《Bright Hand》


 Chapter 1

    The young girl moves the mug to her mouth. Her lips touch the warm liquid; with joy, She drinks the coffee. A shine annoys her eyes. At her side, a young man cleans the golden watch that decorates his wrist.


    "Can you stop fucking with that for one second?"


    "You are jealous because dad didn''t give you anything."


    "It was your birthday..."


    "And? Even so, they didn''t give you anything for yours."


    "Ugh, I didn''t ask for anything. I don''t want anything from dad."


    "I didn''t ask For anything." The young man mimics the voice with a mocking tone.


    The young girl rolls her eyes. The sound of high heels interrupts the discussion.


    "Katherine, the bathroom is empty." The woman enters the kitchen. She wears a black office suit; her hair is still wet.


    "Thanks, mom." Katherine gets up from her chair.


    "I want to use the bathroom too." The young man argues.


    "Bryan, let your sister go first."


    The young man clenches his fist with anger.


    Katherine walks away without first showing her middle finger to his brother. The black nails decorate her hands.


    The young woman carefully passes the eyeliner around her eyes. The black highlights her brown eyes. She sprinkles a little pink powder on her cheeks; her pale skin glows, and a heavy layer of black eye shadow covers her eyelids, followed by lipstick of the same shade.


    "Hurry up. I''m pissing myself." Bryan bangs on the bathroom door.


    "Line up." Katherine answers calmly while she purses her lips. After her makeup routine is done, she waits a couple of extra minutes before leaving.


    "It was about time!" The young man rushes into the room.


    "What''s your problem? You can''t take a no for an answer?"


    "Shut up, Kathy."


    "Learn to lose. I can''t imagine how you will react when someone rejects your love confession."


    "Nobody''s going to reject me. I''m not as ugly as you are, pig face, fool, idiot."


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The young girl ignores her brother''s tantrum.


    "I''m going, mom!"


    "See you at night, sweety! I left the food ready for dinner!" The mother''s voice answered from the kitchen.


    "Uhu..." Katherine let out a sigh. "Again, working late..." The young girl mutters as she leaves the house.


    Music is playing through her headphones; Katherine bobs her head at the rhythm of the drum. Her concentration is interrupted by the figure of a man approaching from the other side of the street.


    A middle-aged man walks with difficulty toward the girl. The man squints at Katherine as if he''s looking directly into the sun.


    "Hello?" The man says with a raspy voice.


    Katherine ignores the man and keeps walking.


    "Wait, don''t go. I... I don''t know where I am. I need help." The man approaches from behind.


    "So early they bother me." Katherine removes her headphones. "Where you come from?"


    "I... I don''t know..."


    "You have to come from somewhere. What''s the last thing you remember?" Katherine says this without turning around.


    "I woke up close to the highway, a few blocks from here." The man raises his hand to his head. The pain appears in his brain. "Weird, you are the first person I have seen since then, also..."


    "I think I have time." Katherine looks at her cell phone. "Let''s go."


    "Oh, thank you." The man covers his eyes when looking at Katherine.


    They both begin to walk down the street.


    "I appreciate it. I was a little scared. Waking up in the middle of the street with no one around surprised me."


    "Yeah, yeah... Shut up. Shortly, we will find someone to help you with that."


    Katherine maintains her stoic expression, always looking straight ahead. The man, meanwhile, staggers from left to right, trying to keep up with the young woman.


    Both reach the highway. Katherine can see an ambulance in the distance.


    "Oh, thank you very much; I appreciate it, but I think there''s something wrong with me, with my eyes. when I look at you... is like watching the sunshine..."


    "Whatever, hurry up." Katherine shoos him away with her hands.


    The man says goodbye with a smile and turns around.


    "Hello? I need help." The man approaches the back of the ambulance. The rear doors are open. "Hello? Is anyone... here?


    The man lays his eyes on a shape. A body lays down on a stretcher. He can see the features of the face, the eyes out of the sockets, and a big hole in the back of the head. The man raises his hand to his nape, and his lips tremble.


    "Is this a joke...? It can be... it''s me..." Around the body, he can see the shapes appear little by little, shadows that move around his body. He can see the paramedics pass through his ethereal body.


    The man, dragging his feet, returns to Katherine.


    "You get it now?" The young girl looks across the street. She can see a man talking desperately with a cop.


    "I..."


    "You are dead."


    The man shakes his head.


    She nods.


    "Then... I guess..." The man stumbles between his words as memories come to his mind. Wrong time to cross the street; a black car, a young driver, and darkness. "Oh my god, my family, my daughter." The man''s knees give out.


    "I don''t have much time. The sooner you realize your situation, the sooner I go to class."


    "Are you an angel?" The man looks straight at Katherine''s face. The glow radiating from the girl blinds him.


    "None of that. I''m just an unfortunate woman cursed by birth."


    "What awaits me now?"


    "I don''t know. I know that you have to go far away."


    "Go? Where to?"


    "I don''t know."


    The man looks down. A tear falls down his cheek.


    "I understand. I have not been a saint... Where am I going to end up?"


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m the only one capable of seeing your true last moments. Leave with a smile."


    The man nods, remembers his family, and concentrates on the happy moments of his life with his friends. His warm smile lights up his face.


    "Thank you."


    The man''s body dissolves into white particles that ascend to the heavens.


    Katherine watches the clouds for a few seconds before spitting on the ground.


    "About time, how annoying... I''m going to be late for class."


    Katherine turns around towards the school.

 Chapter 2

    Katherine''s hand goes to her cell phone. She is about to resume her music when a female voice interrupts her.


    "Kathy! Hey, Kat, Wait!" The girl screams in her high-pitched voice, the words reverberating with the tone of a squeaky toy.


