DISCOVERY.
Mom had made me go post some letters. I really didn't want to go, because I was getting really far on a game I'd just bought, but I went anyway. I wish I hadn't gone. I wish I'd never left the house. I still have nightmares that seem more real than any other dreams I can remember.
I went down the street. It was very quiet. I pulled my hood up as harsh drops of rain splattered down onto the sidewalk, breaking into a jog as a flash of lightening sparked off the heavy clouds. The world had become a dull yellow colour. I had the strangest feeling that something was wrong.
I shoved the letters into the mailbox and turned around to run back home before I was soaked.
Then I saw her. I choked down a cry and stared.
I moved forwards tentatively, my heart racing and the blood pounding in my temples through fear. A young Oriental woman was sprawled on the asphalt. She was dressed in tight leather, red for her pants and top and a black jacket. The rain hissed down and more thunder rumbled menacingly. A cell phone lay discarded near her outstretched hand.
I knelt beside her. Her eyes were closed as though she were sleeping. I shook her slim shoulder and called, but she did not respond. Her limbs were stiff and cold, and her cheek when I touched it was not soft but hard in death.
I reached out and picked up the phone. I weighed it in my hand and considered taking it with me. My gaze kept slipping back to the woman's body lying so forlorn in the rain. Her black hair was getting wet, and the raindrops ran shivering down her face.
I wondered why I was noticing all these little details about her. I dropped to my knees again and muttered something beside her body, a prayer or something. I didn't really know what I was saying. I was sorry she was dead.
It occurred to me that there was no scarlet blood pooling around a bullet wound, no slashed flesh from a knife. I walked around her, but I could see no reason why she had died. She seemed healthy enough. In life.
The phone rang. I was so shocked I swore badly and dropped it. It clattered onto the pavement and rang and rang. Shaking, I picked it up again and answered the call.
"We're sorry you had to find her, kid, of all people. Keep the phone if you like. We may meet again."
"Who are you?" I began, but the mysterious caller hung up before I could form the second word. I looked hard at the phone, and tucked it into the inside pocket of my jacket. I folded my arms and trudged out of the alley...
Fin.
Mom had made me go post some letters. I really didn't want to go, because I was getting really far on a game I'd just bought, but I went anyway. I wish I hadn't gone. I wish I'd never left the house. I still have nightmares that seem more real than any other dreams I can remember.
I went down the street. It was very quiet. I pulled my hood up as harsh drops of rain splattered down onto the sidewalk, breaking into a jog as a flash of lightening sparked off the heavy clouds. The world had become a dull yellow colour. I had the strangest feeling that something was wrong.
I shoved the letters into the mailbox and turned around to run back home before I was soaked.
Then I saw her. I choked down a cry and stared.
I moved forwards tentatively, my heart racing and the blood pounding in my temples through fear. A young Oriental woman was sprawled on the asphalt. She was dressed in tight leather, red for her pants and top and a black jacket. The rain hissed down and more thunder rumbled menacingly. A cell phone lay discarded near her outstretched hand.
I knelt beside her. Her eyes were closed as though she were sleeping. I shook her slim shoulder and called, but she did not respond. Her limbs were stiff and cold, and her cheek when I touched it was not soft but hard in death.
I reached out and picked up the phone. I weighed it in my hand and considered taking it with me. My gaze kept slipping back to the woman's body lying so forlorn in the rain. Her black hair was getting wet, and the raindrops ran shivering down her face.
I wondered why I was noticing all these little details about her. I dropped to my knees again and muttered something beside her body, a prayer or something. I didn't really know what I was saying. I was sorry she was dead.
It occurred to me that there was no scarlet blood pooling around a bullet wound, no slashed flesh from a knife. I walked around her, but I could see no reason why she had died. She seemed healthy enough. In life.
The phone rang. I was so shocked I swore badly and dropped it. It clattered onto the pavement and rang and rang. Shaking, I picked it up again and answered the call.
"We're sorry you had to find her, kid, of all people. Keep the phone if you like. We may meet again."
"Who are you?" I began, but the mysterious caller hung up before I could form the second word. I looked hard at the phone, and tucked it into the inside pocket of my jacket. I folded my arms and trudged out of the alley...
Fin.