Chapter 26: Bloody water

"We need medics. Medics!" Cameron flipped Code on his back as if he was a two year old kid, like he was singing as he took the route he thought was best or they meet themselves in the mouth of another monster.

Cameron couldn't think of anything than transferring Code to a doctor, not him giving up on his back. Besides, Code's life was saved by him so he should repay him by staying alive. "Stay alive, brother." Cameron whispered, running along the non bushy path.

In about thirty minute, Cameron could hear a tiny sound of someone making whistles. He listened again and he was sure someone was making whistles, maybe to check if they were still out there. "Almost there, we are almost there." Cameron shifted Code's position on his back, resuming his race.

Jorgenson and the others already arrived at an open space. His hands went to his mouth, he blew another loud whistle for the fourth time. "If they were alive, we should have seen them by now." Taylor tried not make his displeasure evident in his face but clearly, through his voice, he was annoyed.

"There are some animals that listens to whistles. Don't allow us face another monster please." At the ordinary thought of it, George shook terribly as he closed his eyes so he wouldn't pee on himself the next time that happens.

"I never doubted him a bit." Jorgenson smiled while he whispered, seeing Cameron's figure running towards them with average speed. Finally, he got to them, in one piece. "Code is unconscious --" Jorgenson stated, touching Code's head at Cameron's back.

"He suffered a rough fall. He's lost a lot of blood and I think one of his bones might have snapped, broken. He needs medical attention immediately." Cameron explained, without missing any detail. "You guys fought something right?" George asked, fear radiating all over his face.

Cameron almost chuckled at the guy's expression, "This forest is the site of those monsters...." He answered, that reply didn't make George feel good at all. "They are here...." Jorgenson's watch beeped while he muttered. The sound of a landing helicopter, "Everyone, get in!" Not in pieces, they all escaped the monster jungle.

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Prastina was very confused, what the hell is happening? Her eyes snapped towards the beeping monitor, indicating Cameron's mother would die soon if the operation doesn't go smoothly. That was the least of the problem until Prastina lifted her eyes upwards and there she was, smirking at her devilishly - the grown up Camila.

Prastina snapped her eyes open, back to life, from the deep trance. Baby Camila was already sleeping in her hands after being fed by Helen while she was in the trance. It took almost the whole of her not to throw Camila down.

What did she just see? Everything was confusing to her. Prastina managed to wave Helen goodbye and promised to visit her often, "I have to get back to work, yunno." She caressed the girl's hair absentmindedly and Helen nodded, like she trusted her a little.

Prastina dragged her feet towards her car, her mind wasn't on earth anymore. The dazed and unconscious position she just witnessed was contending with her mental state. The door of the car slammed close, her hands rested on the steering as she went deep in thoughts.

She could remember vividly that Cameron's mother was dead, stomach and heart ripped out. Yes! There came another theory in her head, what if Cameron has operated on his mother before? It could happen right? Because the boy had Cameron's face, it was possible he had operated his mother before.

The theory became wrong the moment Prastina remembered she had seen Camila. That baby, Helen's sister, baby Camila - they had the same face. She hit the steering in frustration and swallowed gently. There was another option, informing her mother of the trance.

Prastina drove out of the area as fast as possible, heading towards the police department. "What did you find about her?" Sheriff asked as soon as she entered into his office, "It was the young girl and her baby sister. She stole those things because of her baby sister." Prastina explained.

"Why? They don't have parents? Where did she take you to?" Sheriff had to ask, the little girl looked suspicious to him. "They live in an uncompleted building and I think they are orphans sir. She had no choice because her kid sister has to eat." Prastina rubbed her palms together, feeling uncomfortable.

Sheriff nodded it off. Deep down, he felt like helping those homeless and parentless children but he has his own kids liability to shoulder since his wife is late. "You can go, Jones. You've tried for today. You'd be a good mother too."

Prastina didn't know whether to smile, laugh or feel sad. How the hell will she be a good mother? Well, that wasn't what was bothering. She needed to get to her mother as soon as possible. She doesn't know if the trance was a part of the past or the future, it seems very confusing.

The house was locked which indicated her mother had gone out but where would she go by this time of the night? Well, Prastina turned the car back, straight to Cameron's house. "Should I tell him about it?" She thought, driving through the expressway that led to the estate where Cameron lived.

In a blink of an eye, she changed her mind again, pulling the car backwards as she headed to a particular street - between the 93rd and 94th street in Westmount, where that particular murder case happened. The door to the house creaked open slowly and Prastina matched inside, observing the environment carefully.

The house was looking very clean for a house that no one live in since the last four months after the owner was killed or did she enter into the wrong house? Prastina hurried back outside to confirm. "93 ---" She read the number on the house before the one she's in, "94th." The next house. "In between...." That's the house she's in so she's correct.

Prastina entered into the house again, breathing in and out. She needed to find clues or maybe answers. How? She had no idea. The house was definitely filled with dried blood. She walked into the room, the room she followed Cameron into that day.

The bathroom was the same as it was, same as the bathtub where the woman laid in a pool of blood. Looking around the place, she remembered when she first found Cameron suspicious but that wasn't the point.

It was strange that the bathtub was still filled with bloody water though it had become darker. Prastina rushed back to her car, opened the resting arm box and picked two syringes. She rushed back to the house and crouched beside the bath tub, filled the syringe up with the bloody water.

Prastina dropped both filled syringes into her bag, glanced at the interior before exiting the house. Gently, she locked the house with the key and kept it in her bag - no one should have access to the house yet, not now.

"Where are you?" Her phone was placed beside her ear, closing the car door as she relaxed a bit on the car seat. "I'm home. Just got home now." Cameron answered with a calm voice, you'd think he just got out of the shower.

Prastina nodded, smiling happily. At least, someone could make her day after what she had gone through today. "I'm on my way to your place --" She announced, starting the car. She was already driving when her eyes just caught something on the wall beside the house she just stepped out from - a dried five fingers hand mark.

"Where have you been all day?" Prastina threw herself on Cameron as soon as she saw him. "Been out doing some other things." Cameron hugged her back, feeling refreshed. It feels good to have such woman with you, how did he manage to have missed this feeling all these years?

Prastina flung her bag on the couch, flinging her shoes away. "How was work?" That question made her remember her ordeal with Helen, her baby sister and the deep trance. "It was --- cool." A lump developed in her throat when she told the lie and she swallowed it down.

Cameron noticed her uneasiness, something was bothering her. No, a lot of things was bothering her but he chose to keep quiet. "What are those?" He pointed, picking up the syringes. "I need to work on them. It's for the department."

He knew she just told a lie, what was she hiding from him? "Prastina ---" He paused, feeling unsure to ask her or not. "Nevermind. You've eaten anything today?" He covered up with a small smile. She shook her head and he immediately went out to get something for her.

"Stay in the house. Don't go outside. If anyone knocks, do not answer." Prastina wondered why he would give such instructions but she waved it off. The couch was comfy so she laid to sleep. In the next hour, Prastina jumped up upon hearing some strange sounds coming from the door.

She wore his flipflop and started walking to the door slowly. She remembered his instructions when her hand rested on the door knob, she took it off immediately. "Babe?" The voice called. It was surely Cameron's voice. She paused, Cameron has never called her babe before.

"Prastina? Open up." It sounded like he was in pain or something. Or has he been shot again? At the the slight thought of that, she threw the door open. Aggressive hands held her neck immediately, dragging her feet upwards. "Cameron --" Prastina's eyes rolled in their sockets as she gasped for air.