"What!?" I snapped.
There was a pause on the other end. "Sorry did I call at a bad time?"
The sound of Annie's voice immediately made me feel guilty.
I sighed wearily. "No Annie I was just thinking. What's up? Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine, just was wondering when you'd be back."
I didn't answer at first. "Is that why you really called?" I finally asked.
"Guilty as charged" thought as Annie didn't respond. Finally after a few moments she did.
"You know I'd stop bothering you if you'd just let me come. Just one time that's all I'm asking for." Frustration coated her voice.
"Annie I'm not allowing you anywhere near that forest. We don't know why that man killed your dad. I'm not risking your life just to satisfy your curiosity. "
I flinched at the tone of my voice. I heard a sniffle on the other end. "Shit." I thought. "Annie I'm sorry..."
I didn't get to finish because the line disconnected and went dead. I put my phone away. I will talk to her when I get back. I pulled into the parking lot at the trail head and parked the car. I unbuckled my seat belt and reached behind me for my gun.
Even though I carried it. I hoped I would never have to actually use it. It was better to be safe than sorry though. Before I got out I scanned the tree lining. It was becoming a habit.
Once I made sure I didn't see anything out of the ordinary I got out. I walked to the trial trying to act normal. It wasn't easy. I kept seeing random murders in my head. I went to the spot where Annie's dad was found and turned in a slow circle.
I scanned the ground. I don't know why I kept looking for evidence. Anything that would have been here was long gone. Sighing I tilted my head up. I froze as what I saw made my stomach drop. It was a girl who looked to be about my age.
She was hanging from a tree limb by her neck. What freaks me out even more was the resemblance she has to Annie. Just like that became clear. The killer really was targeting Annie. I didn't know why but I knew she could never come here.
I turned to head back to my car and stopped in my tracks. In front of my stood the man I had seen coming out of the woods five feet from the trail entrance. He stood there his eyes telling me he knew I'd figured out he was targeting Annie.
"Well, we meet at last." The man said. I flinched at the sound of his voice. It was cold and lifeless.
"What the hell do you want with her?" I demanded. Even though I hadn't meant to ask the question.
The man bared his teeth. "Oh, you mean the blonde?"
I clenched my teeth in aggravation. "I'm not here to play your games. I want to know what you want with Annie."
The man gave a cold lifeless laugh. "I had expected her not to talk about me but hey, she is the one that ran."
None of what the guy was saying made sense. "Stop your bullshitting." I said.
The man laughed again. "That's the thing lover boy I'm not bullshitting you."
I snarled. "Then tell me why you're targeting her. "
The guy sighed. "It will all make sense soon I can assure you. For now I thought you'd like to know how her pop died."
I flinched and fisted my hands. "I do not want to know how Annie's dad died."
The guy shrugged. "Oh well, I'm going to tell you anyways. Let's see, it all started when he got a random phone call saying his daughter was getting into trouble. I think you can figure out that it was me who made that call. When the old man came barreling into the woods ready to yell at her I sat back on amusement as he tried to find her. After about five minutes I got bored and came out from behind the tree I was hiding behind. I told him she wasn't here. He told me bullshit, that he had gotten a call saying that she was here. I laughed and said true. So I led him deeper into the woods. After a good couple of yards he stopped and demanded that he know where she was. I told him she wasn't here and that she had left with you. Then I dragged him through the woods back this area and stabbed him repeatedly I'm surprised he held on as long as he did. I heard he died when he arrived to the hospital."
I gulped down my lunch. " You'll never touch her." I said in a low voice.
"Oh? I think I can figure out a way. After all I hear she's just dying to come here again. " He said with a smirk.
I couldn't take it anymore. I whipped out my gun and fired twice at him. Then I made a run for it.. I knew I had hit him but when I turned to look back he was gone.
"Shit!" I shouted. I ran and hopped into my car. As I peeled out of the parking lot I didn't look back. I dialed nine one one as I drove like a mad man back to Annie's house.
I sighed as I sat on my window seat. I was still thinking over the conversation that I had with Jace. It wasn't his fault that he wanted to protect me. Yet he didn't have to be so harsh about it. I looked out the window and sat up straighter as I spotted his car.
He got out quickly jerking the car door shut. Automatically I knew something was up. Jace came through our front door with a slam. I heard him ask for me. When he came into the room his face was pale and grave.