A Method of Speech

Chapter Two: A Murder

I wanna put a trigger warning here but I don't think the content of this chapter is bad enough to be triggering so... This chapter may make you majorly or mildly uncomfortable.

I woke up on the cold stone floor... naked. My head hurt like hell. With no other way of understanding what happened I tried to sit up and look around. It was then that I realized that I couldn't move my limbs, both my feet and my arms were bound. They were tied together with small knots, my hands behind my back and my feet tied together at an awkward angle. Both ties were attached to each other by a cord of itchy rope.

As I wriggled and pushed myself up in an attempt to get up into a sitting position I felt something cold and sticky on my hands. I'm not sure I really wanted to confirm what it was but I already knew. Drawn on the floor in something glistening and red—which I can only assume was blood, even though I had no idea how she got so much of it—were a cluster of strange symbols, many resembled eyes and mouths. I appeared to be sitting in some sort of gruesome ritual circle.

Looking closer at the room itself I realized that it must be the cellar of Johanah's apartment building. There were two metal doors, they were tilted diagonally near one side of the room, I had noticed the same two doors leading to an alleyway outside of the building. I wasn't naturally a trusting person; I cursed myself for letting my guard down(Even if I have known her for years). She was acting quite strange ever since I arrived. Her hands quivering; her face twitching into strange expressions randomly. I could only assume it was her who did this.

Noticing some gardening tools near the double doors I slowly wormed my way towards them, leaving a trail of blood behind me. All I had to do was get to those shears and cut off my ropes—that is if I'm dextrous enough to use them with my hands all tied up—and I'd be free. My wrists and ankles stung from how tight the ropes were tied as more and more friction was applied due to my crawling. When I finally reached the tools I used my feet to prop up the shears in between my hands. I carefully squeezed the handles with my legs slicing through the ropes on my arms. I then quickly picked up the blades and got to work on my ankles.

Just as soon as I stood up I heard a set of feet walking down the stairs. Having not much choice when it came to courses of action I ran to the double doors—carrying the shears—and tried to push them open. No luck, they were jammed shut, I assumed they were locked with a chain from the outside. I had no choice but to stand my ground now, shivering from the cold I shakily braced myself. It felt like an eternity before I heard a deadbolt slide open and click. I held my breath as she walked in.

Johanah wore a long flowing cloak with designs similar to the ones on the floor printed on its surface. She held a curved dagger in her right hand, for a moment she looked shocked when she saw that I was not where she left me. She soon recovered from that surprise. She short-hand signed with her left to me, "I tried to wait until you woke up to continue the ritual, but it seems as though I waited for too long." I slowly signed with my right, still holding my weapon close to my body, "What did you do to me?" She seemed amused, "I simply made you easier to manage, now, come back to the circle with me. I have to finish what I started." I would have scoffed if I could, "If you think I'm coming with you you're crazier than I thought." She bared her teeth in a grimace showing a rage I've never witnessed before and signed once more, "I have waited far too long for you to stop me here, you will come with me. Either way you will die, you should just accept your fate and do my bidding." She brandished the knife in her hand threateningly. She signed one more time, "At least do this for me, if I kill a little shit like you I can gain ascension!"

She disgusted me, look at how far she had fallen. I returned with a sign that I'm quite confident isn't in the asl handbook. She charged at me with the knife, and yelled, "Die you genderless freak!" I didn't have time to think about what I was doing, I simply acted on instinct. I didn't even have time to process what I just heard, she spoke. That's impossible, humans can't speak. The only reason we know an auditory language is for when the government makes announcements on speakers, even then the voices are procedurally generated. I pushed away my shock for later as my hands wrenched open the shears and I lunged forward. Given the angle of my movement her knife didn't slice me directly, instead it hit at an angle, just grazing my shoulder. Johanah's momentum carried her forward and straight through one of the blades on my shears.

The sharp edge pierced through her abdomen with a sickening noise. After a moment a gurgling noise came from her throat. I backed away, covering my mouth. Her body dropped to the floor. Fuck, she was dead. I glanced around the cellar again, spotting my clothes. I picked up the garments, slipping them on as I walked up the stairs. I hurriedly left the building, trying to make as much distance between me and Johanah's body as possible.

I think I threw up in an alleyway at some point on my way home, I wouldn't be surprised if I did. I don't commit murder that often you know...

Yes officer...

That was a joke...

Okay, you can't expect I slept much that night, and I didn't. Obviously that whole situation disturbed me. I almost died, and I killed someone I had known for years—I thought I knew her at least—I wasn't sleeping any time soon. Of course, what happened was impossible. I was almost sure it was all a dream. Spoiler alert, it wasn't.

Heyo, how'd you like that chapter?

Do you have any questions about the world that these characters live in?

Anyways I'm really proud of that chapter, it's quite long compared to chapter one. About twice as long since this one is just over 1000 words. I really like writing this story, I hope y'all are liking it too. Welp, see y'all next time.

Love,

Jay