Sorry, I should stop making excuses but things have been hectic. Hope you enjoy, and I am sorry if this chapter gets a bit confusing.

…
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
..

Claire Speaks

I was up before the sun the next morning, actually having had an alright sleep. This hunt was giving me a bit of a headache, and it was still so weird having a partner. It made things easier, but at the same time it made it harder, trickier having to constantly keep the other in the loop; where you were, what you found out but two brains were always better than one.
Plus I liked Bens company.

I got up quietly, glancing over at Coby who was tangled in a black trench, snoring softly. It was a surprise that he even went to sleep at all, not u all night terrified that something was going to come after him next. I remember it was hard for me the first time I saw a ghost.
I thought I was tough enough, I had prepared myself and was fine with the idea of the supernatural but it didn't stop me from cowering in the motel room, thick rings of salt around me and gun constantly facing in the direction of even the slightest noise.

This boy would be scared from this, but sometimes it was the scars that made the people, both mentally and physically.

After a warm shower not bothering to wash my hair and avoiding myself in the mirror, I got myself presentable enough in my neat black pants and button up white shirt, but left out the heels and slipped on my flats. It was only when I stepped out of the bathroom that I realised I had no transportation. I groaned, that would be at least a forty minute walk and I didn't feel like borrowing Bens car or stealing one.
Looks like I was walking.
I did have plenty of time and a good morning walk never did any harm to anyone. Well, that was a lie, I remember reading once that a string of disappearances happened to morning joggers along an old haunted path.

I gathered my things, shoving my wallet and phone into my jacket pocket and gun into my hip holster and made sure my fake badge was the right one and clipped to my belt. Tip toeing through the room, I paused when Ben moved but he was still sleeping. I debated whether to let him know I was going but I had told him last night and the dark marks under his eyes had been getting darker each day.

Something caught my eye and I focused on the silver cross in his hand. He was holding it tightly so I didn't dare try to take it from him; who knew how strong his hunter instincts were? If they were anything like mine, I would steer clear, which I was.

I never really thought of Ben as a religious sort of man, but you can never judge a book by its cover, I just hope he knew that even though he prayed and tried to do what was right, it didn't mean that you were protected any more than a murderous thug. There were plenty of reasons why people like us were and were not religious.
Did Ben know angels were real, or was the fact of knowing things were crawling all over the earth enough to make his decision for him?

I knew angels were real, I knew that they were out there somewhere and that heaven was just as real as much as hell was, but I also knew they were as corrupt and stubborn and evil as demons. They were just as bad only they were brighter and in the name of God.

The streets were quiet this time of morning and wouldn't get much busier I should think. I just hoped that the time would pass quickly as I made my way towards the hospital. The air was cold in my throat but I would survive.

I smiled at the thought of our childish game last night, then again, what child has an arsenal in a duffle bag? I had more daggers and guns than I did clothing. The only time I went to buy clothes was if they were ruined beyond repair or if my cover needed a little convincing. Luckily I wasn't one for dressing up or making sure I looked good; left more room for my weapons. Ben seemed to be the same, rotating shirts and washing them in the bathroom sink. At least he didn't smell and wasn't a pretty boy, who could be with a job like ours?

Ben Speaks

Dark clouds were getting heavier and heavier as I watched them from the kitchen table. Claire was gone and after a fleeting moment of worry I remembered her heading to the morgue. I would have gone with her but I didn't even hear her leave. I didn't know if it was because I was sleeping too heavily or if she is just skilled at sneaking about.

In a way I was glad that I didn't have to go, because it would mean that Coby would have to come also. From what I heard, they had already got Coby t identify his mother's body. It wasn't necessary, it was obvious that it was.
Coby was in the bathroom, scrubbing the last of the blood from his skin and gulped down the hot coffee, loving the feeling of it sink into my stomach.

'You want anything for breakfast?' I called out to him, washing the cup. I didn't want to push the kid just, I couldn't. He walked out slowly, the cloth in his hand as he rubbed at his already red cheeks. Shaking his head, Coby walked back into the bathroom and I sighed.
I could understand.

