I wrote this for a school project. Took longer than I wanted. I had a little help (it was more than just little help) from The Galaxian Persona. Go check him out. I highly recommend it. https://the-galaxian-persona.tumblr.com/
I ran as fast as I could. Branches cut my face while stones and logs trip me. It was so dark in the forest I could barely see the anything. But I pushed on and kept running. I was running out of stamina but I can’t afford to stop. I can’t even bring myself to look behind. I can’t believe this is happening. Everything happened so fast. 5 are dead because of me… Dead! How can I let this happen? Why did I let this happen?
I heard sirens from the distance. Red and blue lights flashed behind me. The cops were telling me to stop, but I kept on running. They were gaining on me. I took a hard right which was a mistake. I fell on a deep ditch, and twisted my ankle really bad. I gritted my teeth. But I held my breath in and breathed through my nose as I heard the cops above me. They shone their flashlights. They yelled at each other about where I was. The pulse of my heart was beating fast. The heat of my body, going lower. Adrenaline, going higher and higher… Until they started going somewhere else. Then their footsteps started to fade. Until I can hear nothing but the breeze of the wind grazing through the trees. I was in the clear, but I had to keep up my guard, even if my ankle was in torture. I looked up from my ankle to see a cave. A way out- no let me clarify- The ONLY way out. All I can hope there was no one at the other end of it. I stood up, softly exhaled as the pain in my ankle felt like a stab of a knife. I had to grit through it. I limped through the cave.
A million things come up in my head as I walked through this cave. First was obviously a painful message from the nerves on my ankle, telling me it’s in pain. Second was fear. I am here, chased by cops, limping through a dark cave that could be my natural tomb if something came up to get me. I’m scared. Scared to the bone that no one could find me, and scared to the nerves that something might come to kill me. Third, Guilt. Because of something I wasn’t supposed to do something, but I did. I did some things that could even shame me to death. If only it were simple to explain. Lastly, I feel confused because I have no idea how this all happened. How? I began to retrace my memories from here as I limped to either an exit or a deeper cave to fall into.
“I got it!” I said to myself so loud, my friend, Paulo, beside me was startled about it. We were in my room, papers are scattered everywhere, and his papers on his laps, well… Scattered because of me.
I quickly apologized about it, but he said he was okay from it and asked me what I got.
“The important detail! I know how this guy kills his victims!”
He looked at the clock over by the wall, “Well you actually did it so fast… 5 weeks. Most investigators take two. Even 6… Tell me, how does he kill his targets?”
I clarified, “It’s actually who he kills. It all makes sense!”
“Okay… At least tell me in simple terms, Morti.”
James, sleeping from a pile of books, woke up from the rambling me and Paulo were having, “What’s going on…?” He slurred out the words.
“A plan… I’m making a plan.”
Outside of our classroom at 6 PM, the three of us were huddled up to a quiet classroom occupied by one girl who is secretly the bait of the murderer.
“Are you sure about this, Morti?” James asked me quietly.
“I’m here with decent self defense knowledge that can take down an unaware idiot. If you’re willing to hear Paulo’s comments about it, be my guest.”
Paulo rubbed his arm, “She’s good. Trust me.”
James disregarded Paulo’s word and asked, “Why Natalie?”
I subtly gritted my teeth, “Just go ahead and say that you’re going to the bathroom. The killer isn’t going to come out until you two are gone.”
I knew by his look he didn’t like the idea, but he had to do it to get the killer out of hiding. He went in and audibly asks if he can go help Paulo get some materials for his project, so the murderer has ample time to get in, and I can catch him with ease. Now the two went out and James nodded at me that it’s good to go. Oh I want him to stay. Maybe to help me take down the killer. But I have to do what must be done…
My vision started to blacken. My senses were being numb. It’s as if I had no grip on myself. All I can do was see that I am moving my body, in which I am not in control of. My hand reached for the pocket knife in my pant pocket. My fingers flicked the blade to a firm stand. Slowly, my body walked towards her. My growl… My bloodlust breath… All I can do is watch as Natalie turned around. A face of fear. A face of someone innocent… I can only see that I stabbed her… Stabbed her to the ground...
