her sweet chains

Episode 28

“Jess.” Jamie’s voice hissed jerking me out of my bizarre trance like state I had submersed myself in.

“Hi.” I said managing to just lift my head and smile at him but that simple action took a lot of energy.

“You look like crap.” Jamie said sitting himself on the floor next to me gently brushing my hair with his fingers “I thought you’d still be asleep.”

“I think I should be the sedative…I…I can’t really move to well.”

“Well you should stop fighting it and go back to sleep.” He said gently, I shook my head slightly. “What?” he said “what’s wrong?”

“I had a …dream.”I said hesitantly, Jamie sighed

“About Derek?” I nodded.

“I don’t think he’s okay.” I whispered Jamie smiled sedately.

“I sorted out …twinkle and your friends are still asleep I’m going to go back to bed and leave the front door open and we’ll plead ignorant.”

“How did you get them to sleep that quickly?” I asked Jamie gave a wicked smile and pulled a small bottle from his pocket which he gave a playful shake. “You drugged them.”

“You And Derek were arguing pretty loudly they were getting nosy so I thought it was probably for the best they were really drunk anyway.” I slowly lifted my hand to rub my forehead with a groan. “He tormenting you again?” Jamie asked with a smile,

“Doesn’t he always.” A crash from the front room made both our heads whip around although mine was significantly slower

“I think you assimilation assistants are awake.” Jamie said lightly I groaned again, and he laughed before he kissed the top of my head. “I’ll go get you a coffee.” I smiled

“Whatever would I do without you?” I said as he opened the door. Jamie paused before he slid out of the room.

“You’ll learn to make your own Damn coffee.” He said with a dazzling smile.

           The remainder of the day was far from fun not that I’d expected it to be. First I had a killer hangover made worse by the fact that I still had way too many sedatives still in my system but I also had to endure a very uncomfortable morning with Jamie apologizing for something he hadn’t done while Amy and Lauren glared at him for his carelessness and then made us pointlessly search the surrounding streets for her beloved dog. It was only at Lunchtime that we were allowed to abandon this endeavour. Jamie apologising again before slouching off to school and me begging that I had to go to my next class to get out of their plan to notify the police and make up Missing posters.

“Hey heavy night?” Ashton asked beaming, as I sat down next to him.

“What gave it away?”

“The fact that your five hours late for our first class.” I smiled “and no offence but you only look 95% as beautiful as usual.” I mock winced,

“So the concealer really didn’t help.” I said as our tutor walked sedately into the room. he smiled as he began to arrange his pens (his pre-class ritual) and I couldn’t help but feel better everything with Derek and my friends didn’t seem quite so bad while I was with Ashton already he sort of felt like another Jamie but this new fake Jamie didn’t know all the bad things about me so he saw me as a lot better than I actually was and I needed that. I was snapped out of my musings by my beeping mobile I smiled apologetically at the tutor and quickly rejected Carl’s call frowning why he was calling I didn’t have a clue probably to back up Derek’s call with another level of pestering.

“Are you going to answer that?” Ashton asked as we walked out of our classroom and I fished the ringing mobile again out of my pocket. I stared blankly at the caller id which showed that Carl was once again.

“I don’t wanna.” I wined; Ashton smiled as the phone diverted him to the answer phone.

“Look I guess it’s none of my business but um… if it’s your family they are pretty persistent from what I've seen and the fact that guy that you live with you know he won’t let you avoid them for long.” I groaned,

“Cant we just go get drunk.”

“Jessie.” He said firmly pointing at a bench.

“Yes dad.” I said selecting Carl’s name with a sigh and pushing the phone to my ear, he answered almost instantly

“Jess.” Carl said breathlessly, “are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I said baffled,

“Oh right of course, course you are.”

“Did Jamie call you?” I asked suddenly suspicious.

“What? Jamie?” he said sounding genuinely baffled “Err no I haven’t spoken to him for days now. Why?”

“Never mind.” I said brightly “is everything okay there?”

“Um actually Jess no.” he said gently, an iron fist seemed to grip my stomach in pure terror.

“What’s wrong?” I asked breathlessly, “Is anybody hurt?”

“No.” he said gently I felt myself breathe for the first time,

“But.” I said hearing the hesitation in his voice,

“It’s Derek.” I felt icicles slide down my back, “He’s alright. He’s not hurt.” I felt horrified at his need to make this distinction.

“What’s happened?” I asked hesitantly hating how weak my voice sounded. Carl sighed heavily,

“Nothing yet… well…I….what I mean is… he says he hasn’t done ….and of course I believe him…but…but…well Darius has put him in the cage.”

“shhh.” I hissed before realising that of course Ashton didn’t have our hypersensitive hearing so hadn’t overheard anything, but my hissing had clearly attracted his attention as he frowned at me but his crinkled brow seemed to be directed at me in concern rather than anything else. “What happened?” I whispered to Carl, the silence stretched out between us. “Carl.” I snapped harshly,

“A girl.” He eventually stammered.

