Casket of Lights

Chapter 12 : Out of Blues

Rossé Lilybeth's POV

It was as if I am on a small detour, yet it was full of surprises. It was complex that my mind was pounding, requiring a greater momentum and energy to unravel and connect the clues. There was an emotional fluctuation and imbalance that slowly killing every inch of me.

After we went home from Vegas, I was at lost at my mind. Yet I had no choice... It was my choice.

A rung from my pocket made me jump from my place. My face scrunched when Stab’s name popped out from my phone. I blew a sigh before I answered.

“Hey, get ready. Wheels at ten,” Stan said.

Warily, I looked around as I checked my surroundings. My heart increased its pound as each second as my limbs froze momentarily as the fear of unforeseen imminent threat that may approach. I looked away at the dim lights and continued walking towards the door.

As I gazed at the low crescent moon that hanged above me, I smiled absent-mindedly. But it was as if there was a churning feeling inside my stomach, it does not feel right. At one point, I wondered, what if I did not take this opportunity and just sat there inside my old home.

“Rosse?” Stan with his high-toned voice asked, “Where in the world are ya’?” There was a moment of silence at the other line before he continued. “Didn’t I tell ya’ to wait for me?”

My eyes twinkled as I walked down the site, disregarding what Stan just said. “I’m coming in.” As I glanced at the surroundings, the furniture was now covered in white cloth, yet the paintings and the cabinets were closed.

“Don’t ya’ make unnecessary move without me.”

“I won’t.” The corner of my lips turned up; my attention was locked at my surroundings.

I heard Stan coughed before he spoke, “Turn on your gps.” As I activated my gps, I heard him took a long sigh. “Be careful.”

A chill ran down from my spine as my chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. “The door’s locked.” I mumbled, gripping at the door with my gloves on. I looked around, scanning the area.

A sudden feedback from Stan’s line made me winced that lasted for a couple minutes. “What are we looking for?” he asked. “Did ya’ find the area?”

I glanced at the nearest pavement and saw a hard tiny plastic. The corner of my lips turned up as I inserted the piece of plastic at the knob, trying to unlock the door. “Wait, I got it.” After several tries, I heard a sudden click and as I turned the knob, it opened. “I am in,” I said.

I stopped. The gloom swallowed me gradually as I entered the darkness. As I walked past the security area, I instantly noticed that the cctv cameras were not working. Perhaps, luck was on my side for today. As I walked down the dim hallway, I gazed at the different portraits at the wall.

“A diary,” I replied. I took a minute recomposing myself and continued. “After I picked it up, I saw fragments of paper attached to it. I thought it was just a scratch or something.”

“Alright, I’m driving,” he said.

I nodded as if he would see me doing the action. “Anyone’s passing by?” I turned left and was caught off guard by some spiderweb. “What’s with this spider?” A line formed in my lips.

A minute shiver trembled through my body. It was something I have not felt before in a long time, though there was no form of emotion.

“Negative.”

“Let us do it. I will now move out,” I said as I used the piece of plastic to unlock the cabinets at his loving room.

With a stern voice, Stan asked, “Want some back up?”

Was it a sign that I am still here and there were starting to be so wrong? The atmosphere gave off a different vibration, different smell, mixed roses and lilies, a different temperature and a high frequency… something that could chill the soul.

“No,” I replied, pursing my lips together. “I only trust you, Stan”

“Alright. See you at T-fifteen minutes.”

I was about to end the call when my eyes landed at an unusual book cover of a hand sized notebook between the stories of Shakespeare. I instantly reached the book and found out that it was the diary. I squinted my eyes at it, recalling the color of the used paper.

“You clear?” My eyes widened as I saw two Clinfort when he was still a baby. No... He has a twin? “Can I ask you something?” I paused for a while, trying to recompose myself. “How well do you know Clinfort?”

The sound of long horns of a car lingered into both my ears that made me pull out my earpiece for a moment. “Maybe for a couple months…a month or two,” Stan uttered. “Meet him at a gathering.”

“Strange.” I stopped, eyes squinting at the picture.

There was a long pause before he answered, “Strange, why?”

I tapped my fingers at the table, figuring something out. “Does Clinfort have a twin or something?” I asked, still gazing at my surroundings, feeling the gloom around the deserted house.

“Frankly speaking, I had no idea.” Stan blurted.

I was about to flip the next page when I heard footsteps. My brows creased as I instantly hid the small diary, almost a hand side, at my legs. I remained quiet for a while walking at the nearest door to hide.

“Stan?” I whispered. “Where are you?” I mumbled as I studied the area as well as the noise.

“On my way.”

With my instinct, I instantly pulled out my handkerchief as I half - masked my face. “Stan…” I paused for a while, now’s gazing at the masked man in front of me. “We have company.”

Alone, I have limitations. I only know few things that I have seen from Redhair and from the other inmates. There was no mind map, no second plan, no guidebook, no blueprint to follow in this type of situation. All I could trust was self and the confidence that I have.

“Who are you?” I furrowed my brows at him. “Why are you here?” I added.

His laugh echoed around the four corners of the room. “Why are you here?” His deep voice echoed around the area that sent shivers to my spine. “You’re not the owner of that. Give it back.”

