Secrets of the Willow

Chapter 24 - Death without justice.

I sat on the back of the medic vehicle dangling my legs off the edge as I carefully held my bandaged arm. All the students were told to stay in their dorms as the Sheriff and his deputies searched the area and hung up yellow tape and makeshift fences around the trees where they’d found their two dead colleagues.

I had burst into tears when I saw them being carried out of the trees in black body bags as I overheard one of the deputies talking to his partner about how they only found parts of the patrolmen and that their limbs had been torn off and scattered across the ground. I had barely stopped crying since they arrived and I could see the fear and devastation on all their faces, especially Sheriff Burke’s.

“How are you feeling, Eva?” He asked as he approached and sat next to me with a hopeless expression.

“In shock… on edge, scared”. I replied with a sniffle. “I’m sorry for what happened to your men. How are you?” I asked with sincerity.

“I…” He sighed heavily as he looked up at the sky. “I have to go and tell their families”. He said with a gulp. “It feels like that’s all I’m ever doing, delivering bad news and with no hope for justice”.

“We need to find a way to stop this thing”. I muttered as I glanced at him.

“I’ve wanted to for years, and I really thought once I became Sheriff, I would. But instead, I’m constantly told not to draw too much attention, not to be too hasty or put my men in danger. I’ve wanted to gather what ever firearms, ammo and explosives I could find and hunt that thing down”.

“But the mayor doesn’t want you to?”

“He thinks I’d be sending my men out on a suicide mission, or that all that kind of chaos would only make things worse”.

“But surely he’ll think differently now. Two men from your department have died!”

“I can only hope, Eva. If not, then I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do. He just keeps telling everyone the matter is being handled, but he’s been saying that for as long as I can remember”.

“Then maybe we take the matter into our own hands, whether he gives us permission or not”.

“You know what Eva….” He paused as he looked at me. “I have wanted to help you and keep you and your friends safe, and the town! But I’ve f*****g failed”. He huffed with remorse. “I think you’re right though. Maybe we think outside the box and find a way to bring this thing down without the mayor knowing anything”.

“Are you really willing to do that? You could lose your badge”.

“I don’t care anymore”. He shrugged as he shook his head. “I can’t sleep at night because of all the guilt and the constant worry I’ll wake up to find someone has been killed or is missing”.

“I know what you mean”. I said with an empathetic smile. “I don’t really sleep either and I’m terrified all the time. To be honest, I don’t know how much more I can take”.

“Hm”. He mumbled with a look of mutual understanding. “I think you’re tougher than you think”.

“Oh, I doubt that”.

“Well, think about it…. Out of everyone in this town, you’re the only one that’s come across whatever this thing is, several times now, and you’re still here”.

“Perhaps, but I know it’s not done coming for me”.

“I think it wants us all”.

“Then we’d better be more prepared for it”. I added, thinking to myself that the only reason I’m still here is because of the wolves always coming to my rescue.

“We’re going to have to be, but in the meantime, you keep yourself safe, Eva. I have to go and speak with the families now, and then I’ll be paying a visit to the mayor”.

“You take care too, and good luck”. I responded as he stood up from the vehicle and reluctantly made his way to his car.

I glanced at the campus grounds feeling so discouraged and exhausted. Even when Kate tried to comfort me after she and Lacey had rushed me back inside didn’t help to ease the knotting in my stomach and distress I was feeling. It took hours for me to finally stop shaking as my mind replayed everything that happened without me being able to shut it off.

“Please help us”. I whispered out with a sigh, hoping that by some miracle the wolves would hear me, and I just hoped that the wolf didn’t get hurt after chasing it away last night. It was a strange feeling I had every time I thought of that same wolf that always seemed to turn up when I needed help, like it was a friend or a protector. Either way, the only time I felt safe was when it was around.

I finally dragged myself away from the vehicle and made my way to the dorm building. As soon as I opened the door and walked inside, both Natalie and Yas were stood waiting for me and immediately put their arms around me, wrapping me in their warmth as they led me to the common room where a hot cup of coffee and biscuits were waiting for me. They didn’t leave my side for the rest of the day while we were all stuck inside, and from sheer exhaustion I was able to fall asleep resting my head on Natalie’s shoulder, savouring the smell of ginger cookies Lacey had decided to bake to cheer the glum and concerned moods of all the girls in the dorm.