Through The Dark

Chapter 5

            I watch in horror as the gloved men pick up the body parts and shift them carefully to a large box filled with ice.
            
         The roaring ambulance and commotion between officers filled the place. Donggeon was still in shock sitting at the back of one of the ambulance. The murder was committed only a few minutes back. There  weren't any CCTVs in this part of the street so the killer could not be spotted. But how could someone possibly chop someone up in this crowded area and no one saw? The sinking feeling in my stomach had now created a pit. Each gulp I took slid in through my oesophagus in the size of a golf ball. And having seen it with naked eyes was the thing driving all this.
    
      I can't worry now, cz I'm the one who has to be seeing all of this. But the image of how badly the body was chopped kept repeating in my mind like a broken cassette. This guy was around here this entire time and we weren't the slightest aware of his presence. Sure he is a good killer, committing a murder in such peace. But I'm sure he can't escape once he's in my hold.
   
           "Your signature miss".

    I looked up to see an officer holding out a piece of paper and a pen. I quickly took it, signed it and returned it back. Then went over to Donggeon to try to calm her a bit. My heart too was not ok with the scene, but I'm here for this.
       
      I sat next to her and rubbed her back gently as she placed her head on my shoulder. We remained like this for several minutes when one of the officers said it was clear and we could leave. Soon, the commotion and the numerous cars were nowhere to be seen. Donggeon was now in the arms of Stan, walking past, stumbling in her every step.
    
      "Hey Meghan", Zac whispered from one of the corners. I jerked my head to the right and saw Zac motioning for me to come to him.
   
        Once there, he took something from behind him. It was an axe. Not any kind of axe but a hatchet filled with blood.
   
     "I found this just a few feet from the body", Zac said holding it up.
   
       "so what's with it?", I ask.
   
     "This could be a pretty good clue left by the murderer"
 
   I scanned the area from side to side when finally I located a butcher shop not over 10 feet away.
    
        "It might have been left by the butcher in his haste to run. Moreover, the news said that the killer carried a santoku", I say trying to prove he was wrong.
   
   "Meghan, do you really believe the news? What if it was fake and the murderer did use an axe. We could lose a very important piece of clue. And Santokus are not capable of cutting a human body to pie---"

   "Zac, this is not the time for your  argument. The axe is from the butcher and the killer uses a santoku. Full stop", I say grabbing the axe and throwing it in the nearby rolling bin.
    
        I then snatch Zac's hand and pull him with me. As I was about to get going, something caught me at the peripheral. I turned around to see what looked like a scarf hanging all beaten up, on the edge of one of the bins. I immediately recognized it. It was the scarf the guy Stan threw a fit with had on his face. The blood that had dripped from his lips was still there and I immediately took out my phone and dialed a number.

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        We have now reached our destination and are climbing the huge amount of stairs to get to the 13th floor of the apartment Donggeon got for us. The elevator wasn't working. She had booked two rooms. One in which I and Donggeon would stay and the other for the boys.
      
              My leg was literally cramping up and I felt my head rounding as I looked up the spiral staircase. 6 more floors to go.
.
.
.
We've finally made it to the thirteenth floor. Donggeon is looking through the huge bunch of keys, trying to spot the right one. Meanwhile I wandered around the narrow path taking in the sight. Well it wasn't really a sight with all the dusty carpets and walls with plasters torn here and there. The smell was kinda dusty and earthly at the same time which I immediately liked. I'm drawn to earthly smell especially the one that arises as soon as the first drop of rain hits the ground.

      
      "Aha, got it". I whipped my head to find Donggeon already turning the key through its hole. I went over to find a shady room that looked almost like the ones you see at a tourist resort. It was pretty decent and the four of us liked it. It just needed some cleaning to be done and we'd move over once it was finished.
    
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   We're back at the  company all tired and worn out. Donggeon and Zac are in the kitchen making dinner while I and Stan were just meddling with the buttons of the remote. We were pushing one another trying to get hold of the remote when a news channel abruptly turns on revealing today's drastic incident. Once again my jolly mood was gone and I sat there in silence. Stan noticed it and quickly turned it off. He then came near and placed his hands on top of mine.
   
    "We are the CRIME INVESTIGATORS, you remember? ",he tried to make it as sarcastic as possible but I just wasn't giving in.

   "True we've never seen an incident like this before but we've got to be brave. Let's not let ourselves down for this", he said trying to make it soft as possible.
   
    I nodded and smiled at last making him smile with me. I'll be feeling down and pissed every now and then. But I need not worry. Stan will always be there to cheer me up. Even at the times of no hope. He was literally a brother kind. I wish Donggeon accepts him whole heartedly soon.

     There was a sudden vibration from my back pocket and I slid my hands through it and took out my phone. I waved the phone to my ear eagerly.
    
     "Um.. Hello, did you find anything?", I ask as I wait for them to answer positively. But I was too quick to pin it.
   
     "Miss, the blood in the scarf is mixed with the blood of another person. So I'm afraid we will not be able to identify the scarf owner", the guy at the other end responds. I let out a weak sigh and turn it off.
 
The moment was soon gone away as Donggeon brought the dinner out of the kitchen filling the room with a heavenly smell. One thing that could cheer me: Stan. And the other: FOOD.
  
It was mutton chops for dinner. As soon as I saw what it was, I lost my appetite. Is today like some Chops day or something?