This awesome banner was made by POWERofTHEpen2000 so thank you very much for this! (:

Be sure to email me at [email protected] with your banners, and username so I can give you a mention!

Word Count: 2204

I woke again, and this time, it's morning.

I sit up, mind awake in an instant. I'm not sure where I thought I would wake up, to be honest, but back in my own bed wasn't an option I had considered. Lifting my bed sheets, I see I am even dressed in my pajamas.

I have never gotten out of bed so quickly.

Pushing open my door, emerging into the lounge room, my best friend June sits on my couch, reading from a book as big as the bible. I stare at her in disbelief, as he glances up at me.

"About time you woke up," she says. Warily, I wander further into the room.

"What are you doing here?" I question, narrowing my eyes.

For a moment, she looks offended. "I came to show you something."

I sit beside her on the couch. I trust June...She is my friend, and would never do anything bad to me. Despite her being flighty at the best of times, I can rely on her to be honest with me at all times.

"Where is my dad?"

"At work I am guessing," she muses, placing the massive book she brought with her on my lap. Was I dreaming last night? It seemed so unorthodox I wouldn't cross my vivid nightmares off the list. I mean, Casper worried me with his proclamations about a drugging tea. Perhaps it had gotten to my head last night?

I mean, why would my own father and boyfriend do that? It makes no sense, and the fact that seeing Casper in the forest that night makes it all the more unlikely. I was definitely dreaming, I decide.

I gaze down at it, seeing a passage of small font, and a slightly faded picture...Of Casper. He sits on a throne, almost lounging on it. Somehow, he looks younger, more youthful and carefree. A golden crown is placed upon his head, bejeweled with glittering diamonds, rubies and jade. A cloak of red velvet draped across his shoulders.

He looks like pure royalty.

"That is Jasper two days before he was meant to be named as Alpha. A day before he disappeared," June tells me.

My eyebrows furrow. "Why are you showing me this?"

"That new guy...The one who just so happened to show up in this town the day Jessica goes missing. The man that has an uncanny resemblance to the Alpha of all Phantom Wolves."

My eyes automatically roll.

"First, it is just a coincidence. Casper hasn't killed anyone. And Jasper doesn't have the same violet eyes, his are dark brown. And Phantom Wolves don't exist, let's just drop the subject of Jasper still being alive, and let him rest peacefully.

June doesn't look convinced. I could tell she was about to retort with some sort of excuse as to why Casper is actually an Alpha, when the home phone rang. The shrill call cut my best friends words short, as I stood, answering the phone to my left.

"Patterson residence," I say, answering the phone how my father typically does. 

"Thea, is that you?" Luca's father, Jamie. His voice is warm, comforting...familiar. "I just wanted to call you and ask where your father is? A colleague of his sent in a message saying he didn't make it to work."

I knew why they were worrying. Dad works on an orchard, and it's harvesting season; the busiest time of year. As the manager, my father never misses a day of work, even when he is sick.

"No, he isn't home," I tell him, warily casting a gaze around the house. "Something weird happened last night."

If there is anyone I can trust, it's Luca's father. Every generation of their family have been cops, and personally think Jamie is one of the best. And he doesn't have a temper like this son does...

"It was like a vivid dream, no, nightmare. Dad had drugged me, and Luca has been apart of it too. And then...And then I met Casper, you know, the new guy to the town. And then he told me his name wasn't actually Casper, but he ran out of time before he could actually tell me his real name. But the strange thing was, is that before this all happened, I was at Casper's, and he told me not to drink this drink...Which just so happened to be the drink my dad gave me-"

I take a deep breath.

"Wow kid, that's one strong imagination you got there. Ever thought about becoming a writer?" Jamie asks, the laugh he sends down the line fully of amusement. He really does think I am crazy.

"I think I might be sick," I say, glancing at June who had heard the whole thing. She looks alarmed. "I mean, these strange dreams, or hallucinations...I even feel like time is passing by slower than it actually is."

I hear Jamie grumble on the other end. "Maybe you should see the doctor."

But what kind of sickness correlates to me basically losing my mind? Perhaps it had something to do with Casper...Ever since he showed up at my house the other day, things have been off.

"Unless I was dreaming, my dad said the Casper man would be brought in for questioning," I say, wishing June wasn't in the room to hear our conversation.

"Ah yes, I got him in early this morning. He is clean. Just a normal fellow from another town in the Devotion Pack, looking for a fresh start after he-"

I stopped listening after that. That man is far from normal, and now he is haunting my dreams?

"There is a town meeting tonight I suggest you attend..." Jamie tells me. "We need to talk about the missing kids. Hopefully your dad will be home by then."

Why wasn't I worried about my father? Am I holding some sort of vendetta because of my dream last night, because I am sure he would never drug me. How, maybe Jamie is right, I should become an author.

"And ah...Lock your doors okay. I'll get Luca to pick you up," Jamie says, sounding frighteningly wary. "Just for precaution, you know."

