Pixel Peaks - Chapter Nineteen
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Laurens lifted the chair over his head again and threw the it across the room.
All this time, being hid away from the world, caged up like an animal, he had trusted Ludvig to help him. He had waited patiently, done what he was told, in the belief that his big brother knew what he was doing. And he had seemed to be fully aware of what he was doing.
Now Laurens was too.
Another scream echoed through the woods, it sounded like a part of the wall had come down this time.
It had been going on for days and Greta could sense it, just as the forest sensed it. Something bad was about to happen.
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Saga took a big breathe in of the office, her office. She had come to feel comfortable at Derek's house, but nothing was more home to her than her station.
She skimmed through the reports of recent criminal activity that had been left at her desk. Nothing serious, a bar fight, Mrs. Harper had gained herself another speeding ticket. She had just gotten through it all when she heard a noise behind her.
It was a snore.
Saga had actually doubted he ever slept at all judging by the bags that was constantly dwelling under his eyes, and she wasn't sure we was sleeping now either. This was probably just another way of pissing her off.
He did it very well too.
Saga: Well, I'm glad to see you feel so at home her agent Bargeld.
He opened one eye and glanced at her.
Bo: I didn't think you'd be here sheriff.
He rubbed the lingering sleep out of his eyes.
Saga: Why wouldn't I?
Bo: I thought your boyfriend was more important to you these days.
Saga: I'm still sheriff of this town, nothing is more important to me.
Saga: I don't like what you're implying.
Bo stood up.
Bo: I'm implying, that you seem to rather be cuddling with the doctor, who's a part of this investigation I might add, than protecting your town.
Saga: Derek's attack was just an attack, it could have been anyone. He has no importance to this investigation.
Bo: Are you willing to bet your life on that?
Saga: Hey, you didn't want me in this investigation to begin with and quite frankly, I can't see that you have gotten anywhere with it by being here. There hasn't been an attack here in weeks, so what are you still doing here Bargeld?
Bo silently pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
He lit it and took a puff.
Bo: Just making sure no one else gets hurt.
Saga hated the sting of conscience that remained when he left the room.
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Saga: Nothing beats a fire on days like these.
Derek: How was your shower?
Saga: Nothing short of amazing, just what I needed.
Derek: Hard day at work?
Saga: Aren't they all?
Saga: How was yours?
Derek: Fine, just fine.
He embraced her so she wouldn't see the lie in his face. The truth was that he hadn't gone back to work at all. He had extended his sick leave because of the new side effects his medicines had been causing, but he didn't want to worry her.
Derek: I think you might have missed a spot when you showered though, I better get you back in there.
Saga: As tempting as it sounds, I can't. I have to work tonight.
Derek: What? Why?
Saga: I'll be back in the morning.
Derek: What kind of work could you possibly have to do in this town at this hour?
Saga: It's complicated.
Derek: I'm gonna have to accept that for an answer aren't I?
She smiled and leaned closer to him.
Saga: Yes you are honey.
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Beatrice: Oh gosh you're still here. I'm so sorry I'm late Nat.
Beatrice: I should have told you that my english classes never end when they should. My teacher likes the sound of his own voice so much he always has to talk for two more hours.
Beatrice: I don't think I have learned a single thing all day. Have you been here long sweetie?
Beatrice: Nat?
"I wouldn't bother."
Beatrice turned her attention to the character sitting on the other end of the couch. Jared Starchild kept on looking down in his book as he spoke.
Jared: You're not the first who've tried making contact with her. We've been trying for hours, she's taking up half the couch you know.
Beatrice: Oh please, like you haven't been spent more time staring at her than you have in your book all that time.
Jared closed his book with a deep sigh.
Jared: I'm aware that your friend has what some would consider psysical qualities, but I recent you thinking that all men fall into the same standards. It's ignorant.
He walked passed her.
Beatrice: Ignorant?
Jared: And sexist.
Beatrice: Wait, what?!
He left the room and Beatrice let out a moan.
Beatrice: God, I'm so sick of all these smartass college kids.
She turned to Nathalie with a soft voice.
Beatrice: Nat?
Beatrice: Wake up Nathalie.
Nathalie: Bee. I must have nodded off.
Beatrice: For a few hours from what I hear.
Nathalie: What? Really?
Beatrice: Yeah..
Beatrice: Listen.. are you really okay? I mean, you've seemed so exhausted lately. Is it this thing thay you can't tell me? If it is.. I think it's taking to much of you.
Nathalie: It's not really a thing you can give up voluntarily.
Beatrice: I wish you could tell me.
Nathalie: Me too.
Beatrice: Well, speaking of things you can't give up voluntarily.
Wren didn't say anything as she passed the couch. She just gave them one angry look each.