Pulling out my laptop, I tried to connect the dots about this case but it only left one logical answer. Cobys parents had something to do with Stacey's death, which is why Julie was now the first woman to be lying on a cold slab.
Did it mean it was over?
The spirit had already murdered several people, maybe all that was left to do was find the body and burn it.

The one other thing that baffled me was how the people were killed.
Spirits sometimes did take the bodies, storing them the same way they had been killed but the damage done to the body, I understood that often they would kill the same way they had been killed but that was extreme; she must really be a pissed off spirit.

Coby walked out slowly, unsure of himself as I shut the lid of my laptop; he didn't need to see any more bodies. I tried to give him my best smile but it was hard to know if I could talk to him now, was he still in shock, did he fully grasp what had happened, did he even remember?
He returned the uneasy tilt of lips and sat on the bed, shivering as he put on his own jacket. My trench coat was mingled in with the sheets somewhere but there was no urgency for me to get it.

I remained still for a little while, my thumb rubbing over the tarnished cross. Coby was looking at the same spot for five minutes before I tucked the cross into my jean pocket and ran my fingers through my knotted hair.

'Coby, can I ask you a few things about what happened?'
It was like watching something from a movie as the kids face paled and dropped. Tears welled in his eyes and I instantly got to my feet and sat beside him, wrapping my arms around him to comfort. Coby sobbed, griping my shirt tightly in his fingers.
'Why did the monster have to take mummy?' he cried harder and I rubbed his back in an attempt to sooth him but the reality was that I could do jack shit in a situation like this.
'I don't know Coby, I'm so sorry.'

'Do you believe me?'
He looked up at me with wide eyes and I tried again to smile.
'Of course I do.'
'No you don't. You're an adult. The police at the station said that it was my way of coping with it.' I chuckled and leant away from him slightly. Should I tell him? Would I end up blowing my cover?

'You've seen Ghostbusters haven't you? Yeah, good old classic. Well, would you believe me if I said that it was real?'
'What do you mean real?'
I waved my hand about, trying to be humorous but it obviously wasn't working too well and I just sighed.
'Ghosts are real and can I tell you a secret? Only if you swear not to tell a soul or else it may end u blowing my cover.'

'I swear it, I swear! You're a ghost buster? What about monsters, they are real too right?'
I laughed, not feeling at all bad or guilty as to what I just said. At least now the kid will grow up knowing that what he saw happen was a ghost and he was not crazy all his life.
'Along those lines yes. My partner and I go around and help people like you and get rid of the spirits.'
'Your secret is safe with me, trust me!'
I patted his shoulder, glad that at least I managed to get a smile on his face, for a second I got him lost in the wonder of something sci-fi or fantasy, distracted by the confirmation of the supernatural.

'I do Coby, now, let's get you to town.'
He knew what that meant and he slumped his shoulders, his eyes losing a bit of their spark.
'Can't I stay with you? My gran won't know how to fight monsters, she can't even open the milk.'
I sniggered at the thought, I never met my grandmother but I reckon she would be about the same. Giving him another pat on the back I stood and straightened my clothing, seeing no point in changing.

There was a heavy sigh behind me and Coby lazily stood.
'You'll be safe Coby, more than you have ever been.'

He gave me a hopeless grin and I felt a stab of guilt as he nodded slowly, the bruises on his face visible now the redness had subsided. This kid has always had rejection, from everyone and then I go and do the same thing.
'Look, what I do is dangerous,' I pulled up my sleeves and showed him one of my scars, the long white mark clearly visible and Coby looked at it interestedly, 'I got his because I was distracted.'

He nodded his head slightly and looked back up at me.
'I don't want to get anyone hurt.'
'Then the best thing to do so you also don't get hurt is to live with your grandmother and just forget that this ever happened. Trust me.'

Claire Speaks

Sipping at the hot coffee in my hands, I relaxed my aching legs as I leant back on the wall of the hospital. I walked and stopped for a coffee and still managed to beat the doctor.

