waving her hand in front of his face. She giggled.
"Sorry," he whispered.
"It's okay, you think too much though." She leaned up and kissed his nose. "Well, it is getting really late. Do you think Seth will be back soon?" Bug shook his head. "I didn't either. Walk me home," She suggested.
"Of course," He held out his arm for her to take. He was feeling more confident than he had ever felt, and he couldn't describe it.
The next morning he woke up early and made breakfast for everyone. When May and Leah woke up; they were speechless.
"Someone is in a good mood." Aunt May said; smiling. She sat down and let Bug serve her. Leah stood in the doorway with her eyebrows arched, but she was smiling as well.
"I bet I know why." She laughed and sat down. "Hayley," she said in a teasing voice. Bug smiled sheepishly.
"Oh," Aunt May said laughing.
"Guys, shut up." Then he added, "Please." They only laughed harder. They ate breakfast happily, and they forgot about everything for a while.
"Well, get ready for school." May said. "I'll clean up." Bug and Leah stood reluctantly and went upstairs. Bug heard his aunt turn on the television. The news was on, and they weren't reporting good news. He looked at Leah and they both sat at the top of the stairs listening intently.
"Last night, the body of a young girl was found in an alleyway across from the local gas station. A suspect has been put into custody; however, police are unable to release any names at this point and time. Officials said the girl was found with the exact wounds as previous victims this year and the Ripper cases in the past. This is very unsettling news, but hopefully our fears will be put at rest." Bug looked at Leah.
"Leah, we were out there last night… Seth, Hayley and I. Seth met with this girl… What if it is her, and they took him in?" Bug began to hyperventilate.
"You were out there?!" Leah said shocked, but she shook it off. "You don't know if it was her, it could be any girl and any suspect. Why don't you call Seth and see if he answers?" Bug nodded.
"That is a good idea." He ran into his room and grabbed his phone. He fumbled to find the right numbers.
The phone didn't even ring once; it went straight to voicemail. Now he was terrified. Had his friend been the copycat all along?
"He didn't answer," Bug said numbly. Leah had entered the room, but he wouldn't turn from the window.
"Maybe it died and he hasn't had the chance to turn it back on after charging it…" she suggested meekly. Bug could tell she had no idea what to say to comfort him.
"That is possible," Bug said feeling more hopeful. He dressed quickly and made Leah rush. "We need to get to school." He kept saying; he didn't want to lose faith in his friend.
At school there was no sight of Seth. Bug's stomach dropped; he couldn't believe it. His friend was at the police station, probably being questioned as he sat through school.
"Have faith Bug." Penelope said soothingly.
"It's hard to…" He whispered.
"God will take care of everything. It is in his design." She said.
"It is his design to make the only best friends I ever had both murderers?" He hissed.
"Bug is everything alright?" He spun around, and met eyes with Hayley. She looked worried.
"No…" He said at last. "I am worried about Seth." Hayley took his hand.
"I am too." She admitted.
"You don't think he did it do you?" He said softly. They were walking to English together. Hayley kept the pace slow. He was glad for that because he needed to talk to someone about what was going on, and he felt that Hayley was the best person for the job.
"I hope not. I think he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, if it was the girl he met with last night." She looked dubious despite her words. "But it doesn't look good for him either way. We were all there last night. But no one saw him after we split up."
"Are you accusing him?" He asked anger flaring inside him like a large flame.
"No!" Hayley said. "I wouldn't do that Adam. Look, I know you care about him and I respect that. If you believe he is innocent, then I do too."
I don't know if he is or not… Bug thought to himself as they walked into the classroom.
Despite the efforts of Hayley, Penelope, Brittney, and Alex, Bug still worried about Seth. By lunch he had decided to stop by his house to see if he had stayed home sick, or just simply played hooky. After class ended, he said goodbye to Hayley by hugging her tightly.
"I'll be home as soon as I can." He told Leah, and he left in the opposite direction of the two of them.
The walk wasn't as long as it was to his house, but every step seemed to be a mile long. He was terrified of what he might find, or not find. He was about halfway when he heard something in the woods to his right.
No, he thought to himself. It can't be… He walked faster, bawling his hands into fist so he wouldn't tremble. By the time he was in view of Seth's home, he was sprinting.
He pounded on the door. No one answered. Bug decided that was not a good sign, kicking the door he turned away and tried to think of what to do next. He could go down to the station, or he could go home. He felt a pain in his hand, and looked down to see that he had his fists clenched so tight that he had drawn blood. Wiping his hands off; he walked away from the house and began to head home.
Having forgotten about the noise he heard; Bug took the long route home… through the woods. He needed the time to think about what was happening, and whether or not it was all true. His friend was MIA, and the only possible explanation was that he had been arrested. If it was true than Bug reasoned that it was his own fault for having bad taste in friends. Immediately he regretted even thinking of something like that.
Alex had been one of his greatest friends. Seth was a close second. He thought about all the times that he had spent with either of them. Alex had gotten Bug to open up, and become himself. He gave him confidence to be someone. Seth made him feel normal again. Seth encouraged him to be more outgoing. At the same time he never pushed Bug into something he didn't want to do. The more he thought about Seth, the more he didn't believe that he was responsible.
"If he had the bad soul in him, he would be responsible." Brandon muttered in his head.
"Don't say that! There is no way that is possible." Bug said loudly.
"You heard the old lady didn't you?" Brandon spat. "She said weak souls can easily be overpowered. I believe the six of us have proven that." He added in a snarky tone.
"I am not weak." He muttered. "Besides, you haven't taken control of me!"
"Brandon does have a point though Bug…" Jay said. "Think about it. Seth used to be into drugs. That has to leave one's soul temporarily handicapped, if not permanently. It fits." Bug shook his head.
"I can't accept that. I won't." He cried. Head pounding, he fell to the ground. "He would just kill me. The Ripper wants me. He doesn't want anyone but me. If it was Seth, he would have already done it by now." He reasoned.
"Bug, you said so yourself. They feed of fear. Maybe he is toying with your mind. Waiting until you are most afraid." Jay said.
"Logically, everything points to him." Brittneysaid. "The evidence is there."
"Don't give up hope." Penelope said, trying to give him faith.
"Penelope is right Bug." Jerome said. "We only know what you know. Nothing is for sure." He sent him a wave of comfort.
"Don't bother lying to him Jerome. Brittney is right. There is hard evidence that suggests this kid did it. I mean his drug history, and the fact that he is nowhere to be found. He was also probably the last person to see that girl alive. Besides, why else would he befriend you Bug. He acts just like Alex did. Appearing randomly when you are alone, and then disappearing in the next second. It is just messed up. " Brandon said. He felt hatred surge throughout his body. He also felt the shock of the other five.
"Are you fucking kidding?!" Bug shouted. He could faintly hear the footsteps of someone in the woods nearby. He tried to stand, but his head was pounding. Nausea overwhelmed him and he only fell back to the ground. The person was getting closer. Bug looked around to try and see whoever was approaching, but everything was blurry. He couldn't make out the plant to inches from his face. Vaguely he could hear his name being called out. He could have sworn it was the Ripper, calling him to join the others. Silently Bug accepted his fate. Someone grabbed his shoulders lifting him from the ground. He felt a piercing pain in his temples.
Then suddenly, his whole world went black.