Chapter 2.5: Death of A Heart ( continuation)
672 Words
I spend the night with her dead body beside me in the room. When morning arrives, at the dawn of break, I set out onto my journey. However, instead of using the front door, I decide to use the door leading to the backyard as it will be easier to conceal her body when I bring it along. Why bring it along you ask? Because there's no way I am going to leave it in the tavern, knowing that the villagers hate her. Who knows what harm lies for her body if I were to leave it there? Not me, not you but only the Lord knows of it.
At the back of the tavern is a brick wall that stretches out along the sides of the village and branches out to separate every cottage's land. Despite being a wall to prevent trespassing of others' property, the wall is surprisingly low or short, if I am to describe it in a word. And in that sense, it is actually quite easy for me to climb over it to get to the other side which is part of the jungle that leads to the fenced woods at the end of the village. And as such, I climb the wall and land on the ground outside of the bordering wall. My exit is a success. Or so I thought.
From behind me, a man calls out to me. Her body still over my shoulder, I shudder at the voice. Someone has found me. s**t!
'Hey kid! You were that man from before right?'
From before? I thought every villager simply walked away after I put an end to the brawl. Did someone, by any chance, turned back and saw me following her into the tavern? I think for a moment before replying, and finally I shake my head, then turn to face the owner of the voice.
'You were watching me back then. Weren't you?' I ask while pulling my hood down to cover half of my face. He stands still, mouth shut. It is clear to me that he knows the answer to my question but saying it will only make things hard for him. 'I saw you.' And so, I lie.
And my lie proves to work with him finally speaking.
'I was caught eh?' I heave a sigh of relief.
'So, tell me your intentions for doing so. '
'I wanted to warn you of her.'
'And what was it that you so wished to warn me about?'
'She... She is an-'
'Un- Being. Was what you wanted to say, right?' I cut in.
'How did-' He gasps as soon as he realises that I have been carrying her body on my shoulder for the entire time. From his eyes, I can see a mixture of joy and fear. The joy is because at last, after a number of men getting killed under the noses of the villagers, she is dead. And the fear is because...
'How did you...No. Just who are you?'
I put on a fake smile in return. For there is no wanted criminal who is foolish enough to reveal his identity to others and for the reason that her death means something to me. That is, sadness from losing a loved one. She, who is dear to me.
' We shall meet again, if fate allows it, old man.' I bid my farewell as I walk away, carrying her corpse. My own action, my fake smile has made me reminisce her death once again. My hand covered in blood, her words and also, her fading smile even as death approached her.
Tears well up in my eyes, I ask myself a question.
Will I be able to wear a real smile again?
Even if I do, will I smile the same way again as I did in the past... With Jason, and her?
I know the answer, but I can't bear to face it. For, I can tell that...
Nothing will stay the same again.
Ever again.
- Writer