I hang up. So something terrible truly is going on. Is a mass murderer out there right now, ready to snatch either June or I next?

I won't worry her, not now.

I convinced her to stay all day with me. It was nice, having someone around after my dream last night. I even told her about it. She laughed at the ridiculousness of it, confirming that what happened last night was truly just a part of my mind.

But I was starting to think less about it, but more about where my father was...

Luca picked us around five that afternoon. He was in a bad mood, and on the drive to the town hall, told me he thinks Casper is a bad man that shouldn't have gotten let off, as he strongly believes he did it.

The town hall is the heart of the town. Meetings here are scarce, which leads me to believe that something big is about to go down. Anxious for what is about to happen, I clutch to Luca's hand. People like him here...He is a policeman.

The place is packed full of people when we walk in. Despite the low population of the town, we know how to fill a room. Luckily enough, we found seats near the back, just as Luca's dad was clearing his throat for everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for coming out this evening," Jamie greets warmly. "We have a lot to discuss."

The murmuring had cut off, but I could tell everyone was tempted to start again. A lot to discuss could elude to anything, and since nothing ever happens, the curiosity has heightened.

"As you all know, five teenagers have gone missing as of late..." Jamie said. I blanch. Five?

I watched the man, so similar to his own son, cast a glance toward the back of the room. Not being able to help myself, I glanced over my shoulder, to see two couples, looking stricken. I knew at that moment that they are the families of some of those people. One of the mother cried into her husbands shoulder.

"And they have been found..." Jamie follows, and the way his face pales, the way he looks down at the papers he holds suggests one thing. My heart falls.

"All five were found dead, hang..." he coughs, unsure if he should continue speaking. But this town is open. "Hanging from trees within the Phantom Forest. Police found a note, and are currently investigating it. We have also spoken to some people, but have so far found nothing to further our investigation."

Everyone gasps, including me. Luca swallows from next to me, already knowing off the news, while June shoves her head on my shoulder and starts to cry.

"What did the note say?" A man from the back questioned loudly.

"'We cannot disclose that information at this time, but we will be releasing it when all families have given permission," Jamie answers.

That is the first clue. Whatever is on that note is personal.

"So what happens now?" someone else asks from the front of the room. A mother, by the looks of it.

"We lock our doors, keep our children safe while we look for the killer...Or killers."

The mention that this could probably be the doing of more than one person has my blood running cold. I glance over my shoulder again, wanting to assess the reactions of the families, but instead a violet gaze captures me.

Casper is here. He is apart of this town now, but watching him lean casually against the back door took me by surprise.

"The police force is officially disallowing anymore access to the path bordering the Phantom Forest, as well as other walking areas in and near that forest. We cannot take anymore risks, therefore we suggest you ensure you are aware of your children's whereabouts at all time," Jamie says seriously.

June and I exchange glances...That is how we get to each other. Sure there is the town to go through, but I can already tell that seeing June will be harder.

But that wasn't what I was worrying about...I was worrying about my father. He isn't here, and I doubt he is at home. My father is missing, and even the police don't seem to mind.

Jamie talked little after that. The families had to leave, after emotions got to be too much, so Jamie closed the session after a few other notes. Luca went to talk to his father, and June wanted to see her parents who had attended the meeting, so I agreed to waiting outside.

"Thea," a silky smooth voice murmurs from behind me. I jump, twisting around to see Casper. He looked smart...Just like he did in my dream last night.

"I told you to stay away," I mutter, hoping Luca wouldn't come out and see Casper who had come to stand directly in front of me.

I try my best to avert my gaze.

"Last night wasn't a dream," he tells me. I flinch. He grabs my shoulders, fingers digging into the cloth of the long sleeves. "We did meet in the forest, and you did drink that drink."

I stumble back a few steps, but I can't take my eyes off his.

"And I need you to come with me right now, because you're in serious danger."

❤️••❤️

Want more and don't want to wait!? More of Jasper is available now on Radish!! (:

🔮••🔮

Cliffhangers, am I right?

So a pretty weird thing happened today. My mum is an impulse buyer. I don't know what it is, but sometimes she decides to buy things she doesn't need.

I'm kind of the same, because I buy like four books a week that I don't have time to read, that I stack against my wall.

My mums hobby is golf. Mine is writing. We keep out of each other's way with it all...

Out of nowhere today, I come home from cheerleading to see a golf cart parked on our front lawn. Yes, you read correctly.

I always gave her shit when she would play eighteen holes without one, and I think she took me too seriously.

Now, it's at her golf course. Originally she was going to keep it on a portion of land on our property that has a permit for a dance studio, but I convinced her otherwise. Our neighbours think we are crazy enough...

I'm still reeling. Like what? She refuses to get Netflix because it's 'too American' but she wants a golf cart? I...I've given up. It's too funny :p

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Let me know with a vote and comment for more! (: 

~Midika 💜🐼