Scroll of Starlight

Chapter Twenty Two

BRANWEN

            "Dean..." I stared down at the piece of paper and slowly bent down to get my crutches. "Please look at this."

            Dean looked up from where he was placing our bags in the trunk. Slightly frowning he answered with, "Look at what?"

            I instantly paused and looked around the camp. The place was very quiet and the sun was beginning to shine brighter. We were still in the middle of nowhere. "Let's go." I walked to the car and put my crutches in the back seats then got in. The paper was folded in my hand and I refused to say anything until we got the car rolling.

            Dean climbed into the car and looked at me. "What is it? What's wrong?"

            I shook my head and motioned for him to start driving. "I'll show you as we drive, we just can't be here."

            He went to say something else, but decided I was being serious enough and started to drive out of the place. I didn't notice this at first, but my hands were shaking as I brought out the note.

            "Dean. Someone left this note in my sweater while we were sleeping." I shook the note out from in front of me.

            "Note? What do you mean note?" He didn't instantly try to believe I was being paranoid. I'm sure after everything happened, this wasn't impossible.

            I just showed the note quickly in front of him and took it away because he was driving. "I'll read it and you can see it when we get to my house." I let out a shaky breath. The words were written on an old piece of paper with black ink. "Follow the path. Cubs do take care. And it's signed with a letter D." I flipped the paper over and sucked in a breath. "There's the symbol again. The one we saw from the library and Mr. Marty's book, Dean."

            Dean was quiet during this whole time and didn't say anything. To anyone on the outside, he might seem calm, relaxed even. But to me, I saw his hands clench the steering wheel and his controlled breathing.

            "Dean? What are you thinking?" I quietly asked, placing the note down on my lap.

            He shook his head. "Not now-just. Just let me think. Please." I could tell that last word was especially hard to say and I nodded, keeping my eyes on the road.

            The ride to my house was cold. Funny to describe a ride as such, but the atmosphere was nothing like it was last night. Dean made no movement to speak or even slightly touch my hand. I was starting to get nervous. We slowly pulled into the front of my house and he turned the car off.

            "Does this have anything to do with what you were running away from yesterday, Branwen?" His voice was so soft and low, but had an edge to it.

            I frowned. "What are you saying? I don't know."

            "Branwen." He turned to look at me and I've never seen him so serious. "Tell me what you think you saw yesterday."

            I shook my head. "It was probably nothing Dean, I just thought I heard something and then when I saw a shadow at my feet it was probably me imagining things."

            He said something under his breath and abruptly got out of the car, going to the trunk. I frowned and reached behind me to grab my crutches and slowly get out of the car. He walked up to the porch and placed my things on the floor, beginning to pace on the space.

            "Dean, what—"

            "Damn it, Branwen." He placed his hand on the door, arm stretched out and lowering his head. "You have to tell me things like this, you just don't understand."