SHADOWS

She Hides

SCENE

The woods were flooded with flashing blue and red lights.

Police officers searched through the trees with flashlights while several K-9 units sniffed the ground, barking every few seconds. Volunteers spread out in different directions, calling Scott’s name into the darkness.

Maya McCarthy sat on the back of an ambulance wrapped in a blanket, her parents standing protectively beside her.

The sheriff approached them, removing his hat. “Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy,” he began. “Your daughter told us she can’t remember anything. According to her, she and Scott were in the woods, and the next thing she remembers is waking up alone.”

Maya nodded weakly. “I… .I don’t remember anything.” She repeated.

The sheriff studied her for a long moment then pulled Maya’s parents aside.. “I’ve lived in this town for forty-eight years,” he whispered quietly. “And around here, memory loss usually means one thing.—Compulsion.”

Mrs. McCarthy immediately shook her head. “That’s impossible.” The sheriff raised an eyebrow. “My daughter has vervain in her system,” she replied firmly. “No vampire can compel her.”

Silence settled between them. “Very well, Mrs. McCarthy, but until we know what happened, your daughter remains the last person to see Scott alive. That makes her our prime suspect, if we find no evidence that something else happened out here.”

Mr. McCarthy moved closer to the sheriff “You know Maya couldn’t have hurt Scott. It’s not physically possible.” His voice softened. “He may just be missing.”

The sheriff glanced toward the officers searching deeper through the woods. “I hope you’re right.” He looked back at Maya. “For everyone’s sake.”

CARSON

I appeared in front of Hailey’s bedroom door and walked in without knocking. She looked up from the edge of the bed. “You haven’t said anything to me about Georgia,” Hailey sighed “It troubles me.”

“Why?”I asked as i stepped closer to her. “You and Jason went searching for the Resurrection Stone. You dug up Georgia’s grave and brought her back without my knowledge. The first time I saw her, she was chained because she had attacked you. Now you’re telling me it troubles you.” I took another step closer. “Why, Hailey?” My voice hardened. “She killed Adrian eight years ago. Tonight she killed a teenager like a dog. Bite marks everywhere.”

Hailey met my eyes without flinching. “You’re one to talk.”

I laughed bitterly. “What does that mean?”

“Georgia killed two people so far. Just two.” Her voice grew sharper. “Can you say the same about yourself?”

“That was different!” I snapped.

“How?” she shot back. “Because those people didn’t matter to you?”

The room fell silent. “We both knew you never would’ve agreed to bring Georgia back.” Hailey paused then continued . “But we had to.”

“Why?” I roared. “So Jason could have his little plaything back?” I saw Hailey’s jaw tightened. “Do you even realize what you’ve done?” I continued. “You went against nature by bringing someone back from the dead and don’t you dare tell me you don’t think there will be consequences.” She lowered her eyes. “I’ve spent five years with you, Hailey. I know you better than you think. You’re always sacrificing yourself like a lamb.” I shook my head.“You honestly thought I wouldn’t figure it out?” Her heart began racing .

“Bringing someone back from the dead shortens the witch’s lifespan.” Her eyes slowly met mine.“You traded years of your life” My voice softened. “For what?” I signed. “For who?—Do they even know?”

Hailey lowered her eyes before looking back at me. “Georgia was always meant to come back, Carson. I’ve seen it.”

“You didn’t have to be the one.” I lashed out immediately. “If it her fate, then let someone else bring her back.”

Hailey stood up.“Something is coming.” She mumbled.“I can feel it. I’ve dreamed about it for months. Something very powerful and dangerous. And in every vision Georgia is the one who stops it.”

“Georgia only ends the messes she starts.”I let out a humorless laugh. “So the real question isn’t what she’s going to stop. It’s what did she start?”

A sharp knock echoed through the mansion. I frowned and walked to the window, carefully pulling the curtain aside. Great. The sheriff.

I looked over my shoulder at Hailey. The color had drained from her face, and even from across the room, I could hear her heartbeat had quicken. She was scared. “Stay here,” I said quietly. “I’ll handle it.”

I kissed her forehead before speeding downstairs. Jason was already making his way toward the front door when I appeared in front of him. “It’s the sheriff,”I said, his expression immediately changed. “Hide her.”for some reason he didn’t answer.

Then I stepped closer until we were almost chest to chest. “Make sure she doesn’t make a single sound .Or I’ll kill her again myself and feed you her heart.”

Jason held my gaze for a second before brushing past me “ I already took care of it “ he said, then left to open the front door. “Evening, Sheriff,” he greeted. The sheriff stood on the porch with two deputies behind him. His eyes swept briefly across the house before settling on Jason. “What brings you here?” Jason asked.

“We’re looking for a teenage boy named Scott Gerald.” Jason’s face remained still. “He disappeared somewhere around here last night.” The sheriff slowly stepped inside without waiting for an invitation his sharp eyes scanned every corner of the living room.

Morgan stood near the staircase while Jason remained by the door, I leaned casually against the wall. “His girlfriend was found wandering the woods with no memory of what happened. Fortunately for her she had vervain in her system.” His gaze slowly traveled across each of us before finally stopping on Reagan who was emerging from the kitchen. For a second, disappointment flickered across his face. I guess he expected someone to be hurt among us due to the vervain. “I know you people can’t compel someone who’s on vervain.”

Morgan shifted slightly, almost looking relieved. “But” the sheriff continued. “You can if you’ve got a witch.” His eyes settled upstairs right where Hailey was sitting.