━━ CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE/ body
episode five, part three.

Portland Row was deadly silent. The night-time meant that nobody dared step outside the defences of their homes. The iron line at their doorstep wasn't crossed until the sun slowly began to rise the very next morning. Not even the night-birds were twittering as the ghost-lights blinked on-and-off. A measure that the government had hoped would keep the Visitors at bay but never did.

The streets were almost always empty except for Agents and there were currently three of them standing at the steps of Portland Row. Demi stood behind the iron line still, her head was spinning and the ring in her hand had been pushed into her pocket a second after George had spoken. Not that the brunette heard at first.

It took him repeating the question; "Where is Lockwood and Lucy?" before she even fully comprehended that he was speaking at all. Demi's eyebrows furrowed and it took her a beat or two before she opened her mouth. But when she opened her mouth, she realised she didn't have anything she could say.

"I don't know..." She muttered softly. Her eyebrows furrowed as she turned her gaze down to the floor again. The steps were gloomy and the ghost-light was casting her shadow along the steps. George and Erin were stood, watching the girl. George was irritated. Erin seemed confused, sympathetic almost.

"What do you mean you don't know?" George asked. There was a bite to his tone. He wasn't snappy but he didn't sound happy. Demi could hardly blame him, not that she was really taking in his words at all.

"I don't remember what happened," Her words were still quiet, almost like she was talking to herself. She was desperately trying to wrack her mind for what had happened. It was a mess. She remembered Winkman's and stepping into that room and then the voices. There were so many. She wasn't even touching anything and it felt like it was swallowing her whole. The feeling of her wrist had come back. It was like she had been left open to Visitors trickery. She felt like an open wound.

"Are you okay?" Erin went to ask but George promptly cut her off with the quick questions of; "Where did you go? Why did Lockwood need you?" He sounded curious but also desperate to get to the bottom of this. It was way past midnight. It was way past the time that Lockwood had claimed he would be back. But he wasn't back. It was just Demi.

"We went to get the mirror," She said and she pushed some hair behind her ear before she finally lifted her head up, "We were told it was at Winkman's and Lockwood thought we should go and so we broke in. But I could hear something, I don't know what it was," Demi trailed off towards the end. Her voice suddenly got quieter as she tried to remember that voice. The laughter, it was so soft. It was pleasant. She recognised it but she still couldn't place it. It was playing over and over like a tape in her head.

"The mirror?" Erin questioned and Demi took a moment. She tried to picture it exactly. The laughter and then the screams. The screams could have been the mirror but, no. Demi didn't even know, she let her shoulders sag.

"It might have been." Demi mumbled though nobody was convinced by that. She lifted her head up to look between her two friends, "I just don't remember. I just... got here. I don't-" Demi wanted to explain, she wanted them both to understand but it felt impossible. She opened her mouth to try and explain but the words didn't make it past her lips. She sighed, turned her head to the side, desperately wracking her brains but there was nothing.

"Did you walk? Did anyone see you?" George asked and Demi threw her hands out in a gesture to try and show her confusion. That didn't seem to discourage George who opened his mouth to ask another question but Demi was quick to cut him off.

"I don't know, okay!" Demi snapped. Her head turned to the side, looking down Portland Row. There was no way she got a night-cab. They hated being out this late and if she was out of it then there was no way that they would have let her in. No matter how official she looked.

"We should probably go inside." Erin said and she offered her hand out to Demi, "I know you might not want to, but it's cold and dangerous for you to stay out here." Demi nodded her head, mumbling something along the lines of a 'yes' before she took the other girl's hand. Erin helped her up the stairs and they stepped inside. George closed the door.

"We need to know if someone saw you, because if they did-" George began and the glare that Demi gave him was enough to cut him off. She didn't want to talk. She just wanted to go to bed. Now that she was in the warmth of Portland Row she realised how cold she had been outside. Her skin was prickly with goosebumps and her entire body felt achy.

"George, you might want to shut up before Demi gives you a black eye." Erin mumbled as Demi walked into the living room. She could still hear their conversation as she grabbed the blanket from the back of the sofa. She let it unfold and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Well if she is going to bring dangerous people to us, then I would at least like to prepare us!" George said. His lack of concern was evident but not a change. He had always been like that. He loved his friends but he had an odd way of showing it.

