Kate's POV

"Kate sweetie wake up we have to go" mom said gently with a hand on my shoulder. I groaned as I opened my eyes. Mom smiled at me once she saw me awake. "Hi honey… Did you sleep well?" she asked. After last night, I'm pretty sure mom and dad didn't get much sleep. I think mom was too worried about me. After I woke up from my nightmare she just wanted to comfort me. I didn't remember much about it. Just that it had something to do with what I did last night. I still felt uneasy about everything. The break in, the truth… murder. If it was alright with mom then I wanted to talk with a priest as soon as I could. If I didn't get locked up first. But that's why I had to get up right? Part of me was still scared of the possibility.

I whimpered, nuzzling the pillow which offered comfort. Mom sighed and patted my shoulder again, standing up. I opened my eyes again to look up at her and then sat up, smacking my lips before stretching. Everybody was ready but me. I came to find out as I looked around the room. I sighed, scratching behind my ear and then got out of the bed. Walking into the bathroom I turned the light on and then did my morning routine. Brushing my teeth thanks to mom grabbing my tooth brush and then actually using the bathroom. As I sat I remembered last night again. The trauma of scrubbing off all the blood in our shower as mom and dad packed our clothes. I prayed then and now that they wouldn't think of me differently or love me any less after seeing everything. Mom held me, wrapping an arm around me as we walked down the stairs and out the door. By then there was a sheet over the body but still there was a lot of blood with evidence markers all around our hallway, living room, and dining room. Not even the outside was safe from them as they sat where Shaky's blood pool was. If I got out of this the first thing I would have to do is go see him in the hospital. Hopefully he was okay.

Even after playing everything in my head again and again, I still felt traumatized. I couldn't believe that I took someone's life. I felt like crying over it but couldn't. I didn't want to create a scene. When I walked out of the bathroom mom and dad were outside waiting for me. Lilly followed me out of the room, giving me a pat on the back. The two officers who had stayed outside last night followed us out, when we got outside they already had another car pulled up.

"Wait, she's not riding with us?" Lilly asked.

"She can't. She has to go with them" mom replied angrily. Not that she was mad with Lilly, just the situation. Her, myself and dad all thought it was bullshit that I had to be watched as if I was the killer this whole time. But I didn't have the strength to put up an argument. I just wanted to be with my family… with Rick… I missed him now more than ever. The officer held the door open for me as I sat down in the back of the car. Now I guess I know how Rick felt when he was arrested. Another thing to add to our list of things we had in common. Not all of them good , unfortunately. The police officer shut the door and then sat down in the passenger side as his partner began to drive.

"You okay sweetie?" he asked, looking in the rearview mirror. I wanted to say no but again, I didn't want to be a bother, so I simply shook my head. The other officer saw this and sighed.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. This is just proticall. I'm sure you'll be out by the end of the day" he explained. I hoped he was right. Other than that little bit of conversation the ride to the police station was silent. Nothing but radio chatter from time to time. It was about a fifteen minute ride before we finally got there. Again the police officer held the door for me. I got out and waited for him to shut it before we bagan to make our way inside.

I saw my mom pull up with Lilly and dad but we didn't wait for them. Instead I was immediately taken to the back where I remembered going in for Rick. I could see the cells down the hall and remembered going down there to meet him. He looked so upset that day. Luckily they didn't take me there, instead took me to the same office I was in last time. I sat down across from a gray wolf who was sifting through papers on the desk. Looking at the name tag on the desk it read Sebastian Richards. I studied him as he looked over his papers. The officer broke my concentration once he patted my back one last time before walking out. I turned to him as he shut the door behind him and then back to the guy behind the desk. He was completely gray and wore a white dress shirt and gun holster on his torso. He then put the papers down and sighed.

"Hello. Kate right?" he asked.

"Um… yeah" I said nervously as I felt anxious, rubbing my thumbs together.

"Well Kate, I'm detective Richards. I'm the one that's been assigned to your case, nice to meet ya" he said, holding his hand out. It took me a second but I slowly reached for it and gave it a clumsy shake.

"Nice to meet you too" I replied.

"You nervous?" he asked.

"A little" I answered.

"Oh don't be nervous. As far as I'm concerned you haven't done anything wrong. From everything I've seen up until now you acted in self defense. That's why I ordered the department to get you and your family a room until we clean your place up and… also why you weren't in cuffs on the ride over here. It's also the reason I called you in today, because I feel we can get you in and out of here with no record. But I need something for mine. Why don't you go ahead and tell me everything? Take your time if you need to there's no rush. I just need to know if there was a motive, or anything to do with previous events" Sebastian explained. Previous events? Did he know about Rick?