'Good morning Agent Simone. Nice day don't you think?'
I smiled, swallowing the lump of coffee in my throat as the doctor opened the door, holding it for me as I stepped through.
'Morning. Bit cold for my liking though.'
The doctor chuckled, his grey thing hair combed neatly across his balding head. He wasn't very tall but he powered down the corridor, greeting the ladies at the reception before continuing down the secluded hall.

'So what brings you down to my humble abode?'
He neatly sat his satchel down on his desk, the morgue lights flickering to life and chasing away all the dark, revealing the white and silver sterile room.
'Sorry to have to bring you down so early, Dr Beatey but I will need a report of Mrs Julie Hearson's autopsy.'

The cheer in his eyes dulled and they moved to rest on the spot where her body was. Slowly he moved across the room, sliding on his white coat and wheeling out the body.
'I'm afraid I haven't done one yet, but you are welcome to stay and oversee.'
I nodded grimly, finding a white coat for myself and gloves as he lifted the body on the table carefully.

It was horrific.
Not even a single day had gone past since she died but already the body was so ruined, so horridly destroyed it was barely recognisable.
'First dead body?'
'Far from it but first one like this.' I replied as I covered my nose for a moment as I inspected the body. Dr Beatey pulled over the scales and his tools, grimacing himself as he began to work over the body.

'Cause of death I can tell you now, I have no died but it seems obvious.' He shook his head and I raised an eyebrow. Gloved fingers traced over the wood and thorns that protruded from her flesh, messy and wild as it ripped through her skin and muscle, twisting back around and forming something like a cocoon.
'No evidence of defensive wounds; but there is not enough skin left intact to locate bruising or entry wounds in order to determine the time frame of attack…' he continued up the body, his eyes and lips saying it all.

No human could have done this. Not even nature would do something like this even if it had a million years.
I wanted badly to tell him that a spirit did this, that this only happened because she and her husband murdered an innocent woman.
'The rate of decay of the body again is difficult to determine. She had only been found last night had she not?'
I nodded as I tried to find some evidence myself of a ghost, but without Stacey's body it was hard to match them up.

'This is the same state the other body was?'
'The one that wasn't only in pieces, yes. Fairly similar except Mrs Hearson here is the best condition I have seen, compared to all the victims I've seen.'
He paused and lifted a piece of skin, the sick noise it made sending a chill down my spine. He poked about before he grabbed the tweezers, pulling out a small black seed.
'How very interesting.'

'What is that?' I asked as I looked at the black seed he passed to me in a bowl.
'That my dear is a seed and from what I can remember, black seeds like that one are only found in Germany.'
I let out an exasperated breath and the doctor chuckled ever so softly.
'It is hard to believe that a single person could do this in so little time. That young boy is lucky that the hikers had heard him. I hate having children down in my area.'
I understood and handed the bowl back to him.
'Could those seeds have been introduced during the war?'
'It would be the only logical explanation.'

I sighed again and ripped off the gloves.
'Anything you can give me on a cause of death other than… than some plant growing on steroids?'
'If I could put it down to two things, I would say asphyxiation and puncture wounds.'
'Thanks for your time.' I gave him a nod and with one last long look at the body I stepped away from the metal table.

'Miss Simone, is there really a man out there cutting people up?'
I hesitated in taking my coat off, not missing the careful way he worded his sentence.
'That seed, it has a name?'
'Do you believe in the paranormal, agent?'
I tried not to say yes, instead shaking my head and turning slowly.
'Dr Beatey, I do think there is a logical explanation to these murders, there is no need to-'
'What about the term 'Knock on Wood'?'

Again I tried to be professional, but my hunter instincts were hoping that he would continue to explain, anything was better than running around in circles.
'It is an old German term. People would go into the forest to hunt or travel, a forest made of trees from those seeds and before they went in too deep, they would knock on the trees.'
'I'm sorry doctor but I am unsure of the connection…'
'By doing this it would wake the spirits in the trees. Sometimes they would give them protection or a good hunt, if not they would play games, getting them lost and if they were really mischievous, would kill them.'

