Hell Hath No Fury

Whisper in the Dark

Whistle in the dark: pretending to be unafraid when in a dangerous situation
Sonoko is terrified. She can't whistle, not now. All she can do is whisper.

＼(^▽^＠)ノ

Five minutes passed. Though Sonoko sat still as a statue, her insides churned with dread. Agitation and impatience made her skin crawl, the rising panic and desperation seeping back into her bones. The shadows closing in on her, her pulse raced and her breathing grew ever quicker as Shinichi failed to respond.

In her mind, Sonoko simultaneously begged Shinichi for help and scolded herself for it. What right do you have, as his acquaintance at best, she thought to herself, to ask him to drop everything for you? He's only come back once for Ran. Ran's cried and told you how any other time they meet, it's coincidental.

He cares about cases and a "mental challenge" so much that he'll all but drop out of high school and cut off contact with all of his friends except for Ran.

Her grip on her phone tightened, knuckles going white. What makes you think he'll do anything for you?

Her phone slid into her lap as Sonoko violently grabbed the back of her head. A scream ripped from her lungs, slicing through the silence all around her and tearing at her throat. Laced with frustration and helplessness, her cry of I'm trapped someone help me echoed off the apathetic buildings lining the street. Within seconds, the echoes faded to silence as if she'd never made a sound.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She lifted her head, her gaze drifting to the broken bottle. I really am nothing. The glass glistened red, still dripping with her attacker's blood.

What is the point? Is there any point in going home? I'm nothing but a danger to everyone I love. She bit her lip, shut her eyes against the yellow light of the street lamps.

You are worthless you're so incredibly stupid why on earth would you trust someone like him you're so stupid he was using you from the beginning just leave ran alone you're so stupid you don't need to shove yourself into her life and background check every guy who comes her way who do you think you are her dad you're so stupid (but I just want Ran to be safe) you're so clingy and stupid and worthless and stupid you're stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid--

With a gasp of breath, one hand on the bleeding cut at her neck, You should take that glass and finish the job.

Her eyes flew open, her breath coming in gasps again. Her jaw dropped open, and from the pit in her stomach came a despairing, horrified, "No!"

Pressing herself against the warm brick behind her, Sonoko wrapped her arms around herself again. Her phone slid to the ground with a quiet clatter, but she paid it no attention. Furiously blinking tears from her eyes, Sonoko held herself as tightly as she could. "I will not kill myself," she hissed, a promise to herself and to the heavens.

Faces floated in from of her eyes. First her father's, then her mother's. Ran and Makoto and Shinichi and Uncle Jirokichi stared back at Sonoko, each with a smile. Her chest ached at the thought of losing any one of them. "I will not be a danger to them," she vowed, taking a deep breath. "I will not be a pawn." Though her courage failed as her words met silence, she continued with false bravado. "I am Deduction Queen Sonoko. I will not let this hinder me."