“NATALIE!” A yell from the doorframe startled me.. I turned around… Oh… James… I…
“James... “ I said… in my own words, this time… “It is done…”
“What is done, Morti?! What the hell do you mean?!”
Paulo caught up, his face turned white as James as they see the murder taken place by my hand.
I then said to James… “There’s no one else who can get between us…”
“Paulo, call the police-”
“I murdered those bitches of yours to show how much I love you!!”
“You and I can get to be together forever, James!”
It was the first day of class when I first saw James. He was sitting on a bench and drawing on his sketch pad. I was drawn by his eyes that were filled with pure concentration while he sketched. I liked that in a guy. Always focused about something, but it seemed I was too focused on him. He looked up from his work and caught me staring at him. I could feel my cheeks turn red from embarrassment. I left immediately after he saw me... I was so ashamed. He probably thinks that I was a weirdo. After that, I didn’t see him again until a week later.
Christine and her friends tripped me in the cafeteria and made such a smug face that I could punch. Everyone laughed at me and called me a freak. It felt like the worst day of my entire life... But then he emerged from the crowd and helped me. I couldn’t believe that he would help me, the curious weirdo in school. He didn’t care of what people thought, he just did what he knew what was right. He even backed off the stupid jocks and told Christine to get away. Scarring a part of his social status for a low freak like me. For that, I fell in love with James. He was the guy that I was dreaming of. The guy I wanted to be with for a long time, but he is liked by a few girls in school. I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance so I just watched him from afar.
Everything went back to normal after that incident. But two weeks later, something happened. Though I had some odd headaches from time to time, it wasn’t as important as this... Christine, the girl who tripped me, was found dead in the girl’s bathroom. She was stabbed multiple times with a broken piece of mirror. The police couldn’t find the killer. No one really mourned for her, not even her so-called friends, but only her family mourned for her.. It wasn’t surprising, she was mean to everyone except James. She’s always flirting at him but he always ignore her.
Everyone minded their own business after that. My headaches were getting a little severe, but I bore through the pain like it was nothing. It was all going normal, but a week later, another girl died. Jessica Santos was dead in the library. A blow to the head had cause her death and the weapon was nowhere to be found. It had to be blunt, but knowing the police, it’s going to take forever to find that specific blunt weapon. Everyone was shocked by her death. She was nice, outgoing and friendly. Jessica was James’ classmate. No one knew why Jessica was killed, nor who. All we can do is mourn over her.
The headaches were subsiding, and the week after Jessica’s murder, Janine Sanchez was found hanging dead on the flagpole. All I know that she was known for being a huge fan of James’ work. Some say that she wanted to be his apprentice or something. Sadly, she’ll never be his apprentice.
The school was worried because of the killings happening for the past weeks. Police were everywhere at the campus. They check every student’s bag before we could enter the school. They even set a curfew at 7:00 pm. But that didn’t stop the killer from killing his fourth victim. Hanna Gutierrez was dead in the art club. How she was killed was more gruesome than the others. She was choked by the brushes that was forced down her throat. Her eyes were plucked using a pencil. The killer must have been bored because he painted the murder. He cut up Hanna’s chest and used her blood as paint.
After Jessica’s death, me, Paulo and James decided to investigate the murders. I tried to solve it as soon as possible but the killer is too fast and smart. He was always one step ahead of me. But I saw a pattern of his killings. All the victims were girls who were close to James. And there were only two people left who are close to James. And I knew how to lure the killer.
My planned work... I was able to lure the killer out of his hiding spot. But the identity of the killer wasn’t something I was prepared to know.
I threw up. Just thinking how sick I was… The gruesome images of those girls I’ve murdered. I can’t take it anymore. I coughed up the remaining bile up in my throat. Acid still lingered in my throat. I kept walking in this cave, earthly by touch and smell. It was then lightning struck, and the flash of the lightning struck my eyes. I was at the exit of the cave, but I don’t know if the cops stopped finding me. It’s not only a matter of time that the cops would retrace their steps back to me. Then again, what’s the point of running any way? I’m marked a criminal. My only friends were afraid of me. James probably swore never to see me again. But if I could just get myself out of this mess, maybe I can start a new life. Maybe I can go back to my old life, then. It’s all just maybes from here on out. It’s all in the final stretch. I took a deep breath, firmly checked my broken ankle and limped away like hell.