I tried to think back over everything I had ever learnt, ever read but nothing like that popped out at me, but I did my best to commit it to memory. It was not really a surprise that a seed was over in America from a country so far away, with the world in chaos anything could have been smuggled in and smuggled out.
But spirits in trees? How did that link with Stacey?

'Aren't we lucky then that we are not in Germany and superstitious.'
The doctor closed his eyes and nodded and I pointed towards the small black seed in the bowl.
'Do you mind if I take that?'
'Be my guest, I have a body that is stuffed with them.'
I thanked him as he tucked the smooth seed into a small plastic bag, handing it over and taking hold of my hand.
'Do you enjoy doing what you do?'
I frowned slightly and I wanted to take my hand from his but I resisted, his warm hands comforting.
'It's the only thing I am good at.'
'Now I do not believe that.'

I took my hand back from him and pocketed the seed.
'Again, thank you for your time.'
'Just promise me,' he said as he snapped on some new gloves, 'find whatever it is that is causing this and be careful.'
'I will. I promise that this is the last body for you.'

He smiled gently and picked up a scalpel, making himself busy and I grinned slightly. It was odd to speak to someone who was suspicious, it was as though he knew exactly what was going on and for a moment I feared that he knew who I was and what I did. I reached the door, my hand holding the cold metal bar when I turned around to the doctor again.
'Sorry, did these spirits have a name?'
'Yes they do.' He smiled as he split open the bodies chest and hacked away at the twisting vines.
'They are called Waldgeist.'

Ben speaks

It wasn't every day that I had the responsibility like I had today. Look after a child and get him to the police station on time and today I just had to be irresponsible.

It was almost nine by the time Coby finished eating, myself forcing him to eat as his stomach growled for the sustenance. That was the right thing wasn't it? Not to shove him in the car and whisk him off to another family on an empty stomach? I kind of know where my priorities lie but how good could stale cornflakes be?

Coby ate the anyway, used to eating rubbish probably. I just wished I could have given him something better, like bacon and eggs or pancakes with juice of a milkshake.

'So what sort of things do you hunt?' I raised an eyebrow and sat up from my drape over the chair.
'Things, lots of things.'
'Do you ever get scared?'
I grinned weakly at the question, Coby listening intently before placing his bowl into the sink.
'Sometimes.'

He nodded and I stood up straight, twisting the keys in my hand, ready to go before my phone rang. The shrill tone made us both jump and I groaned.
'Conner.'
Claire's voice was some comfort as she laughed dangerously.
'No it is in my phone I just… it's just a habit now to answer that way!' I groaned into the phone, Coby smiling slightly as I held the phone playfully from my ear, rolling my eyes.
'Women, they don't get any better than that. What? No, I didn't say that, what do you mean?' Coby busied himself making the beds, , folding my coat neatly and pulling the sheets up. I didn't make him stop; if he wanted to do something that was normal to him then so be it. I kept my eyes on him as I moved away slightly, Claire silent on the other end.

'No he won't hear us. What did you find?'
She described the body to me and I cringed, it could have easily been Coby as well. As she instructed, I moved to the table and opened my laptop, squeezing the phone between my ear and shoulder as I typed in the word.
'Waldgeist, and the doc knew this how?'
She continued to tell me, almost word for word I could imagine and nodded my head, eyes flickering briefly to Coby.
'Yeah he is still here; meant to have him at the station an hour ago. I know but I'll do this for you and meet you up there. Don't do anything stupid! Oh sure, that's my job. Catch you.'

I flipped the phone shut and remained still for a while. A heavy feeling settled over me but it tried to shake it off, we had a body to find. We only had to search an entire state forest.

Images began to pop up on my screen, some hideous drawings, some artistic painting but all looked like the same thing. Most of the sites were in German but there was always one recurring thing.
The face stared blankly back from the screen, that's if it had eyes.

The wooden creature looked as though it wore a mask of bark and hair of leaves and vine. It lived in the forest and would protect those they saw fit but play cruel pranks on others that entered their realm. But this was in Germany; surely that wasn't here in a forest that was not native and what did this have to do with Stacey?