“And so do you,” I uttered as I instantly positioned myself in a fighting position just like what Redhair taught me. Wait, speaking off, where is he?

I went back to my senses as I heard his swift movement towards me as he jumped and moved away from the boxes. “And now you’re doing parkour?” I laughed as I placed one hand on my earpiece.

He gave a laugh like a complete lunatic and said, “You have my absolute word for that.”

“What is that?” My brows creased as a he raised a metal at the air, reflecting a polished knife. “No, I hate this.” I was caught off guard when he lunged forward, quickly sprinting towards me. As he went closer, as he jabbed out his two knives in his hands as he attempted to stab me, but reflex kicked in and I ducked forward, trying to cleave his legs. I noticed this at the last second and only got away with a small, bleeding slice. “I hate you!” I yelled.

“Non-negotiable, okay?” He sprinted at me again, but this time I managed to make him stumble on his feet and grabbed his knife.

It was not what I expected, it was as if I am inside a prerecorded movie in action. Something in paint of black and whites painted for it to become obvious. My hands started to tremble yet I kept my stance strong as I stood, chest sticking out.

“Stan, where are you?” I mumbled, catching my breath as beads of sweat fell at my temple. “You can give me a hand at this part.”

Still locking my gaze at him, he soon recovered and pushed me back hard. He was extraordinarily strong, so I jumped back and dashed forward with my knife straight out in front of me.

I winced when a piece of my earpiece fell from the white marbled floor. I attempted to stab his arm, but he tucked his shoulders and impaled my stomach. "Dam!" I snarled, jumping back to recover.

I paused, panting, and dashed forward, grabbing his head, and pushing it down. My knee slammed into his face and I thrusted my knife with just enough power to go through his back and through the upper quadrant of his abdomen.

“You little rat!” he cursed as blood splattered everywhere and the knife went all the way through his stomach. The blood sprayed as he slid off my knife, limp and weak.

I slammed my fist right into his face, then used the palm of my hand in an uppercut under the chin. But the mask still did not break.

“Not so lucky.” As if on cue, he grabbed my chin and forced his head back, intending to sweep my legs out from beneath while I forced my head back. He raised her knife and instantly stabbed my stomach.

I coughed with a blood. I gazed at the surroundings as pieces of glass and jars from the cabinets were scattered around the floor. I tilted my head and recomposed myself. Steadily, the sound of my long exhales echoed around the corners of the room.

"Rosse, you’re still weak, aren’t you?" He laughed as beads of sweat fell from his face. "Pray to your God to save you for sorrows. I’ll end it for you.”

My fist smashed against his shoulder with brute force, numbing his arm for a moment and giving myself a chance to remove his hand from under my chin. I stood up. "You knew me?"

"I won't let you," I said, my lips formed a grin, still coughing a blood. I quickly glanced back to see his ducking to trip me. I jumped away, but to no avail. His hand grasped my ankle and threw me a smashed at my heart, making me yelled in pain. "Damn...you really got me there." I said, panting. "Whatever. I guess I will have to take you seriously. Enough holding back."

He bumped me and turned around, but I pounded the top of his head and he fell to his knees, terrified. She stood up, preparing himself, but he was too slow, and I stepped between his legs from behind to trip him while shoving him directly to the ground.

"I'm going to break your head if you keep talking!" I said, wanting to torture him more, but he punched me hard in the jaw. I stumbled back, but immediately recoiled, delivering a hard kick aiming for the center of his back. The leg collided, causing a strained groan, he roared in anguish.

"This would have never happened if you wouldn't exist," he said, staggering. He stood up, but his blood dripped from his body. “We’ll meet again someday,” he said as his voice started to blur. He winked at me. I thought he was about to punch me, but he took the chance to swiftly dashed until I have reached the exit.

As I stepped at the exit, the rain started to fall, slashing my skin. I fresh foul smell of the ground lingered into my nose that goes up and I had to cough out the noxious air. I scanned the surroundings and saw him not far away from me. The wind started howling above my head like a wild lion in a cage when it was hungry.

“It does not look good,” I yelled, running towards him. I wiped my mouth with my hand as I tasted the warm coppery blood. I took a grip to add pressure at my wood near my lower right abdomen. I clenched my first tight as I have felt the excruciating pain.

At the perfect cue, Stan showed up with his gun pointing at the masked man when the masked man grabbed another gun from his pocket, making Stan stumbled in his place, throwing the gun towards my direction. The masked man once again laughed like a lunatic. “Rascal,” he mumbled.

But before he tried to step, I instantly reached for the gun and pointed at his direction. My hand was shaking as I was in deep pain with my stomach. Without hesitation, I instantly fired several bullets at him, but it all missed.

“Foolish!” he screamed, running away from us.

Not that long, adrenaline flashed over my body, I fired the last shot and luckily, I injured his left chest. “Yes!” I was about to take a step when my eyes caught Redhair running towards us, opposite from the direction of the masked man. "Why are you late, pinewood?"

“Sir!” His eyes widened, ears turning red. “Ocean! I need medics. Two persons were wounded.”

As my eyes started to blur, I gazed at Stan who was screaming in pain. “Take him first. I am okay.” I paused for a while, taking a breath. I flashed a genuine smile as my eyesight started to become diluted. “I lost him,” I mumbled before everything went blank.