"I know you're concerned, but Demi literally has no memory of how she got here. Something is wrong, so act like you do care for a brief moment George... Please?" Erin responded. Her words went a little softer towards the end and Demi was glad that at least someone cared. She would have smiled if she had the energy. But she didn't and she was just cold and exhausted. She hadn't realised just how exhausted she was.

"Alright, fine. Are you okay Demi?" George asked, his gaze returning to the girl. His tone was monotonous. It wasn't like he actually cared and Demi didn't really care that he didn't care. It was par for the course but Erin gave him a kick in the shin anyway. That made Demi smile. It was a small smile that she managed to crack.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, don't worry about me. I'm just really tired." Demi said as she headed out of the living room, with the blanket firmly around her. She couldn't shake the cold feeling and it only took her a moment to realise that the ring in her pocket was likely responsible. Not that she wanted to touch the ring, whoever it had belonged to.

"Do you need anything?" Erin asked as they headed down into the kitchen. George was still following but he was quiet as he watched the two women. Erin went straight to the fridge and began to list off things that Demi could have, "Glass of water? Tea and biscuits? Coffee or, well, beer apparently." There was a hint of amusement to her tone at the beers that Lockwood had left in the fridge. It made Demi's gut turn just realising that that might be all they have left of him if he never returned. She shook that thought from her mind as she dropped down into her chair at the table.

"I'm fine, really but thank you," Demu muttered, forcing a smile onto her face. Erin stepped away from the fridge, pushing it closed and glancing between Demi and George. He did genuinely look concerned now as Demi pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her face had fallen deeper into a frown but there was nothing either of them could do.

"Well, I'll put the kettle on anyway. A cuppa and a Gingernut won't harm anyone," Erin decided as she grabbed the kettle from the side. Demi stared down at the thinking cloth for a minute. There had been some new scribbles added. It was in George's handwriting, it was something about the mirror but Demi was finding it too hard to concentrate.

"How come you're here?" Demi asked suddenly, lifting her head to watch the dark-skinned girl cross over and flick the kettle on, "I thought Chase threatened you." The last bit was a little quieter and she could see that Erin froze up momentarily at the comment. But then she continued as if nothing had happened.

"She wanted to share information about the case, since she knew Kipps and Snyder wouldn't." George explained when Erin didn't immediately say anything. Erin grabbed the pack of gingernuts from the cupboard and grabbed two for herself. Then she placed a few on a plate. George watched as she took a bite and his face dropped, "We have a rule." His words were deadpan and Demi tried not to roll her eyes.

"What?" Erin asked, cocking an eyebrow. Her mouth was full of biscuit and she was glancing between the pair.

"George has a thing. There are certain times when we can take a biscuit, and we're never allowed to double up." Demi briefly explained. She had grown to hate the biscuit rule and adored that when George wasn't around, it was ignored. Lockwood liked seeing the way that Demi smiled when she was allowed to double up on biscuits. Just the thoughts of Lockwood made Demi's head fall back to the table, frowning again, "Though I don't know why it includes you, you're not an official member of the team."

"She's here enough that the rules can apply to her." George grumbled in response and he grabbed the plate of biscuits, taking them away from Erin before she could take another one. It wasn't allowed and it seemed that would be enforced, no matter what.

"Want me to clean the house and fold your washing too while I'm at it then?" Erin joked but it went completely over George's head as he pulled the chair out of the table and dropped onto his seat.

"Be my guest," He retorted. Demi didn't pay much attention to the pair. Her mind was drifting elsewhere and she was desperately trying to rake her mind for what had happened. She could remember the laughing and the screaming and being told to leave. Lockwood had told her to hide and she had wandered off. Then, she was here. She vaguely remembered walking. The ache in her feet told her that she had walked a lot but she just couldn't remember it.

"We should probably talk about something important." Erin mumbled as she leant against the counter, waiting for the kettle. Three cups had been placed out onto the counter with tea bags in each, "Like, are you sure you're okay Demi?" Erin asked as she looked over at the brunette. The mention of her name made Demi's head lift but she didn't really know what to say, "People should be able to remember what just happened to them." Her eyebrows furrowed and she stared down at the table for a moment before she sighed.

"You're saying that like I'm insane." There was something in her tone. Something between acceptance and offence but she didn't really have the energy to be offended.

"Or maybe you're cursed." George muttered and Demi's head snapped up. Her eyebrows furrowed and then she looked down again. She had said that to Lockwood only a few days previously and at this point, she was beginning to believe it was true.

