-Kiminé Yorune-
(Aged 16)
I stared into the mirror. It hung there, cracked and rusted against the wall, staring back at me with my own face. With a small sigh, I looked down at my dirty, rugged clothes. Back in the other world I was treated with respect, wore good clothes, had good meals, but Papa said that we can't go to the other worlds as much as we used to. All he said was,
"Things are just a little difficult at the minute. They're sorting it out, don't worry."
Jacket was still asleep. He snored slightly and his mouth hung open. He slept with his arm wrapped around the back of his head. Don't ask, he was never normal. Maybe he was dropped as a baby...
Papa and Jacket are the most important things in the world to me. Of course I like the others too, but Papa and Jacket are WAY more important.
Just saying.
I kicked Jacket in the side but he stayed sound asleep.
I kicked harder but still got nothing.
Chuckling, I smiled and headed towards the door.
"Hopefully Papa has scavenged something for breakfast." I mumbled to myself. I went to turn the handle but paused.
It was quiet. Unusually quiet.
Eerily silent.
I opened the door and peeked outside.
"Papa?" I called out, "Papa? Hello?"
No one answered. I felt my heart beat speed up.
"I....I'm over reacting." I whispered. "It's....maybe everyone is just...asleep."
I knew I was lying to myself. If anything, they'd all be writing on their cardboard, cleaning out their money tins or just getting ready for the long day of work ahead.
I slowly made my way towards the stairs, the old floorboards creaking underneath my feet as I stepped.
"P...papa? Hey!"
Calling out louder still gave me no response. I jumped as I heard a quick shuffling sound close to me.
I ignored it.
No worries.
If anyone WAS in here I could take 'em down before they realised I was there!
...I think...
I slowly made my way into the room.
I saw everything.
Ruby, Tom, Ben, Barrel... Judy....all dead.
Oh god...why? Who'd do this?!
I stumbled back with my hands over my mouth to stop myself screaming.
The smell was unbearable.
And...
Was I next?
I heard footsteps and ran behind the curtains, sitting up on the window ledge and lifting my legs, my knees touching my chin.
My heart raced as I listened to people walk around the room. After a few seconds I heard someone say,
"Pity, I guess. They were only human though. Poor sods. No idea what was out there."
I heard another one snicker,
"Yeah! And no cared about them either! Nobody knows about these homeless twats!" That one laughed.
How could he laugh in this situation?!?
He then let out an "Oof!" As someone hit his stomach (from what I was guessing)
Then a third voice said,
"Shut up, Ryan. They were family to each other. They worked and lived together. Anyway, it's not like you have any family that gives a crap about you."
This 'Ryan' shut up after that.
"Jeeze, Ben! Why you always gotta ruin everything?"
Ben?
...where had I heard that name before?
Then something clicked.
Papa!
I came down here looking for Papa! Was he there with everyone else? Was he....please no...
Did I see him? I couldn't remember. I hope I didn't. Please god, tell me I didn't. Not Papa, anyone but Papa.
'Right, calm down!' I thought. 'It's fine. You're hidden, Jacket is upstairs, Papa...Papa is safe. Yes. I know, I can feel it. They'll leave any second now. Just be patient. Just...wait....'
I moved my foot down and let out a gasp as my bear foot caught the edge of some broken glass.
Crap.
They heard me. Of course they would have heard me!!
I held my breath. My heart thudding violently against my chest, as if it would burst out any second.
Someone went "Shh!" and footsteps approached my direction.
I squeezed my eyes shut and waited.
And waited.
And....waited?
Silence? Had they looked in the wrong place?
I opened my eyes, looked up....and my heart stopped.
He was staring straight into my eyes. His were big, bright, blue and his hair was black. His face was still and emotionless. He blinked once then leaned back out the curtain.
"No one here. It was just the wind. No worries."
He went to join the others.
"Come on," he said, "I don't wanna stay in here. It's starting to smell funny."
I listened as they began to leave. Once silence filled the room, I finally let out my breath. His voice, he was the one they called 'Ben'.
I was sure.
Where did I know that name? I was sure I knew it from somewhere...
Anyway, nothing to worry about now. They were leaving.
Everything was going to be just-
"What the hell?! What's going....oh my god!!"
.....Damn it, Jacket. Why? Why now?
"O...oh jeeze!!" He could hardly speak.
"T-Tom..Ben... Judy...Barrel...w-what happened?!"
Stop. For the love of god Jacket...just get out of there!
At least he didn't say Papa.
"Hey Ben, I thought you said this place was empty?" Said the voice of the one named Ryan.
"I thought you'd done all of them? Who's this bozo?"
There was silence for a moment. I was panicking so much.
I heard mumbling. Then whispering.
Then punches.
Crap, Jacket! They'll kill him!
I needed to help him. Taking a deep breath, I leaned out from behind the curtains. I felt a pang in my chest as I saw...it.
One held Jacket Against the wall (I think that one was Ryan) one was beating him in the stomach and occasionally in the face, and Ben was just...watching.
I was about to run over when Jacket's eyes caught mine.
They pleaded.
But not to help him.
He shook his head and mouthed 'Stay there. Hide!'
Tears welled up in my eyes. What was I supposed to do?
Ben looked in my direction. Still his face hadn't changed. He shook his head too.
He looked at Jacket.
"Just stay still. Don't move and it'll be over soon enough."
I knew he wasn't really talking to Jacket.
Tears streaming down my face, I curled up once again behind the curtains. Listening to Jackets cries of pain, the sound of those boys beating him to death.
Papa....where are you?!