My phone rang loud and for a second I hoped it was Claire but the ID number wasn't familiar.
'Conner. Yes he is with me. No sorry, not yet. I do not care what you request, yes that's right. We shall be there when we are ready. Thank you.'
Coby was sobbing lightly on the bed and when I clicked my phone shut, so did his tears.

'Are you alright?'
'I'm scared.'
'I gave him a weak smile, patting his back before I picked up my uniform from yesterday.
'With me around, you have nothing to be scared of.'

Claire Speaks

I thanked the young officer as I stepped from the car, straightening my clothes professionally and the officer just smiled up at me. He reversed, a call not that long ago about a disturbance at a house, leaving me to search by myself; not that I had a real big problem about that.

Looking around, it was quiet enough luckily; campers and hikers having been moved on last night from the crime scene. With a groan I set off, stepping under the yellow tape that blocked to path. I had no idea what I was looking for, I didn't have my EMF and only a gun strapped to my hip; hopefully nothing would decide to surprise me.

The sky was dark now, the clouds too thick to allow any sun light through. It made it hard to look for finer things and the smell of rain was strong in the dense air. Scanning the area around me, I was about half way down the track, seeing the scuffed track and knowing there was no chance of picking a child print from the mess.

This was a lovely track, the trees towering over me and green from all the rain. I cursed as a rock stabbed my foot, pausing against a tree as I picked it from my shoe. ACDC began to play and for a moment I waited for it to stop before I realised it was me.

'Ben, what you got?'
It was nothing different to what Dr Beatey had told me, but at least I now knew he wasn't lying.
'Does it say how they come about? Why and how is this linked to the Hearson's and Stacey?'
Again it was a dead end; Stacey was murdered an the Waldgeist just were. I groaned again as Ben spoke but I silenced him with a small noise of my own.
'Hang on.'
I moved quietly, my other hand resting on my gun as I moved some of the small bushes. Blonde didn't fit in with the basic green and brown of a forest.
'Hey Ben? I think I found Stacey.'

Sure enough the blonde wasn't a new species and I carefully moved the dirt around it, the hair buried deep in the muddy earth. Soon enough I found a face, the pale skin tarnished with bruises and dirt, lifeless eyes open wide and filled with dirt.
I sighed and scanned down the length of dirt that now seemed obviously disturbed.
'It's her.'

Ben gave a strange noise over the phone and I could just imagine how Coby would feel when he was old enough to understand.
'No just a shallow grave but…' I pushed and dug the dirt away, revealing more of rotting flesh and felt a heavy weight settle over me, 'her body is only in early stages of decay. There is no evidence that,' I held the phone between my ear and shoulder and I tipped her head, looking over every inch of her.
'Well she was strangled to death and there are multiple wound on her abdomen, from a stab or a gunshot I can't be sure. What? Yeah sure Ben I'll do a full autopsy out here in the rain.'
As I said that, a few drops began to trickle down the leaves, falling lightly around me.

'Ben, these wounds don't match those that we found, she is all here. Don't spirits normally kill the same way they were, normally being the key word?'
I frowned as Ben tried to explain, his typing and clicking on the other end a strange comfort to me; he wasn't just mucking around while I was out here in the cold.
'I don't know, there isn't a lot I can do out here, maybe would should consider this Waldgeist. I'll call the squad to come and get the body. I got a lift, reckon you could-'

I was standing up, twisting about so I didn't have to see her body again when there was a sharp noise. Instantly my instincts kicked in and I reached for my gun, drawing it out but I was too slow.
The shadow loomed over me and I fired my gun. Fat lot of good it did though, it wasn't human.
Within a blink of an eye it reached for me, my weapon useless as it fell limp in my hand.
Faintly I could hear Bens alarmed words, his voice calling my name but I couldn't speak to tell him.
So I screamed.

Ben Speaks

'Claire? Claire!'
There was nothing on the other end of the phone and I pulled my hair as I stared out the window towards the forest.
'Shit, fuck!'