"Well… she was related to this guy I went to school with… he was an asshole. Terrorized me and my boyfriend, his name was Garth Briars. You may have heard of him. He recently committed a murder, suicide" I explained. Sebastian nodded.

"Yeah I heard of it. It wasn't my case but I heard of it. Some gruesome stuff. Your telling me that those cases are connected?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, it started before that though. She told me that it started when I wouldn't go out with him. He would be upset over it but not only did I not like him but I had already found love" I explained.

"So you have a boyfriend?" Sebastian asked.

"Uh-huh" I answered.

"And where is he now? Is he the one that was also attacked that night?" he questioned. I shook my head.

"No. my boyfriend is dead…" I said sadly. Sebastian hesitated.

"I'm sorry about that," he said. I sighed before continuing.

"I didnt like him… mostly because of the things he did to terrorize me and my family. It was more than just getting picked on. At one point he actually tried to kill him but failed. He was in the hospital for a while but he pulled through" I explained.

"And he was released after that?" Sebastian asked. I began to feel myself grow angry for a moment. Sebastian noticed and laid back a tiny bit.

"Yeah… it was that fucking currupt piece of shit that let him go" I explained.

"Who?" Sebastian asked. I couldn't remember his name.

"The fucking judge of the case… he let him go even after he should have been found guilty. Garth even confessed to his dad paying him off…" I explained before I felt some tears begin to flow. "And my boyfriend's parents said that if anything happened to them that it was his fault… we were treated like trash and then… she went after them and they died for it" I sobbed. Sebastian pushed a tissue box over to me which I accepted, taking only a single one before wiping my eyes.

"We'll get back to that but for now… tell me everything in order" he requested. I sniffed before continuing.

"After he was let go my boyfriend's sister threatened him… his cousin who was the girl in my house didn't take kindly to it so she jumped her… I found her right after and did what she did and so she held a grudge… She wanted to come after me again but Garth didn't want her to so she went after my boyfriend's sister again… she cut her brakes on her parents car and it flipped, killing all of them" I explained. Sebastián wrote down what I said and then looked up at me.

"So this is also related to that accident on the highway a few weeks back. Three casualties?" he asked. I nodded.

"We didn't know… and while we were grieving Garth and my boyfriend got in a fight, and he got suspended. I guess Garth's dad took everything from him so he got mad, blamed him for everything and then killed him and himself" I said. Again Sebastian wrote down everything.

"Everything is starting to make sense… I'm glad you're telling me these things but what does this have to do with last night?" he asked. I glared at him before continuing as I crossed my arms, leaning forward.

"After Garth killed his dad she was furious. She blamed us for doing it as if we took him, so she began to come after us one by one. Starting with my boyfriend… the love of my life… she gutted him in the streets and got away with it, and then she came after me…" I explained.

"And that was last night?" Sebastian asked. Again I nodded. "So how did you put all of this together? Did she tell you this? how would she have had the time? Forensics shows that she suffered a gunshot to the leg and then multiple stab wounds. So many that we can even count them" Sebastian explained. I guess after a certain number of times they all just meshed together.

"She broke in through the window… she didn't know I had a gun. I went to check the place but Shaky rang the doorbell" I explained before I was cut off.

"Shaky is the other guy," he said.

"Yeah… anyway I answered it and that's when she took the opportunity to get him when he had his back turned. She came after me right after and so I lured her where she couldn't get away. I pulled the gun on her and demanded that she took her mask off so that I could see who it was but she didn't…" I explained. I then contemplated whether or not I should tell the truth. I just shot her, she didn't attack me at the time, but if they knew that… I couldn't go to jail.

"What happened next Kate?" Sebastian asked. I looked up at him.

"She ran at me and I shot her in the leg… I demanded her to take the mask off so she did… hats when she told me everything" I said. Sebastian wrote it down and sighed.

"So… after she tells you everything… How did you… carry out what you did?" he asked.

"When she explained everything she stood up… she had to lean on the wall for balance… some words were exchanged and… she lunged at me again, even with an injured leg. She tried to stab me but I caught it and got her first… and I guess…" I didn't finish my sentence. Sebastian sighed.

"Blood analysts studied the scene. It matches up almost perfectly with what you just told me… except for the end. If you did what you did in self defense which I believe you did, I don't think you would have stabbed her as many times as you did. So what really happened up until then? Did she say something to anger you?" he asked. I bit my lip.

"Before she attacked me… she mentioned how my boyfriend died… that he went out easy" I said, wiping another tear from my eye.

