The Den sat on the far western side of the Willowstream quarry. This side of the quarry had long been in disuse, rarely seeing any foot traffic, and therefore made the perfect hide out for the group. It sat cave-like, as a recess in one of the far walls, just round a corner that hid it, for the most part, from view.

It had been theirs for years, and as such had been made into a much more homely place than a simple whole in the wall. A scavenged, tattered, rug was spread out wide along the floor. Poorly put together shelves made of cobbled, splinter-filled, wood sat pushed against the concave walls holding various memorabilia. Plenty of picture frames and knick-knacks holding memories that none of the group looked upon disappointedly. The place looked far more like a college dormitory than a hideout. Two lumpy couches sat in the middle, and the place even sported a rarely used cot against the far wall, for those days when teenage angst was at its highest and staying at home was not a preference.

This was a sanctuary. A home away from home. Just for them.

Rhys, Marshal, and Alice were the first to arrive. They had pottered around the entrance to The Den for a few minutes, before deciding it was best to wait inside, sprawling comfortably on the couches.

"I'm sure it's just Alaric being dramatic." Marshal pondered as he rested with his legs on Rhys' lap and a forearm across his eyes.

"I still haven't seen Yasmine today..." Alice mentioned, worrying at her bottom lip as her hands found the chain again. "And she hasn't responded to any of my messages."

"She could be busy with family stuff? What if they found out she's a Witch?" Rhys offered, although suddenly wished he hadn't as Alice' reaction began to increase into almost panic. "No, no! I didn't mean to say that. You know Yasmine. She's the most careful out of all of us, there's noway her family know without her wanting them to."

"Hey guys!" Lilly's voice called from the entrance as she stepped in, the black wispyness of her summer dress, fluttering behind her as she arranged her grip over her book bag and did a mental head count of everyone present.

She was met with a resounding "hey" from the three, Marshal quickly retracting his legs as she fell comfortably between him and Rhys. Lilly noted Alice's worried demeanour and it didn't take a genius to notice that Yasmine wasn't present and that, that was what she was worrying about. She reached over and gave Alice' hand a reassuring squeeze, being replied with a wry smile.

"You'd think, being the one to call the message, on a school day: He'd at least be the first one here." Lilly huffed, uneager to maintain the silent waiting that kept the air pregnant with anticipation.

"It's like the last month before it ends for the summer, thank fuck. Nobody cares really, the morning register is just a formality at this point." Rhys commented

"Yeah. Besides, this is Alaric we're talking about. He's at the very least, fashionably late." Marshal said.

Before another word could be said, there came a loud Flumf! Sound as a familiar messenger bag was dropped in front of them all. Alaric standing just to the side with his arms, defensively crossed over his chest. He was frightfully emotionless. His face holding nothing as realisation dawned on each of the other members.

The messenger bag was brown and well-worn. The tell tale badges, of various animal charities, still pinned to the strap, although a few were now spotted with the blood that had soaked through the various patches of fabric. It was Yasmines bag.

The Den was silent, yet it felt like static was roaring through as their minds raced onwards.

"H-how? What did you... Why do you have Yasmines bag?" Alice questioned, forcing herself to ignore the bloodstains.

"Yasmines dead." His words were succinct, to the point, and hit like a freight train. Thumping straight into the chest, and sinking the heart into a bottomless, dark, pit.

They felt it together, although as individuals. Like drowning as the grief weighed heavily on chest and shoulder, pulling downwards stifling the breath, being swallowed whole by this grief. It hurt.

"You're lying." Alice snapped on instinct. Alaric cocked an eyebrow, which was the only reaction he gave. "You're fucking lying."

"No."

"Yes you are. This is another attempt at being cruel to your friends. You're a liar Alaric! A fucking leech!"

"Do you think I would lie about this? About Yasmine?"

"Yes, yes I do to get at me--"

"I've got better things to do than torment a leg-humping mongrel all day long. Why don't you stop being so self absorbed and look beyond how you're feeling for a change?"

"Me self absorbed? That's rich coming from a psychopath like you. I--"

"Alice enough. He's right. He wouldn't lie about this. He loved Yasmine, we all did—do.. fuck..." Rhys silenced the squabbling pair

"It's not... It can't..." Alice's protests teetered into a quiet whimper, before she began to sniffle at the tears that began to slip from her eyes.

"Alaric, what happened?"

"I smelled it first. The blood, and some weird burning smell. Opened the door to the schools boiler room, and there she was. Stabbed it looked like. Grabbed her bag, let someone know, and texted you." Alaric's voice was distant, his words concise and to the point. Not out of rudeness, but out of necessity. His focus was elsewhere. He stared in Alice's direction but somehow beyond her, like he was doing all he could to remain aloof. His friends knew better. His lack of expression spoke louder to them than any lament-filled monologue. He was deafening, not in the roars of anguish or crying tears that he would never shed; but in his silence.