Coby was beside me in an instant, his gasp not helping as my mind rushed, hands unsteady as I tried to think of what to do.
'Ben I'm scared.'
'So am I buddy,' but then I realised what he was looking at and everything was starting to fall in place.
'Ben, why do you keep saying monster?' I knelt down to his level and gripped his shoulders, needing to know what he saw. He tried to look away but I shook him gently, hating myself for it but I needed to know. My blood was running cold with the thought of Claire out there, probably already dead and I didn't even…

'Please Coby, I need to know!'
His frightened eyes looked at me and then an unsteady hand pointed to the laptop screen.
'Are you sure, it wasn't a ghost? It didn't flicker, it didn't get really cold?'
Coby closed his eyes, shaking his head furiously and I pulled him in for a brief hug before I stood.
'Grab your things and get out to the car.'
Coby did as he was told and I tried as quickly as I could to find a way to kill a Waldgeist before I gave up, grabbing my duffle bag.

I rushed out to the car, Coby buckling his seatbelt hard next to me, I didn't even bother as I slammed the car into gear.
If Claire was dead, if she was hurt…
This thing would die, even if it meant I burned the entire forest.

The car skidded into a stop when we reached the forest. Getting control of my thoughts and hands I prepared a gun, handing it to Coby.
'If anything happens while I'm gone, aim into the sky and squeeze this, you can do this can't you Coby?'
He took the gun and nodded, watching me as I leapt from the car, grabbing my own guns and swinging the bag over my shoulder.
'Where are you going?'
'To hunt a monster.'

With that I shut the door and raced down the track, snapping the yellow tape in my rush. The rain made the track into mud and I slipped once or twice. The entire time I ran I could hear my blood pump with panic and mind saying it was useless, she was dead. I lied to myself, all the time so this had to be one of those times right?

The forest was quiet, no birds, no screams, only the rain and I heaved in a breath as I slowed to a brisk walk.
With my gun up and ready, I surveyed everywhere; in front, behind, up above and down low. There was nothing, and I could feel my teeth chatter as my nerves quacked. My boot kicked something and I bent down to pick up Claire's phone.
'Claire!'

I knew I should have remained silent, the thing could still be out there but at this time I really didn't care.
'Clai-'
'Ben.'

The voice was too weak to make me feel any better, and it could have been a trap for all I knew but it was better than anything else I had to go on. Moving slowly, placing each step carefully and quietly, I moved around a thick tree and felt my chest leap.

Claire was holding herself up off the ground with an arm, the other hand rubbing her head. I leapt towards her, dropping my gun as I held her face up to me.
'Are you ok? What happened? I tried to get here as quick as I could.'
Claire opened an eye and glared at me and I couldn't help but smile; she was alright.

'I've been worse.'
She grabbed my shoulder and I stood slowly, watching her sharply as she moaned but she never looked at me, instead her stare remained fixed ahead through wet strands of her blonde hair.
Following her line of gaze, I felt my mouth fall open and I aimed my gun.
'No! Ben, don't.'

'Was that what you were expecting?' The voice spoke, barely human and yet it was like something I had heard every day of my life, comforting.
The tree moved, swaying in the wind that was starting to pick up but it turned its head towards me.

I took a step back, trying to take Claire with me but she remained still, eyes a blazing blue before she shook her head.
'No.'
Taking a deep breath I frowned and pointed the gun at the tree. I was starting to see it now, a body and arms, the eyes turning to look at me. There was no expression, just a tilt of its head to show some confused curiosity.
'What?'
Following the roots and bark I realised it was bound to the spot, connected to the earth and other trees. It almost looked human, the body resembling that more of a female and the next time it spoke it definitely sounded like one.

'That was all you had to see, Claire Novak. What you make of it is up to you.'
I turned to look at Claire who seemed even paler now and I rubbed her shoulder to bring her back to earth, bring her back beside me.
She looked sick, the twisted agony that was now riddling in her eyes almost painful to see.

'What did you do to her? What did she see?'
'Calm your spirit, Benjamin Braeden.' The tree twisted to me, creaking as it did and I kept my gun aimed.
'Not until you tell me why you killed those people.' I hissed and the tree lowered her head, her arms closing in front of her before they vanished, dissolving into the rest of her.
'It is simple, Benjamin. They were impure.'
I screwed up my face.
'How can someone be impure?'