    Katherine turns around; in the distance, a short young woman approaches. A yellow sweater contrasts with the pink skirt; her dyed blonde hair waves in the air; a few strands of dyed pink dance in the golden sea.


    "Good morning, Lexy..."


    "The sexy!" The girl jumps up and makes a peace sign with both hands.


    "Uhu..."


    "Late again? Did you stay masturbating until the wee hours of the morning again?"


    "Late again? Did you let the football team take turns in the dressing room again?"


    "Ha ha, of course." Lexy pats Katherine on the back.


    "Don''t touch me. I can feel syphilis and gonorrhoea dripping from your body."


    "Aw~ always so bitter... You need to smile more! Maybe if you smile more, the bags under your eyes will disappear."


    "You know I have problems sleeping, without pills... without pills, I can''t rest in peace."


    "Hmm~ I see... Maybe you need to put that dildo of yours to use."


    "I told you it was one time, and no, it didn''t help at all," Katherine replies without shame.


    "Alcohol? drugs?" Lexy rests her pinkie on her bottom lip.


    "No thanks, I''d like to try to sleep without destroying my life in the process."


    "Maybe you should try crying. Some people say it helps to tire the eyes."


    "I have never cried in my life; I never will."


    "Hey ladies, over here." A man interrupts the pair''s journey. "May I have a minute of your time?"


    The man adjusts his crimson jacket and takes a card from his pocket; shiny silver and gold rings adorn the fingers of both hands, in his right hand waves a cane made of metal and wood.


    "Maximiliano, Maximiliano Du Pont."


    "Lexy Monroe, a pleasure, Mr. Du Pont." Lexy takes the man''s hand."


    "Lexy, we are late."


    "Don''t worry. It would be just a moment. I own a modelling company. I''m looking for models."


    "Here? On the street?" Katherine looks around her.


    "I''m sorry; now I was going to my office, but when I saw this young lady, I couldn''t help it."


    "OH, fuck you too. Sorry for not being up to it."


    "Kathy! Thank you, Mr. Du Pont. I''m interested." Lexy takes the card.


    "I hope your modelling agency has rules when it comes to hiring minors."


    "Kathy!" Lexy puts her index finger in front of her lips.


    "Don''t worry about that. I could arrange a meeting, Miss Lexy?" The man chuckled.


    "Of course." Lexy puts the card away without taking her eyes off the man.


    "Ugh." Katherine''s eyes can''t go any higher without going all the way around in their sockets.


    "Could you give me another card for my friend? She''s pretty too. We can both be models."


    "Of course." With a smile, the man hands her another card. "Then see you later. The office address is on the card." Maximiliano walks away in the opposite direction.


    "Gross..."


    "Aww, can''t you see Kathy? This could be the beginning of my future as a professional model." Lexy poses.


    "All I saw was a pedophile grooming a stupid schoolgirl."


    "Do you think I''m going to go there without getting something in return? At least I can earn a little money."


    "Doing what?"


    "Modelling, maybe I can have a sugar date with Mr. Max."


    "Oh, is that what they call prostitution now?"


    "Kathy! I mean... you saw his hand. It''s obvious he has a lot of money."


    Lexy reaches over and places the card in the pocket of Katherine''s sweater.


    "An old man with money grooming minors, pretty typical."


    "Always soooo negative."


    "It''s called common sense, just... take care."


    "Of course, I''ll bring condoms."


    "I didn''t mean it... in that way..." Katherine can feel her blood pressure rising and her brain cells dying little by little.


    The school gate appears in front of the girls; a young man dressed as a janitor is waiting on the other side; his left arm is in a cast, and metal rods peek through the bandage. Seeing Katherine and Lexy approach, the young man closes the gate.


    "What''s the big idea? let us through." Katherine plead.


    "No oh~, you''re late." The young man answers.


    "For ten minutes! The rules say¡ª"


    Lexy can''t finish her sentence; the janitor interrupts her.


    "The rules say there''s a minimum length for skirts, yet you come to class dressed like a whore."


    "Hey... let us in; we don''t have time for your stupid games." Katherine crosses her arms.


    "Hmm... I could make an exception..." The young man scratches his chin. "If you let me touch your chest, I''ll open the door for you."


    "You are a pervert! Not in a thousand years!"


    "I wasn''t talking to you, flat."


    "You son of a¡ª"


    "Easy Lexy." Katherine raises her hand. "Just once, and you let us through."


    The young man nods while looking at Katherine''s enormous chest. The young woman approaches the gate, and her body shakes with each step. The young man cannot contain his emotion and lets a drop of saliva fall around the edge of his mouth. He carefully stretches his hand through the metal bars, his fingers just inches from Katherine''s bust. But in a blink, the fingers are captured by the young woman''s hand. She squeezes the fingers together and bends his arm through the bars of the gate.


    "Open the door."


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait!" The young man contorts in pain. "It hurts; stop it!"


    "Open up or I''ll break this one too." Katherine applies pressure, the elbow bent at an awkward angle.


    "Okay, oh! But I need the arm to¡ª"


    "No oh~," Katherine says with a mocking tone. "Lexy, take the keys and open the door."


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Lexy obeys and approaches the gate, stretches out her hand, and takes out a bunch of keys from the pocket of the janitor''s uniform.


    "Which one?" Lexi asks.


    "Oh! The one with the orange paint."


    The blonde girl inserts the key, and with a flick of the wrist, the gate opens.


    "Thank you so much." Katherine lets go of the young man''s hand.


    The young man forcefully contracts his arm and brings it to his chest. The pain in his wrist forces him to squat.


