“I don’t know what I am,” Addie said softly.
I wanted to argue, but she turned and made her way towards the tent before I could say more. Instead of prowling after her, I decided to do a perimeter search. Addie mentioned that she saw a figure across the field, so I had to head out that way first.
It would put space between us for the time being. That way, she could calm down. I figured if I pushed the matter right now, she might snap. Without sleep or safety, Addie was probably close to breaking. Though, that went for any normal person.
Addie wasn’t normal by any means. And I didn’t mean that only because she could see ghosts. As part of this vast world of supernaturals, she had a tolerance for horror that nearly matched my own as a homicide detective.
It was both impressive and worrying.
At the other end of the field, I scanned for a spot where the grass would be flatter, giving away where someone might have stood for a while. I found the spot and a small trail that led up to it. Reaching into my pocket, I rummaged past straw wrappers and crumpled notes to get to my phone.
I needed to clean out my pockets, but that would have to happen later. Right now, I opened the camera feature and started snapping pictures with the hopes that I would find something of importance.
Instead, I found nothing more than a crumpled note that must have fallen from my pocket. I knew it had to be mine because it matched the notepad from the office supply closet back at the precinct. I snatched it up and shoved it back into my pocket so I wouldn’t taint the scene.
Still, nothing jumped out at me other than the smell lingering in the air. I was glad that this wasn’t happening in the midst of summer where the sun’s heat would accelerate the deterioration of the dead things all around us, but the area still stank of rot. Even the winter chill couldn’t fight off the bright sun warming the dark flesh.
I found nothing of importance, not even on my way back to Addie.
There were so many animals, all falling apart at record rates. It made me wonder how Addie had escaped them. If the killer had sent this many after her, they should have overwhelmed her before she could reach the park lot.
Yet, none of them had given chase, not the way they had the other night when they’d climbed Cerri’s apartment building to get to Addie. Something about this wasn’t sitting right with me. Why change methods?
Did the killer want to scare her? It didn’t make sense when they’d openly tried to kill her before.