Stevenson's POV

"I don't think we can have a court case," said Jackson as they were walking to Stevenson's office. "What do you mean we can't?" Stevenson snapped at his partner.

Apparently, the station has received news from the Chief Of Police that Malcolm Carson's case will be a cold case since there wasn't enough evidence that proves that Lucinda Carson was the one that killed him or if it wasn't her. And having been in charge of that case, Stevenson was upset that almost everyone else knew about the case besides him.

"You tried your best but we can't solve every single case out there. There wasn't anything to work with from the beginning and that sweet old lady can be free," Jackson said, in an attempt to cheer his partner, and friend up.

Stevenson saw he was trying to do so, even though it wasn't working, he decided to drop the matter until he can find the time to go have a chat with Captain Barlowe.

"Speak of the Devil," he thought as he saw Captain Barlowe heading their way.

"Oh! Good thing I found you fellas. I need Officer Jackson to go to Golden Hour Park not too far from here," Captain Barlowe said urgently.

"Why sir?" Officer Jackson asked, a small crack could be heard from his voice indicating how confused he was as he noticed that Captain Barlowe was looking at him directly and he spoke. Detective Stevenson must've also had the same idea as his friend.

"Two bodies were found in Lake Yearning Waters about an hour ago," Captain Barlowe explained, "A fisherman found them floating and I need my top men on the scene."

Officer Jackson glanced at Detective Stevenson who had an unreadable expression on his face. James (Stevenson's name) had a lot going on in his mind but stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking up.

"And what should we do?" Detective Stevenson asked. He looked around and saw some officers getting ready to leave. He found it off how he wasn't notified first. He's always the first to know about anything that happens in the town.

Detective Barlowe cleared his throat. "Detective, you know that you're one of the best in this station and you are praised by everyone, including the chief officer."

As Captain Barlowe continued, Detective Stevenson just stood there listening, already knowing where this was going. Of course the captain was trying his best to sugarcoat the crap he was speaking. And frankly, he didn't care. He needed the man to get straight to the point.

Yet he didn't want his partner standing next to him as the captain delivered the bad news to him. It was already humiliating enough for him not to be able to participate in the case.

"But unfortunately, you're suspended from working on this case."

Even though he has his suspicions that this would happen, he still was stunned by the news. "I'm what?"

Captain Barlowe cleared his throat once again. "Just take this as a leave or something, detective. You need to relax. The boys can handle it this one on their own, right officer?" He turned his attention to Officer Jackson who was nodding like an idiot. He made sure he avoided eye contact with Stevenson.

Detective Stevenson heard a few murmurs. He turned his head around only to be met by thousands of eyes looking at him. "Did he really have to do this out here?" They probably overheard about his suspension or maybe be was just being delusional. In any case, he barked at them asking if there was nothing else they could be working on instead of wasting precious time gawking at something that's none of their concern. The spectators quickly shuffled away. Fuming, Detective Stevenson stormed off.

Lorelei'S POV

It's been day since the murder of that bastard she called love. Or she thinks it's been days. She couldn't tell since she kept the door closed and the curtains shielding her from the light at all costs. She was tempted to open the windows seeing that the room began to be stuffy but she had the fear if she opened them, all the impurities of the world will infect her lungs if she breathed in the air.

For what she assumed to be the first of self-imprisonment, she spent by crying, screaming breaking almost half of the furniture in the room.

She felt pain, anger as well as despair. She was never taught how to control such emotions so of course she lets her rage take over thinking, logical reasoning, believing that it was the best solution.

She hurt herself a couple of times in the process but the physical pain couldn't match the emotional pain she felt. In what seemed to be hours of destruction, she got exhausted. Lorelei thought if she slept she'll feel better. This wasn't her first killing she's ever done. She killed her grandfather for heaven's sake. How is this different? Maybe it was because it was the first time she's ever felt loved? First time she's ever trusted someone that way?

All these thoughts caused her to be hazy and she ended up sleeping. Worst decision she's made. It was nightmare after nightmare.

"What would you parents say?" Grandma Lucinda would ask in the dream. "Nothing because they don't exist!" Lorelei thought. She wanted to scream those words out but her voice was silenced so she was forced to listen to whatever grandma Lucinda had to say.

Lorelei decided to look at her surroundings but it was too dark for her to see but the environment felt just too familiar. Just then, she felt something a sticky fluid under her feet. When she looked down, she saw blood. She looked back up again and finally saw where she was.

She was back at home in the woods with Malcolm sitting in his couch dead with an axe between his eyes. Why was she dreaming about this?

"They'd be disappointed, wouldn't they?" Asked a voice from behind her. Lorelei turned around to see Stellar standing there. She didn't have her signature smug she always had. Instead her eyes were filled with tears.

"What was she doing in my dream?" Lorelei thought. Why was she having these dreams? What was going on? Was she feeling... guilt?

The only thing she desired more was to wake up any minute now.

