Ruby

Blood on the Pavement

"And you two happened to be outside when he fell from above?" the officer asked, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity. He held a pen in one hand and a notebook in the other, jotting down notes as he looked back and forth between the boys.

Ruby and Jett stood in front of him, feeling the weight of the situation press down on them. The police lights flashed in rhythmic bursts, illuminating the dark street in shades of red and blue. The night felt surreal, a contrast to the horrifying scene they had just witnessed.

Both Evelyn and Aaliyah stood nearby, anxiously whispering to each other, casting worried glances their way. Ruby could see the concern etched on his mother's face, a familiar view. Jett's mom was pacing slightly, hands wringing together, clearly struggling to process everything that had happened.

Ruby shifted nervously, avoiding the officer's penetrating gaze. "Uh, yeah," he replied, his voice shaky. "We were just hanging out. We didn't except—"

"Didn't expect to see something like that," Jett interjected, his voice barely audible. He looked down, his brows furrowing as he recalled the image of Mr. Wilson lying on the ground. "We heard a loud thud and then... there he was."

The officer nodded, his expression remaining neutral as he took in their words. "And you didn't see anything else? No one else around? No one who might have pushed him?"

Ruby shook his head, feeling a lump form in his throat. "No, it was just us. We didn't see anyone else around."

The officer scribbled a few more notes before looking back at them, his brow slightly raised. "Alright. I understand this is a lot to take in. It's pretty late, so we'll be back tomorrow for more questions, okay?"

The two boys nodded without saying another word. Ruby could feel his heart racing, the weight of the officer's words hanging heavily in the air. It felt surreal to be standing there, being questioned like this, just moments after witnessing something so horrific.

The officer glanced at the mothers before turning back to the boys. "If you think of anything else, no matter how small, let us know. It could be important."

Ruby nodded again, though he could hardly process the words. All he could think about was the sight of Mr. Wilson, the blood, the terror. He glanced over at Jett, who looked even more shaken.

Ruby glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Almost everyone from the building was outside, scattered along the sidewalk, murmuring in hushed tones. Their faces were painted with shock and confusion, eyes wide as they exchanged anxious whispers. It was clear the tragedy had shaken the entire neighborhood.

His attention shifted back to the scene—the place where Mr. Wilson's body had lain just minutes ago. The paramedics had already taken it away, but the blood remained, dark and slick, staining the ground. The longer Ruby stared at it, the more it seemed to pull at him, twisting his thoughts in ways he couldn't explain. The red stood out against the cold gray of the sidewalk, an unsettling reminder that something horrible had happened.

His breath quickened, a sudden tension building in his chest. His mind felt heavy, like something dark was creeping in, clouding his thoughts. The world around him blurred for a moment, and then a sharp, stabbing pain shot through his temples. He winced, raising a hand to the stitches on his forehead as the headache blossomed, pounding relentlessly against his skull.

Ruby blinked, trying to shake it off, but the blood on the ground seemed to pulse, like it was alive, as if it held some dark secret that wanted to drag him under. He couldn't stop thinking about Mr. Wilson's lifeless eyes—the twitch, the flicker, the bloodshot eyes. A cold shiver ran through his spine.