Chapter Nineteen: A Body in The Woods

Lorraine was still in Bates’ house; she sat with her head held between her hands, listening to Bates and Cedric talking about what should be done. Aiden, who had kept quiet throughout most of it, asked, “You said that John Jonas could be the vampire behind everything, and he was in Williamsburg.”

“Do you mean we should go and see if he’s on campus?” Bates asked with knitted eyebrows catching on what was implied. Aiden nodded his head, then turned to Cedric with a questioning look, “They’re sure he’s not in Secret Valley, right?” Aiden's discomfort and even slight agitation at Cedric's present was clear, at least to Bates. However, Aiden had no choice but to accept his presence as he seemed to hold information they needed.

“It doesn’t add up, guys.” Lorraine started, avoiding Cedric’s eyes. She wasn't sure how she felt about his presence, nor was it the time to dwell on it. The last time they talked, in the dream land of her mind, he was different. *"Perhaps this is why I'm not scared of him as I should have been."* The thought made sense to her. However, she still didn't want to meet his eyes. At the end of the day, he was the man who wanted her dead, seeing him in the flesh wasn't really easy. "I don't think John would abduct my mother then take her to his campus for a merry trip!" There was a dark sarcasm lacing her worried tone.

“Know thy enemy, Lorraine.” Cedric started with a smirk on his face, “We don’t even know who turned him, or why he killed his parents.” Cedric decided that she had strength. *"Or maybe I'm giving her too much credit!"* The thought seemed to disappear when his mind noted on how she was handling her mother's disappearance and her newfound knowledge of the supernatural.

Bates agreed with Cedric's statement, “John seems to be the origin point of everything.”

"But what about that vampire that attacked me?" She turned to Aiden, "You saw him, right? Maybe you can look for him too if he's still in town?"

Cedric eyebrows knitted together; he didn't know that she was attacked before. Something about that small fact didn't settle well with him. He watched Aiden shake his head, "If I caught his scent, maybe I'll be able to identify him." He looked at Lorraine apologetically, "But that would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Perhaps looking for John would be our best option for now." Bates decided and shared a firm look with Cedric.

"Search around town for him and give special attention to the woods." Cedric ordered in a somber tone and hard face. "I'll try and find more about the Jonas family."

"I'll take Lorraine home. Later, we'll head to the station to officially file the missing report." Aiden stated, earning a scowl from Cedric followed by a glare. Both were ignored though in favor of the mission in hand.

“I don’t think it’s wise for you to stay home alone for the night, considering there’s someone after you.” Bates suggested as the two were leaving through the front door of his house.

She turned to him with a small smile, “I think someone has been after me since I arrived in this town. The way I see it, it’s not that different.” She shrugged, her eyes turning to Cedric briefly then back to Aiden, urging him with her eyes to go.

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No sooner had Lorraine left, than Cedric received a call from the sheriff asking to meet him in the woods. And that was how he found himself standing in a secluded area near the woods, an area he knew all too well. It was near the cemetery. The police were scattered in the scene and the yellow tap marked an area between the trees as a crime scene. The sheriff came from behind him, “He is just a child. They are killing our children, Mr. Bloodworth. This has to stop”

Cedric only gave a short nod, his eyes fixated on the body. “I understand, we will find whoever is behind this.” The sheriff let out a long breath, as his eyes followed the body as it was taken away, then nodded his head. Cedric gave him a firm look, “I need all the information you have on the Jonas family though.” When the sheriff gave him a questioning look, Cedric explained, “They are the first to be killed by a vampire here. Their son is missing, and there was another vampire running around until I killed him. But it all started with them.”

Sheriff Fisher let out another sigh, but nodded his head. “All right. Come to the station and I’ll tell my deputies to give you access to all the information you need. However, the Jonas were as normal as they come.” Cedric nodded his head, but he thought that something must have been up with that family. They must be hiding a secret. “There’s a nurse missing, Suzan Dawson. She’s new to the town.” Fisher stated after a few seconds of silence. His gaze held Cedric’s, “Do you think it’s a vampire?”

Cedric feigned a pondering look then said, “No one goes missing in this town without turning up dead.” He then remembered the girl who survived the attack, “What about that girl who was in the hospital; you said they saved her.” Fisher walked away after fishing for his phone to make that call.

It didn't take long for Steven McMillian to answer him and the first thing Fisher said was, "Is our Jane Doe awake?"

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Thursday morning found Lorraine sleepless and tried. The dark circles under her eyes were enough proof. She had been up all night with worry and fear. Aiden had insisted on staying with her, saying that Bates had a point when he said she shouldn't be alone. She didn't mind the company. Aiden seemed to know exactly what she needed and they stayed in silence.

She showered, changed for the day, then went downstairs. She could hear Aiden in her kitchen and the smell of bacon hit her nose once she arrived at the bottom of the stairs. "You didn't really have to." She said with a small smile, her tired eyes glanced at Aiden, who was placing a plate of omelet and bacon on the kitchen island.

He returned her smile, "I know, but I wanted to."

She poured a cup of coffee for her and another for Aiden. "I'm not going to school today, I'll head to the station and file the missing report. I think it's been more than twenty four hours." Aiden nodded his head and told her he'd go with her. Silence passed between them, her gaze was unfocused as she moved her food around the plate with the fork. When she heard a knock on her door, she went to open it and found Cedric standing with Bates.

Both of them holding ominous looks on their faces. Her eyes drifted between the two, then she asked, "What happened?" It was barely eight in the morning, too early for a house visit.

"Mike Norman was found last night." Bates started, but Lorraine didn't need him to finish. "His body was left in the woods, near the old cemetery."