The white of the moon shone through the window of the busted apartment. I was sitting on a couch with my two roommates; Piper and Heidi, watching whatever seemed to look decent on Netflix. I didn't feel right, there was something about tonight that was off. I guessed my friends noticed too, because as soon as their mouths opened, questions came flying out.
"Kimi, are you okay?" Piper asked, pushing her black-red hair out of her face and her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose.
"Oh, yeah. Just thinking." I pursed my lips, not looking their way.
"Are you sure? You know if there's anything on your mind, you can say it to us." Heidi added in from the other end. She normally wore contact lenses but since we didn't have classes today we decided it was a lounge day, and she wore her glasses.
"I know, I know. Now hush up and hand me the popcorn."
They both snorted and passed the bowl down the line, Piper at first hesitant to give to me because she liked to be a bit of a jerk.
"Reach for it, Kimi!" she laughed.
"PIPER." I shouted, nudging her in the ribs with my elbow.
"Fine, fine. Don't get your knickers in a twist." She laughed as she slid the bowl in my hands.
"What now?" I asked between bites of popcorn.
"We're not sure."
"Grey's Anatomy then?"
"Yup." Piper and Heidi agreed in unison.
Just as the episode was starting to load, the lights flickered and the T.V screen went black. The three of us had exchange confused glances.
"What happened?" Heidi was the first one to break the silence.
"Maybe someone blew a fuse?" I asked.
"That's insane! We didn't do anything to blow a fuse." Piper let a a heavy breath.
"Soooo." I drag out, "Who wants to go check?"
"Noses!" Piper yells out while swiftly bringing her index finger to the end of her nose.
"Wait, what?" I asked. However, it was too late because both of the girls had already beaten me to the chase.
"God dammit." I mutter pushing the blanket off of my lap, and standing up. I twist my legs around causing my knees to pop. I look over at the girls, with a grimace on their faces.
"That what happens when you make me move."
I walk out into the kitchen and open the metal door to the fuse box. I look and let out a sigh. Nothing seemed to be wrong. Just to be safe, I flick it off and back on again.
"Try it now." I shout out.
"Still not working!" I heard one of them shout.
I roll my eyes and walk over to the counter top that had our phone set up. I pick up the handheld off of the charger, and speed dial our landlord. Unfortunately, the only sound was the crackling from the failed connection.
"Shit!" I mutter under my breath. I was afraid to mention this to my housemates because I didn't want them to get the wrong idea. Only moments later, the lights went off. I let out a small gasp.
"What happened?" I think it was Piper who called out.
"I'm not sure." I called out. That was when I heard a creaking sound. Like there was someone in the kitchen with me.
"Piper, Heidi? You guys should stay in the lounge, I can do this myself." I said.
"Did you say something, Kimi?" I heard them both call out.
"Nothing." I just barely whisper.
My heart pace quickened, and I started to move away toward the junk cabinet where we kept our flashlights and spare batteries. I felt something cold and slimy grab hold of my ankle and pull me hard. I let out a small shriek as I descend toward the ground. Assuming there was something in the way, because my head managed to hit it. I cry out in pain as I'm being dragged across the floor. Even though part of me knew it was no use, I tried to dig my nails into the old linoleum tiles.
"Help me!" I scream.
"Kimi?" I heard calls of worry from the lounge.
"Something's got me, please help!"
As if in an instant, the lights snap on, the T.V. made a sound, and whatever was holding on to me, let go and disappeared. I lift my hand to my forehead, where I felt a small bump growing. Then in burst both of my friends with concerned looks.
"Oh my God, Kim! Are you okay?" Piper let out while she knelt down beside me.
"I-I thinks so." I finally get out. I look down and notice that my hands were shaking like crazy.
A blood-curdling scream came from down the hall.
"Oh no." I say.
I find my footing with the help of Heidi, and we all push out of the apartment into the hallway.
"Where is the sound coming from?" Heidi asked.
The scream came out again.
"That sounds like Jason, you guys!" I cry out, and start to book it down the hallway.
