7 Days of Darkness

Chapter 9 - Cheating Death

Day 6

Justin:
This morning I helped John take Chi's body to the far end of the town where he buried the others. The ground was completely hidden from the sun under a giant acacia tree. In the shadow of the great tree sat the graves of all 7 people who have been killed in this endeavour.

We placed Chi's body down on the ground and started digging a hole for him to lay. His face mocked me as if it was still whispering to me. "Who's the murderer now?" It said.

Shutting out the words, I looked back to the town where everyone was discussing something that I couldn't hear. I could tell Victor was furious; I just killed another one of his friends. He yelled at Chloe who started backing away. She looked terrified. Chloe fell to the ground while Victor started nearing closer. In a split second Tanner got in front of him and started pushing him back but Victor was too strong. He punched Tanner directly across the face and sent him tumbling to the ground. That was all I could take. I threw my shovel down and headed back towards the town. No one was going to hurt my friends.

I stopped for a moment to think about what I just said. "No one was going to hurt my friends." The words stung in my mouth as I realized that that was what Victor said when I first met him.

I broke out into a full sprint with John close behind and entered the town to see Victor towering over Tanner, ready to finish him off but before he could I pushed him to the ground and we both fell hard on the gravel. I got on top and swung at Victor's face. As I kept punching, his nose broke and started to bleed. I was winding up for the final blow when I saw the look in his eyes. He knew that I could kill him right there, and that made me feel horrible. He was scared of me and as I looked around to the others I could tell that they were too. Even John showed a small bit of fear.

In my rage I didn't hear Lily screaming at me to stop. I looked over and saw her, tears streamed her face as she cried my name. This was awful. I was becoming a monster. First Chi, now this? I didn't want to become a murderer.

Chloe and John both came over to peel me off of Victor who was mangled from my beating. "I'll take care of Justin, You help Victor." Chloe said to John who leaned over to help Victor off the ground.

Chloe pulled me over to Travis's house and pushed me against the wall. "What happened to you?" She scolded. "I thought I could trust you!"

I closed my eyes in guilt and spoke softly back. "Chloe I'm sorry. I couldn't let him hurt you or Tanner."

Chloe let out a sigh and looked back into my eyes with her gorgeous bright blue eyes. Her face was still so beautiful when she was angry, but I could tell she wasn't angry anymore. She blushed slightly for a brief moment but then she looked scared again. "They want to put you on trial." She said, terrified. "They know you killed Chi, but they don't believe that he was the killer."

I nodded my head and sighed. I wasn't sure if this was what I needed. I've already killed Chi, and helped kill Lois. There's no reason why I shouldn't die today.

We headed back to the centre of the circle where Chloe nodded to Harry who led me up the stairs to the gallows. He wrapped the noose around my neck and stood aside to face the rest of the town. "Justin, you are on trial for conspiracy against the town. What is your defence?" He said, hand on the lever, ready to open the trapdoor that I stood on.

I looked at the friends that I made throughout this journey. John and Chloe were both terrified at the fate that could come. Tanner stood beside Chloe, arms wrapped tight around her.

Before I could speak, Harry rehearsed the next line of the execution. "All who vote the offender innocent please raise your hand."

Chloe and John both raised their hands to help me, but Tanner remained motionless. Chloe nudged him to try to convince him, but he seemed lost in thought. He eyed me curiously, wondering whether to raise his hand or not. It didn't seem like he would.

That meant that he could either not vote entirely, or vote me guilty and watch as I perish.

"All who vote the offender guilty please raise your hand." Harry wasn't allowed to vote seeing as he was performing the execution, but the way he looked at me tells me that he would've voted guilty.

Lily and Victor both had their hands raised, and I looked over to Tanner who was still thinking. He didn't raise his hand, he just stood there watching me with the same bright blue eyes that Chloe had only his seemed slightly darker.

Harry removed his hand from the lever and stepped aside. In a less enthusiastic voice, he spoke to the town. "Because of the tie in the number of votes, Justin will not be lynched today." He released me from the noose and I stepped down to where John and Chloe were standing. Chloe wrapped herself around me and I turned to Tanner who was smirking at me maliciously.

Chloe let go of me and Tanner spoke in a soft voice. "Don't think it'll stay that way." He whispered. "We're not done yet." Tanner walked back to his own house, close behind Chloe.

I looked towards John who was smiling from ear to ear. "I've never seen you so happy." I said looking up towards my huge friend. He leaned in and gave me a friendly hug, but I could feel his smile fade into a sorrowful frown. "He knows something." I thought, a chill running up my spine. "Something big is going to happen tonight."