Blood...

Your cowardliness can lead you to your insanity.

“Sir, do you know her?” I nodded. The policeman asked me a lot of questions about her.

“What are you doing here in her apartment?” the police officer interrogated.

“I... I... just want to visit her and check if she is still fine.” My hands start to tremble. It was my fault.

“Uhm, what was your relationship to her? Are you the friend of Miss Zoe?” I can't look away from her body hanging in the ceiling with the blood on her wrist.

She ended her life. What will happen if I choose to be with her all the time?

I know, she can handle the pain if I stay with her. I left her and I regret it.

Their cameras continue to flash and the media were already here.

I left dumbfounded.

“Sir Zhian Azrael, you can go home now, we will continue to ask some questions to you tomorrow morning,” the police said once again.

Three hours had passed, while I'm watching the advertising on the TV, the news started... It's all about to her, Zoe Amethyst, my lady.

I'm sorry... That's the only word that I can say to her. It feels like something was stabbing my heart.

My professor messages me that I can take a break from school.

“Zhian... do you understand?”

“Huh?” I gasped. I forgot that I'm with my mother.

“I said, just keep quiet and don't tell them any information that you know about Zoe Amethyst...”

“But Mom—” she cut me off immediately.

“Just listen to me! It's for your own sake!” She shouted. I sighed.

“You are a writer, remember?” I nodded as a sign of my answer.

“Zoe Amethyst can ruin your life... listen to me, please... I am your mother,” she said with a serious, and blank expression.

“You're wrong Mom... Zoe Amethyst is my life.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Her voice was starting to raise.

“Maybe,” she glared at me. I gulped to cleared my throat.

“Go home, we can talk it later.” She stood up and started to walk away.

While her back is slowly losing from my sight, I heard a loud bang coming from the kitchen of the restaurant.

A sudden commotion started.

Because of my curiosity, I step forward to the crowded people.

“What happened?” I asked. I looked at the other witnesses to know some information.

“Gross, look at the chef's face.”

“Oh no! His blood is already in the foods!”

“Hurry up! Call the Ambulance!”

Different voices and different conclusions are reaching my hearing.

Amethyst? I can see her at the corner of the kitchen. Why? She smirked.

“Can someone go to the CCTV room and ask the person to check it?” The policeman came out of nowhere.

“WHAT'S THAT?” We heard a loud bang once again.

A man with a black mask holding a gun, and it's pointing the gun at us.

The policeman didn't show up, yet he chose to hide and wait for the right time to arrest this man with a black mask.

A pair of motorcycles loaded with the men same as the man who was holding a gun.

They cornered us inside the restaurant.

“Give me your money and phones! I will kill the person who wants to fight back.”

When you looked at their faces, you can sense their fears and anxiety.

I sat down, and I keep to convinced myself that it will end peacefully.

How about my Mom? I wonder if where is she.

Does she arrive safely at her work?

I don't know either if it is a yes or no, because she doesn't send some messages to notify if she's fine or not.

“Psst...” Someone's whisper is reaching my ears.

“Help me... my dad... He needs an emergency, my family messaged me that he needs an ambulance because of his heart... It's stopped.”

I felt like my soul left my body, his eyes were full of different emotions.

I want to help him but I can't.

Likewise, I can't help myself...

Silence, a different kind of silence. All of a sudden, the restaurant was covered in silence.

The burglars are confused.

I sneak carefully to the fire exit and I gave a signal to one of the staff in the restaurant that needs help.

“THEY ARE HERE! RUN! RUN! RUN!” the man shouted.

The people who are in the middle of their fears were running and screaming for help.

Multiple of the loud bang that you can hear and their loud footsteps. I feel like I'm going to be deaf, because of them.

A siren of a police car reverberates.

I don't know what happened to me... my sight becomes blurry, and I can't hear anything.

I felt like my knees and feet can't support my body. Unable to walk or run.

“Amethyst... I'm sorry,” I murmured.