"I want to help you out Kate… but I need to know who attacked first up until then" he said. Again I felt angry.

"Why does it matter? She broke into my place with the intent to kill me, I was defending myself… are you telling me that I'm gonna be locked up even after that?" I asked.

"No… no Kate no. I'm saying what you did was right… but the fact that you kept going… maybe the possibility that you went to finish her out of anger… that's the last thing I need. So please just tell me the truth" Sebastian pleaded. I shook my head, I wasn't getting out of this.

"She attacked me" I said, doubling down. Sebastian sighed and wrote down what he needed. I closed my eyes and exhaled as a tear fell down my face. I felt hot, like I was about to pass out. "Am I going to jail?" I asked. Sebastian looked up at me again from his paper.

"I don't know Kate… we could decide that right here and now if you tell me what happened" he said.

"Why are you acting like you know? Were you there?" I asked.

"No… but blood never lies" he answered. I sighed again.

"She got up… twice…and when she was about to lunge at me again I… I charged at her… I was so full of emotions that night I… I couldn't take the chance of not seeing what little family I had left" I said. One final time, Sebastian wrote something in his notes. I sniffed as I tried not to break down, finally it hit me. I don't know why I thought of it but I did. Since this was the room I was in last time it should be the same officer, but it wasn't. There was a long pause, nothing but the sound of pen on paper. Finally I broke the silence. "What… What happened to the last cop who was here?" I asked. Sebastian looked up from his paper and at me.

"You mean… Robberts?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah… she helped me and my family out when we were in trouble… where is she? This was her office wasn't it?" I asked. He sighed.

"Yeah… she was a good cop," he said. My ears perked up.

"Was? What happened to her?" I asked.

"She… she got called in for a guy walking around with a firearm. Both guns were drawn and… she never had to shoot someone before so when it was time she just… she just didn't have the guts to do it… the guy ended up shooting her, killing her… she was a good cop" he explained. I felt my ears flatten as a wave of sadness washed over me. So many people were dying. Why? What was going on? So many good people.

"I'm sorry… she was a good cop" I said.

"Yeah… I guess it's good that you did have the guts to do what you did…" Sebastian said before pausing. He looked to his side and then back at me. "That's why you're still alive," he added. I stared at him for a second before he shook his head to snap himself out of whatever he was thinking. "Listen Kate… it was nice meeting you, I'm sorry about everything that happened but… you're free to go" he said. I felt a burst of excitement within me as I listened to his words.

"Huh?" I said.

"Your actions have been justified. I'll pull some strings and make sure you aren't bothered. My officers should be wrapping up at your place so you should be able to go back tomorrow. For now just take your family, go back to the hotel, and stay safe okay? Oh and I'll look into that judge for you, see if there's anything I can do" he said. I nodded.

"Okay… thank you" I replied.

"Of course," he said with a sympathetic smile. I stood up and went to leave but stopped once Sebastian called out to me. "Wait" he said. I turned around, my hand still on the door. "I'm sorry, take a seat for a second," he said, looking at his monitor. I did as he asked and again crossed my arms.

"What is it?" I asked.

"You mentioned the killings and all that but something doesn't add up. You got the car accident, the Garth case… I have records of all of those in the area but… you said your boyfriend was killed in broad daylight?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah" I answered sadly.

"How was it done if you don't mind me asking?" he asked.

"I told you he was gutted by a knife at the corner of a gas station" I answered. Sebastian made a confused face.

"I dont have records of any murder at a gas station… or a gutting… I'll look into that as well, you run along okay?" he said. I don't know exactly how to say I was feeling. Odd I guess. What does he mean he didn't have a record of it? I stood up, walking out of the office and over to the waiting room where I saw my family. As I walked out the door mom stood up as dad and Lilly looked at me.

"Well?" mom asked. I smiled, putting my arms out for a second before putting them back down to my sides.

"I'm free to go," I said. Mom squealed with joy, wrapping her arms around me. Lilly joined in, creating a group hug that lasted several seconds. When it broke dad hugged me on his own, giving my head a kiss before we all left the police station. "So what did they say?" mom asked.

"That I'm good to go and that we can go back home tomorrow" I answered. Mom hugged me again.

"I'm glad you're alright," she said. I hugged her back, nuzzling her with a smile.

"So am I" I replied. Once we broke it mom brushed the side of my face, looking into my eyes.

"Hey can we maybe… go to the hospital? I really think we should check on Shaky" I said. Mom nodded.

