ruby || j.d

PART 1 -- Chapter 12 -- Down In The Forest

"He's, he's what?" Tyler was as white as a ghost

"I, I don't know." My voice cracked a bit

"Shit," Tyler muttered almost inaudibly.

I didn't indulge in my curiosity and let it go. No one in the car talked and we all just sat in silence. The only sound was the low murmur of the car radio blaring out popular overplayed songs. The ride home from the grocery store wasn't very different either. We got home and I made a beeline for the cereal. Tyler and Jenna ran upstairs and started talking about something. Probably why Tyler was upset. I ate my Lucky Charms with nothing but the TV playing.

Later that night, my stupid anxiety started playing up so I texted Abigail to ask if she'd heard anything.

Me: hey it's xena. heard anything from josh?

Abigail: no, sorry. you?

Me: no.

Abigail: we'll give it until tomorrow

That night, I struggled to get to sleep. If James had anything to do with this, he will have more than a jail sentence to deal with. Thoughts were rapidly swimming through my mind all night, inhibiting my sleep. I stared at the ceiling, letting the 'what ifs' and 'buts' consume me.

~ Josh's POV ~

I ran as fast as my feet were allowing me to. The leaves littering the ground were crunching under the weight of my shoes with each bound I took. My heart was thumping in my chest, threatening to burst out of my rib cage. Sweat was dripping down my face and fear was uncontrollably eating at my every thought.

No one. That's who you are.

Go on. Run. Run far away.

Nobody will come looking.

Not even your family.

Not even pathetic little Xena.

RUN JOSH.

I suddenly felt myself lurch forward, my foot catching on something. I tripped face first into the damp forest floor, blankness overtaking my mind, rendering me unconscious.

~Xena's POV~

"I'm so sorry for your loss," A woman rubbed Tyler's shoulder as he scornfully shrugged her off.

She walked over to me and made brief eye contact "Sorry for your loss," She said sorrowfully, walking off to the next person. It was like a factory line.

Tyler bowed his head down and sobbed. Jenna came and supported him, walking him off to a seat under a marquee. I looked up at the sky which was full of grey clouds, a slight drizzle coating my dress. I gazed around at the various people crying and sadly staring into nothing. I recognized some of them and some I didn't. What is this? Where am I?

"I can't believe he's gone. I'm sorry you lost him," Brendon Urie appeared in my field of vision.

"What?" I asked confusedly "Who?" Why was Brendon Urie saying this to me, of all people?

"Your fiancé, of course." He furrowed his brows and gawked at me as if I was crazy.

"Who's my," This time it was my turn to furrow my brows.

I turned around and saw a coffin next to a rectangular hole. It was apparent the hole was for said coffin and it was a grave. It was on a sturdy table covered in white silk, sweetpeas and snapdragons scattered on top. My favorites, actually. Why were my favorite flowers on the coffin?