She walked to come closer to me while smiling.

I wish I can still see your smile in real life, not from my hallucinations.

She held me in my face.

“I love you...” she said.

My tears start to fall, and it's dripping down on my face.

“Stop crying, will you?” she said while having a sweet and beautiful smile.

I nodded like a child.

“I will not leave you alone... I will be by your side all the time. I promise,” she said while whispering to my ears.

Her voice is very calming, and amusing.

Where am I?

Am I dreaming? Yes, it is, and the surrounding can be strong evidence that I'm just dreaming.

She wears a white dress and a white rose that was pinning between her hair and ear.

I miss you, Zoe Amethyst. If I can go back to the past, I will save you.

“Can you write our story?” I sit properly beside her.

“Yes, Of course, as long as you are my protagonist.” I cheerfully answered her question.

“Can you make it a happy ending?” I can sense her sadness.

“Sure, I will be the writer in our story, I will do my best just to make it a happy ending that you deserve the most.” She held my hand.

“Zhian Azrael, see you in our next life, but I'm sure that I will stay by your side.” She still has something to tell me, but I can't hear her voice.

My heart beats fast like I'm running, but when I open my eyes, I'm still here, lying down on the floor of the restaurant.

Bloodstains everywhere.

Looks like many people died.

Someone held my hand.

“Zhian! Over here!”

After I heard that voice, I open my eyes but no one is there. After those events in the restaurant, everything is going well and fine.

However, the policemen arrested the burglars, and the corpses were in a peaceful place.

Although, their families reacted, and they want to file a case against the burglars.

It's already 9:00 am and I don't have breakfast.

I need to pass my chapter to the writing platform that I'm contracted with because if I'm not able to pass it, they will hold my monthly salary.

I can't stop myself from reminiscing about our story, Zoe Amethyst. It's sounds

On how our life goes on, or what challenges that we took together.

I guess I will eat my brunch later.

My photo album suddenly fell from the shelf.

These photos were taken when we are young.

In a minute, I felt my heart beating fast like I was chasing from my nightmare.

I already submitted my chapters after a few hours. I took a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

I'm ready to eat, maybe I will continue this tomorrow morning.

“Oh, Zhian, thank God, you don't have any wounds and bruises.” My mother smiled at me, and she shows me her delicious dishes.

“Hungry? Go on, sit down.”

I shrugged my shoulders and I heard my stomach sounds like it's rumbling inside.

“Don't go to Zoe Amethyst's funeral, that is an order.”

Why? I just want to see her just for the last time.

“I promise, I will make sure that they will not see me at her funeral, just allow me... please?” I pleaded. She sighed.

“Fine, but make it sure...” I nodded.

She's not done talking, but I cut her immediately. I stood up and I grabbed my tea.

Likewise, I went to my room and found out that I need to go there and talk to her mother.

Not only that, but I just want to apologize for not being able to help her daughter at all costs.

An hour has been passed.

I reached their house, and it seems like they were all inside their home.

The doorbell rang, and someone came out.

It was her mother. I can sense her agony just looking into her eyes.

It makes sense, eyes can't lie.

I can't say a word... all I know was the mistakes that I made in the past.

“Uhm... Mrs. Riego, I'm so sorry.”

Finally! She smiled... a sad smile.

“Come in, Azrael,” she said, and she opens the gate for me to be able to express my sympathy.

I stand still, how can I move on? If I still see her face from my memories.

I don't know if I can face her family.

“Let's go...” she said with an assurance smile.

“Zoe Amethyst, I'm sorry my daughter, I didn't know that you had been suffered like that...” her tears starting to fall in her cheeks.

I keep silent.

“How I wish, I know it from the start, maybe I can stop her,” she said, while her voice is trembling.

Maybe?

“I keep pushing her to study and reach our expectations... That's why my ears were closed for her,” she muttered with an airy voice.

“I didn't listen to her even once.”

She looked at me.

“When you are with her, does she told you something about our family?” she asked out of the blue.