    "Damn bitches, this does not end here."


    "Boohoo, every day is the same with you." Katherine walks past the young man, who''s still kneeling on the ground.


    "See you." Lexy inserts her hand into the young man''s pocket and hands him back the keys.


    Calmly, the pair approaches the school.


    "Ugh, yuck, men don''t do anything but think about sex." Katherine turns and looks at Lexy, rethinking her statement. "Stupid people do nothing but think about sex."


    "So, most of the world is stupid then." Lexy tries to defend herself.


    Katherine nods.


    They both approach the stairs of the building.


    "Well, see you later."


    "See you at recess! Good luck!"


    "Uhu." Katherine goes up the stairs, approaches the door of her classroom, and opens it without shame. Calmly, she approaches her seat.


    "Again late." The teacher reproaches.


    "I have justification; the director has my medical papers, insomnia."


    Katherine shows disinterest in continuing the conversation. The teacher shakes his head in disapproval and continues his class.


    The hours pass quickly; the bell marks the end of the school day. Katherine looks at her cell phone while she waits for her friend, the crowd passes by the girl. Katherine stands out like a shadow among the bright students.


    The unmistakable figure of Lexy approaches through the patio, along with the young janitor with his hand in a cast.


    "What are you doing with that pig?"


    "Oh! Hello Kathy! We were talking about this morning; he was apologizing."


    "Right..."


    "It''s true, Kathy. I''m truly sorry for my attitude." The young man answers.


    "Don''t talk to me like we''re friends; besides, I''d believe you if it wasn''t the same every day."


    "They are jokes, innocent little pranks." The young man waves a pair of grass shears in his good hand.


    "Stop trying to fool me; I''m not as dumb as Lexy."


    "Kathy, he was just doing his job."


    "Yes, Kathy, I was just doing my job."


    "Fuck you. "Let''s go, Lexy."


    "Oh? Okay! See you on Monday."


    "Bye, Lexy, Kathy, stop being late." The young man does not try to hide his mocking tone.


    Katherine responds with an obscene gesture.


    "I frankly do not understand you." Katherine puts her fingers to her eyes and rubs them.


    "Mmm?"


    "It''s like you did it on purpose just to make me mad."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Every time I tell you to stop talking to someone, you don''t listen to me."


    "You worry too much, Kathy."


    "The problem is that you do not recognize the danger or the malicious intentions of people."


    "There is nothing dangerous in talking to people!"


    "Lexy... have you been going to the doctor?"


    "No! I already told you! I''m not sick!"


    "But¡ª"


    "Of all people, you are the least suitable to say that to me!"


    Katherine remains silent and stares at the ground, immediately recognizing her hypocrisy.


    "Sorry, Kathy, I got carried away."


    "It''s okay, you''re right, it''s just that... I care about you."


    "Well, don''t do it; there is nothing to worry about, nothing to fear." Lexy gives her friend a thumbs up.


    "In this life, there is much to fear: people, things, and death."


    "We are two of a kind, the one who lives without fear and the one who lives in fear." Lexy pats Katherine on the back.


    "Like two peas in a pod. Two peas in a pod fucked in the head."


    "Fucked up in various ways."


    "Eww..."


    Lexy laughs outrageously, Katherine joining her with a muffled laugh.


    "Lexy!" The voice of a young man is heard across the street.


    A young man approaches the pair, an aluminium bat resting on his right shoulder, his wrists adorned with spiked leather bracelets, and his black hair standing on end. The young man''s shadow envelops Kathy and Lexy; they both have to look up to see the young man straight in the face.


    "What do you want now, I already told you that I don''t want to see you again!"


    "Lexy, my love, please."


    "Don''t call me that! I don''t want anything with someone as suffocating as you!"


    "Suffocating?! Is worrying about the person I love suffocating?"


    "Esteban! You threatened all my friends! You fought with my cousin! You don''t know how much embarrassment you put me through with your jealousy!" Lexy pokes her finger into Esteban''s chest.


    "I... ugh. Look, Lexy."


    "Nothing! I don''t want to hear anything from you; I don''t want to see you, anything! and drop the tough boy act; you aren''t fooling anyone."


    Katherine, who has remained on the side line, looks at Esteban from head to toe; some scars adorn the young man''s face. She can see the fresh wounds on Esteban''s knuckles. For her, the young man looks quite tough.


    "I guess this is one of your little friends who has been putting things in your head."


    "Shut up, Esteban! Don''t start over; I know what you''re trying to do. Kathy isn''t going to abandon me like the others; don''t try to intimidate her."


    Esteban casts a cold look at Katherine. The young woman remains motionless; she can feel the anger in the young man''s gaze, and she lets out a sigh of annoyance.


    "Let''s go, Lexy; it''s getting late." Katherine takes her friend''s hand.


    They both walk, while Esteban is left standing in the middle of the street. Katherine looks over her shoulder and watches the young man clench his fist, his teeth grinding as he tries to control his anger.


    "Freak," Katherine murmurs.


    "He can''t get over the fact that Lexy, the sexy, dumped him."


    "Stop referring to yourself that way; it''s cringe. Are you going to be all right?"


    "Are you saying it because of Esteban? Pff, he''s harmless."


    "Of course..." The doubt in the young woman''s voice is palpable. "It''s for those kinds of situations that I worry about you; you''re like an animal that jumps on purpose in front of cars."


    "Aww, thanks, Kathy. I know I''m a free spirit."


    "I didn''t mean it...like that..." Katherine blinks a few times to keep her eyes from rolling up.


    "Well! I have things to do; here is where we say goodbye." Lexy jumps up and balances on one foot.


    "I... You take care of yourself."


