The Dreki

p r o l o g u e

"That's the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet."
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"Alright i'm leaving. You sure you can lock up alright?" Eric called from the front desk. He walked round the corner, struggling more than i'd though with his tie.

"I'm sure, go. Have fun on your date." I replied, filing away the last of the letters.

Eric showed a small smile as he grabbed his blazer. In the view of the mirror, he adjusted his silver tie.

"Should I wear my blazer or have it over the shoulder?" He asked, modelling both styles for me with a small pout.

"Put the blazer on and leave! You're going to be late." I yelled.

"You're right, who wears it on the shoulder?" He chuckled nervously, once again fiddling with his tie.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, bye!" He shouted before closing the door with a slam. I shook my head.

The first hand reached 12, letting out a small ding as it always does. Sighing, I put my book down and walked over to the front door, checking it was locked. I grabbed my keys and started locking up the rest of the windows. Once i reached the back doors, I faltered. It wasn't clear, but there was a person, i'm sure.

Without thinking, I ran to the door and opened it, walking quickly along to the patio keeping my eyes trained on the figure. They were on the ground now.

I hurried over, my phone torch swinging as i walked. Who would be in the woods this late?

It was a girl. A bleeding girl. A badly bleeding girl. As I reached her now collapsed body, which was twitching slightly, any other thought in my mind had gone. I fell to my knees and covered her cuts with my hands as best as i could, focusing on her laboured breaths. Her eyes met mine, revealing her different coloured ones, green and brown. They were tinged yellow, similar to a fading fire.

"What the hell happened to you?" I whispered, more to myself when i realised she was slipping in and out of consciousness.

I slipped my phone out of my pocket and typed in 9-9-9. My fingers moved slowly in the freezing winter weather of York.

I watched as blood dribbled from her lips and nose and as her eyes glazed over. Her body went stiff, the constant twitch finally leaving her.

"Hey, Hey! You gotta stay with me, hey!" I screamed, losing any kind of calmness that I was supposed to have. I was Completely and utterly helpless. And now there was a dead girl lying in front of me.

—//—

"And do you know this girl's name?" The police officer asked.

"No."

"Do you know any relatives we can contact?"

"I don't know anything about her. I just saw her, crawling in the woods outside." I answered, however my focus was more on the body of the girl being moved into the ambulance.

I just watched someone die.

I was escorted to my house by some police officer I think, and shortly after Eric frantically came through the door, throwing his favourite blazer to the floor as he came running towards me.

"Hey kiddo! What happened?" He asked, his concern obvious.

"The date." I replied, too dazed to answer any of his long line of questions. He started at me, confused.

"How was your date?" I clarified, my eyes still focused on her previous spot. I was failing miserably at distracting myself.

"It was good." He said, catching my meaning.
"It was more than good, great actually. She was-" Eric rambled on, now in full swing of describing her from head to toe.

"Hey, Corey?" He asked softly. I lifted my head up to him.
"Get some rest."