~ALISON'S POV
The sheriff nodded. "It's the same thing and that's why you're here with me now."
I could feel my eyes sting and the back of my tongue grow dry as thoughts of that awful incident began replying again in my mind.
The way he didn't even have the chance to scream as the beast lurched at him and took a big chunk out of his neck. The way blood dripped from its mouth while Eden's eyes stayed awake but his body remained unmoving. Not to mention the sinister look the demon had after it was done having Eden for dinner.
Demon. That was what I chose to call it.
I felt a light tap on her shoulder and I jumped back into reality.
I stared at the sheriff like I had been hypnotized.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
I shook my head to get myself back to function. Then I nodded in response.
He opened his mouth to speak but then the telephone on the table rang so loudly.
"One second please." He stated, picked it up and placed it against his ear.
It gave me time to look at the photo he had slid over to me one more time. The face of the victim was covered in so much blood. His clothes had been ripped along with his flesh where the blood poured out from.
I caught a glimpse of his face through all that gruesomeness and I could swear I had seen him somewhere once before. But then where?
"Alright, thank you for the information." The Sheriff said and ended the call before turning his attention to me.
That's when I decided to ask what sat on my mind since I examined the picture. "Is this a first year from Darnville High?"
The sheriff looked at me and pursed his lips for a while before replying, "He's a new transfer student and he had been coming to your school to register properly."
"Then how did this happen?" I asked, pointing to the body.
The sheriff took in a very deep breath and intertwined his fingers. "This was his first time in Darnville and he decided to go out with a group of other friends into the forest for a game."
My brows knitted in confusion. That just didn't make any sense to me.
"I understand that look. I was just as confused as to what game a group of teenagers would go into the woods to play?" He noted.
There was one more thing I couldn't understand. "Then why am I here?" I inquired.
"You're the only one who saw what happened to Eden and so we needed help identifying if it was the same thing because those friends are suspects in the crime."
My mind fleeted back to school, how they spoke about one of our students being a suspect in the crime.
I leaned into the table. "Are any of them one of Darnville High's students?"
The sheriff shook his head and that only made my mind spiral into confusion all the more.
"But then..." I glanced from left to right and leaned into the table more as if I had a grave secret to disclose. "...I heard some of the students back at school say that one of Darnville High's students is a suspect in the crime." I whispered.
I could only wish that the sheriff told me because for a fact I knew that—
"That information is strictly confidential, dear." He cut in. I knew that was what was coming next but I had to try my luck regardless. "You've identified that it was indeed the same beast and not some deranged teen with dark fantasies who had done this and that's about what we needed." He added.
My shoulders slumped. Somewhere at the back of my mind I knew for a fact that it was Daven who they suspected. But why?
Why did it have to be him?
Then my stomach gurgled again. That was effective in pulling me back to reality. My eyes darted to the sheriff who's eyes darted from my stomach to my face.
I felt my cheeks start to grow hot. I instinctively wrapped my hand around my stomach which felt bare under his gaze.
He pulled out his drawer and then slid a five dollar bill on the table to me.
I looked up at him. He had an assuring and warm smile on his face. "Go on and get something to eat."
I was hesitant at first, not sure if what was happening was really happening. I needed a job as soon as possible. Anyone would be fine.
I took the dollar bill and flashed him a shy and awkward smile.
The cold air bit my skin as I stood on the side of the road. My stomach was full already and I was ready to go home.
I had to get a job as fast as possible. I thought as I pat my stomach lightly.
I began my long walk home which of course would cost me everything I had eaten and the strength it gave me. The sidewalk was lonely and the evening felt cool.
As soon as I put my foot on the road ready to cross over to the other side, a car sped past me and I had to take my foot back quickly.
My heart was ramming against my chest. Those ar*es. No this won't do, I continued straight ahead until I stopped in front of very tall and intimidating black gates.
They loomed over me like dark vines. It wasn't its height anyway that kept me standing. It was the poster in front of it which read: NANNY URGENTLY NEEDED.
My eyes darted to the part where the payment was stated. It was a whooping 10,000 USD per month.
The best part was that you didn't need any experience whatsoever.
I swear I could hear the Cha-ching sound of a cashier in my head. Without thinking, I pushed past the gate which creaked in protest and walked into the large compound which seemed more like an estate.
A serpent-like path made with interlock led me through a lush lawn to the grand entrance of the mansion which certainly didn't belong to the ordinary folks like herself. The middle classes. I marveled at the elegant facade, balconies adorned with greenery, and subtle security details that blended seamlessly into the landscape.
When I reached the entrance, a uniformed staff member greeted me with a polished smile, and the massive wooden doors swung open, inviting me into riches beyond my imagination. The floor was golden and the space was enormous. A huge chandelier dangled from the ceiling.
I suddenly felt like ten thousand dollars was an underpayment of staff compared to what they had to their name.
The clicking sound of heels as they descended from a spiral staircase echoed throughout the room and caught my attention.
"And you are?" A woman asked.
She was a woman in her fifties, perhaps. Dressed in black sharp pencil mouthed skirt which exposed long slender skeleton styled legs with a black fitted blazer over a white shirt and bun tied firmly into a bun on her head stood at the middle of the stairs.
I straightened my back and cleared my throat as I tried to mirror her confident stance.
"Alison Hayes and I've come to apply for the job as a nanny." I stated, hoping that I didn't rush through my sentences.
Rambling would be a really bad first impression.
"Is that so, well welcome to the Cross Mansion." She announced and took her time to descend. Then she gestured for me to follow her.
"Come, let me interview you?"
My heart leaped for joy in my chest. This could be it. My big break.
As we walked off to another part of the mansion, my mind flipped.
Cross. Where have I heard that name?
Ohh I was so excited. Too excited to care— for now.