Am I Pretty? #TNTHorrorContest

Agony and Realization

A while later we're both dressed in simple dark attire. I'm in all black and my hair is tied back into a high set ponytail. Cameron is seated in the desk chair wearing jeans and a t-shirt when I walk out the bathroom. We head out the door with the two older men from earlier who lead us to a small police car parked in the back of the hotel.

In our almost silent car ride in the backseat the men whispered in Japanese obviously gossiping, as if this is something to gossip about. Yana was a strong person who cared for her family, not some hot topic on the evening news. In my slow boiling anger I became anxious to find out what the police knew and discover what I could do myself.

There's no way in hell the person who did this will be free, I won't allow it. When the hunt begins it'll be a game of life and death, and who makes it out alive will be a mystery, but what is clear is that Yana's killer will pay, tenfold.

After arriving at the station downtown, Cameron and I are lead to talk with the detective. I open the door and we sit side by side in chairs directly across from the detective. He's standing when we walk in and sits when we sit into his plush leather chair.

"So, to start," he began. "I want to express my condolences. Your parents in America have been contacted as well. If you think you can handle it right now, I'm going to tell you what happened." We don't object, so he takes a breath and starts from the beginning.

"We believe Ayana Byers left the Blazing Star hotel at 2:30 military time and based on our witnesses we believe she was headed to a tourist general store for aspirin, sprite, and Hershey's Chocolate, we found a small list in her jacket pocket. Then from security footage outside neighboring businesses she was seen running back in the direction of the hotel. She made it as far as the park and that's where we found the body." She left for me. Aspirin? We were out and she knew I'd need it. Tears start to fall freely again, it's not fault. I put a hand over my mouth, reeling with guilt.

"In the security footage is there any image of her murderer at all? Anything?" Cameron asks. The detective looks down at the file on his desk.

"The person she was running from wasn't caught on camera. It was just her until she she was out of the shopping square."

"But how is that possible? All the shop cameras in that square and you're telling me that not a single one caught even a glimpse?" He asks incredulous.

"I don't know why it is but her killer isn't shown on camera."

"So...what? She was running from air? Casper?" Cameron is starting to get frustrated and so am I. Damn it! This is absolutely nothing to go off of! The detective continues trying to keep Cam's anger from rising.

"They could have known of blind spots if there were any around the cameras, but our tech guy is working on pulling sound from the security cameras because before the running there's what appears to be a conversation in front of the general store." Now I'm really confused.

"Wait a minute, how can there "appear" to be a conversation when you just said that no one appeared on camera? That doesn't make sense!" I say. Daichi looks at me and has a look like he's trying to patiently explain.

"From the general store's camera she has her back turned and she was standing there just long enough for something like a conversation to have happened. Our tech guys are still working on it but it'll take time for him to get the footage cleared up. When it is we'll let you know. Though I imagine that you're going to be headed to America soon, so we will stay in contact." We sit in silence wondering how all this could have happened in such a short time. Until I find out what's on that video I have no way to start the search.

"This doesn't make any sense but as soon as you all get it figured out tell us." I said. All we can do is wait.

"We will, rest assured. Now, we need one of you to..." he looks down and trails off leaving us to fill in the blanks. I take a deep breath and finish it.

"You need one of us to confirm her identity." It pained me too much to use the word body, I feel like saying that would be disrespectful to who Yana was. Reducing her to nothing more than a body. Before more tears can come, I volunteer.

"I'll go." I say it soft but sure. I have to do this, I need to see the results of my foolishness. Cameron looks at me and says.

"We'll both go. I should have been there for her. This is my fault." I look at him with the same look he gives me, guilt. We both wish we would've done something better.

"It's not your fault Cam. There were things we both could have done." The detective Daichi looks at us and continues.

" I'll have an officer escort you next door to the morgue."