GOODBYE STRANGER
1785 Words
A nasty headache excruciately is something that set to fester Rio’s mood. Another worst thing for how painful her back was after she dwelled on dreams on the tiled floor on her house sala. To recall what happened from the previous night drove her sour – the robbers and the vague memory of being knocked unconscious that cause her grew dizzy until morning came.
“This is killing me.” She groans.
Rio walked to the kitchen. She brewed some coffee to appease the growing headache, not before checking her phone to see any missed calls from Malcolm. A relief to breathe, when she found none. To worry him is least something she wanted to do. She takes small sips from her cup until her eyes landed towards the headline that caught her attention instantly.
HEADLINE: A BODY WERE FOUND HANGING ON THE CATHEDRAL, MURDER OR A KILLING SPREE?
The front page had the image of one of the male she’d encounter. Rio gasped. Long before she heard a knock on her front door.
“Who could it be this time?” Evoke by utter curiosity, it was unusual for somebody to pay her a visit.
Rio opened the door, only to be greeted by two males, who towered her small form. Casually dress, and had an Asian look that made her wonder –isn’t as misleading to assumed whether they are a thief again.
“What could I be any help of?” Rio asked.
“Is this where Ms. Rio Crispin Ivanov Montenegro lives?” The one who have a boyish appearance inquired. He is more massive than the other male. Clad on a buttoned shirt, and a dominating figure, yet Rio isn’t intimidated to say the least. To conclude the badge crest afflicted that they may have been a cop.
“Yes.” Rio maintain the bold look on her eyes. “I am the one you’re looking for.”
“May we interview you for a moment?” The other male side-stepped.
Rio had a growing suspicion what could it be for.
“For what?”
“For the death of Mr. Indigo Velasquez, who were found hanging on the cathedral.” The man responded.
Her hunches were right.
“Am I being treated as a prime suspect?” Unwavered orbs daren’t budge for a quick moment.
“Depending on your responses.”
“Do you have a warrant?” Rio pushed her luck.
The two male stop on their tracks. They look at each other, stunned.
“I assumed you haven’t had it.” Rio stated. “Then that means no.”
“Ms. Rio, the thing is –“
But she cuts them off.
“I won’t agree to an interview without any warrant of arrest.” Rio is firmed on her decision. “Have a good day, Detectives.”
“Dammit!” Ruscov went back to the car they brought, fuming.
“Chill, man.” Reed is on his tail, who earned an immediate glare.
“It’s your fault!” He gritted his teeth.
“How can it be my fault, when you are the one who’s in a hurry?” The sarcastic remark had made a nonchalant move that drove Ruscov madness to the core.
“You –!”
RING. The raging bull has been stopped by the sudden dial. Ruscov fished out his phone. Yet the foul mood far itched on his visage had not dither.
“Hello.” He tried to calm his nerves. “What could it be – Ella… yes? – What?!”
Wide-eyed, his lips parted agape. The call ended, yet he did not put his phone down.
“What happened?” Reed walked closer to where he was.
“It’s Ella—” The denial he couldn’t believe shapes how dumbfounded Ruscov was at the sudden news. “—she’s dead.”
“What?!”
BELIZE STATION
Screeeech. Ella jumped out from her seat, rigid. Quivering lips imposed her fears, and the sound merely had her chest on a drum. She deems to be stress by something unknown to her. Shudders came forth a reminder of each picture shows Indigo’s visage; missing, yet a b****y imprint left lead for her to cover her ears. Her eyes dilated. Why can she hear his pleas for her to run and save him?!
“—S—stop, please.” Big and ugly fat tears rolled down on Ella’s eyes.
Thunderous groans flashed head for an avalanche of memories – laments of what if’s to scenarios that could have may not occurred. Remorse of how Indigo lost the life he tried to sough after and live. To breathe the course, yet taken. The stolen years that Ella witness. It wasn’t a person, to failed an endeavor how she hold her tongue to speak aloud. The moment of silence, an ominous forbidding features trailed up to what reminds her that night.
Deprived of the chances she could’d have.
“Are we not going to follow him?” Ella bit her lips.
Rupert ignored her. To say that Indigo is stubborn were least of his concern. Whereas for Ella, it is. To have the male as a brother through the years of troubles and days defined clouds to be blue, and clear. The storm brewing on the horizon strengthened the feeling on depth as they held hands and promise to remain in spite of what could may happen. Their night prowl. Escapade against cops and hooligans who dare attempt to take advantage of the pair. Ella appreciate those days, and she knew how hard-headed the male was.
