The Loss of Innocence

Two: Her Little Death

I kept on vomiting while Derrick kept caressing my back up and down. The gigantic pendulum clock at the top of the University’s main building struck twelve. Two police cars were invading the silence with their siren loud enough to wake the dead.

“Is she okay now?” The officer gave me a dimpled smile and put out a handkerchief. I turned my back on him and threw up again as he noticed the blood on his hanky. “Ohh… sorry.” He said apologetically.

Rolf pursed his lips and waved his hand in a dismissing manner. “Don’t mind her. She’s not just used to it.” I opened my mouth in disdain only to close it again. He looked as though everything was normal. But he couldn’t quite conceal the shock in his face earlier when the woman slumped on him smearing blood all over his shirt.

“You moron! This is your entire fault. What the hell are you doing there anyway?” Derrick shouted at him.

“Oh…” Rolf said thoughtfully and smiled at him. “Have you seen my gun? Where Derrick? Is it perhaps invisible?” He said as he tilted his head to one side and frowned mockingly. He pouted his lips in an irritating gesture that made Derrick clenched his fists.

I was heaving heavily. My stomach was still churning but there was nothing left to vomit, only gastric juices now that hurt all the more. I took the hanky that was presented in my face without even looking up. I brushed off my mouth eagerly.

“Insipid!” Derrick spat out on the ground as he was trying to control himself. I clutched his arms tightly, sending a warning message. It was too silly to argue at this point in time.

“Okay, boys stop it. I’m detective Willehm Hinnes. But you can call me Will.” He smiled as he drew out a notepad and a pen from his waistcoat. I just noticed him closely now. He was charming in a boyish way. Not really the cop type you would fantasize yourself with. I saw Rolf rolled his eyes and raised one eyebrow at me as he noticed my perusal of the detective. I glared at him.

“Can we go home now?” Derrick asked impatiently. “Ask him.” He pointed his finger right at Rolf’s face. The latter looked at his index finger with crossed eyes that was so annoying.

“Psychotic.” I hissed at Rolf. He made his way to me not minding Derrick’s fury behind him. Detective Will was tapping his shoe on the ground like a spectator. He was biting the marker between his teeth thoughtfully.

Rolf bowed mockingly before me. “Total control freak.” He whispered in my ear. I was going to shriek at his forever banter when I turned to see blood all over. I didn’t have to know who was on the stretcher with that blood-stained sheet. I gulped then without a word, it was like in slow motion, as I clutched on Rolf’s lapels and vomited right on his front shirt.

“Jesus.” I heard that word clearly through my quivering state. I was clinging on to Rolf’s arms while I was heaving, furious of myself. I’m not a weakling. But ever since I was small I couldn’t stand the sight and smell of blood.

Rolf undid his Hawaiian polo shirt. I unconsciously gaped at him. My mouth was wide open. I felt a tight knot in my stomach. Not that Rolf’s attractive but… boy isn’t my cousin hot? Isn’t Jamie right? He stood there half-nude bearing over me like a Greek God. He was dead sexy. I shook my head in irritation at the sinful thoughts. It must be the effect of witnessing a woman’s death.

“Take her to the dormitory then we’ll pull this through tomorrow.” Detective Will told Rolf.

“Let’s go.” Rolf pulled my arms. My knees were buckling. I couldn’t protest when he dragged me toward his car. Derrick was yelling his head off but couldn’t do anything because he was stopped by Detective Will.

When we were inside I looked up only to see Rolf’s face inches away from me. His head was bowed, looking down on me. And then a slow grin quirked on his lips. I glared at him. He moved forward, his eyes were squinting in doubt. I was slinking down on the front seat as he was inching his way closer to mine. My eyes grew wide; before I knew what he was up to he was sniffing, from my hair down to my cheeks and neck. I gasped. I pushed him hard enough. I could feel the electrifying heat from his almost naked form.

“What’s the matter with you?” I rolled my eyes heavenward when he raised his brow then wagged one finger in the air. He tilted his head thoughtfully to one side.

“You’re insane.” I hissed at him. He pointed the middle of my chest and put force in it that made me lean down again. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“Have you taken a bath today Sabrina?” His lips twitched upward in mockery as my mouth opened on that impertinent question. Expect Rolf to say the best things. And he was the only person who ever called me that save my parents. I hated him right on the spot. I closed my eyes not minding him.

 “Sa—bri—na…” He was stressing the syllables. He chanted my name as if he was a psycho on the loose.  I counted one to three before I opened my eyes only to gasp. I almost bumped into his face as he was leaning too close for my sanity. We weren’t touching, really but there was this electric pull between us. Always. I sighed.