    "Of course! I would invite you, but I know you don''t like parties. Bye-bye!" Lexy walks away and waves her hand in the air.


    A slight smile appears on Katherine''s face as she watches her friend walk away.


    Katherine''s headphones shield her from the outside world, and she occasionally hears her footsteps rumble through her body. She recognizes the street; her house is a few meters away; a familiar silhouette appears in front of her.


    "Where are you going?" Katherine asks Bryan.


    The young man hits the brake on his bike and stops in front of his sister.


    "I''m going out; I have things to do; I have a lovers'' lane appointment." With a small jump, the young man accommodates his backpack, some metal tools rattle on Bryan''s back.


    "Are you coming back?"


    "Na, it''s a night out; mom left you food."


    "I know."


    "Don''t eat my share; I''m going to be hungry tomorrow. I apologize for leaving you alone."


    "Poor me, eating alone without the company of my dearest brother."


    "You know you love me; deep down, deep down in your rotten and black heart, there is love for your family."


    "Sure... go away."


    "See you tomorrow."


    The young man tries to pedal, but his wheel gets stuck.


    "Ah, shit."


    "Is the thing giving you trouble again?"


    Bryan says nothing, gets off the bike, takes a wrench from his backpack, turns the wrench on the rear wheel nut a couple of times, and puts both feet back on the pedals. Before continuing, he puts his tool back in his backpack. The young man disappears on the horizon.


    Katherine opens the door, turns on the light, and warms up the food after changing into her pyjamas. She waits for a couple of minutes in front of the microwave oven.


    With the hot plate in her hand, Katherine goes up to her room. Enjoys eating in solitude, surrounded by silence, and delights in each delicious bite of homemade food.


    After a few minutes and the plate is empty, a satisfied sigh leaves the young girl''s mouth, followed by a burp.


    Katherine takes up the remote and presses a button. The screen comes on. She dithers as the sun sets below the horizon, staring blankly at the screen, until a sound catches her attention. Her bedroom door slowly opens, the hinges squealing with the slow movement.


    "Mom?" Katherine tilts her head, expecting to see her mother peering out the door, but all she sees is darkness in the hallway.


    "Mom?!" Katherine exclaims, but no one responds.


    The young woman carefully puts on her slippers and slowly approaches the door. The wood creaks under her feet; her hand approaches the doorknob and slowly opens it. Katherine is received by the darkness; the young woman remains motionless, trying to hear any sound coming from the dark void but hear nothing. With her finger, she turns on the light; the corridor lights up; the atmosphere changes drastically; the familiar hall reassures her; Katherine lets out air through her nose with annoyance.


    The young woman turns, and the dark figure surprises her. Long black hair fluttering and rising in the air, pale hands clawing at the air in front of her face.


    "H¡ª Help... The light helps." The woman''s harsh voice echoes in Katherine''s ears.


    The young woman jumps and lands on her butt, her surprise lasting a few seconds before returning to her typical disinterested attitude.


    "Damn, imbecile! What the hell do you think you''re doing?" Katherine argues.


    "I saw... through the window..." The scrawny hand rises and points to the glass.


    "I always tell my mother to leave the curtains down... but she doesn''t listen." Katherine rubs her head; out of the corner of her eye, she can see a bite on the neck of the spirit in front of her. "Sorry, I can''t do anything for you."


    "Please... there is no one..."


    "I know I''m sorry."


    "So long... from so far..."


    "How long?"


    "Three days..."


    Katherine closes her eyes and shakes her head.


    "That''s too much; at this point, not even I can do anything; I don''t know where your body is; even if you have already realized your situation, you will not be free without your body."


    "But the light... Please..."


    Katherine ignores the woman and sits on her bed.


    "Please..." the woman repeats.


    The young woman ignores the spirit and concentrates on the television. The scrawny woman tries to touch Katherine, but her hands go through her. Katherine feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end; the woman''s hand brings a cold aura.


    "It''s useless; I can touch you, but you can''t touch me; the only thing you will achieve is to leave me with a few small scratches and bruises at the minimum; leave me alone."


    "Peace..."


    "This is going to be a long night..." Katherine''s cold gaze settles on the woman''s dead eyes.


    The woman raises her forearm, and she can see the marks of some bites appear on her ethereal flesh; a black liquid drips from the wounds; the woman screams in pain; and more and more bites appear on the ghost''s body. Katherine gets up from her seat, takes a couple of sleeping pills from her nightstand, puts them in her mouth, and pushes them down with water from a nearby bottle. The ghost lets out some piercing screams while its flesh is devoured by invisible mouths.


    "Help! Please! Please! I don''t want to die! I don''t want to!" The woman screams.


    Katherine leans back and turns her back to her.


    The fingers begin to disappear, leaving behind black, tooth-shaped wounds; the eyes are gouged out to immediately disintegrate; and the tongue vanishes with bites. The woman trembles and shakes, extending her stumps to the sky while she does not stop screaming. Katherine clenches her teeth and covers her ears with her hands; she gets dizzy and feels the effect of the pills. The screams try to keep her awake, but the strong medicine makes her lose consciousness. The young woman falls asleep under the painful screams, like a bizarre lullaby.

 Chapter 3

    A thin ray of light lands on Katherine''s eyelids; little by little, the young woman''s eyes open; her body feels heavy and tired, a side effect of the medicine. Katherine makes an effort to get up from her bed; she drags her feet to the bathroom and splashes her face with icy water. She looks at the water for a few moments before recalling events from the night before.


    "I''m hungry." The young woman murmurs, trying to forget last night.