Nathalie: She still thinks I'm seeing Oddy?
Beatrice: Yes. I tried to tell her that you would never date an asshole like that. It didn't really help. Now she's angry with me for calling the love of her life an asshole.
Nathalie: I'm sorry.
Beatrice: It's okay, she's pretty much always angry with me anyway.
Nathalie: I hate this. I hate not having her around to talk to.
Nathalie: But I don't really have the time to convince her she's wrong right now.
Beatrice: She's a project. She'll come around eventually.
Nathalie: I guess.
Nathalie looked out the window. It was a bright night, the moon lit up the dorm roof.
The fullmoon.
Nathalie: I have to go!
Beatrice: O-okay..
Beatrice had barely pronounced the word before Nathalie charged past her and out of the study room.
Beatrice: Bye?
Someone else saw Nathalie running out of the dorm.
And she was convinced that she knew where her former friend was going.
And finally had the opportunity to catch her red handed.
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When she'd gotten out of the inhabited parts of SSU and into the woods she stepped on the gas.
She was furious with herself. How could she have forgotten there was a fullmoon tonight? How was it even possible for her to think of anything else? She would never forgive herself in anything had happened to her father.
Or someone else.
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Wren sneaked up behind the brick wall in front of the Urele-Oresha-Cham house.
The yard was empty, she couldn't see anyone. She couldn't even see Nathalie's car anywhere, but she'd be an idiot to park out in the street if she was trying to hide her affair.
If she could get to the back yard she could probably see into Oddy's room.
Allegra knew that it wasn't safe to be out during fullmoon, she was probably the only one at campus that did know. But she couldn't stop going out all together, she was even a little excited about the possibility to encounter a werewolf. Just to be safe she had in her pocket the taser her mom had gotten her when she found out she was going to share a house with a boy on campus. Of course, she had given it to Allegra before her she'd ever met Martin Ruben and seen that he wasn't a threat to anyone but himself.
She didn't like passing the frat part of campus, but it was the fastest way home. When she passed Urele-Oresha she saw a familiar face on the other side of the road.
Allegra: Hi Wren!
Wren flinched at the sound of her name. She turned around and looked at Allegra without answering.
Then she slipped inside the gates.
Allegra: Wren?
Fine, she didn't the company of any bitchy twins anyway.
She was so fed up with them always trying to push her away from Nathalie. Wren was the worst, but Beatrice wasn't much better, always forming some protective wall around Nathalie. Like Nathalie wouldn't benefit from having any other friends.
She didn't know what it was that made her turn around at that moment. Maybe annoyance.
Maybe just a really good hunch.
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She had made it back to Pixel Peaks in record time, and broken a dussin traffic laws in the process.
It had to be worth it. He had to still be here.
She didn't notice the black car that was once again parked on the other side of the street.
Bo watched her run into the house.
Nathalie carefully pushed open the door to her father's room.
Nathalie: Dad?
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Wreen looked up at the house.
The lights were still on in most windows, Oddy's as well.
She placed herself underneath it, waiting for something to move on the other side of the glass.
Instead she caught a movement in the corner of her eye. Something big.
With heavy breath, like smoke.
"Wren, get down!"
She didn't know what to focus on as another figure came running from the shadows.
Allegra threw herself over Wren just as the beast charged from the ground.
They hit the ground and the wolf flew over them, landing at the end of the yard. She had been right about him aiming for the throat.
Allegra: Are you allright?
Wren: I d-dont know.
Allegra rolled over on her back.
Allegra: You're gonna have to be, we got to get up! NOW!
Allegra: Come on, GO!
With something that resembled a bark, the wolf threw himself after the running girls.
Allegra rummaged for her taser in her pocket. She knew that it wouldn't stop him, but it might buy them some time.
Either way, it was their only chance of outrunning the animal.
Allegra: Come on you bastard.
She closed her eyes as he came jumping towards her, and thrusted the taser into his chest.
She was running again long before the wolf had hit the ground.
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Nathalie: Dad! You're here! Are you allright?
A gurgle rose from his throat. He turned slowly towards her.
She saw the wild yellow eyes before she saw the teeth. Fear interfused with the anger in his face.
Nathalie: No.. dad..
Her voice was barely a voice.
He leaped up on the bed and threw himself towards the door.
Nathalie pulled it shut just as his fists hit the wood.
With shaking hands she locked it, hearing him pounding and scratching tirelessly on the other side.
A/N
- In Pixel Peaks, tasers look a lot like mp3-players.
- Eva's bucks and rats everywhere please!
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Pixel_trade stars this chapter:
Saga by lostavenuea as Sheriff Saga Avenua
Special guest star
Greta Tower by clarejosephine as Greta the Plantsim