Episode 29: A Deathly Call
I stared at the wall clock for the umpteenth time. It was already past ten and he was still not back yet.
I pulled my legs up onto the couch and hugged them close to my body as I grasped the blanket which Senritsu had draped around me, tighter. I shivered. Already, night had long since fallen as the sun went down, bringing with it, the temperate weather. The temperature had plummeted in addition to the now pouring rain which hammered against the windowpanes, rattling them with its force.
Kurapica-san…
Just where did you go…?
I was getting worried for him and I knew that Senritsu was too, though she tried her level best not to show it to me.
She too was starting to get agitated and kept staring at the clock, although discreetly when she assumed I was not looking.
I opened my mouth to speak, in order to break the silence that hung over us like a suffocating shroud but I caught myself in time when I caught sight of Senritsu's expression. Her motherly expression had all but vanished. Her face displayed signs of fright and anxiety. She was in no mood to talk so I kept quiet and continued my silent wait and watch.
What should I do now…?
What if he didn't come back…?
What if…
I clenched my fists and finally stood up.
Instead of worrying and cracking my head over it with the 'What ifs'…
Shouldn't I be taking matters into my own hands and go find him…?
" Hikari? "
Senritsu looked up at me, distractedly.
" I'll go and look for him, Senritsu. "
My answer immediately got her to her feet as her eyes widened in disbelief.
" You're not going out in that rain, Hikari! I won't allow it! "
" BUT WE CAN'T JUST STAY HERE AND WAIT NOW, DO WE?! " I demanded. " ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST STAYING HERE AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT! "
Senritsu looked at me, wordlessly.
" Don't you see, Senritsu, he's not going to come back… " I was sobbing now. " He thinks that he has done something wrong and that…he needs to stay away from me! I just know that he's out there somewhere in the rain, waiting. "
I paused, gasping for air.
" HE'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK, SENRITSU, UNLESS WE BRING HIM BACK! " I yelled and then I turned and ran out of the door, after Kurapica.
I'll find you…
Kurapica-san…
Whatever it takes, I'll find you…!
I dashed out into the pouring rain, bringing along with me, the mobile phone that Kurapica had bought for me. The small and sleek lilac coloured communication device brought back the past memories that I had of him.
" We have a few minutes before the ship leaves from Whale Island, " Kurapica told
me. " I suggest that we buy you a mobile phone since both Senritsu and I have
one each. "
" You don't have to repay me. "
" What is your favourite colour, Hikari? "
Kurapica-san…
Please come back…
Hastily, I speed dialled Kurapica's number which he had so thoughtfully saved into my phone's memory so that I would not forget, the moment I got the device from him.
I placed it to my ear. There was a ring tone buzzing before someone picked up on the other line.
" HELLO?! KURAPICA-SAN?! " I screamed into the phone, fearing that he could not hear me in this deluge of a rain.
However, the person who picked up, quickly disconnected the line on hearing my voice.
" HELLO?! " I continued, yelling. " KURAPICA-SAN, IS THAT YOU?! "
After a few minutes of screeching my voice hoarse, it dawned on me that the unknown person had already disconnected the line and all I was hearing was the dial tone.
Crestfallen, I stuffed the already drenched mobile phone into my pyjamas pocket and continued on with my search for the seventeen-year-old boy.
" Kurapica-san?! " I hollered out, my voice easily drowned by the bombarding of rain, hitting the pavement. " Kurapica-san, where are you? "
I ran down the road, not caring whether I was soaking wet, once again.
" Kurapica-san! Kurapica-san! " I shouted loudly. " Where are you?! Can you hear me?! "
My screaming out for him was to no avail. Either he was not here and could not hear me or he was here and purposely chose not to answer my call.
" KURAPICA-SAN! KURAPICA-SAN! PLEASE ANSWER ME! "
Still, I did not give up on seeking him out. I kept on going forward.
Please…
Kurapica-san, I know…
That you are out there…
Somewhere…
Please…
Listen to me…
If you are out there…
Please, come out…
I need you here, beside me…
With that, I ran across the road to the other side, where the sinister woods now stood, as hostile as ever in the darkness of the night.
I did not see the car, which was speeding down the wet and slippery road and headed straight towards me as I stood stock still, in disbelief, in the glaring headlights. Closer and closer it came as I felt death surrounding me. The driver was desperately trying to stop his car but apparently failing as he tried to veer around me. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself for the excruciating impact of the car hitting my body. As if on cue, something or someone pushed me in the small of my back just as the car skidded to a stop right at the spot where I was standing earlier.
I was shoved to the side of the road and landed roughly onto the concrete, scraping my knees and arms badly.
I struggled to pick myself up after that violent fall. Almost immediately, the driver of the car got out and hurried over to me.
" Are you alright, young lady? " he asked, helping me to stand and sharing his umbrella with me.
I smiled at him and nodded my head.
" Thank you, " I told him, grateful for his help. " I'm so sorry for dashing across the road like that. It's my fault, I didn't see where I was going. "
The stranger scratched his head.
" What were you trying to do exactly? " he asked me.
" I-I'm trying to find someone, " I admitted truthfully but I did not mention Kurapica's name.
The driver smiled back at me.
" I see but I'm so glad that you're safe. Just be careful next time. "
I nodded and bowed politely.
He gave me one last look before he went back into his car.
" Are you sure you don't need a ride to that someone's place? " he asked me, winding the window down, just a crack as he drove by me.
I shook my head, no.
" Yes, I'll be fine, thank you. "
The man shrugged his shoulders and then drove off, down the road.
I was left, standing there in the rain as I watched the car speeding off again into the night. I could not shake off that nagging feeling that I was saved by someone just before that horrifying accident took place and that someone was watching me.
But…
Who could have saved me…?
I gave the whole place, a once look over, but it was deserted. There was no one in sight.
I remembered very distinctly that I did not move from that spot over there…
My eyes roved over to the location where I was standing earlier on.
Someone must have shoved me from there…
But who…?
As if on cue, four figures stepped out from the darkness of the trees.