The tree creaked again, the hair snaking back around out of her face and I nervously shuffled. It didn't answer and I would have slapped myself if I could.
'The Hearson's, they killed Stacey and hurt Coby, which made them impure?'
It nodded slowly, the strangest thing I had seen for a long time. Claire was getting lighter as she stood on her own two feet and watched the Waldgeist.

'Just like the others that were killed, they probably all had records of something or some secret that lead to their demise.'
Claire spoke beside me before she swayed on her feet, grabbing my elbow to support herself.

'None come through our forest without being judged.'
'But why?' I asked and I swear the mouth on the creature tilted into a smile.
'It is our purpose.'
I rubbed my eyebrows and looked at Claire as she turned slowly to me.
'Are you alright?' I whispered, watching the tree from the corner of my eye as it groaned and twisted.
'Yeah, trust me.'
'How do we kill it?'
'You cannot.'

I twisted myself back around to frown at the Waldgeist who rose higher in defense, sensing my anger.
'Then how do I stop you?'
It could almost be counted as chuckling with the noise it made, bending down and staring straight through me.
'We were woken, Benjamin, when they dragged the body into our home and tried to bury her beneath us. We have been here for centuries, we cannot die.'
'Not if I don't burn this place down.'

It was threatened and it grew, stretching and slowly getting closer to me. I held my ground though, Claire nervously stepping behind me.
'Your soul, you are pure.'
I scoffed, there was no way I could be pure with everything I had ever done.
'For that I can give you a choice.'
I raised an eyebrow as it was even closer now, black hollow eyes burrowing right through me and I had no doubt that it could see my soul.
'And what is that?'

It moved back now, roots gradually spreading back out and dragging themselves back into the ground.
'I can offer you two things of which you can choose one; a glimpse of your future or a single wish?'
Claire tense behind me, did she get the same offer?'
'Didn't even ask me.' She hissed and I tightened my grip on her hand as she move around to stand beside me. 'Don't go either.'

I thought about it, was there a choice to not choose?
The Waldgeist waited patiently, a smile on its face like it already knew what I would choose.
My future, it would help but I honestly didn't want to know.
'I choose how my life is, it is my decision and will always be up to me, not you.' The tree inclined its head, respecting my words and I sighed.
'I wish, my wish it that you never kill another person again, no matter how impure. Not just you, everything like you.' I glanced around at the trees, wondering how many would be listening.

The Waldgeist bowed.
'It is done. Farwell Claire Novak and Benjamin Braeden.'
Almost like that it hardened, the face retreating behind the layers of bark and I yelled for it to stop.
Running up to it, I hit it with my gun but it did nothing, it was a simple tree now. I didn't feel any different, maybe it was just a simple wish but when I looked back to Claire who gave me a look of displeasure that it just vanished without any more answer, I couldn't help but wonder what he future had shown her.

It always got easier to lie. To just stand there and tell someone else that they found the body while searching for more evidence and nothing else had happened.
Right now though, it was easier to tell the truth.

Coby was sitting next to me, waiting somewhat impatiently for his grandmother to arrive.
'What if she doesn't like me?' he asked and I leaned back in the uncomfortable plastic chair, listening discreetly as Claire answered some of the policemen's questions and asked some of her own.
'I thought you said you had met her, how do you know she can't open the milk?'
'Aren't all grandmothers like that?'
I chuckled and we both fell silent as we watched the steady flow of people walking in and out of the administration area, no one yet asking for Coby.

'Did you kill the monster?'
I looked at him carefully and shook my head.
'I didn't have to this time. It swore it would never kill anyone ever again.'
Coby smiled and dropped his gaze to his feet, playing with the zip of his jacket.

In front of us, someone walked in and spoke to the desk before they were being lead this way. Coby leapt to his feet and I thought he was running to meet her but instead he wrapped his arms around me as I got to my feet. He refused to let go and I patted his head.
'Come on Coby,'
'No, can't I stay with you? You said I was only safe with you around!'

