15 Reasons Why | "You Could Save Her?"

Cassette 1: Side A

Hello, old friends. It's your favorite girl.
No..but how?
Rikkun. Rikkun Larrson. Strange, yes? The girl who has been gone for what seems like months is talking from a small system you are likely to have. The shy girl who never spoke, till now.
Is this some type of sick joke? Rikkun is alive? Or did she just make these for some sick game?
No no, no need to give an applause. Encore. Whatever you decide. But welcome to this small little "riddle" game. I suppose. I have 15 players. 15 tapes. Here's the rules, fairly simple.

"Clay, dinner is ready!"

"Mom!?" I jump up. I quickly push Pause and take off my headphones. I turn around to see mom walking inside. "You scared me." I say. She glances at me, "What's that?"
"School project. A friend needed a little help so I'm doing them a favor." I say, lying. It was my only excuse. My excuse for anything. Mom nods her head and reaches for a pair dirty socks, "Yeah well, when you are done come down for dinner." She walks out.
I wait for her to close the door. The door clicks. I sigh in relief. I look back at the box of tapes. Why would Rikkun record her voice? Hesitantly, I push Play.
There's just two rules. One: Listen to all of the cassettes. Two: pass them on to the next. See? Simple. For our lucky 15th player, I hope you made your choice.
Who's 15?
As you listen, I'll be naming some familiar places to you all. It's up to you to visit for some deeper visions. Or just throw the map away, I'll never know.
Rikkun sighs and pauses for a moment. I could feel a sharp pain in my chest as I hear her hum faintly. I searched the box for a map. There it was. It was a little torn and faded. Rikkun's handwriting sketched a path and everything. It had little notes. Rikkun was still humming. It was familiar...
Ah, wasn't that a great memory? Heh, that song stuck to me before I even met you. It's kinda like a, I don't know, faith maybe?
She sighs once more. But that isn't for this tape. Kai. This is your tape.
Kai? Who's Kai? Does he go to the school?
Kai. You were my first crush. Your mid orange-brownish hair and you're deep brown eyes. Always wore that favorite red hoodie of yours. You weren't a bad looking guy.
Am I a bad looking guy? I paused the tape. Why am I putting myself to listen to this? Couldn't I just throw the box of tapes in the garbage? Is she dead or alive? I glance to the trash can and back to the cassettes. I couldn't. Because it's Rikkun's voice. A voice I hadn't heard for a long time. I brush my hair back taking in a big gulp of air. I pushed Play.
I met you, maybe around the time I was in ParkLand. Before I moved to this hell-place. We met online on the Playstation. Non-stop, we played games together. With friends and alone. Months later we exchange medias. Send photos of litle things and each other. You texted me that you liked me. "I've never met a girl who plays" is what you said. Of course, girl then and maybe now, "gamer-girls" are more sluts than ever. That ticks me. So one day, you asked where I'm from, since we found each other Locally.
"ParkLand."
"Really? Holy cow, I live around there!"
I was happy and little surprised. Kai, you sounded so happy.
"We should meet. Like now. Its only 10am"
"Sure! Park?"
"Park."
Rikkun literally went out with a online guy? OK, maybe not "went out", but why am I even listening to this? Again, because it's her voice. Where's ParkLand anyways? Is it on the map?
10:30am. We arrived at the same time. You wore that bright red hoodie, just like your photos. "Pinpon?" You said my username. I smiled. You knew it was me. The feeling was amazing. You gaved me a big hug without saying a word. Almost lifted me. Which I would've been terrified.
She sighs.
Sad how we never got any closer. When I told you about me moving away, you snapped. Like the tiger was released. "Why are you moving?" You asked pissed. "I can't stay in the area I'm in. Pitbulls chasing and hurting-" you cut me off. You said something under your breath and cut me off everything. Kai, why? I'm sorry I moved. I'm sorry that I hurt you, but you never told me why. I never heard from you since. I know you moved to Mexico. Later I hear from my online friend that you've gone missing. Kai, if you got these tapes, I'm still sorry. Still listen to these cassettes. You'll never know when your name will show up again.
I could hear Rikkun crumble up some papers. She hums. She sounded to real, like if she was siting next to me. I look to my side. Nothing.
Hey? Still here?
I look back to the stereo. My heart stops as she said that. Like, she timed it. I almost wanted to say "yes". How stupid am I?
Heh, this is the end of this side of the tape. You should flip the tape around to hear more. Of course you could just sit there and listen to me hum in silence. It's not like you're being watched, are you?
I take a small peek out from the window. The feeling scared me. Nothing seems out of placed. Rikkun laughs a little, faintly. She sighs and goes back to humming. So that's it. I pause the tape. Popped it out. Took my headphones off. I can listen to them hear. Mom will be bugging. And dad, I'm not even sure. I take a few tapes into my backpack. Ray has a small tape player. Maybe he'll let me borrow his?

"Ray!" I tossed a rock near his window. His parents were out of town. He opens his window, "What the hell man?! Couldn't you just knock?" He pauses as he realized I had my school bag. "Give me a minute."

Ray raises a brow at me. "Uh..could I maybe borrow your cassette player?" I asked.
"What for?"
Well, see this girl sent me a box of tapes and she wants me to listen to them. What if Ray is in the tapes?
"Uh- I wanted to record some music for my dad." I said. Ray nods his head. He goes back inside to retrieve the player. "My old one broke so here's a nice brown and black one. Its in good condition, so don't break it." Ray says handing it to me.
"Thanks."
"So, where are you off to?" He asks. I think he might have noticed my guilty face? "Just heading to the store and back home."
"Oh, cool."
I nod, "Yeah. So, I,ll see you later. Thanks so much!" I turn to leave as I wave goodbye. "Later, Clay!"