I kept on going. The pain of my ankle reminded me of my mortality. Out in the distance, I saw the police. As quickly and quietly as I could, I hid behind a bush. They were going the opposite direction but I couldn’t risk leaving now. I waited for them to leave my sight. When a policeman shines his flashlight in my direction, I couldn’t help but wonder if he saw me. I was waiting for someone to see me and chase after me again. I could hear my heart pounding as I watched them look for me. After ten minutes, the police wondered off to another area. I waited for a few more minutes before coming out of my hiding spot, hoping they’re actually gone. When they haven’t returned, I kept on going. It’s now the logical thing to do… Head back to somewhere I am familiar of and away from the cops. My house? No… I don’t think I’ll be welcome… And the police might have it surrounded by now. My friend’s house? No… He’s going to put me back there… Nowhere is safe… I limped my way to the opposite direction.
All I care right now is to be away from the cops and out of the forest. Each sound that I hear makes me jump but each time was just an animal or the wind. After walking for half an hour, I stopped. The pain in my getting is worse that it’s unbearable to ignore. I pulled up my pant leg. My ankle is so purple and swollen. I’m afraid that they’ll have to cut my foot off.
“They’ll really cut it off...” someone whispered.
I turned around, expecting a cop behind me but no one was around. The trees were still. I waited for someone to come out behind one of the trees but none came out. It must been my imagination…
“You’re wrong there, girly...” the voice said.
“Who’s there?” I called out, looking around frantically.
“You still don’t know who?” It’s such a familiar voice...
“Show yourself!” My voice thundered across the air; It made me had a sense of grit.
“Are you sure?” The words sound threatening. Sounded threatening; My grit was fading away.
A dark figure came out of the shadows. I felt my heart dropped when the person stepped out to the light.
No… No! It should be some doppleganger.
The doppelganger ticked her tongue, shaking her head in disappointment, “Am I really that stupid?” She grabbed me by the shoulders so hard, her nails must’ve left a mark on it. “I am you!
I felt dumbfounded. Why am I looking at myself? Why am I holding… Oh shit there must’ve been some sort of drug in that cave-
“You must think you’re high, aren’t you?”
“How many times do I have to say that I am you?”
I bit my tongue. Not knowing what I should say next. I eyed on her disgustingly. Her outfit was same as mine, but hers was somehow cleaner than mine. Yet my mind could perceive what it wants to see. I do look better without the blood and mess on me.
I hear the sound of cops coming in close. Flashlights from the distance beamed across the trees and fog. The other me pulled me into an empty dead tree and covered it with surrounding dead branches, and with a little precaution, covered it with leaves. I could hear the crackle of leaves and the sniffing of dogs. Oh shit the dogs… I forgot there are dogs around.
“I fucking forgot the dogs…”
Smooth… Real smooth. I am sandwiched with some sort of alter ego of me with cops at my tail, and with a dog, it would make the chase cut short, with me being caught and brought to somewhere far away.
The dog barked. Oh my God… It’s all over. I’ll be up in an asylum, and I won’t get to live the same old life I had before, even if it means being picked on over and over. I’d prefer living with my family than a padded cell. The dog sniffed loudly, and I could hear it coming closer and closer. I closed my eyes, and even silently prayed that this shit, and the shit before, was a dream.
A gunshot came up from the distance. Some random hick firing for a drunken reason, I assume, but it was bunked when it came closer and hit one of the police. The K-9 officer decided to let the dog chase the gun toting idiot I would call a friend if I ever meet them up at some other life. Though I don’t know who it was exactly, I thank them softly as the cops decided to come after the gun blazing fool.
I got myself out of the trunk when the cops were finally away, and kept limping as far as I can. Away from cops. Away from anyone at all for now.
My senses took note of every rustle of leaves and grass. Eyes sharpened to any alerting sign of a foreign light aside from thunder or the dim moon. It’s all on me now. One trip or anything that will go against me will be my end.
I limped all the way to a farther place. A place that has a view of absolutely nothing but darkness, but by my nose sensing the saline air and my ears got the sound of waves crashing below me indicated I am at a shoreline. Above, specifically.