Instantly I regretted ever saying that, and couldn't think of a way out until I got down to his eye level again, laughing as Coby sniffed.
'I meant that, as long as I am around, hunting monsters and saving other kids like you, everyone is safe.'
'You're like a superhero?'
'Not quite buddy, just you remember not to be afraid of anything, you're the superhero.' I laughed and the door opened.

'Coby?'
The woman smiled as Coby spun around and I stood slowly as the woman lowered.
Tears were welling in her eyes as she held her hand over her heart.
'I'm your grandmother.'
Coby studied her before looking back up to me. I nodded, giving him a wink and he ran into her, hugging her as the woman laughed.

Claire stood beside me and I gave her a smile as Claire watched my face.
'Thank you, both of you so much.' Mrs Hearson shook our hands firmly, mumbling something about her son being so rotten and she felt horrible for never being able to do anything for him. She was a good lady, I knew Coby would be safe with her and I grinned again as they left, Coby turning around to wave at me.

'At least everything turned out the way it should.'
I relaxed my shoulders as the new family walked from the station. I would never see him again and that was something about the job that I would never get used to.
'Yeah. Well come on, we can't stop.'

Nodding as we left the building, I unlocked the car and opened the door, ready to get in but watching as the car containing Coby left, driving away until it was lost amongst the traffic. My mind raced with what had happened; that was the second case down that I had done with Claire and the creature gets away free with Claire injured.
'Why do we do what we do?' Claire asked as she leant on the door and I sighed. She stole the words right out of my mouth.

I sat in the car, Claire in her seat and I drove us back slowly towards the motel.
'Because we always have; could you see anyone else doing what we do?'
Claire smirked and shook her head.
'Plus,' I grinned, trying to lighten the mood, 'this life isn't really without its perks.' Something darkened over Claire and I sighed, focusing on getting us back to the motel.
I considered grabbing a paper, stopping off to get some lunch and finding another job but I felt different.

'Thanks for,' Claire cleared her throat and leant back in her seat avoiding my eyes, 'thanks for getting to me so promptly.'
I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
'There was nothing for me to do when I did get there.'
'You still came, and you gave up a wish to stop them. I don't think anyone else would have been so selfless.'
Again I shrugged, smiling as I stared at the road.
'You're my partner; I don't want to lose you just yet, we're in this together. Plus you screamed pretty loud.' We both chuckled.
'That my friend will never happen again.'

We were quiet for a few seconds before I sighed.
'I never believed in that sort of stuff, until today at least. The wishes and future telling I mean. What did you get?'
She huffed and folded her arms.
'I didn't get a choice like you.'
I knew I was treading on some sensitive ground but sometimes it was better to get things off your chest right?
'What did you see?'
'What does it matter?'
The air became icy and I took the hint as she closed her eyes, looking out over the passing town.
'Sorry.' She mumbled a little later. I said nothing, silence was golden.

In silence we got back to the motel, getting out of the car and making out way as I noticed something on the door.
The piece of paper was stuck to the door under some tape.
'What's that?' Claire asked as we stepped inside, securing the door behind us.
'Not a whole lot, just a number.' I twisted it around to show her as she gulped down a glass of water. 'Recognise it?'
She shook her head and I did the same, scrolling down my phone.
'Could be a case.' She said and handed it back to me.

I looked down at it, wondering who would do this.
'If it was a serious case they may have waited, and who the hell would know where we are, how?' We both shared a concerned look before Claire swallowed nervously.
'Call it and find out.' Claire replied like it was the easiest thing to do, and I guess it was. She busied herself with packing and I dialed in the number, listening to it ring.
I was about to hang up, having almost dialed out when it was answered.

'About time you rang.'
I was definitely taken aback by the greeting and I couldn't think of how to reply. Pretty much all of me was yelling to snap or have some sort of remark but I couldn't.
'Sorry, who is this?'
'I'm the one with some answers and if you are ready, I can give them.'

Dun dun...
Not really haha. Getting serious now. Well, more into the main plot. Hope you guys like!

Silver-Kirin
xXx