“I’ll find him. You can take Roberto back.” Ella stated, determined. “We'll follow behind you two.”
“Just don’t get troubles with some cops.” Rupert reminded her.
Ella nodded her head. So forth, she chose the latter to follow where Indigo had gone from. Her footfalls left behind the trails of soft thuds coming from the heel of her shoes. The sky seems dark. She couldn’t brush off either way whether a rain would pour as there are malady being carried by the night breeze. It feels cold, and chilly; scary, and something terrible she couldn’t put into words. Ella, when see reaches the end of the ally slowly changed her pace. She walked cautiously, and her eyes almost gleamed, when she saw Indigo’s back turned to where she was.
“Indigo—” Ella waved her hand, but her smile disappear, when she realized something.
Indigo isn’t alone. Right ahead of him, 1 meter away is a figure, which she assumed to be a man, because of his build. He got closer, but when he does, the horror – so horrifying that it drove her crazy was the thick layer of skin hanging on his hand. The light coming from the moon were fair enough for her to caught a glimpse what could it be. Her stomach churned. Wide-eyed, she trembles and fell behind. Her lips quiver in utter shock. Stunned, and scared.
I—it’s Indigo’s face torn from his flesh!
Within the confrontation room, a scream were heard, blood-curdling. Ella hold her head. Her actions speaks of the trauma she couldn’t voice out and shared. It’s a total chaos that drum her temples, the ache she felt is nonstop. The memories is too much for her to be so overwhelming – a formidable insanity. Deranged thoughts hovered without any cure. His voice – and the horrifying truth is an avalanche foreboding lead to an utter doom. Ella had gone crazy. The edge she failed, and the the brother she could not even save on her own, died – no farewells, Indigo is taken from her.
“N—no! It’s my fault you died!” Ella wailed.
Her cries caused alarm towards the cops outside the room, and so the door was busted, and carry a silhouette of a man on his 20’s, a young detective. He raised one of his palm to show he’s harmless.
“Ms. Rodriguez, please calm down—” Amends taken, yet affliction dither affront the anguish on Ella’s chest.
“I—it’s my fault!” She shook her head vigorously. “I-I killed him!”
“Ms. Rodriguez –“
“A-AHHHHHH! I-I can hear his voice! P-please make it stop!”
Ella hit her head on the table. The cup filled with coffee spilled and crashed on the floor. c***k.
“This is Beta, over.” Concern drips on the man’s voice. “The witness on the room is totally losing her control. She’s on an amok, and was totally dangerous, over.”
Ella is at lost. The man received an order. He nodded his head in response, although the person on the other line wouldn’t be able to see it. With careful eyes hovering to assess what he perceived the way Ella acts were only to redeemed the law if ever she attacked. Her actions if harmful the danger must be suppress. It is his duty to imposed what the law said.
“Ms. Rodriguez –“ Failed attempt to appease Ella’s struggles only worsened the situation.
She’s a lost cause. She screamed and shout. A sudden glimpsed towards the g*n holstered seems to widen the c***k. Insane, and desperate, Ella rushed. Her sudden action surprised the police officer, and so forth before she could do harm, a loud shot rings in the station.
“W-wha—” Perplexed, Ella gasped loudly.
A warm and thick liquid gushed out from her clothes painting it red. The pain did not register yet. Wide-eyed, Ella trembles, and felt where the crimson liquid is coming from. There is a hole. A wound caused by the g*n. THUD. Her body falls.
“N-no… no.” She cries pitifully. All seems to go back to normal, but it’s too late. Ella lifted her head, she bit her lips. “H-help me—”
But the officer only stood there.
“No.” Strangely, he said.
“W-what?” Dumbfounded, Ella winced, but imagine her horror, when a strange smile she’s been familiar with suddenly formed on the police officer’s lips. It grew wider, it widens that it feels like the flesh on his face would tore apart. Ella is mortified to what she’s been seeing.
Tongue-tied doubled with horror, when he placed his radio on his lips with the same sinister smile.
“Ms. Rodriguez—” There is a shallow scream inside her chest, but Ella felt immobile. “—is dead.”
And so she knew what fate would have befall on her.
‘Oh, God.’
Ella knew that all routed to death.
@cycy
- Writer
