Cryptic Reality

Chapter 1: Face of the Night

Chapter 1: Face of the Night

The night was cold and the street was almost empty. The moon was hiding behind the clouds as the leaves of the trees dance with the wind.

It might rain.

I’m currently walking in the narrow and dark passageway towards my house. It was creepy but I have no other choice, this is the only path to my home.

The dogs howl as I passed by. No other soul is in sight.

Well, it’s technically almost midnight. 

I work as a part-timer in a small convenient store five blocks away from my house. My shift starts at five in the afternoon and ends at exactly 10 in the evening.

I’m usually at home around this hour but today’s an exception since there was a small celebration for a retiring staff in the store.

Although it is almost midnight and the atmosphere was cold, I’m not afraid to walk alone because I’m using this path for almost four years now since the time I relocated here. Also, this is a peaceful town with almost 5 to none reported cases of criminality every year.

I came from the city and moved in this small town after a certain accident. That accident that changed the life of every person involved in that case.

 Minutes after, I saw the end of the passageway. As I slipped away from that alley, I went straight to my house. It was a small apartment complex I rented when I decided to be independent from my parents. 

Currently, they are still working and staying in the City while I’m studying as a college student. 

I placed the plastic bag that contains some left overs of the party and headed straight to the bathroom. I must wash first before I go to bed.

As I stepped inside the comfort room, the cold water flows down on my body as I tried to relax. Studying and working at the same time is quite taxing but I can’t complain since I chose to live on my own. Also, I’m graduating this year.

My parents usually send money every month enough for my daily expenses, but I still insist to earn money on my own. Let’s just say that it is a small preparation for the future.

 The water flows down and its coldness made my body shudder. As my body temperature adjusts with the water’s temperature, the sense of something important being forgotten invades my mind.

I tried to recall it and regretted remembering it suddenly.

Today is November 14.

The same day a tragic yet fateful accident happened.

It’s been four years yet the feeling remains the same.

I sighed and close the shower afterwards. My head just hurts whenever I remember that event.

After I dressed to sleep, I sat on the edge of my bed and opened my phone to see if there’s any unopened message.

None.

I close the phone and lay on the bed trying to get some hours of sleep although I know that it will be futile. Whenever this day comes, sleep departs until the next day.

Giving up from getting some sleep, I just stared straight to the ceiling as memories of that fateful day drown me.

That night was cold just like tonight. Yes, that night was as cold as tonight… or even colder. I don’t remember anymore.

No. I just don’t want to remember it anymore. Yet, it remained clear. That night remained clear.

The moon was full yet hidden in the clouds. Sometimes it will reveal itself then hides again afterwards. The wind was chilly as it blows, icy and dead. It brings chill down my spine.

I can hear the sound of the leaves of trees swaying with the rhythm of the wind. I can hear it as it howls.

It was eccentric, very.

The voice of the night was whimpering with a very loud sound in my ears at the same time. Trying to bring more terrible feeling than what I have now.

A deep sigh left my mouth. It is the same that night.

My eyes continued to watch over the scene in front of me as I hide behind the bushes. Trying to stop any voice that might comes out on my mouth, trying to silence even my breathing.

The darkness of the evening becomes my cover and the moon becomes my eyes. Ah! So this is the face of the night.

As the scene continues to take place, my breathing becomes harder to control. My tears become harder to suppress and it becomes harder to restrain voicing out the word, stop.

The old saying was correct, ‘curiosity kills the cat’. It wouldn’t be a surprise that my curiosity will get me killed tonight.

I’m on my way home when I heard a loud shout coming from the small forest of the park. I looked around but I couldn’t see a single soul aside from me.

Normally, I would ignore it and hurried home. The watch also says the time was already eleven in the evening. However, the voice sounded familiar.

Then I just found myself in this situation, currently shaking in fear and in coldness of the wind while trying not to create any noise that could reveal my hiding place.

The scene happening in front of me left me frozen.  Terrified, my feet failed to move. Not a single step to run away and not a single step to prevent the event from happening. I just watched, to save myself, and because I’m a coward.

Outside, the rain started to fall. I closed my eyes tightly and sighed at the memory. Looking back, I deeply regret that didn’t do anything. I loathed myself for being a coward.

If I just muster a little courage, she might still be alive.

I pushed her to death. I am the reason why she died.

I’m the one who killed her.

I killed Aria.