Something?

“Nothing,” I replied.

We reached inside their house.

I saw her... bed, it's separated between the glasses.

“Zhian Azrael, right?”

I heard a familiar voice. I gave a glanced at him, it's our batchmate.

Furthermore, I sat beside him, and he starts our conversation. It looks like he wants to know something.

“I thought, you are her current boyfriend,” he said with a silly laugh.

“My bad, It is just my thoughts.” He looked at me with a blank stare.

“Who are you?” I asked with a cold voice.

“I'm one of her past,” he said which makes me to gasping for air.

“I never thought that she can do it, I know she's brave enough,” he said, while his head was looking at the ground.

“I think, something is wrong about this.”

I keep silent and still listening to him.

What if, he's right?

There's something wrong, we knew her.

She's strong, and she's always positive.

Wait, who's that?

I saw a shadow beside her mom.

It's like, she or he wants to calm Amethyst's Mom, but it's different? That was just my conclusion.

“You saw it too?” this guy beside me said while pointing at the shadow.

My eyes widen.

I... know her.

After a minute or two, I can see her.

I fix my clothes and hair.

My hands starting to tremble.

It can't be.

From the time that I came here, I already disobeyed my mother, so I'm starting to regret it.

I looked at the shadow once again.

She's looking at me while having a casual smile.

“Sorry...” I whispered.

I checked my phone and sent my messages to my mother.

All of a sudden, the shadow was here sitting beside me.

30 minutes had passed, but I didn't receive any replies from my Mom.

“Are you okay?” someone asked me, but my attention is on my phone.

Mom, please answer my messages.

“Excuse me,” I stood up, and I went out to call my Mom.

It's just ringing over and over.

No one answered it.

Until...

“Hello? Who's this?” I asked. I'm nearly shouting.

My mom answered it, but she's not talking.

“Mom? Where are you? Are you okay?”

I checked my wristwatch.

I'm here for 2 hours already.

My heart is beating as fast as I'm running in the never-ending path.

The guy was right.

There is something wrong.

I want to prove it, and also I want to know what is it.

I went to Mrs. Riego, Amethyst's Mom, and I said, that I have something to do.

She agreed, and she bid goodbye.

I'm walking in this empty street.

My sweats are dripping, and it makes me uncomfortable.

Something wrong was happening with my Mom.

I need to hurry.

I decided to run as fast as I can just to reach our house.

When I came home. I shouted, “Mom! Where are you?”

But I didn't hear my mother's voice.

I searched and searched around our house, but I can't find her.

It's already noon.

My heart pounding out from my chest.

I saw a piece of paper on the table.

It says, “Kindly, meet me at the coffee shop, near the vacant house.”

Huh? Vacant house?

At the back of the paper, “The house where Zoe Amethyst, ended.”

I looked at the door because of the slammed.

It's her again, the girl that I've seen earlier at Amethyst's funeral.

A long black hair with a light blue dress.

“Who are you?” I murmured.

Just like the note said.

I've arrived here in the house since the coffee shop was already closed.

There still a police line, I decided to went inside the house and starts to wonder.

I think I can get some clues in here.

I want to see my Mom, but I also want to know what is going on in this place.

A heavy footstep from the upstairs reached my senses.

Does someone is here?

I don't think so, but maybe, because of that note.

Come to think of it, in my conclusion, someone sent me that note, I assumed that behind that note is a real person.

I look around to figure out who is the one who sent that letter.

Not only that, but I heard a soft sound.

“Zhian...”

Furthermore, I can hear the voice, but it's from out of nowhere.

I don't know where to find it, I'm just following the voice.

The voice is turning into a blaring sound, and it's hurting my hearing.

Different noises, different voices.

I closed my eyes for a while, and I took a heavy breath to calm myself.

“Zhian...”

My eyes keep closed.

“I'm here...” a cold voice is covering my ears.

A lot of souls are here.

