GUILTY

"Woof, woof," the dog's barks resonate all around the area. Making a flock of blackbirds to crackle simultaneously, as they fly away. The owner of the dog is entertained, beating the tall grass with a stick as he goes further into the woods, trying to escape the heat. Not paying much attention to his surrounding. His short pants and t-shirt are not of much help, he is still feeling the humid temperature on his skin. Sticky and heavy, like molasses, causing his t-shirt to hug him. Dog keeps barking, making the boy finally paid attention. "Bailey, come here girl, what you have there?" Called the teenager as he turns around to see what his Bernese Mountain dog is doing. As he retraces his footsteps, he is noticing something strange in the dog's mouth. "Come, give me that [the dog retreats, growling], I said to give it to me. Bailey!" The dog quickly drops the item she was holding when the teenager's voice startled her. Whimpering and stepping back, she sits by a bushy area, silently observing the teenager picking the red item. Bending down, the red, muddy item seems to be a piece of cloth. "What is this? Why are you so interested in this?" The boy speaks aloud, looking at her, but not expecting a response from Bailey. "Oh," he said as a faint smell disturbed him. Turning the item around, he is still curious about it since it looks now like a piece of woman's cloth. Butterflies are visible, printed on the piece of cloth. He keeps examining it and his feet began to move to the same spot Bailey is standing as she began to bark again. "Woof, woof!" Bailey began to jump, moving backward on every jump. "Alright, alright, I am coming. What do you want for me to see?" The teenager gets closer, a very strange smell invades his sense of smell, it reminds him of the one before, but now it is stronger and unpleasant. The putrid smell is more closely to rotten fruits, especially under this hot temperature. At least, that's what he could associate the strange smell with. Covering his nose, he carefully walks to a small pile of leaves and twigs. From afar, it looked as if a wild animal is using it for shelter. He is getting closer, his heart is starting to beat fast. His sense of preservation is telling him to walk away, to go home and he will not regret it. Sadly, his curiosity is stronger, he wants to know what is under all that pile of leaves and twigs. The candy apple red hue is becoming visible, the same one he is holding. "So, it must be from here that Bailey took this piece of cloth," he thought as he keeps getting closer. Now, even with his nose covered, trying to prevent the awful smell to enter, it is not possible to stop it. The teenager gorge as he is about to throw up. He picks up a bigger stick than the one he used before to beat the tall grass. His eyes began to burn by the awful smell, now it is something he had never experienced before. When he removes a few dead leaves and twigs he noticed a figure, not quite sure of what it is. "Woof! Woof!" Bailey keeps barking, maybe as a warning to her owner to step away and get out of there. The owner didn't pay attention to her, he wants to know more. His sense of curiosity keeps growing, well, his father is even worse. Being the chief of police he has to pay attention to details and finish any pending cases. Granted, the teenager is not a detective nor a police officer but grew up around them to know something isn't right. "AH!!" He screams as he realized what is in front of him. Knees becoming weak, his whole body gave up and the only option is to fall on the muddy ground. He is paralyzed in the spot, he could not blink, his fear is holding him in an invisible grip. His vision is becoming blurry, his heart rate is increasing, an awful feeling took over his body, he cannot contain it and empty his stomach. "Woof," Bailey's barks snap the teenager from his surprise. The flight response invaded him, his heart rate increasing pumping extra oxygen to his lungs. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he hastily gets up. "Run, Bailey, run," he screams as his feet follow the path they already know. Bailey is chasing after him, panting as she is trying to catch up to him. Jumping over the overthrown log covered in moss. The branches hitting his face, leaving red lines on his cheeks as the edge of the leaves cut him like blades. Finally, he can see a clearing, he is not thinking about anything else, but to get out of there. The screeching sound of tires makes him realized he is out of the woods and in the street. Instinctively, his whole body turns in the direction of the loud sound and places both hands in front of him. "Be careful, Max, please, pay more attention to your surroundings. I almost run over you." Said the school teacher as she lowers her window and looking straight at her former student. Max's face is pale, the fear of what he saw and the panic of almost being run over was enough. Seeing the state he is in. She quickly parked the car next to a pine tree and goes to examine Max. Max sees her, slowly walking towards him, wearing her long white skirt and pink top full of ruffles. One of her signature attire. Bending down in front of him, her black curly hair covering much of her face. "Max, what's wrong? Why are you like this?" She asks twice, by the third time, she has to shake him to bring some sense. Max reacts and now, is trying to steady his breathing so he can be able to explain. He looks at her, and the panic in his eyes tells her that it is serious, "Ms. Mej, I-I- no, that's not possible." Max covers his face with both hands and screams. Pulling his hands away, Ms. Mej says, "Max Tully, what in heaven is going on?" Max's face is still pale, now, his eyes are getting wet. As his tears keep building up, they fall, sliding in his cheeks. Mingling with the small cuts on his face. "Ms. Mej, I- I saw a d- dead bbb-body." Max says as he pointed to the woods. The teacher follows his index finger and widens her eyes with the realization that a gentle person like Max, must be saying the truth. "Just now? Where exactly? You know who it is?" She throws all those questions to a still shocked Max who only manages to shakes his head. "Okay, come on, let me take you home," she grabs both of his shoulders and helps him get up. "Come on, I am sure chief Tully will take over the case and do an investigation." Max just let himself be guided to the car, he has seen his father solved cases, but never one about a murder, at least, that's how it looks like, a murder. All this time, no one pays attention to Bailey who is panting furiously, not used to run that fast, especially on this hot, humid day. She barks and Ms. Mej calls her to jump in the back seat of the car, which she eagerly does. Whining and placing a hand on Max's lap. Ms. Mej hears her and while starting the car, she says, "he will be okay, don't worry. You two will get home soon."