Seventeen Imagines III

#45 "Top" (one shot story)

On my way to our school's rooftop, I heard two voices above the spiral stairways. I was stuck on the staircase, holding my cigarette, while listening in secret.

"Why am I called here?" A familiar woman's voice.

"Just," a man's voice answered.

After seconds of silent, loud fallen object grumbled.

'Bam bam bam bam!'

Then in a flash, a woman's body appeared on my sight. My eyes widened as I stared at her, there lying down on the ground. Unable to sink things inside my head, I froze on my spot until I could feel my pulse races and my hands turn into ice.

"Just...wanted to kill you," voice resonated from above.

The blood from her head spreads on the floor. But I can't step back to avoid it because I was so afraid to create a sound.

As the steps from above gets louder, I couldn't breath, it felt as if someone was choking my throat. My heart was racing and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and wait for someone to save me. But no one would, no one was here. A dried cry for help hurt up my throat, and I felt a drop run down on my cheek. It seemed as if this was the end of my road.

"H-Help me," she begged.

Suddenly all I see is her, literally. Everything else falls away. Covered with blood, this student on my feet is still alive! She is staring at me while trying to reach my shoes.

Adrenalin flew over my veins, but I couldn't move a single muscle, not even to scream. The absolute horror completely paralyzed me, and the more I thought about run away, or simply moving a bit, the more I felt discouraged and utterly terrified.

"Please, help me."

I wanted to. I really wanted to!

"Who are you asking for help?" The voice of that guy was only few meters way.

If I'll stay here, I'll die. I will. I might.

Clenching my fists and crying without sounds, I turned around and ran away.

8 years had passed. But never did I forget the horror I witnessed that day. My guilt taunted me every night, that I haven't sleep peacefully even once.

"If I help her, she could be alive," I always thought of this. But at the same time, "Or I probably died on that day," this thought followed.

The murder case on my old school remained mystery for long years. I forced my parents to send me to my grandma's house and though confused, they did. After that, i suffered from depression and post traumatic disorder; and so I stopped schooling and was treated by psychologist.

I always wish that I can turn back time. If only I know that I will suffer like this, I should have died together with her. Maybe it's indeed late, but at least I was granted of another chance.

Police opened the case again and started investigating the crime. All of possible witnesses, including me, were asked to give our statements regarding that day.

"So you are Hani's classmate?" The detective asked me.

Hearing her name reminded me of our old days. Hani was a bubbly and easy going girl who loves K-pop and anime. But she always has time for studying and so she ranked top 2 in our school.

"Y-Yes," I answered while hanging my head low. Somehow, I couldn't look straight to detective Vernon's eyes. Instead, I kept on staring at my trembling hands on my lap.