The Demon Wolf - Chapter 16：Caught Culprit

Almost hitting several cars and taking up three parking spots, Red manages to stop the truck after spending who knows how long trying to figure out how to get to the police station. She turns the truck off and jumps out, but quickly goes back to put it in park before heading inside the police station.

“My dad, he needs help!” She exclaims to the lady at the counter as she runs up to it.

“Ok, just calm down, and tell me what happened,” She says calmly, trying to ease Red.

“I woke up, and I followed someone outside, and my dad stopped me, and I ran back home, and then the Demon Wolf came and I barely escaped, and, and, my dad’s still out there somewhere!”

“Red?!” A voice says from the hall to the left. Randy quickly walks into the lobby, “What do you mean your dad’s still out there?”

“In the woods, by the house,” Randy looks away, trying to think of the best way to go about this situation. He slightly nods to seemingly nothing before speaking.

“Helena, keep an eye on Red,” She replies with a nod as Randy heads back down the hall. He soon comes back with a vest and belt, a pistol in the holster and a shotgun strapped to his back.

“To go find your father. Make sure all the doors are locked and don’t open them for anyone unless it’s me or another officer, alright?”

“Yes sir,” And with that he heads out the door, Helena walking over to the front door and locking it as he takes off in his truck.

As Randy drives through the silent town he glances at his phone.

“I know you told me to call you,” He says to himself as he looks back at the road, “But I’m sure you would have let me rest too,” He braces himself as he enters the woods.

Red sits on one of the benches in the lobby as she holds her arms tightly.

“Would you like something to drink or snack on?” Helena asks, trying to lighten the dark mood, “I could make you some hot cocoa,”

“Please,” Red answers, looking away from the floor and at her. Helena gets up from her chair and heads to the break room. Red freezes as she feels a pair of eyes staring at her from the darkness. She slowly turns her head to the front doors, but sees nothing in the streetlights. With her heart already thumping in her ears once more she gets up and quickly heads over to the break room.

“What’s wrong? Did you see something?” Helena asks her, putting her hand near her holster.

“N-No, but…it felt like it,”

“You can stay in here if you like, you’re hot cocoa’s almost ready,” Red takes a seat, the feeling not going away. She could feel cold claws resting on her shoulders, sending shivers through her whole body. Helena hands her a piping hot cup full of cocoa and she heads back to the front counter to check the front door and cameras.

After blowing on it for some time, Red takes a sip, the heat still burning her tongue quite a bit, but it helps melt away the claws of ice that had been on her.

…

As Randy drives deeper into the woods he sees a large indent, like a tire that had been burning rubber through thick mud or something. Giant paw prints soon follow. He takes a deep breath to keep cool as he his eyes start to wander more, looking for any sign of the wolf. Randy is almost relieved to see Jerard’s house come into view but it quickly fades when he sees how badly damaged it is. It looks like a bomb went off in the garage.

He parks a few feet from it and steps out of thew vehicle, pulling out his pistol and a flashlight. He cautiously steps into the garage, his footsteps being the only noise for seemingly miles. Shining his light around, he sees the door to the garage has been completely torn off, a massive hole where it had once been. He sees something moving in the kitchen. Stepping inside the house he shines his light to see Jerard, naked, standing by the stove, his eyes glowing blood red.

“J-Jerard?!” Randy exclaims, his breath and hands becoming shaky.

Jerard stands there, staring at the counter. He brings a bottle to his mouth and chugs the rest of it before laying it back on the counter, fresh blood from his lips now staining it. His eyes turn back to normal.

“Where’s Red?” He asks with a voice as dead as his expression.

“Somewhere safe,” Randy replies, not daring to move closer to him, “…And here I was thinking it was Gerald…”

“…I wish it was…are you going to try and kill me now?” He asks looking up at Randy, “Cause it ain’t gonna work, trust me, I’ve tried…” Randy lowers his gun a bit, unsure whether to feel anger or pity for him.

There’s no way he could be the monster. How could he be?

“…You’re lucky Pierre took the night off,” Randy says as he lowers his gun. He puts it in his holster as he approaches Jerard, taking out some handcuffs. Jerard abides and puts his hands up to be cuffed, looking at Randy with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know how you work,” Randy says as he cuffs him, “So this is to help ease my mind , even if it only does a little bit,” As they starts heading out of the kitchen and head to the garage Randy grabs a blanket and puts it over him. They enter his truck and head back to town.

“Helena, let Red know I found her dad, we’er heading back as we speak,” Randy says into the radio.

“On it,” She replies.

“Red’s at the station?” Jerard asks, suddenly looking more alert.

“Yeah,”

“…She needs to be taken somewhere else, I-I can’t be near,” He says full of a sudden worry. Randy looks at him with concern.

“Jerard, everyone in town is asleep, and what are we suppose to do? We can’t call anyone to ask them to take Red to their home without it sending everyone in town into a panic,”

“Can you uncuff me and just leave me back at the house than?”

“Helena has already told Red I found you and that we’re on out way there by now, what am I suppose to tell her if I arrive without you?” Jerard just looks at him with no response before letting out a sigh and looking out the window at the passing woods.

“…Are you going to lock me up?”

“That was the plan, at least until you explain everything and I figure out what to do from there,”

…

Red and Helena sit in the break room, waiting for Randy and Jerard to arrive. Her cup of cocoa is only half empty as her taste buds are already starting to go numb. After an eternity of waiting they hear the sound of a truck pulling up. They head over to the lobby and Helena unlocks the door as Randy and Jerard exit the truck and head to the station. They’re both confused when they see that Jerard is handcuffed.

“Why is my dad in cuffs?” Red asks as they enter, Jerard avoids looking in her direction.

“For our safety, as far as I know,” He replies, “Helena,” He nods towards the front door and she locks it.

“What do you mean?” Red asks as her and Helena follow Randy and Jerard down the right hallway towards the cells, “Dad, what does he mean?” Jerard keeps looking forward. They enter the room with the cells and Jerard walks into the first one, Randy locking the door behind him.

“Randy, why is he being arrested?” She asks looking up at him. Randy looks down at her with a troubled look. He closes his eyes and lets a sigh before opening them and looking at Jerard. Randy is about to answer but gets cut off.

“Cause I’m the Demon Wolf,” Jerard states, as he stares at the floor.