Bass Case

Chapter 9: Contemplation

I was interrogated about what I saw. The horrid bloodied figures in the cases still flash before my eyes. It sends my heart racing at the very thought. I was hoping that this news would at least help prove that Josh is innocent, but it seems that they don't completely rule out the possibility. I leave the station weary of the outside world. Sarah comes to pick me up. As we walk to the campus I can't help but stay silent. It's all just too fresh in my mind. I don't want to worry her, but how else am I to react?

    I look up at the bright campus before me. I remember the first day I was here. How lucky I felt. Lucky. Always just lucky me. Just barely making it by. Sarah wraps herself around my arm, learning her head on it. We're both just as frightened of this horrid place. A place once so vibrate and full of potential tainted with the memory of crimson blood. It use to be my whole world, but as I approach the steps to the music building my heart wants to collapse and leave it all behind. "I wonder," I say, "if this is what it was like for Brenda when she found Anika..."

Sarah looks up at me somberly. She remains silent as though completely at a loss for words. She stands there scanning the ground for the lost words until finally she clenches her mouth and says, "We could leave, Daniel."

I turn to her questionably. "But, what about all the work we put in?"

"Is it really worth the risk?"

I look at her, imagining what would become of her if we were to stay here. Panicking thoughts flood my mind. What if she were to be the next victim? What if I show up one day, and there's a bass case lying with her inside? I would never...I would never be able to forgive myself. "What about Angelica?"

    "I hope that after what happened...she might come around." Sarah replies.

    I stay silent, looking at the ground. "It's the right choice," I keep telling myself, yet for some reason my words are caught in my throat. It's as though something is tying me down, keeping me chained to this campus. Or perhaps I have willingly bared the shackles. But for what? I know in my heart that she is worth more than anything to me, but why do I choose to stay? I take in a deep breath. She is what's most important to me. "Alright." I finally say. "You're right. It's too dangerous here now. Perhaps we should transfer."

    I can see a faint smile tug at her lips as she places a gentle hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry, Daniel."

    "Don't be."

    "I love you." She says, embracing me tight, burring her face in my neck.

    "I love you, too." I reply. Then I take her face in my hands and kiss her.

    Sarah wanted to turn home. It was not like the class would matter much to us anymore for this semester, but I insisted that we go. I wanted to at least enjoy the fine music, despite any stress Mr. Forte may cause, until the very end.
***
    Surprisingly for once Mr. Forte didn't have a single complaint about me. He appeared satisfied with the days rehearsal, but I had a sinking feelings at his lack of remarks for our two fallen members. He did mention them in the beginning, but all he said was that we had to work harder for them and not let their efforts be wasted. Efforts. Wasted. That's all that circles through my head. I think that's all that circles through anyone's head here. We are the best of the best, and we have put forth tremendous effort to get here. And such hard effort is hard to release into nothingness so easily.

    When we got home, we both told Angelica about our plan. "Wait! What?" She exclaimed, hurt and panic filling her eyes.

    "We've seen a lot, Angelica." Sarah says, trying to explain as calmly as she can.

    "I know you have! But are you going to let all that go to waste? All those people's lives go to waste?"

"Angelica, I know, but--"

Angelica flares up, "You said you'd stay to see how I did in the auditions and then make your decision!"

    "That's enough!" Sarah shouts. We all freeze up. It's as though even breathing will turn her into a savage animal that will rip us apart. I stand there tensed up against the wall with my arms crossed. Sarah's ragged breathing diminishes; she sighs and apologizes. "I just want you to be safe." She says, placing a hand over her heart. "And I'm scared. Not only of dying myself but of you and of Daniel and the rest of my friends. I can't bare to loose a single one of you."

    Angelica looks up at her sister in sorrow. "I know." She utters, "I'm sorry. Honestly, since coming here, and especially after hearing about what Daniel went through yesterday...I almost wanted to head home as well, but I was afraid. I don't want you to get hurt either." she pauses, "But also since being here, I feel as though that school is calling me. I feel like I need to be there. I feel as though those people's memories should be carried on so that it was not all for nothing. So if you want to leave, Sarah, Daniel, then I understand, and I encourage it. But me. I'm willing to take the risk."

    "I felt the same way." I say, "I want to honor my friends' memories, but I can't stand the thought of losing either one of you. What I saw was something that I never could have imagined before seeing it, let alone twice. I don't want any of you to get hurt, so please, return home."

The room falls silent in nerve racking anticipation. Every second feels like minutes until Angelica finally lets out a deep sigh, "Perhaps you're right. Maybe we should go home." Sarah's head perks up, but before she can say anything her sister continues, "But, I will not go. Not yet at least. Let me see how my auditions turn out. That will decide weather I go or stay."

Sarah's expression tightens, displeased of the results. She stares down her sister in contemplation. I place a hand on her firm shoulder and say, "It's her choice. Her mind's made up." She shrugs my hand away in displeasure. My heart clenches a bit from her frustration. "This is probably the closest that we'll get to her returning home."

She crosses her arms and closes her eyes in thought for a moment before sighing in defeat, "Fine." She turns to her sister, staring at her with stagnant eyes. "If you pass then we'll stay."

"We?" Angelica questions.

"Yes." She eyes me through the corners of her dark eyes. "Or perhaps I should say I."

"No. We." I retort. "I'm with you two no matter what."

"I'm not a child anymore Sarah." Angelica protests.

"Even so I still would rather be here with you than go home to protect myself."

The room falls still for a moment. "I...I'm sorry."

"No." Sarah says, "You're right. Besides," she admits, "I also want to honor our fallen friends."

The two girls turn towards me. I don't know what to think of the situation. A part of me is longing to stay, and another part is urging me to flee. Though like Angelica I can feel something call to me. What is driving me to stay? I nod my head. "We'll stay until then, and by then maybe things will become a bit more normal." Though I highly doubt that.

Angelica looks up at me with guilt now in her eyes. "Are you sure?" Sarah and I both nod in agreement.

"Thanks..."

Sarah smiles at her sister, hugs her, and then proceeds to make her way into her bedroom. The soft click of the door lock drifts through the apartment.

Yeah. She's not happy.