Path to Crime
659 Words
Year 2019
Melbourne, Australia
Clouds formed above him, the winter breeze whistled as the atmosphere darkens,but it was not enough to shrivel the brightness that illuminates from the locals in the city.
Their smiles and laughter were achieved because of a sacrifice. One should relinquish what it adheres to in order to attain shallow level of serenity. One should depart for the melioration of the majority.
He laughed. It was a deep sound, like the first rays of warmth after a long winter. A tendril of black hair covered his vision, but even without him seeing the joyfulness in the eyes of the people, he could feel the lightness in the atmosphere. Could hear the laughter and its vibrations, showing the vehemence of their mirth.
Peace masqueraded as a harmonious entity, but it couldn't conceal a volatile edge. Their bliss couldn't shroud their flinches every time they hear metals clashing, awakening them from their feigned ataraxis.
A subtle movement in his peripheral caught his attention. It was a woman in red cloak, moving along the busy and elated crowd. There was something kicking in his gut to follow the steps of the unknown woman. His subconscious debated with his conscious mind, what if its just a trivial matter that do not concern him? But what if it is something in import?
His heart was beating vigorously as he strides towards the path of the woman in red cloak. His neck stretched to its extent, eyeing a red head, his eyes slithered into slits as he noticed the woman turned left, leading to the notorious alleys of the city, wherein people disperse resplendent horrors.
His strides led him to the corner of the alley. His steps halted when he heard hushed voices a few meters ahead. "I have the missive meant to deliver to the South, we found the princess," "Fool, why do you have to keep it in your pocket! Now we ought to protect it with our life!" "He promised us bags of gold! I have to perpetually keep it with me!" "The content must be accurate, Cleo."
His brows knitted in one fine line. He vowed to never venture into matters that led to peril. But this one, his instinct abides him to delay the movements of the two figures standing meters ahead.
Until he heard their whispers they tried hard to minimize, "Are you sure she will not survive?"
His heart beats suddenly spiraled uphill, walang dahilan upang siya'y maubusan ng hininga ngunit sa pagkakataong iyon, tila ipinagkait din sakanya ang simpleng simoy ng hangin. Hindi niya alam kung sino ang tinutukoy ng dalawa ngunit hindi niya rin mawari kung bakit masama ang kutob niya rito.
Why am I feeling this way...
There was a sudden uproar in the festivities happening in the town. Screams and outcries are heard yet his feet refused to move and run towards the commotion. Ang kaniyang mga mata ay muling bumalik sa dalawang pigura na kaniyang binantayan kanina ngunit laking gulat niya na ni anino ng dalawa ay wala na sa madilim na pasilyo.
His body manuevered him towards the heavy crowd that was disarrayed in the center of the town park, his strides led him to a body covered with blood, a body of a woman he can identify right away, even if her back was turned around and her face covered with her hair, he know her.
Really know her.
Biglang nanghina ang tuhod niya at nanginig ang kaniyang kamay nang pilit niyang abutin ang buhok ng babaeng pinakamamahal niya, ng babaeng nakahandusay sa kalsada at pinapaligiran ng mga taong kanina lang ay nagkakasiyahan. Nagdilim ang kaniyang paningin at umigting ang kaniyang panga, galit at puot tila ay isang buhawing nananalasa sa kaniyang isipan.
Hindi niya lubos na maisip na sa isang iglap ay maglalaho ang babaeng kaniyang kinukuhaan ng lakas at kasiyahan.
If only I was fast enough that day, I would have save the people...save her...
- Writer