It was so dark that all I can rely upon determining how high I am are the moon and my hearing, but I hardly say it’s accurate for a correct or even a good estimate for how high I am. Even though I would know how high I am, I don’t know if it’s safe to jump. If rocks won’t be the problem, the shore below would break me. Even water can make one feel like hitting concrete, when falling from a high place.
“You really do think much, don’t you?”
“You left me behind there in the trunk. It’s really uncomfortable-”
“You’re not even real, bitch.”
“Fighting words… I would punch you so bad too. Unfortunately, you’re smart enough that you can’t do that.”
“Not to get caught, that’s what.”
“I go where you go, so technically I don’t want to get caught.”
“Thinking. Thinking. Geez, this is what got you here in the first place. You kept thinking. And thinking. And thinking. Who would’ve thought that I think so much about James, that I want him for myself?!”
Damn… This thing is getting on my nerves.
“Listen, girly. You and I, we wanted him so bad. We thought of him so bad. So MUCH. That you would decide that the only way to get him in default is kill every little snitch who’s out to get him, and us.”
“But I didn’t ask for murder, bitch!”
“But what other choice is there? Look. You are basically a nerd. A nobody. You got no other talent than write an entire thesis paper all by yourself. You got no money. No good clothes. Not even a confidence to sway him. NOT EVEN SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO IN RETURN. So? What did we do?”
“As if you need to know the answer…”
“Damn you! Alright, We killed them!”
“Yes! Can’t you see that?! Can’t you see?! Because of your little brain of yours that want to go melt with him, you decided that the world shouldn’t melt for him!”
“I just can’t believe it! This isn’t me!”
“Oh sister... Those headaches are just you being something new!”
“This isn’t up for a discussion, bitch!”
“Why insult yourself? You’re the bitchy one- no scratch that- we’re the bitches here, and we will rule him over by making sure no one else WILL!”
She melted into the darkness, leaving me confused and furious. The things she told me just arose more questions than answers. She made me hate myself even more. I stood there in the dark. I screamed and pulled my hair out of frustration.
“I’m not insane! I’m not insane! I’m not insane!” I kept screaming to keep me sane. Each yank and pull of my hair was more painful than the last and each word I yelled is louder by the minute. This wasn’t helping. Not even a bit.
I stopped when I heard feet running coming towards. I heard barking and yelling. Lights are coming closer. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t grasp what was happening. The police were getting closer. I was still standing there, doing nothing. A cop pointed at me and yelled “There she is!”, that’s when I snapped and started running.
Until a sharp response from my ankle woke my memory up quick. Fuck, that hurts…
They were closing in on me. Flashlights beamed to me, exposing me from the dark. I felt so ashamed. Exposed, even. A spotlight over the foolish actress on the stage of life.
All I want is to melt away to the shadows like the insane side of me…
Wait… The shore below me…
I inched closer to the cliff. The crashing of waves felt inviting to my ears. The breeze had its arms stretched out on me, pulling me in for a hug.
The cops must’ve noticed my next move. “STOP!” One of them yelled out their lungs.
I stopped and turned around. They were all still on their tracks.
“Don’t do anything stupid!” They yelled.
How can one say that I am smart to not jump off the cliff? I’m a looney. I’m crazy. I could barely differ from slapping a bitch to a face to a stab in the neck of a bitch. I mean, I’ve been doing stupid things under the brain of a genius, which is murder, so what does the cop have to convince me not to do something stupid?
Future? Tainted with blood.
Well… It turns out geniuses did stupid things to make those things turn out to be genius.
So I’m willing to do my share.
I stepped closer to the cliff, and the cops came closer, still. Glaring flashlights pointed at my “genius”. My greatest achievement.
Either I die by crashing on the tide too hard, hitting my head by the rocks down there, slamming whatever is at the cliffside, or stop resisting and spend the rest of my days in a white room, wearing a straitjacket. None of those choices sound inviting to me.
“What are you waiting for? Jump...”
There she goes again, making me do something insane. But insane it may be, it may get me out of this situation. I just need to take one more step.
“STOP! You don’t know what you’re doing!”
And now I looked at them confidently, and said, “I know what I am doing. The genius thing to do.”
Either I die, or live another life...