7 Days of Darkness

Chapter 8 - Guilt Trip

Night 5

John:
Everyone was pretty shaken up after Lois was hanged. That doesn't help things at all for me. In my job, people get hurt, and if the guys who are trying to kill me are on edge and all emotional, then that means that tonight will be more dangerous than any other.

What I do takes careful planning and precision. Now I might not be the smartest guy around, but when it comes to strategy and how people think, I'm your man. I already messed up once with Charles, I didn't even think to protect him from murder, I'm not gonna let that happen again.

"This way, and please wipe your feet on the mat." As instructed, I wiped my muddy boots on the green floor mat underfoot and proceeded to follow Lily into the living room. Before entering, however, she turned around and put her head near mine, even though it was difficult for her to reach. "Victor isn't handling this well. Try not to overwhelm him." She whispered into my ear while having troubles standing on her toes.

We walked into the living room and I took a seat facing Victor's. He was leaned forward with his head in his hands. His shoulders jumped from his sobs. Lily headed to the kitchen to prepare some tea, but Victor refused to drink.

It broke me to see him like this. When we first met he was so cheerful and proud, but now he was sad and broken. He must hate me for not allowing him to stop Lois, but I knew that he couldn't do anything. Lois would've pulled the lever before he had even gotten there. I felt something inside of me that I have never really felt before: guilt.

Guilt was something that I couldn't handle very well. Back when I was still in construction I felt it again, after smashing my coworker's skull into the side of the building. He had insulted my wife, who had passed away a week earlier after being shot in the chest. She was the reason I was in Mournstead. I needed to put a stop to the crimes of this world.

Victor got up from his chair and started heading towards his bunk. I followed close behind while Lily stoked the fire. The small room had just enough space for Victor to sleep in. It had a small bed and an old desk beside it where Victor had thrown papers all over its surface.

He fell into the bed in another crumpled heap and I waited at the door, careful not to anger him. I scanned the tiny bedroom and the papers that were thrown on the desk. Most of them were newspaper articles about an underground mafia that was terrorizing the city nearby. But one stood out among the others. It was a list of names? Some of them were scratched out and I could point out the words: Travis and Charles's names had lines through them and it didn't take long to realize that this was a hit list. Victor was part of the mafia.

Given that he had the list in his possession, I'd say that he was the leader. The godfather of this team. I turned to Victor, still lying on the bed. He didn't notice me, good. I looked at the next few names on the list. Tonight was going to be Chloe. That must be where Chi is, and tomorrow, they were going to kill Justin.

My heart skipped a beat, but I didn't show my fear. I couldn't. It would draw their attention. I decided that I'd lay low until tomorrow. I would interfere with the murder and save my only friend.

Justin:
The night was dark. There was no moon to light up the town, but for some reason I could see clearly. It was cold, I started to shiver but I needed to stop. Shivering would throw off my aim and I couldn't miss. I only had 3 bullets left and I wasn't about to waste them on a misfire.

I shifted my position to allow more heat to be trapped and also to adjust comfort. The solid truss that I was sprawled on was not like my bed. My feet dangled off the sides and only one arm was available to keep me from slipping off and into the lobby down below.

I sat there for an hour until the door leading into the back room creaked open and out walked Tanner. He quietly closed the door behind him, careful not to wake Chloe. Tanner stopped in the middle of the lobby and stood there for a second. He was listening for anyone who may have been watching, however he didn't notice me. Before I knew it, he had moved the couch which surprisingly didn't make much noise. Underneath was a small trapdoor which he had opened to reveal 2 bright red jerry cans. With a soft grunt, he picked one up and proceeded out the door.

That confused me. Why would Tanner need jerry cans? They both looked full, but what would he need them for?

After he shut the door, Chloe emerged from her room, she was still dressed in her all black outfit which went in contrast to her bright blonde hair. I don't think she knew about the trapdoor or the jerry cans and I don't know if that was good or bad.

She sat on the couch that had been moved back to its first position and stared out the window. She looked scared, and why wouldn't she be? Everyone was being threatened with murder.

After a few more minutes of waiting, I heard something outside. It sounded like footsteps in the gravel. Chloe noticed it too but before she could get off of the couch, the door bursted open and in barged Chi, gun in hand. Chloe yelled and started running towards the back room. Before I could get my bearings back after nearly falling off of the crossbeam they were in Chloe's room. Chi filled the doorway and I knew I wouldn't be able to fight him or talk some sense into him.

I jumped off the beam and pointed my gun towards Chi's head. "Chi put it down." It said in a demanding voice that startled him. He must not have been expecting anyone else which meant no backup.

"Justin this isn't about you. Let me finish my job." He turned around to face me and lowered his pistol. "I need to save the town from this murderer!" He yelled as he pointed the gun back at Chloe.

As he cocked the gun I threw myself into him and pulled his arm away. Chi was a big man, almost as large as John, but could attempt to take him.

"Chloe's not the murderer. You are!" I wrapped my arms tight around his neck and we crashed into the couch. He had dropped his gun and jabbed me in the gut. I have put a yelp and he managed to break free of my arms.

We both reached for our pistols but I pulled mine first and put a bullet right in his chest. He crashed to the floor with a hard thump and struggled to breathe. I stood overtop of him as he breathed his final breath saying: "Who's the murderer now?" As his eyes rolled back and he passed on.

Chloe was in the doorway, she was terrified. She ran up to me and wrapped her arms around me. It felt good to be hugged like that. I haven't felt that in over a decade.

I still stood however, looking at Chi's cold body. His words rang out in my head like a clock tower. "Who's the murderer now?" Was all I could think about. I couldn't appreciate the love that Chloe was giving to me. The only thing that filled my mind was that echo.

As I stood, Chloe still wrapped around me, I only felt guilt. I was the murderer.