"Bet your parents would've loved me." This voice pained her. She knew it too well. She was not ready to face him. She wanted to scream, cry, do something. Or wake up from this nightmare and wake up to seeing him playing with Bells having fun. Them waiting for her to join them. She wanted to run into his arms and let out all of her pain.

But of course that could never help him. He screwed everything up by doing what he did. But did she make it worse by ending it all?

Just then, she a pair of arm wrap around her. She felt her eyes swell up, her throat was sore and she felt like collapsing to the ground. Why'd she feel like this now? This was way too different from how she felt towards the others. She felt safe, vulnerable.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" The voice asked. Lorelei gasped. "Skye?" Her voice finally cracked. Skye hugged her tighter. And just then, Lorelei woke up.

She snapped open her eyes and jumped out of bed. She felt her heart beat faster and her body temperature was starting to rise causing her to sweat more. She took her hoodie off and turned the fans on in her room to cool down. She sat at the corner of her bed trying to recall the bits and pieces of her dream.

It might've meant something important. Lorelei wasn't a superstitious type of person but the dream felt too odd. She wanted to record all of her dreams so that she won't forget them. She looked around the room for a book and pencil to write her dreams so that she won't forget them but didn't remember where she left her schoolbag.

She looked under her bed and found her sketchbook as well as her old pastels, pencils etc. She remembered how she used to draw her thoughts and dreams. Even though she didn't feel inspired to do anything, she though it would be better to let her frustrations out in a more decent and less violent way. Sighing, she pulled out her sketchbook and began to work.

Kyle's POV

Kyle was the first to know something is up with Lorelei but he didn't know how to approach the situation until he was very certain that he had to do something. The day after babysitting Bella, Kyle went to visit her to see if she knew anything.

Asking a child Questions on a serious matter was just as hard as trying to cram for an exam the night before.

"Hiii! Where's Lorry?" Bella asked. They were in the living room of Cassandra's house. Cass trusted Kyle with Bella and left the house keys with him just in case if he's staying for a bit longer.

"Oh she couldn't make it," Kyle scratched the back of his head. "I think she was sick. Do you know anything about how she got sick?"

Bella looked up at him and pouted. Kyle then bent down to her level so she wouldn't hurt her neck by looking up at him the whole conversation.

Bella then patted on Kyle lap, indicating she wants to sit on his lap. Sighing, Kyle picked her up and set her on his lap, which Bella gladly returned the gesture with a grin. "Now are you gonna tell me anything?" Kyle asked.

Bella shrugged. "Lorry didn't seem sick when she came. But she seemed mad."

Mad? Mad at what? Mad as I'm crazy of upset? Kyle thought maybe she meant that she was upset but at what? She seemed perfectly fine when they came here.

"And I think she's mad at me," Bella said in a whisper as she lowered her head.

Now this came as a shock to Kyle. "Mad at you why?"

"I told her something and she looked maddened at me," she explained. "Maddened? Is that even a word?" Kyle shook his head as if shaking the thought out of his head. "Kyle, focus!" He told himself.

"Do you mind telling me what you told her?" He asked. He knew he was pushing it seeing how Bella was now feeling but he needed to know. Bella with her head lowered shook her head. She then looked at him with teary eyes, sniffing.

Kyle widened his eyes. So what she told Lorelei must've had a huge impact indeed. He didn't say anything and embraced Bella in a warm, securing hug. Bella was only just a kid. What more did he expect from her?

"Don't worry Bells, Lorelei is gonna get better and she'll be back here in no time, alright?"

Bella nodded her head as Kyle wiped away her tears, her blonde curls tickling his nose, threatening to sneeze.

"You promise?" Bella's voice croaked as she held up her pinkie.

"Oh brother," Kyle thought. He didn't believe in pinkie promises because a person can easily break these petty promises but he didn't want Bella to think he was lying. He intertwined his pinkie with hers and smiled at her.

"I promise."

It was only a matter of time that his mother was going to ask him to go to her room and do something about it. In all honesty, he didn't know what exactly to do or say. He walked straight to her room with no plan whatsoever. Once he arrived at her door, he stood there.

Why was he hesitating? What's stopping him now? The only thing between him and her was this wooden door that he can easily break down. Once in, he can help her with what's going on. But the question is that does Lorelei want to be helped? She wasn't the one to accept a helping hand. And it is none of his business on what happens in her life.

And what will he do? Steal a magic wand from the fairy godmother, wave it around a couple of times and solve everyone's problems?

He then unconsciously knocked on the door once. No response. Knocked twice. No response. He then knocked the third time and said, "Lorelei open up, it's me." He waited.

Then when he was about to give up, he heard the door creak. The door opened.

A/N

So I thought about it and I'm keeping this book. I honestly don't care what people say. This book is for my sanity! I write here to calm down and ever since I've stopped I've noticed the difference without it. So Imma keep writing until I drop.