The Crooked Man

Chapter 1

"There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence Upon a crooked stile, He bought a crooked cat Which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house."

--

"Whew! Finally, things look tidy in here!" Paul said.

"That should be that. Is there anything else we can help with, David?" Marion said.

"Nah. I'm fine. Sorry for making you guys help me move. And thanks for showing me the place, Paul. I'll have to pay you back some time!" David said.

"Ooh, nice! The three of us could go out drinking." Paul said.

"I look forward to it already! Well, we better get going." Marion said.

"Got it. Be careful, you two." David said.

---David's POV---

Paul and Marion left. I appreciate that they helped me move to an apartment. The apartment was furnished and all as we arrived here, I guess the former tenant decided to leave all his stuff behind. The apartment had three rooms, one for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, bedroom and living room, and one room with a computer and a closet beside it.

While I was looking around, I saw Paul's license on the table.

"...Huh? Sheesh, Paul forgot his license... I should get it to him of he's still around."

As I was about to go out of the front door, I hear someone...

"...What's with that place, seriously? It's filthy! It's practically falling apart! What were you thinking?!" Sounded like Marion.

"He wanted to move for a change of pace, and that will NOT help him, you hear? Look, what can I do? He's not the richest guy, y'know... Can't even affrod much furniture... Besides, you told me to look for the place, right?! Don't come complaining to me now." Sounded like Paul.

"...You're right... I'm sorry. I just wanted to help David out..." Sounded like Marion.

"I know. Look, I should be sorry. We'll visit some other time..." Sounded like Paul.

The talking gets distant.

"...The license can wait, I guess. Better get to bed."

Then I hear the phone ringing...I quickly pick it up.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hello?...Who is this?" I asked again.

"Shirley?"

Nobody answered. Then ended the call.

I'll just call it a day... I should take it easy for my first day in the new place.

"...Man, I'm tired..." I quickly went to bed.

In the middle of the night, I heard someone crying...

...Ugh, really... Is that somebody crying?... I can't sleep through this... Is it one of my neighbors? I should go complain...

I quickly went outside of my room and knocked on my neighbors' apartments. I knocked on the first door, there was no response. I knocked on the second and third door, still no response. I knocked on the fourth door...

"Yeees...? Who is it, at this hour?" A woman's voice said.

"Pardon me. It's just... I can hear you from my room, even. It's making it hard to sleep. Would you stop?" I said.

"...Huh? What're you saying? I was asleep until YOU woke me up! You trying to start something?" You're the guy who moved into 205, right? There's no way you'd hear me from there." The woman replied.

"Er... I guess so. S-Sorry for waking you! Bye now!"

She's right... The rooms are pretty far apart. More importantly, it was a man's voice... Was it just my imagination?

Whatever... I better get back to sleep.

I went back to my room then I hear water flowing. I quickly check the washbasin in the bathroom.

"Yikes, the water...! Is the faucet busted?"

I quickly turned off the faucet. Then I noticed writings on the mirror. It says...

"UNDER THE BED"

Hm? Under the bed? Is Paul trying to prank me? Talk about bad taste...

I went back to bed. Then it came to my mind...

"...Under the bed, huh... What's down here?"

"...Hm? Found something..."

I found a scrap from a notebook. The note says...

"Ever since she went away, I've spent every night clutching my sweaty pillow and writing. I can't say goodbye, what other choice do I have?"

...What's this? Did the former tenant leave this?...Oh, whatever... I'll get to bed.

I hear the crying again.

...That sound still...? Where is that coming from? Gimme a break, I need to sleep...

The next day, I was awoken by the phone ringing...

"Hello?"

"Uh, yeah... Thanks for all the..."

"...No...No, I didn't mean... Just... I'm busy with work, so..."

"...Yes, I'll come visit today... Tell her that for me. Okay, bye."

Man, I slept in to noon... I'd better go. So much for taking it easy...

I went out of my room and I saw Paul...

" Paul? What is it?"

"Y-Yeah, uh... I forgot my license yesterday. Was it on the table?" Paul said.

"Oh yeah, this. Sorry, I was going to bring it to you but..."

"Whew, thanks!... So, you going somewhere?"Paul said.

"...Yeah, to the hospital."

"... I see. Take care of yourself buddy." Paul said.

"Oh yeah, Paul... Did you write something on the bathroom mirror?"

"...Huh? Write on the mirror? What kind of childish brat do you take me for, David?" Paul said.

"...S-Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Anyway, I'm off."

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