I stand in front of the door and turn the knob.
"Shit! It's locked you guys! Who has a bobby pin, or a paper clip?"
Piper only shrugged, and Heidi pulled a dark brown on out of her hair. We hear Jason scream again, this time it sounded like he was gargling on something.
"Jason! Hold on!" I shout.
I force myself to steady my shaking hand and stick it in the lock. After a minute, the lock made a soft click, and the knob finally turned. I pushed open the door, and couldn't believe what I saw. There was Jason, except he wasn't able to scream anymore, because he lay there throat scratched open, ribs sticking out of his chest., the pool of blood around him only getting bigger. I look up to see the window busted open, the moon shining through the curtains that were blowing in the wind. It was all too much. I screamed.
"Yes, officer. That was everything." I whisper, my two friends each having a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll give you a call if we have any more questions for you." He walked away and Piper walked in front of me trying to make me look in her eyes.
"Hon, are you okay?"
"Why Jason, of all people?" my lips quivered. Jason was kind of our neighbor. It's not like we were anything, but we were working out way toward it. We would flirt in the doorway of his apartment; he would help me out if I had a lot of groceries to bring up. He was super sweet, and I did develop feelings for him. I couldn't stop the tear that was already half way down my face.
"Come on, let's go inside." Heidi said softly.
I grip the blanket that was around my shoulders and pull it tighter. . I could feel the stares that the other residents gave me, but at this point in time, I didn't care. I started to sniffle, which then led to a sob. Piper and Heidi pulled my to the side, trying to ease my shaking shoulders.
"Why him?" I hiccup
"We don't know." Piper said, looking down at me.
"What kind of person could even do that?"
"It's okay, Kimi. They'll catch the son of a bitch soon enough." Heidi said rubbing my upper back.
"The person that did it, who has the kind of strength?!" I gasp out.
"Shhh, shhh. Honey, don't worry about it. We need to get you upstair and into bed okay? We'll talk tomorrow morning. You need to rest." Piper soothingly said.
I slowly nodded and let them guide me up to my room, I felt like a dead body, so they covered me with the blankets, making sure everything was in order before snapping out the light. I held my breath, just to minimiza the noise I was making just so I could hear the conversation going on in the lounge.
"Do you think she'll be okay, Piper?"
"I honestly have no idea. Some people after experiencing shock like this can be unresponsive for days. God damn...Jason, that idiot had to go and get himself killed." I heart a small sniffle.
"I know, he's such a bastard." I heard Heidi cry.
There was a small shuffle on the floor, which I assumed that they went to hug each other. I loved those two; I guess they tried to remain strong in front of me, afraid that if tey started crying too, I would just turn into a bigger mess. I turn over, finding it difficult to sleep. The person that I chose, and maybe he even chose me back, is gone. Just to find him ripped apart like that... brought tears to my eyes. I turn my face in the pillow, trying to conceal the gross sounds of my sobbing and hiccups. I never felt more pain than I had tonight. Even those I didn't feel it, I slowly cried my way into the haze of sleep.
"Hey, how're you?" I look up to see Jason standing in the doorway. I make a slight smile and quickly try to touch up my appearance.
"I'm okay, I suppose."
"Only okay?"
"Yeah, but I feel better now." I smirk
"That's great. I feel pretty damned great myself." He flashed the smile that I always adored.
We made small talk, and after a few moments. I noticed a small red dot on his neck,
"Jason!" I said "What the hell is that?" I reach out to touch it, only when I do, I deep, wide gash slowly opens up his neck. He doesn't notice though, because he's still smiling at me. My mouth drops open, the next thing I see is his chest. It slowly bumps up and down, like a pulsing heart. It gets faster, and more noticeable. Before I know it, it bursts open, broken ribs and blood everywhere.
"JASON!" I scream, trying to wipe the blood and guts off of my face.
"It's okay, Kimi. You'll find out soon enough, all of you will.
My eyes went wide, and I made one final scream, piercing me back into reality.