I didn't know what to say, but I no longer cared that Dad watched. Leaning into him, I ran my fingers through his hair and down his jaw.
We sat speechless in each other's arms. Words seemed too frivolous to intrude. The porch light started to flicker on and off.
"I better go," I said.
"I don't want you to," Liam whispered, squeezing my hand.
I touched his cheek and he closed his eyes. Despite everything I had seen and feared, I ached to stay there. The lights flashed again, and I saw Dad standing on the front porch.
"I can't," I said. Dropping my hand, I opened the door. As I stepped out, I turned to him. "Can I see you tomorrow?"
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Definitely."
I bit my lip and skipped towards my impending fate. My own giddiness surprised me. Dad stood there with the most reality-grounding scowl I had ever seen. My smile waned.
"Hey Dad," I said, avoiding eye contact. I heard Liam take off in the car behind me.
"Inside right now."
My stomach clenched up and I went in with Dad following.
"Who was that boy? Do you know what time it is? Where have you been and what were you and that boy doing in that car?"
"Dad, please. It's not what you think. I'm really tired. Can we talk about this in the morning?"
I knew it wouldn't make any difference what I said. My head hurt. I just wanted to disappear up to my room.
"No, you are not getting out of this Charlotte Olivia. Who was that?"
"Dad, please. Not tonight. I can't deal with anything else right now." My voice broke. Buried emotions from the afternoon flooded through me.
Dad's face reddened. "Did that boy do something to you?"
"What? No." I couldn't believe he would draw such a conclusion. "Liam's a good guy. He just gave me a ride home from school. That's all."
"School ended six hours ago. It's quarter after nine. Where were you?"
I took a deep breath, giving in. I couldn't do this. I wouldn't lie to him. "I was at his house," I said. "It's not what you think. We were just hanging out. Liam's a good guy, Dad."
Dad's lips pursed. "You said that already." He sighed with a groan. "So, you really like this guy, huh?"
I nodded, feigning a blank face. "Yes." Please, please be okay with this.
"What's his name again?"
I couldn't believe it. He was giving in "Liam."
"Liam," he said. "Well, okay. I'd like to meet this Liam. I want to be aware of any visits to his place before they happen. Do you understand me? I'd also like to talk to his parents."
"Dad, I'm not twelve." His look of death shot through me. "I understand." Did Liam even have parents? My head hurt.
"Alright," he said. "Get some sleep."
"Thanks, Dad."
As soon as the door shut behind me, I flopped down on my bed, and screamed into my pillow. Conflicting emotions welled in me; the gun, Liam, the photographs, the vision of his canine teeth readying to impale that man's throat. I whimpered into the sheets.
When I woke, it was light outside. The clock on my bed stand read quarter to six. I groaned at my bad luck at waking so early. I knew I wouldn't fall back asleep. Adrenaline pumped in my veins at the memory of the past afternoon. I twitched and turned, then got up. Still wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday, I headed into the bathroom, and slipped them off. I needed a shower, something to clear my thoughts.
What had Liam meant by it being too dangerous for me to know about him? For some reason, that is what stuck in my mind. 'There are worse ways to die', he had said. I shivered despite the hot water, and turned it off. I needed to call Ty.
Returning to my room, I sat down on the edge of my bed, and grabbed my cell. "Come on, answer the phone," I said.
It rang until a groggy voice answered. "Hello?"
"Ty, can you keep a secret?"
"Huh? What? Charlotte, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me. Look, I need to know if you can keep a secret."
"Do you know what time it is?"
Looking at the clock, I winced. "Sorry." I forgot.
I heard a breathy sigh. "I can keep a secret. What is it?"
"They're werewolves."
"What?" she asked. "Who is? What are you talking about, Charlotte?"
"I can't explain right now. Can I pick you up in about thirty minutes? I need your help with something." I lowered my voice and glanced around the room.
"Charlotte, you're kind of scaring me. Are you okay?"
I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah, I'm fine. I know this sounds crazy, but I'll explain in the car."
She groaned. "Where are we going? You know it's Saturday?"
"The library."
I slipped my shoes on, grabbed a light jean jacket, and started for the door.
Ty stood outside waiting for me as I pulled the CRV into her driveway. She gave a quick wave and ran up to join me.
"Okay, this better be good. I should still be sleeping," she said, climbing inside.
I shifted the car into reverse and headed out onto the road. "Okay, look," I said. "Liam and the others are werewolves." I paused for a moment, letting that sink in. She didn't say anything, but she looked at me as if I had grown two heads. "I know what you're thinking, but I swear it's true. He told me. I also saw him change."
"He turned into a wolf?" she asked.
"Well, not entirely, but, yeah."
Ty remained speechless as I replayed the entire afternoon for her. She seemed to be growing paler by the moment.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said, her voice an octave higher than usual. "I...I just have no words. I mean this is surreal."
"I know."
We pulled into the library parking lot and I turned off the car.
"So, why the library? What are we looking for?" she asked.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to her. "Evidence, or hopefully the lack of," I said. "I saw some pretty disturbing stuff at Liam's house and I need to make sure he wasn't involved in it. If I'm going to be with him, I need to know everything about him, and whether that affects me. I'm hoping to find some records in the papers about a local wolf attack."
"Wait, you're with Liam?" Ty asked. "I thought you were mad at him?"
"Ty," I said with a groan, "more important matters here."
"Right. Sorry."
We easily found our way to the media center. The place was empty, considering the early hour, and it worked to our advantage. We had the entire section of computer terminals to ourselves. I scanned my card, and found a listing of last year's newspapers.
My fingers spun over the mouse, flipping through page after page. Nothing, even when I entered 'wolf' into the search terms. Not a single mention of anything in regards to an animal attack in the last year. It didn't make sense. Something tragic enough to take a man's life would have been reported in the town's papers.
"I don't get it," I said, staring at the computer screen. "I saw the photograph."
"Charlotte?" Ty asked.
"Hm?"
She nudged me in the side and I looked over. She had logged in herself and had a headline at the top of her page.
"I decided to take the date out of the search options. I know this is crazy, but look," she said, pointing.
Wild Beast Is Dead
Aug. 28, 1912
Maplefield, Massachusetts
Today the wild creature claiming a total of three lives has been found and killed by young hunter Philip Grant at six thirty am Eastern Time. Over a short period of two days, the 'monster', as some people have claimed, brutally killed three men, whose names, out of respect for their surviving families, have not been disclosed. Authorities are still baffled as to where this creature came from and the manner of species it is. Further inquiry into the background of the animal became futile while during investigation on its latest victim, the body of the beast vanished. Authorities guarantee that the animal was indeed dead and are actively pursuing leads to any and all pranksters involved.