    The kettle squeals. Katherine slides without lifting her feet off the floor and turns off the stove, pours herself a coffee, and makes herself a sandwich, cheddar cheese, and ham. Katherine enjoys the silence as she realizes how unnatural the situation is. The young woman watches the time on her cell phone: 3:30 p.m. The house should be full of sounds, whether from her mother and her music or from her brother and his screams when playing video games.


    "Mom?!" Katherine calls, but no one answers.


    "Bryan?!" Nothing.


    Katherine walks around the house, past her mother''s bedroom, which is empty, just like her brother''s.


    "Maybe they went out." Katherine puts her thumb to her bottom lip. "The bike!"


    Katherine goes to the front door to see if her brother''s bike is parked. When she opens the door, a familiar face greets her.


    "Kathy?"


    "Lexy" Katherine can see her friend squatting in front of the door. "What are you doing here?"


    "Oooh~ I was just passing by the neighbourhood and... I feel like shit." Lexy says, placing her hand on her head.


    "This hangover is killing me. If my mother sees me like this, she''s going to scold me like always..."


    "And you decided to come to rest at my house."


    "I... yes..." Lexy lowers her head in shame.


    "Come in then." Katherine waves her hand.


    Lexy stumbles into the house, and they both reach the kitchen.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "I was having breakfast... lunch... brunch." Katherine sits down and takes a sip of her coffee. "Are you going to stand there?"


    "Yeah... I think if I sit down, I''m going to throw up." Lexy rubs her eyes.


    "Then I get nothing from offering you something to eat."


    Lexy shakes her head.


    "Water?"


    "Ok."


    Katherine stands up and walks over to the kitchen sink, grabbing a glass, but she''s interrupted by the sound of the front door.


    "I''m home." Bryan''s voice is heard from the hallway; Lexy runs to the table and hides under the tablecloth.


    Bryan walks in with his backpack on his back.


    "Mom?" The young man asks.


    "I don''t know." Katherine answered.


    "Ok, I''ll be in my room; don''t bother me."


    "What''s wrong with you? Bad night?"


    Bryan ignores his sister and heads upstairs.


    "What are you doing hiding down there?"


    "I don''t want your brother to see me like this."


    "I don''t think he cares; he always asks me about you, and I''m almost sure he likes you."


    "Aww, how cute; he''s not that ugly either, but I don''t think he''s for me."


    "Eww."


    "What? You don''t like the idea of us being family?" Lexy lets out a muffled giggle.


    "You are already family," Katherine responds with a smile.


    The scene is interrupted by the sound of the front door. Lexy ducks under the table again; this time it is Katherine''s mother who appears from the hallway.


    "Hello, Katherine." The woman says it with a tired expression.


    "You look like shit."


    "The boss asked me to stay a couple of extra hours."


    "Again."


    "Yes... I''ll be in my room taking a nap, here." The woman hands Katherine a couple of bills. "Buy something for lunch."


    "Ok..." Katherine looks at the money, and the first thing that comes to mind is a pizza.


    The woman walks away, the sound of her heels echoing through the house.


    "What are you going to buy?" Lexy appears from behind the table.


    "I''m going to order a pizza; do you want some?"


    "Sure, I guess eating something is going to help with this headache." Lexy rubs her eyes.


    Katherine pulls out her cell phone and dials the number for a local pizza place.


    "I don''t think I can party for a long time; I feel bad; I don''t remember having drunk so much; what they gave me made me feel bad; I think I''ll go blind." Lexy runs her hand in front of her face.


    "Did you drink ethanol?" Katherine jokes as she listens into the earpiece. "Hello, yes, I want a pizza; yes, four toppings: salami, ham, jalape?o and meat, um, extra cheese and a drink... yes, medium; 8542 Arcadia Street; thank you very much."


    Katherine turns to her friend, who is still waving her hands in front of her face.


    "Done; the pizza will arrive in a few minutes." Katherine raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"


    "Katy, I''m not kidding, I think something is not right with my eyes; when I see you, it''s like I see the sun."


    Katherine stops for a few seconds; she can hear her heart rumble in her ears, and she feels an emptiness in her chest.


    "What did you say?" Katherine''s voice shakes.


    "When I look at you, I only see a light." Lexy turns and narrows her eyes in annoyance.


    Katherine drops her phone to the ground; her mind is blank; she can''t believe what she''s hearing; a sharp beep invades her ear; the young woman blinks a few times and returns to reality when she notices a small mark on Lexy''s neck; black teeth.

 Chapter 4

    Katherine''s foot hits the floor in rhythm, the sound of her heart drowning out her stomping, her entwined fingers covering her mouth. The young woman remains locked in her mind as she watches the void.


    "Kat?"


    Lexy''s voice interrupts Katherine''s trance. Little by little, the young woman''s gaze floats towards her friend, her brown eyes resting on Lexy''s unmistakable face.


    "Something happens? Are you ok?" Lexy shifts uncomfortably.


    Katherine continues to ramble; "when, how, and where" the words circle her mind as she carefully examines her friend''s body; it appears solid and alive, but the black mark of the teeth breaks the illusion. Katherine feels her eyes water, and with all her strength she holds back the tears. An annoying lump appears in her throat, and she takes a long breath, trying to release through her mouth the imaginary weight that afflicts her body.


    Katherine stands tall, clenches her teeth, and her expression becomes solemn and determined.


    "Lexy." Katherine''s voice cracks, and the young woman clears her voice. "I need you to listen to me and pay close attention to what I''m going to say."


    "Kat, you''re scaring me." Lexy gets up off the ground.


    Katherine inhales sharply and then exhales as they face each other.


    "Lexy... between this morning and yesterday... somehow, you lost your life." Katherine clenches her teeth.


    The room fills with awkward silence. Lexy lets out a laugh.