Ghost to be exact, “What are you doing here?” she asked while her hand is running into my shoulder.

“Zhian... you must protect yourself from any harm.”

I decided to open my eyes, and her image appeared in my sight.

“Especially, to humans.” She walks, and she held my hand.

We went inside a dark room, and it's smell like rotten meat? It's hard to describe.

She giggles, “What do you think? What was that smell?” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Where is my mom?” I asked her.

Maybe, she knows it.

“I don't know, you need to move off, it's dangerous in here—”

“But, I need to find my Mom!” I glared at her.

She becomes silent.

She looked down and released a sigh.

“You don't understand what's going on.” Her eyes were blank, and it's hard to read her emotions this time.

“Then, explain it to me! What happened to you? Why did you end your life?” I think I expressed it too much.

“It's for you to find out, but make sure that you will live.”

“Amethyst...” I murmured.

Her tears fall from her cheeks.

“I did it on purpose,” she whispered.

Loud footsteps were echoing in a wide, and darkroom.

I moved out as fast as I can.

Furthermore, I heard someone saying profanities.

The next day, after that incident, I'm back in school, my professor told me that I need to take an exam.

My mother didn't come home last night. She must be somewhere else.

While I'm walking, someone bumps into my shoulder, and her things split up.

Looks like she's crying.

“Sorry, my mind was space out that time, I didn't see you,” I said with a casual look.

“Nah, I'm sorry, it's my fault.” She stood up and starts to pick up her things.

I helped her, “I'm from 8th grade, sorry,” she said while forcing herself to smile.

She had bruises on her arm and her shoulder.

Did she bump me that much? I don't think so.

“Are you okay? I will accompany you to the clinic, it seems like you had bruises.” she immediately covered it with her palm.

“I'm okay, no need, thank you, I'll go ahead, see you around!” She starts to walk, she's heading to the Dean's office.

“Yow, Zhian! I heard that you'd posted something!” someone shouted.

Here we go, the bullies.

There are bullies everywhere, they are like germs that are hard to avoid, or to prevent.

“Poor Zhian, have you already heard of the news?” someone's put its arm around my shoulder.

“About the boy who went to the house where the incident happens.”

My eyes widen.

I removed his arm around my shoulder, we're not friends at all. He put it back again.

“Move.” He just laughed.

“Oh, I'm scared, by the way, the news said that they found another corpse.”

I remained silent and still walking.

“Don't lay your filthy hands in my clothes.” I'm getting annoyed with this brat.

“Why? Do your hands are clean?” he gave me his disgusted look.

“Stop pretending, Zhian Azrael, You are an honor student.” He removed his arm and made a distance from me.

“The news said that the corpse they found was wearing a light blue dress, but she had a gunshot to her temple.”

I felt like, I need to gasp for air.

It's hard to breathe like I have a boulder to my chest.

It can't be.

“She's your mom, Am I right?” his voice became phlegmatic.

I didn't reply.

“You don't want to believe that news, it seems like you built your reality.”

His voice turns into a female voice.

“Zhian Azrael, can't you just accept the fact?”

I felt like my tears are going to fall, but I keep myself calm.

“Someday, your world will be run by your conscience,” she keeps whispering.

I can't see anything, the surrounding is covering by the darkness.

It's hard to breathe, and hard to think straight.

“Why you're so quiet? What's bothering you?”

I heard heavy footsteps, and it's coming closer to me.

The bell rang.

I came back to reality. I'm still standing in the hallway, and everybody was looking at me.

Hence, I cleared my throat, when I realized that it is already time.

Therefore, I'm early for the next subject, if you know what I mean.

For instance, I rushed to reach my room so that I can precede my professor.

When I came inside the room, they glanced at me.

“Hey!”

Someone's waving at me.

I start to walk towards her.

“Hmm?” She smiled. Her weary eyes and curvy casual smile make me want to ignore her, yet I can't do that.

She looks like Zoe Amethyst. Do they related to each other?

“I need your help.”