“What?” I uttered silently with boredom. He smiled secretly. I was about to close my eyes when my peripheral vision caught a fleeting shadow behind the trees. I blinked my eyes thrice. Then I saw him ran. Was he really a he? Or…  a she? I felt cold shivers ran down my spine as I closed my eyes until we got to the dormitory.

He walked me to the lobby; a frown was creasing on his forehead as he pulled my arm to stop me. “This is… hmm, a matter of life and death question.” He walked around me. I could hear him playing his Nike shoes on the tiled floor. Then he started humming. “I doubt if you know the meaning of life Rolf.”

“From the mouth of a babe.” I heard him from behind. I yawned drily. “Goodnight Rolf.”

 “I smelled Derrick’s scent on you earlier…” He said in a pitchy voice. So that was it. I almost groaned aloud.

“Back off Rolf.” He raised his hands upward slowly. I could remember my favorite character Jack Sparrow with the way he acts. It wasn’t imitated, for Pete’s sake he’d been like this since time immemorial.

“What if I told you that I love you?” He whispered in my ear. My eyes grew wide then he turned me around to face him. “Boo.” He said that, puffing a blow of breath to my face. Gross. Not that he’s bad breath but… I took a couple of steps backward then I ran to full hilt.

I was breathless as I leaned on my door. My hand was on my chest as it rose and fell. It was already dark in the hallway. What do I expect? Everybody was at the party. My hand was still shaking from all the horrifying events tonight. I shut my eyes trying to regain my wits only to stifle a scream when I opened my eyes. I almost jumped in surprise.

“Bree—are—you  okay?” I blew out a sigh of relief at seeing Laida inches away from me. I pushed her gently and awkwardly out of my face. As usual, she was stuttering with that child-like voice of hers. She was the school’s laughingstock. Her hair was piled atop her head in a bun. She didn’t wear braces and glasses though. And she didn’t go to parties. Not that she’s welcome there.

“Bree you’re right.” I frowned at her. What is she saying? “I intend to lose it tonight.” I rolled my eyes heavenward as she gave me a dimpled smile. Days ago Jamie and I taunted her in front of the class how she must have been the last untouched woman on earth.

This is ridiculous. And she is incredulous!

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw something moving from the far right corner of the hallway. I was getting paranoid again then we heard the loud footsteps above the deafening silence. We both looked up. My breath got hitched when I saw the hooded figure of a man. He was wearing an overall black jacket covering him, I saw Laida started to smile. My heart was thudding loud enough in my ears. It was like in slow motion when he unveiled his face.

I frowned silly. Gosh. I rolled my eyes as I got inside quickly without saying another word to Laida. What a horrible tandem. The Emo kid and the Laughingstock. I couldn’t quite picture them together having a ‘do’. I more shuddered with the thought of them than seeing the dead woman again.

Well, at least Laida’s going to experience the so-called ‘little death’.

I cleaned myself and put on with my pajama. I was dozing off when I heard the loud piercing scream from the other room.

“Nooooo… Stop—please.” Oh my God. I gritted my teeth in frustration. The wall was too thin not to have heard that. Then came a wail and a crash. What a steamy and rough night Laida. I annoyingly used my iPod choosing The Bad Romance by Lady Gaga and closed my eyes for a second try of sleep. This time I was successful.

She wasn’t really beautiful. But do I care? My purpose was to get her to the altar with her precious blood smeared under the moonlight. She was waiting for me all this time. I gave her a lopsided grin as she shyly undressed before me. I smiled evilly. I didn’t want her to die… not yet. I slowly walked toward her and put the handkerchief in her face when she wailed in surprise. She pushed me hard on the ribs. I was taken aback that I hit the lampshade behind me. Yes, scream for me. Scream. I felt the rush of ecstasy at seeing her helpless. But I wouldn’t take a chance of being discovered. She wouldn’t stop. So I had to stab her many times. I failed again. I hadn’t done the ritual. But her blood was satisfying. I just wondered why the other occupant hadn’t heard us. She would have been involved.

Three is a crowd. But the more… the merrier.

I woke up with a start. There was a loud tapping on the door. I pulled the headset from my ears when I heard the pandemonium outside. I quickly got out only to freeze on the spot. The authorities were in and out of Laida’s room. I started taking few hesitant steps to her door. I covered my mouth with my shaking hand as I saw her lifeless form on the floor. Her eyes were unblinkingly open as was her mouth as if she’s going to shout for help.

I fainted dead away.