Marshal understood, as he stood up and placed a comforting hand on Alaric's bicep giving it a light squeeze. A faint furrowing of his eyebrows let Marshal know that Alaric appreciated the contact.

Lilly was upon Alice in an instant, whos cheeks had begun to track a heavy strain of tears as she kneeled to the ground, and pulled her into a hug. Alice squeezed Yasmines bag into her chest.

"Did you see anything else? Any hint who might of done this?" Rhys finally said, swallowing a lump that had formed in his throat, and coughing slightly. Alaric shook his head.

"Someone who knew what they were doing, I think..." He eventually mentioned, causing everyone to look in his direction. "It was messy. But. Something about it makes me think they knew what they were doing, they were just new at it. Maybe their first time."

"Are you saying that Yasmine was targeted? Why? Yasmine was arguably the nicest girl in the school." Lilly questioned squeezing Alice a little tighter.

"Magic..." Alice mumbled, her croaky voice becoming stronger as she sniffed at the messenger bag. There was a strange scent here, it wasn't a typical burning smell, and it didn't smell the usual scent of flowers that Yasmine seemed to permanently emanate. It smelled similar to charcoal but with a hint of sweetness to it, though it was faint. "I know that scent. It smells like the fire Yasmine showed me once. She called it spell fire I think."

"They targeted her for her magic? Do you think she was wrapped up in something we don't know about? Made promises she couldn't keep maybe?" Marshal questioned, releasing his hand from Alaric's arm and coaxing the bag from Alice's grip to inspect it further.

The blood had soaked right through the fabric, and was still slightly moist to the touch. It held faint scorch marks and one, singular, puncture mark seemingly from a thin blade. Probably a knife which she tried to defend against. Everything else in the bag was intact from what it appeared, if a bit of a jumbled mess. Her work books, stationary, house keys and even her phone. The panipuri was safe inside the Tupperware that served as a lunch box, although now it looked a little rattled. A number of dried herbs, mixed with various other things also where strewn about her bag. Marshal recognised them as spell components. Which meant that she didn't get the chance to use them, doubling down on the theory that whoever was behind this, knew what they were doing. Or, at the least, had help.

"No... No, that's not Yasmines style."

"Then, maybe because she was magic? She was a Witch right? Maybe whoever this was, has a thing against Witches?"

"But they would have to know that she was a Witch" Alaric interjected

"Right... But you said they knew what they were doing"

"Maybe you're both right. Look, I hate the sound of the cliché but it's a possibility that they killed Yasmine because she was a Witch. As in: not totally human." Rhys proffered, standing up with a click of his knees. Ever the peace maker. It was Rhys' self-imposed duty to be the mediator of the group. He hated conflict no matter the circumstance, especially between his friends.

"Impossible. There hasn't been an active hunter in Willowstream in decades, there's no point." Alaric said

"Our friend; the fucking Witch has been murdered, by someone who knew what they were doing and has just lost their killing virginity, therefore is probably gonna want to do it again. We can't take the chance of it not being a hunter and us not being safe." Marshal replied, crossing his arms over his chest with a huff.

"We need a better look. If we can see Yasmine, I can get a better look." Lilly mentioned. She stood up and helped Alice to her feet, before stepping to inspect the bag much in the same way Marshal did

"Who made you CSI Jane all of a sudden?"

"Actually I have been watching a lot of NCIS and Murder She Wrote. I am confident that I can learn more if I see the body."

"I can get you into the morgue... We own it. My father will have a key. If we go after midnight when it'll be closed, we should be able to get a better look." Alaric offered finally

"I'll come with. I want to see her." Alice mumbled, straightening herself out and wiping her face with the corner of her cardigan.

"We'll be look out. I'll be able to let you guys know if someone is coming or not, and maybe we could run distraction or something." Marshal agreed with a nod and gesturing to Rhys.

The group had a direction. A silent understanding to not only protect one another, like they always had, but also to discover who was behind the murder of their most cherished member. And possibly, avenger her death too.

It was in that moment, that resignation at the idea of vengeance, that Alice and Alaric were united. Realising that possibly, they were more alike than they would prefer. They both used the taste of vengeance as a club to bully back the grief that held its slobbering jaws close at hand. It seethed with anger. But for now, they were strong. They were strong for Yasmine.

A/N: I know what you're thinking: Chapter 3? Already?
That's right, it's here lol
I'm hoping you guys are enjoying it as much as I am writing it! I hope I didn't bog this chapter down with too much dialogue. Let me know if I have and I'll work on it!
As always: Thanks for reading ^-^