This Is Where I Want To Be

26. Poor Chris

Juliet

Chris passed out on me! "Weakling." It took me a while to get him fastened with the seatbelts so he didn't fall out as I sped down the highway. I didn't understand why he needed to go to Sita's grandfather in such a hurry. I was just glad I didn't leave after we spoke. Seeing that he was done with Sita was reward enough. I fixed the front seat to my settings so I could keep driving; staying next to the highway with him passed out wasn't going to happen. I checked his phone. Held it up to his face, having to get past his security to get to his contacts.

I thought back at how stupid I was to give him such an expensive gift for his birthday the previous year. I had noticed he used an old, outdated phone and wanted to do something for him—from afar. I was so happy that day to hear about it from everyone. How he immediately took to it. I would've wanted to buy him something else that year. Something that could get him that excited again.

I checked for Sita's grandfather's location pin. When the route came up on screen, I pulled onto the highway. He had been driving for half an hour; I would have to go just as far. It was fun driving for a change. Glad he didn't drive stick. I wondered how long it would've taken for my parents to buy me a car of my own. Not that I could blame them... They kept me on a tight leash.

I stopped outside a closed gate. It meant I was going to have to get out to open it, and I was afraid of being on a werewolf plot. I'd never been up close to one or met one in human form... But I had... Jerry was a freaking werewolf, and Louis knew it was Sita that night at the bridge, "Argh!" He lied to me about everything! I reluctantly opened my door. Sita killing me was a possibility. I heard growling from the other side of the gate. Four eyes glowed brightly in the reflection of the car's headlights. They were enormous and almost Chris's size. They transformed when they saw how scared I was. How ripped up my arms were. They knew who I was. I relaxed a bit. The two boys opened the gate and saw Chris in the back seat, concern evident in their features, "What's wrong with him?"

"Your dart gun, of course... You had that one planned all along. Maybe you went a little bit overboard... He's been like this since this morning."

"You were there. You saw him. We needed... overboard. You can be glad we were close. Now that he's manifested, we can all breathe easier."

An older man came out the front door. The house was situated away from the gate and driveway. He didn't venture off the porch, leaning on his cane, "Who is it, Francis?"

"It's that vampire girl we have been watching and Chris. He is still knocked out."

The old man shook as he tried to stabilize himself on the thin piece of wood, "Let her come in and tell her to park to the side." I did what I was told. The two boys unclipped Chris and carried him inside. I was thankful that things seemed to be going rather well so far.

I held open the bug screen with the rock placed on the floor. I helped with the front door so they could pass through, following to ensure I knew the house's layout and to take note of where they laid Chris down for the night. Not that it would help me if I wasn't welcome; going invisible there was redundant—they could see me. My strength, speed, and hearing abilities had not kicked in yet... not even when Jerry was attacking me. One would think that if Chris had manifested under dire circumstances, maybe my body could have performed the same miracle to help me. "Come sit, child," the man said after observing me.

I obliged and helped him into his seat. He patted my shoulder and pointed with his arm for me to a chair across from him, "You must be Juliet."

"I am. Thank you for letting me into your home, Sir."

"Call me Mr. Moore. Or Nicholas. It doesn't matter to me, whatever you prefer. Thank You for bringing Chris here."

"To tell the truth, I was a stowaway. He didn't invite me... But then he passed out halfway and... Yeah, here we are... I'm a little scared that Sita might be here," I glanced around the house.