    "Haha! Are you saying that because of my hangover? If so, yes, I feel as if I have died." Lexy raises her hand to her head.


    "Lexy..."


    "Kat! All that drama for a joke? I didn''t know you had a sense of humor, but now that I see it, it''s quite peculiar." Lexy lets out another laugh.


    Katherine walks over to her nightstand, grabs her water bottle, and turns back to Lexy. Katherine carefully takes her friend''s hand; she can feel the cold emanating from the ethereal flesh. The young woman lifts the bottle in her right hand, the other one below Lexy''s, carefully bringing the object closer to Lexy''s outstretched hand, Katherine does not break eye contact as the container approaches her friend''s hand. Without prior notice, Katherine drops the bottle; it pierces Lexy''s flesh and lands in Katherine''s palm.


    Lexy watches the object pierce her flesh; in surprise, she withdraws her hand; the bottle wobbles as if it had been rocked by a small breeze.


    "How...?" Lexy gives the bottle a whack; it''s just wobbled a little. "I..."


    Lexy stammers, unable to form coherent sentences.


    Katherine keeps her gaze fixed on her friend.


    "Kat... is this for real? Am I dead?"


    Katherine nods. Lexy''s legs give up, she falls to the ground, and she feels as if the ground is swallowing her; indeed, little by little, Lexy sinks into the wooden floor.


    "Lexy! I need you to focus! You must listen to me!"


    "How am I supposed to concentrate? I''m dead! I...! What am I supposed to do now?!" Lexy puts her hands to her face, a loud cry escaping from her mouth.


    "Please, Lexy! I need you to listen to me!" Katherine squats down and brings her hands to her friend''s face. "We need to know what happened to you, where... everything happened."


    "It does not matter!?" I''m already dead! It''s over! It''s all over! My life! My everything!"


    "There are worse things than death; believe me, I''ve seen them; please, Lexy, I must help you... I''m not going to let it go away, I''m the only one who can save you."


    "Save me?! I''m already dead!"


    "Lexy please!" Katherine squeezes her friend''s cheeks, and after a second, she regains her composure. "Here, on your neck." Katherine touches the black, tooth-shaped wound.


    "What?"


    "Teeth, I''ve seen it time and time again; if I don''t help you, they''re going to eat you."


    "Who?"


    "I don''t know; I just know that it is quite slow and painful. I don''t want the same thing to happen to you."


    Lexy notes the concern in Katherine''s voice.


    "Ok..." Lexy tries to calm down with a breathing exercise. "What do I have to do?"


    "We''re over the hardest part, accepting the fact."


    "Accept is a very big word."


    "I know... You know what I mean; I''ve seen spirits take days to come to terms with the idea."


    "See spirits? Is this something common for you?"


    "Yes, every day... That''s why I have to help you, I''ve seen several times what happens if I don''t..."


    "What now?"


    "We must find your body." Katherine swallows.


    "And how are we going to do that? I don''t remember almost anything."


    "There is always something... Try to think about your last moments."


    "Ok...I''ll try..." Lexy closes her eyes.


    The young woman can see the images go through her head: a shining hand, the city, the sunset, trees, a blunt object, and blood. The pain in her head gradually increases, her neck burns, and she can see her body on the grass, her head split open, her brains spilled out, and pain¡ªdeep, excruciating pain. Lexy lets out a howl as she puts her hand to the back of her neck, the vivid sensation twisting her expression.


    "Lexy!"


    "I see it... the city, the sunset, the trees, the shining hand, ah... left... a man..."


    The pain in Lexy''s head sharpens.


    "Enough!" Katherine takes her friend''s hand.


    "I saw it... I saw how I died." Lexy gasps, a trickle of saliva dangling from her chin.


    "Tell me."


    "From a high vantage point, I could see the sunset, trees, and a bright hand repeatedly hitting my head until it broke in two... the figure of a man on my body."


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "What did the man look like?"


    "I don''t know..." Lexy puts her hand on her forehead.


    "I guess that''s enough; we just have to go to the places you visited yesterday, and you can rest in peace."


    "I still can''t believe it; all of this is so bizarre, and you are so... calm."


    "I''m used to it, but... this time is different. One is not prepared to lose someone close."


    Lexy walks over to Katherine, wraps her icy arms around her, and gives her a loving hug.


    "Don''t worry, I''m still here. We''re going to find my body." Lexy closes her eyes and shows a warm smile.


    "Yes..." Katherine nods.


    Lexy follows Katherine as she walks down the street.


    "Look, look! without hands!" Lexy moves her feet in the air as she floats.


    "Lexy, focus."


    "I''m focused!" Lexy spins in mid-air, her feet flailing from side to side.


    Katherine can feel the stress building on her forehead and the pizza turning in her stomach.


    "Lexy! Do you remember something useful?" Katherine says between her teeth.


    "Hmm." Lexy brings her index finger to the edge of her lower lip, continuing to twirl in the air the air. "I remember... school!"


    "Are you sure? Was that the last place you were?"


    "No, that was one of the places I went to." Lexy crosses her feet as her body is rocked in the air as if gravity won''t affect her.


    "What else do you remember?"


    "A skyscraper, I think... a tall one, umm... OH! Not to mention the party!"


    "The school, a tall building, and wherever the party was, I think I can work with that."


    "So where do we go first?"


    "The school is the closest place."


    "OKAY!" Lexy kicks her feet eagerly, running on the spot, but her speed doesn''t change, and she continues to float forward at the same pace as Katherine''s walk.


    Katherine angrily observes Lexy''s lack of urgency, the stress wins over the young woman, and she vomits some pizza into her mouth. With disgust, she swallows the food combined with her bitter gastric juices.


