we need to call the cops.'
I knew he was right, but my insides twitched. Ty could be close. The police could take an hour.
Steve twitched and his shifted ears perked toward the far doorway just as a loud scream hit the air. Steve took off towards it.
'Ty!' I hollered.
I somehow got my legs to work, and ran after him. I realized in my immobilizing moment with the bodies, my vision had gone back to normal. I couldn't see a thing through the doorway.
The hall had a cold swallowing affect as I headed aimless down. I stretched my hands out in front of me, hoping to find a wall, and not a dead best friend. I cringed at the thought.
'Ty? Where are you?' A hand slipped around my arm, making me almost die on the spot.
'It's okay. It's me,' Steve said.
I sighed with relief, holding my chest.
No answer came from Ty.
'You sure that was her?' Steve asked.
I assumed Steve could see me in the dark, so I gave him a death glare.
'Right,' he said. 'Come on, this way.'
His hand remained gripped on my arm as we wove down several corridors. The ground sloped, bringing us deeper into the Earth. The air around us cooled with a damp, moldy smell.
The sound of dripping water echoed within the cold stonewalls. I begged to be able to see. In the darkness, it reminded me too much of drowning in a tomb. I also wished I didn't have such a vast imagination.
A faint mumbling sound came from up ahead and I moved away from Steve's firm hold, going toward it.
'Wait,' Steve whispered, pulling me back.
'What are you doing, Steve? I hear her.'
'Shh,' he said. I still couldn't see, but his hand covered my mouth, the move surprising me. 'I don't think it's your friend, Charlotte. I still don't smell Ty.'
I shoved his hand away and glared at him. 'Well, maybe you aren't remembering her smell correctly, Steve. You only met her once for like ten minutes.'
I heard him clear his throat. 'Good point, except for one minor detail.'
'What?'
'I don't smell anything human. Period.'
I froze. 'That's not even funny, Steve.'
'I'm not joking. Whatever just screamed isn't human. It's werewolf.'
'Just stop it!' I said. Tears stung my eyes. 'You know that was Ty. Why would you say such a thing? Why?'
'Charlotte, if it's her...I don't know. Maybe Aaron changed her, or...'
'Or what? What, Steve?' I took a step back from him. A tremor rose up and down my spine and the hall filled with light.
'Charlotte, please. Just calm down.' His lanky, too long arms reached for me.
'Stay away from me, Steve,' I said, backing away. 'What? Are you saying that Ty is now some raging werewolf who...who killed those people?' My voice broke and tears roll down my cheeks.
'Charlotte, I didn't say that.'
'Well then don't say anything. Just don't. Ty needs me. She needs my help, and you can't stop me. So just stay away from me.'
'Please, Charlotte. It's dangerous. If she is a werewolf she could be scared and changing uncontrollably. Remember what I told you about my mother? She might not know it's you. Liam...'
'Isn't here,' I said. My chest hurt. I wanted Liam so much.
'How long have you known?' I asked.
'What do you mean?' Steve asked, his face a little pale.
I took a deep breath. 'I'm not stupid. How long ago did you realize that her screams were only in the proximity of the werewolf scent? When did you suspect that it was her Steve?'
Steve looked destroyed, but at the moment I didn't care. I felt betrayed, not only by him, but life itself.
'The thought crossed my mind the first time we entered the barn,' he said in a defeated voice. 'I thought it was odd that I couldn't pick up her scent anywhere, yet werewolf was strong.' His gaze hardened and then turned down. 'I also knew it was female.'
'You bastard!'
I punched him in the chest, yet he didn't move.
'I didn't know for sure until now. There was no way Ty could have screamed from this close of a distance and still smell only of werewolf. I'm sorry, Charlotte. I just didn't want to say anything. I wanted to be wrong. I was hoping I would find out I was wrong.'
'Yeah, well you didn't.' I knew my words hurt, but I didn't care. 'I'm going to get Ty. Don't follow me.' I turned from Steve and started in the direction of the scream.
'Charlotte, please. Just let me help.'
I turned around and felt a faint rumble in my chest.
'Then go get Liam.'
Chapter 22
Steve didn't follow me. I was glad. I wiped my damp cheeks and headed down the corridor without looking back.
The passageway wound into a large underground cavern. A faint light trickled down from above, and I looked up to see the moon high over the mouth of what had to be a well. Steve had been right about his theory. It made sense, the trails of water dripping from the walls. There had to be a hidden stream somewhere. Ripe muck sucked at my sneakers and my lips turned down.
A groan echoed off the walls.
'Ty?' asked.
Several small rocks crumbled and rolled on the floor, revealing a small form blanketed by shadows. She sat on the ground clutching her knees to her chest.
'Charlotte?' Ty asked. Her voice sounded weak.
'Ty!' I rushed to her side and slid down on the muddy earth, wrapping my arms around her. 'You're alive. Oh, Ty. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I know what happened. I'm so sorry.'
'Where's Aaron?' she asked.
I shook my head. 'Don't worry about Aaron. He's with Liam. Liam's got him under control. He's not going to touch you.'
'What?' Ty's body stiffened under my arms. She pulled back. 'He's with Liam?'
Her reaction confused me. 'Yes. Aaron's pack ambushed us in the woods, but I stopped them....' My voice trailed off. Ty's appearance went three shades whiter. 'Ty?' I asked.
'Is he okay?'
The vision of the fight in the woods made me shutter. 'It was bad. I think Liam's shoulder got torn open, but he's okay.' I tried to push the image away. It reminded me that I didn't know if he was okay.
'No,' Ty said, her voice more urgent. 'Not Liam, Aaron. Is Aaron okay?'
'What?'
'Please,' she said. 'Just tell me he's okay. Please?'
I saw Liam's teeth sink into Aaron's neck. I had stopped it. What would have happened if I hadn't? 'He's okay,' I said.
Ty exhaled, her body nearly collapsing with relief.
'Ty. What's going on here? Why are you concerned about Aaron? I mean, remember the whole psycho stalker killer werewolf thing? He kidnapped you.'