"Of course sweetie… let's go" she said. After that we all went to our car, getting inside. Me and Lilly were sitting in the back as dad drove and mom sat in the passenger side. Lilly brushed my leg with a smile. I smiled back as I buckled in and then after that we were off to our destination. Along the way it began to get hot in the car so mom had asked us if we wanted the air on. I said no and simply put my window down, making my hair blow with the delightful wind. Lilly put hers down as well and by the time we were at the hospital I had to fix my hair, only a little bit. It was warm outside. Average for the day, it was when we entered when we felt the slight air condition as we checked in.

We were given patient cards and then a direction. By now we had been in this hospital so many times we knew where everything was. We took the elevator up to the second floor and then made our way through the patient rooms. It seemed quieter in here, not that it was loud in the lobby but it just seemed more calm. I guess because it was a little less open. We passed talking doctors and nurses until finally reaching the room. We pulled the curtain back and saw Shaky as he sat up in the hospital bed watching TV. I say watching but his dad sat right next to him as they had a conversation. As soon as we pulled the curtain back they're attention was on us. Shaky smiled at the sight of us. His dad not so much.

"Hey guys" he said cheerfully.

"Hey" my sister smiled as she walked over to give him a hug. He hugged her back but then grunted in pain, making Lilly nearly drop him. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay. Kate's turn" he said, extending his arms out to me. I giggled and walked over to him, hugging him as my sister did, only more careful.

"How are you?" I asked as I broke the hug and laid him down gently. He was under the thin hospital blanket as it went on to his lap, with a hospital robe on, a band around his wrist, and needles going in his arm, the other end hooked up to IV bags.

"It hurts but…" Shaky shrugged. "What about you?" he asked. I sighed.

"Been better" I answered.

"Are one of you guys Kate?" his father asked, making me turn around. I looked down at him as he sat in the hospital chair.

"That's… me" I said nervously. I didn't know what to expect, I never met his dad before. Honestly I didn't even really know if this was his dad or someone that looked exactly like an older version of him. He stood up and wrapped his ars around me, hugging me tightly.

"Thank you for saving my son," he said. Well that answers my question.

"That's our girl," mom said. Shaky's dad broke the hug, allowing me to turn around and see the smile on my mothers face. My mom then walked over and put a hand on Shaky's shoulder. "We're glad to see you're alright" she said.

"If you ever need anything you let me know alright?" Shaky's dad said to me, grabbing my attention again and cursing me to turn around.

"Well… actually some alone time with your son was what I was looking for" I admitted. He looked over at his son, and then back to me and nodded.

"I should get going anyway, are you okay with that?" he asked, turning to Shaky.

"It's okay dad. I'll text you later, okay?" Shaky said.

"Okay" his dad replied, leaning over the short bed rail to give his son a kiss on the head. He then turned to the rest of us. "Nice meeting you guys," he said.

"Nice meeting you too" my dad said, offering his hand. His dad shook it and then hugged my mom before heading out. He seemed sad as he did it, almost as if he did not only not want to leave, but he felt bad for doing so. I pulled up the seat next to Shaky's bed where his dad sat only moments ago and took a seat.

"Did you want us to leave too?" mom asked, grabbing my attention again. I felt rude saying it but I wanted to have a talk with Shaky anyway. Ask him why he was there that night, and possibly care for him if he needed it. He wouldn't be ere if it wasn't for me. At least that's how I felt.

"If you wouldn't mind," I said.

"Do you want me to bring your car?" Lilly asked. I thought about it for a second.

"Sure, that would be great. And when you come back we can all talk things through" I said. Mom sighed and walked over to me, giving me one last hug and kiss.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too. I'll meet you guys back at the hotel" I said. Mom turned back to dad who stood next to her.

"See you tonight sweetie" dad said. It was only then that the three left the room, leaving me and Shaky alone. There was a moment of silence before Shaky spoke. Thankfully he did because I didn't know how to start the conversation.

"So… what's up?" he asked. I sighed, closing my eyes. When I opened them I was facing him.

"Everything… there's a lot we need to talk about '' I said, realizing that not only did we have to talk some things through but I also needed to break the news to him that Angel's death wasn't an accident. I dreaded having to tell him, the last thing he needed right now was more stress but he had to know. That and I really wanted to know why he was there that night.

"Well… I'm all ears" Shaky said.

"Actually… I wanted to ask you something first" I said, waiting for his response. Shaky looked puzzled.

"What-" he was interrupted by the now annoying sound of my phone ringing, making me feel impatient. I groaned, taking it out of my pocket. It was the same unknown number as before. I hit ignore and put it back in my pocket. I would answer the number or call back eventually but right now I really wanted to get this conversation over with. At least Shaky was alright though. Thank God for that.