    Katherine shakes the gate.


    "Closed." The young woman murmurs.


    "Well, it''s Saturday." Lexy hovers over Katherine''s shoulder. "Now what?"


    "Do you feel something?"


    "No." Lexy crosses her arms.


    "Maybe we need to get closer."


    "Wait! Are you sure we''ll find my body? I mean, it''s possible someone has already found it. Maybe they''re already burying me."


    "No, in my entire life with this curse, only two types of spirits have come to ask for my help: those who have recently died and those whose bodies have not been laid to rest."


    Lexy tilts her head, trying to understand.


    "Let''s say you died in an accident and your body was found immediately. Your spirit will wander for at least three days before you are buried, or cremated, or whatever the ritual is, and during those three days you can find your body to *ascend* before."


    "Then we have nothing to worry about! After three days, I will be able to go to heaven."


    Katherine shakes her head.


    "The difference between the spirits that wander for those three days and those whose bodies have not rested is the teeth."


    "Teeth?"


    "Your neck."


    Lexy puts her hand to her neck; she can touch the wound in her ethereal flesh, a black, tooth-shaped wound.


    "I don''t know what they are; I only know that they devour the spirits that do not leave this world in at least three days; some are consumed slowly, others fast, and they all leave screaming and howling in pain."


    "This makes no sense! Why me? What makes me different from the others?"


    "I must assume that it has something to do with the fact that no human being has found your body; for the time being, no human being has found your corpse; my theory is that these *entities,* this *force,* or whatever, is in charge of *cleaning* the spirits who have no chance of going to the other side; your body is abandoned in some unreachable place, and the teeth believe that your spirit will not be able to rest in peace."


    "What are we waiting for then?! Let''s go inside and find my body! It must be somewhere."


    "I hope..." Katherine looks both ways before jumping over the fence; Lexy floats over it and follows her friend.


    "Nothing yet?"


    "Nope" A buzz followed by a headache surprises Lexy. "Wait! Ugh... I see something... I was here... I think... the glowing hand¡ª"


    "Hey!" A male voice interrupts Lexy.


    Katherine turns around to see the young janitor coming down the hall. In his right hand is a pair of pruning shears.


    "What are you doing here?! How did you get in here? I don''t remember opening the door for you."


    "I forgot something and..."


    "I asked you a question. How did you get inside?"


    "I jump over the fence." Katherine replies.


    The young janitor approaches Katherine.


    "You can''t be here; the school is closed."


    "I know, I just need to get a couple of things¡ª"


    "Come back on Monday."


    "I won''t take long."


    "I don''t care; you want to get me in trouble? No one can be on the campus outside of school hours unless you have a permit; I can''t let you be in here."


    "Wow... today you are more curmudgeonly than before."


    "Shut the fuck up; I still haven''t forgotten what you did yesterday." The young man points the scissors at her.


    "Calm down. It''s just a second and I''ll be gone."


    "No oh~, don''t think you''re able to ask for favors... unless... look, let''s do something, it''s just you and me here; no one will bother us; let me touch you a bit, and I''ll let you be here all the time you want." The janitor approaches Katherine. The young woman watches Lexy''s spirit out of the corner of her eye; she still writhes in pain as she holds her head tightly.


    "No." Katherine takes a step back.


    "Don''t play the saint; think about it for a few seconds; if you like my touch, we can see where it takes us; you could take care of me, and I''ll take care of you." The young man observes Katherine''s body.


    "Ok, you''ve convinced me."


    "Yeah? OK, follow me." The young man smiled mischievously.


    "You convinced me to get out of here as fast as I can, you filthy pig. See ya."


    Katherine turns and walks down the hall. Before turning, she looks over her shoulder. The young man watches her leave, and Lexy floats behind Katherine.


    "All good?"


    "Yeah..." Lexy rubs her temples. "So, are we leaving?"


    "No, we''re going to walk around without that idiot seeing us."


    "For a moment, I thought you considered his offer."


    "Pff, I''m not that easy; do you think I''m going to whore myself like that?"


    "Not even if your best friend''s life is at stake?"


    "Shut the fuck up, Lexy."


    "Aha! Just kidding, kidding."


    Both reach the rear garden of the enclosure, which is adorned by flowers and shrubs.


    "Do you feel something here?"


    "I don''t know; I still don''t know what I have to feel apart from the pain."


    "Memories, I suppose; several times I have seen how the spirits, when being close to their bodies, they begin to remember everything."


    "I think I remember something..." Lexy closes her eyes, focusing past the throbbing pain. "I see the sun; it''s late, but it''s not sunset; I forgot something; I came back; the flowers, the janitor, a greeting, and a farewell."


    "Hmm..."


    "That''s all." Lexy opens her eyes with difficulty.


    "So, you were here, in the flower garden."


    "I think..."


    "And you say you saw the janitor?"


    Lexy nods.


    "What were you and the janitor doing back here in the flower field?"


    "I don''t know; I don''t remember."


    "Do you think your body is here in the garden?"


    "I hope"


    "Let''s see."


    Katherine and Lexy look around; Katherine looks at the ground, hoping to find some signs of something buried, but the search is in vain.


    "Kathy!" Lexy warns, and a figure approaches in the distance. "It''s him, hide!"


    Katherine, without thinking twice, goes into the bushes; she can hear the footsteps getting closer, and Lexy hides next to her.


    "Stupid cow, she thinks she''s better than me. You piece of shit, I could have grabbed her right there and then." The young man mutters as he chops the brush. "And these sons of bitches force me to work despite the fact that I have a broken arm. Shit. Shit. This stinks of shit."


