Demons From the Past novel Chapter 5

"I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other." -Me Before You By Jojo Moyes

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|Verena|

"Are you sure you're okay?" Nate asked me seriously.

I let out a shaky breath. "Yes I am. I'm alive thanks to you."

His eyes scanned my body once more for any sign of injury.

"Do you have any idea what he wanted?" He asked after a while.

I gulped nervously. There was no way I was telling him that the man had known about Trevor.

"No, but I think he was the same man who killed Allison."

Nate gave me a brief nod before speaking again. "You need to go to the police station and file a report for attempted murder. I'll take you there in my truck."

"There's no need for that, I'm fine." I tried to brush him off.

He looked at me as if I had suddenly grown two heads. "Are you insane? Someone just tried to kill you and you're saying you don't want to go to the police!"

I shrugged lightly trying to look nonchalant. "He tried to kill me. I've already told you that I'm okay now. Thanks for helping me out and all but I'm not going to the police."

He gave me an annoyed look.

"For God sake stop arguing and get in the truck!" He snapped as he motioned impatiently towards the sleek black pickup truck parked a few feet away.

"Haven't you been listening? I'm not going to the police station or anywhere with you!" I snapped back.

He raised a perfect dark eyebrow derisively.

The next thing I knew he had grabbed me by the arm and was dragging me towards his truck.

"Oh my God! Let go of me you psycho!" I screamed while trying to pry his fingers off me.

He held the door open for me to get in, his face daring me to do otherwise.

I let out an agitated groan before I begrudgingly got inside, seeing that I had no other choice.

He got into the driver's seat beside me and reached across me to secure my seat-belt. I felt my breath hitch when his fingers brushed lightly against my waist.

"We don't want you getting hurt, now do we, sweetheart?" He said mockingly, his lips pulled up into a slight smirk.

I felt my anger flare up.

"You-you... moron!" I finally spat out.

I mentally cursed myself for coming up with such a weak insult.

Nate's face stayed impassive but I could see the amusement in his eyes.

"A moron who just happened to save your life." He said coolly as he started the ignition.

"I thanked you, didn't I? Why can't you just leave me alone?" I seethed.

"I don't know about you, but a normal girl would go to the police if someone tries to kill her."

I snorted, "I've already told you that I'm not one of those normal girls." My voice dripped with sarcasm.

The corners of Nate's mouth twitched slightly at my words but he stayed silent.

Neither of us spoke anything during the rest of the ride to the police station.

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I bit my lower lip nervously as I eyed the daunting building of the police station. I was still seated in Nate's pick-up truck. I could practically feel his gaze burning holes into me.

"Are you going to get out now?" He asked me finally, his voice was laced with impatience.

I gave him a weary look.

"You forced me to come here. I'm not going in there alone." I stated stubbornly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you're coming with me. I'm not going to face all those police officers on my own."

He gave me a glare as if he wasn't sure if I was being serious right now.

Finally he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Fine. I'll go with you." He grit out as he got out of the truck.

I smiled in triumph.

Together we made our way inside the station.

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"And you didn't see his face, at all?" The detective asked me seriously.

"No. I've already told you everything I know." I was getting impatient.

I was starting to feel light headed in the cramped up interrogation room, we'd been here for over an hour. I was sick of all the cross questioning.

I turned to look at Nate who was leaning against the door casually, my eyes met with his dark ones and I could feel some of her tension ebb away. I didn't like to admit it but secretly I was glad that he was there with me, for some reason it made me feel more secure.

"And let me get this straight." Detective Miller spoke up again, "Mr. Cohen over here saved you." His eyes trained at Nate's intimidating form.

"Yes, that's right." I answered smoothly.

The detective's eyes narrowed a little, suspiciously.

"I think it's awfully convenient that Mr. Cohen just happened to be at the scene of the crime once again." He observed.

Nate stiffened as he caught on to what the detective was implying.

"You still think I'm responsible for the murder." He growled.

The detective eyed him thoughtfully.

"I think that you should wait outside while I talk to Ms. Dawson over here." He cut in.

I could see his jaw clenched tightly. He looked really pissed off.

Nate's eyes locked with mine once more,I knew he could see the nervousness and worry etched across my face. His face softened a little when he looked at me. He gave the detective a cool glare before finally walking out of the room.

I was now left alone with Detective Miller, I could feel my throat tighten with anxiety.

"I think you should be careful around him" He finally spoke up.

"He's not the murderer!" I snapped.

For some unknown reason I felt really angry that they were still accusing Nate of the murder.

"Funny, that's not what you told us four days ago when you found Allison's body."

I sighed. "I made a mistake, okay? I shouldn't have been so quick to accuse him. He's not the killer, I know that now."

He studied me for a while.

"You know Verena this wouldn't the first time he's hurt someone. Did you know that he actually put someone in a coma a while ago?"

I nodded slowly. I clearly remembered my conversation with Skylar earlier.

"Look I'm not saying that he's a model citizen. Just that I don't think he goes around shooting innocent people."

The detective spoke up again. "He just happened to be at the complex when Allison got murdered and now when someone tried to kill you, there he was again. Don't you find it the least bit suspicious?"

You're forgetting the part where he saved my life!" I snapped giving him a scowl. He was starting to get on my nerves.

"That could've been for show. Maybe he just wanted to throw everyone off track."

"Maybe he's not the murderer. Maybe you should start focusing on finding the real murderer, who's still out there somewhere instead of trying to pin this on Nate." I shouted angrily, I couldn't stand this nonsense anymore.

"I'm leaving." I declared as I stood up abruptly.

To my immense relief the detective didn't argue when I did so.

As soon as I stepped out of the small room I felt myself run into a hard chest.

My eyes widened when I saw who it was.

"Nate? You're still here?" I asked in disbelief.

He looked a little embarrassed. "You didn't have your own car and I was the one who forced you to come here. It didn't feel right to leave without you." He murmured as he ran a hand through his hair.

Oh God. Why is my heart suddenly beating like I just ran a marathon?

"You heard everything, didn't you? You were listening to everything from outside the door right?" I asked him pointedly.

He didn't answer me but I already knew that it was true.

"Thanks for defending me." He said after a while.