"Not helpful twat," Erin said, kicking the back of his chair with her foot since she couldn't kick his shin this time. Then she continued to pour the hot water into the mugs. Demi grabbed a pen from the side and she began to doodle on the thinking cloth, desperately needing something to distract her mind. Or it could help her retrace her steps, "What happened here?" Erin suddenly asked which made Demi's head lift. Then she noticed the tape over the window, her eyebrows furrowed.

"A bird." George dismissed quickly. A little too quickly.

"Is the bird alive?" Demi asked, a frown on her face as she glanced between the pair. Erin added a dash of milk and two sugars to Demi's cup before she placed it in front of the brunette. Demi's hands instantly moved around it and it felt infinitely warmer than her fingers.

"I guess so, it wasn't there when I looked." George was avoiding eye contact with both of them. It was like he was looking at them but he wasn't really looking at them. It was odd. Erin looked down at Demi, meeting her gaze and they both shared a confused look but dismissed it as Erin grabbed her tea and George's.

"Where is Lucy, and Tony? Surely they would've been back by now," Erin mumbled, feeling herself getting antsy. She sat down on the seat at the head of the table and Demi could feel the guilt pushing into her stomach again. The doodling didn't helped. She had drawn a map of the streets but she couldn't remember a thing.

"Lockwood told me to hide at Winkman's. We kind of split up and then I just was here. I don't even know if someone found them or if they were caught or... I don't know what happened," Demi was fumbling over her words. She didn't know how to convey the swirling thoughts in her head. It was so messy.

"Do you think they could still be at Winkman's?" George asked curiously. Demi opened her mouth to go against George but Lockwood was stupid enough. He had a death wish and Winkman might just grant him that death wish if he wanted to.

"Tony wouldn't be stupid enough to stay there... Right? Especially since he has Lucy, and it's nighttime. It's more dangerous." Erin said as she passed Demi a gingernut despite the glare that George sent her way. Erin wanted Demi to eat and she didn't seem to be doing it on her own. Demi nibbled the edge of the biscuit as she glanced between the two. George was staring off at the wall, Erin was watching the kitchen door, listening for any movement. Demi felt useless and she just wanted to crawl into bed.

"He most certainly would." George mumbled and Demi let out a soft 'mhm' in agreement.

"They're both good agents, they're going to be fine." Erin insisted and Demi gave her a little shrug. She nibbled the biscuit a little more before she placed it down and wrapped her hands around the mug again. Her hands instantly warmed up but the rest of her body was still cold, "And at least we know you're alright, kind of." Erin's words weren't particularly reassuring. If anything, she sounded unsure of herself. Demi wasn't surprised.

"I think we should be worried." George stated. There was no avoiding his opinion and it got him a glare from Erin in response. Demi didn't really care, she just took her first sip of the tea and she let out a sigh. It felt good to drink something warm. "Lockwood said midnight, and it's nearly three in the morning. Something is definitely wrong." Demi needed to get rid of the ring. She was too cold and so she abruptly stood up, mumbling that she needed to check something in the basement and she went down.

There was silence in the kitchen as Demi rushed down the steps, she pulled the ring from her pocket and she could feel it. The screaming, it was quiet at first before it hit her mind all at once but she tried to avoid it. She rushed to the vault and dropped the ring into the first container she could. The voices stopped, the coldness didn't feel so overwhelming but she kept the blanket around her as she trudged back upstairs.

It was quiet as Demi sipped her tea, nibbling more of her gingernut before they all heard the front door open. George got up first, abandoning his tea as he rushed upstairs. Demi was next and Erin followed behind.

"You said midnight!" George exclaimed as they walked into the hallway where Lockwood and Lucy stood. They looked worse for wear. Lucy looked annoyed. Lockwood looked traumatised.

"You didn't wait up, did you?" Lucy asked, trying to play it off casually.

"Of course, Erin and Demi kept me company," George almost snapped as he glanced back at the two girls. Lockwood's face seemed to fill with relief as he pulled the brunette into his chest.

"Dem, thank God you're okay," Lockwood mumbled as he hugged her tightly. She rested her head against his chest but he then lifted her face, checking for any wounds. She looked tired and she felt cold but he couldn't see anything else. So, he looked back up at the trio who were looking at them both, a little confused, "Why is Hammy here?" He was forever blunt and it made Demi crack a smile as she stepped back, blanket still around her.

"She told me the information Snyder and Kipps have gotten from today. I was going to say it at midnight." George responded, almost taunting the other boy.