“A girl?”

“The police found a girl this morning in some scrub brushes. She’s only been dead a few hours and they…they.”

“Carl.” I prompted even though my voice was weak as the hallway we were in seemed suddenly airless.

“There saying she was attacked by a wild animal.” my head dropped “Darius has seen the body.”

“How?” I whimpered,

“The same way we always find out.” He said seeming exasperated with my ignorance. “money.” He elaborated just in case I was truly that ignorant. I slowly got up and walked a few steps from Ashton.

“Was it a wolf?” I whispered,

“He thinks so.” Carl answered softly, I bit my lip.

“He thinks it was Derek?” I said disbelievingly.

“I don’t think…not really.” Carl said slowly, a tasted blood from my lip as I felt tears slide down my cheeks. “It’s just… he was angry last night after…”

“After we argued.” I provided.

“yeah.” He said gently. “He drunk damn near a bottle of Jacks by himself and shifted me and Dean went after him but we had to shift to find his trail and…”

“And…” I prompted,

“He left the grounds.” Carl said softly,

“And you didn’t follow?” Carl sighed heavily,

“We’re taught not to.” he said apologetically in response to my accusing tone.

“And?”

“Darius went to the scene and… well….”

“Carl?”

“Derek’s scent was there.” My legs collapsed from underneath me as I crumpled to the floor.

“Darius thinks he….” I trailed off,

“No...I…don’t think.”

“How can he even think that he knows Derek?” I said shrilly, “what’s Derek said?” Carl snorted,

“To help himself? Well he’s said f**k all. He just seems insulted by the whole thing.”

“Well how can you even think that of him?” Carl sighed,

“Look Sweetheart I have to go.” He said gently “but just look at her picture I sent a copy to your email.”

“Why?”

“Just look.” He said insistently.

“okay.” I said hesitantly

“It’ll all be okay.” Carl said gently “I’ll call back soon I promise.”

“Okay.” I said stunned as I hung up the phone.

“Are you aright?” Ashton whispered gently and I jumped as I realised that he had crouched down next to me.

“No.” I said in a far away voice as I became vaguely aware that Ashton had gently placed a hand on my upper arm in a very uncharacteristically soft gesture. “I have to check my email.” I said thickly staggering to my feet.

“Do you want me to call Jamie for you?” Ashton asked softly as if he was worried for my sanity.

“no.” I said looking around me vaguely “I…I hang on.”

“Okay.” He said as I opened my email I winced when I saw an email from Carl with an attachment .I clicked on the letter and held my breath as I watched the picture slowly appear.

“Who is that?” Ashton asked vaguely.

“I …I…don’t know.” I said looking at the picture on the screen, but in truth it felt as if an iron fist was again clutching at my stomach, as the picture showed a young smiling girl of maybe twenty tops. She was a brunette with rather pale skin and large Dark eyes. Ashton squinted at the screen,

“She looks.”

“I know,” I said cutting across him but I knew what it was he was about to say, she looked a lot like me. I mean she wasn’t my twin or anything all our features were different but at a glance she looked a lot like me. I silently walked towards the nearest exit pulling my mobile out I didn’t hesitant for a second.

“Come on come on.” I growled as the other end rung and rung, the machine suddenly clicked on Pete's efficient voice ringing out which even in the circumstances made me smile fondly, Darius grasp of technology.

“Jess are you alright?” Ashton asked suddenly appearing at my shoulder his face a picture of honest concern. I didn’t answer I didn’t even look at him instead I dialled Darius’ mobile, which was ‘for emergencies only’. It had taken me a week to get him competent enough to answer the thing. He answered now on the first ring.

“Jessica” he said sharply

“Is it true?”

“Carl.” He snarled loudly.

“Is it true?” I echoed

“I don’t have any facts Jess I have rumour, circumstance and a lot of testosterone fuelled silence.” Darius said reasonably, “I didn’t call you because I know nothing yet.” I growled loudly. “Jessica.” He snapped instantly silencing me.

“What do you want me to do?” I asked quietly

“Go back to class.” Darius said softly.

“Are you joking he’s my…” I paused suddenly aware that I didn’t know how to finish that sentence. “I care about him and.”

“Look Jessie I am sorting this and believe me he is pissed at you so go back to class and I will call you when there is news.” He said and hung up on me.

“Jessie, Jessie. JESS.” Ashton said at my shoulder snapping me from my wallowing. “Are you alright.” I shook my head just a fraction but he understood the gesture even though it clearly scared him witless. “Come on lets sit down.” He said gently trying to guide me towards a nearby bench.

“no.” I said shaking my head slightly, “I…I…I need to get home.”

“Shall I call Jamie?” he asked,

“That’s not home.” I Whispered.

“What?”

“I need my car. Jamie I’m gonna go get it.” I squeaked before running out side and down the pavement.