"Where is the mirror?" Demi asked, not wanting an argument to erupt. She didn't have the energy to deal with that.

"What have you been doing?" George added.

"I'll tell you later." Lockwood dismissed and he opened his mouth to say more but then there was a banging on the door. A very very loud banging and Demi glanced at Lockwood before looking at the other three. Lucy looked worried which meant that she was thinking exactly what Demi was. Carver had come to pay them a visit, it seemed.

"Whose that?" George asked and then he instantly turned to Erin, "Don't tell me Snyder found you." Erin shook her head.

"Not possible." There was quiet for a moment before Lockwood stepped over to the door. He looked through the peephole and then he turned to look back at the others. His face had fallen slightly but he almost seemed excited by the prospect.

"It's Carver," Lockwood stated and Lucy grabbed a rapier. Demi did the same, taking her spare one from the box before she held it loosely at her sides.

"Why are we pulling out a rapier?" Erin asked, watching the brunettes with furrowed eyebrows.

"Who's Carver?" George was equally as confused but they didn't really have time to explain. Carver did not seem to be a particularly patient man.

"Danny's partner," Demi stated.

"Who's Danny?" Erin asked even if that had cleared it up for George.

"The body in the river at the cemetery," Lucy said as she glanced back at the dark-skinned girl. Erin was frowning and George was quickly devolving into anxiety. His face showed it perfectly. Demi was nervous, her entire body felt like it was shaking and the cold feeling hadn't left. But she tried to focus on the situation at hand. How she felt wouldn't matter if she didn't survive this.

Lockwood pulled the front door open, taking two steps back and then Carver swaggered in. But he didn't say anything, instead, he dropped onto the carpet of the hallway floor with a knife in his back. Demi's eyes widened and her entire face dropped. The rapier clattered to the floor as her hand shot to press over her mouth.

"Erin, call an ambulance now. The phones in the kitchen." Lockwood snapped and Erin was quick to move. She rushed down the steps in the kitchen and Demi was staring, paralysed. It was like something had a hold of her and she was rooted to the spot. It felt like she had the first time. When she had lost her team, she had fought but by the end, she was paralysed. If she had been quicker, if she had moved then she might not have been the only one that made it out alive. But she had gone completely still.

And it felt the same now. Voices moved around her, rushes and quick conversations. Erin came back and returned but Demi wasn't comprehending it. Her gaze hadn't moved off of the dead body that currently lay in the hallway of their house. Her home. It was infected and then she felt it.

She wasn't sure what happened but she felt it. Something was grabbing at her again. The grip on her arm was so harsh that she thought it was someone but when she snapped her gaze around, nobody was stood near her. The blanket had fallen off her shoulders to the floor and she had to pull herself away from whatever grasp it was.

The stumble caught Lockwood's attention and him and Erin switched places as he rushed to her side. He grabbed her face, cupping her cheeks again.

"Hey, Dem, are you okay?" He said softly. His eyes were so soft and imploring and she didn't know what to say. She wanted to lie but she knew she couldn't. So, she just grabbed onto his waist and buried herself into him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

She only vaguely took in the fact that Carver was really in fact dead and Lucy had heard him speak before Lockwood had taken her away from the chaos. He took her right back into the kitchen and he did his best to talk her down but the more he spoke, the less she heard. It felt like her head was underwater.

So when DEPRAC and the ambulance came, Demi sat quietly and alone in the kitchen, staring at the table like it would give her all the answers she needed. But it didn't. Nothing could explain what had happened to her.

RUBY'S NOTES

- long time no see fellow campwood enjoyers

- i have no explanation for my lack of updates other than i started uni again and suddenly became very sociable and busy so just did not write basically at all for the past few days but i'm back with a bit of a longer chapter, some campwood moments but mainly just demi trauma

- this chapter and the last one is beginning to open up demi's post-season one plot line a little bit hehe so i'm excited about that and am very very excited to show that to you all when we get there!!

- however, we must finish season one first and there's probably gonna be another chapter or two of demi sadness before we get to the fittes ball and lemme say, that chapter (or chapters) is gonna be so fluffy, you don't understand, shopping with the girls, dancing with lockwood?? it's gonna be beautiful, so i hope you're all prepared for that

- thank you all so much for reading and i hope you have enjoyed <3 i will try and be more consistent with updates but i honestly can't make any promises, ily all <3

- also this is unedited so pls excuse any mistakes, it's 2am and i just wanted to get this out to y'all