    Katherine and Lexy cover their mouths, hoping not to let out any noise. They can hear the grinding of the scissors approaching the bush in which they are hidden.


    "*Let''s be friends; we don''t have to fight* that bitch tells me, and I was hoping for her to invite me to a quickie, stupid table. I bet if I ask her to devour my dick, she''ll drop to her knees in an instant." The young man continues arguing out loud.


    The young janitor stops in front of the bush where Katherine is hiding.


    "Perhaps that''s what I''ll do; I''ll start with the easy one and then move on to the difficult one." The young man cuts a rose in front of him, and Katherine''s eye can be seen between the leaves.


    "Shit! I''m not supposed to cut roses! Oh, the principal is going to fuck me if she ever finds out." The young man reaches out and tries to take the rose from under the bush.


    Katherine''s leg rests perilously close to the cut rose; the man''s fingers feel in the dirt; the hand approaches Katherine''s pale flesh; the girl''s breathing becomes erratic; butterflies invade her stomach; and the hand reaches out. Lexy knocks at the rose; an icy breeze blows the rose off the bush.


    "Here it is." The young man stops and puts the rose in his pocket. "Enough for today."


    The janitor takes the scissors and leaves the place.


    "That was close." Lexy lets out a sigh.


    "Yeah... thanks Lexy. If you hadn''t pushed the rose... I don''t even want to think about it."


    "You would have had to seduce him!"


    "What is wrong with you? Do you believe you live in a porno?"


    "I mean, right now, I''m not alive; I''m more like the cameraman."


    "Ugh. Shut up, Lexy."


    Lexy lets out a laugh.


    "I think we''ve had enough of this place."


    "Is my body not here?"


    "I don''t know yet; I just know that before you died, you were here."


    "So, it was all a waste of time?!"


    "No, we have your memories; we just have to follow the crumbs and..."


    "We can put together the bread?"


    Katherine blinks a few times.


    "Yes, something like that."


    Katherine approaches the wall and climbs.


    "Let''s go."


    Lexy nods and floats over the wall.

 Chapter 5

    "That was pretty fun and exciting!" Lexy floats over Katherine.


    "No, it was not."


    "Aww, come on, Kathy, you have to admit you''re having a little fun."


    Katherine stops.


    "I''m helping my best friend''s spirit find her dead body; this isn''t fun at all."


    "I... I''m sorry, I forgot¡ª"


    "It doesn''t matter; now where?"


    "The tall building? But how are we going to find a building if we don''t know what it is?"


    "We do know."


    "Huh?"


    Katherine takes Maximiliano Du Pont''s card out of her pocket; on it is the address of his modelling agency.


    "Oh, it''s true! Mr. du Pont! He must be one of the last people to see me alive."


    "Lexy... I must make something clear; there is a good chance that your death was not an accident."


    "What do you mean?"


    "You said it yourself; the last thing you experienced was pain, and your last vision was the figure of a man; you were murdered."


    "You''re not thinking that the janitor..."


    "Maybe, maybe not; we still don''t know; all the men you had contact with before you died are suspects."


    "And even knowing this, you went to school alone?! Kathy, if the janitor found you at that moment..."


    "I don''t even want to think about it; let''s not do it until we have all the evidence; if we find your body, you will remember who is guilty."


    Lexy nods eagerly.


    "Let''s see where this building is..." Katherine looks at the card; it''s white and simple, and in black it says, *Rising Star modelling agency*, under the name a number and an address. "It''s not that far."


    "A couple of blocks from here." Lexy looks over Katherine''s shoulder.


    The young woman floats over her friend''s head, puts her hand over her eyes to block out the rays of the sun, and looks at the horizon.


    "I see it!" Lexy points her finger.


    Katherine walks forward.


    In front of the pair is the huge skyscraper, and Katherine looks at the card.


    "Office 806, 8th floor..."


    "It''s pretty high."


    "Mhm." Katherine walks into the lobby.


    A soft, masculine voice calls the young woman''s attention, and a man behind the counter moves his hand.


    "Excuse me, young lady, can I help you?"


    Katherine approaches the man and puts the card on the counter.


    "I''ve come to see... Mr. Du Pont."


    The man looks at Katherine up and down.


    "Oh~, yes, yes, Mr. Du Pont is currently with another model, but you can wait for him outside his office, on the 8th floor, in room 806."


    "I know how to read; it''s on the card..." Katherine murmurs.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "Excuse me?"


    "Good thing I''m wearing red, if you know what I mean... for the interview." Katherine puts her fingertips together, forces a smile, and winks.


    "Oh! Don''t worry, you seem to be Mr. Du Pont''s type; you won''t have any problems with the interview." The man gives Katherine a thumbs up.


    "Thank you." The young woman presses the elevator button.


    In a few seconds, the automatic doors open in front of Katherine; the young woman enters and press the button with the 8. Katherine waves goodbye while showing her fake smile.


    The elevator makes its way to the 8th floor.


    "Ugh..."


    "You are a natural!"


    "Not now, Lexy."


    "Why are you so nervous?" Lexy tries to float at the same speed as the elevator.


    "Maybe this was a bad idea..."


    "Huh?"


    "I''m alone, no one knows what I''m doing, and I''m going to confront a possible killer."


    "Now that you mention it¡ª"


    The door opens, interrupting the conversation.


    Katherine looks at Lexy, then they both look down the hall. Katherine swallows saliva and takes a step forward.


    "I''m already here; there''s no turning back..."


    Both advance in silence until they are face to face with the door; on it are the numbers 806.


    Katherine sits in a nearby chair; the silence is interrupted by the sound of the door. A young woman walks out of the room, both hands close to her body, an awkward expression on her face. Katherine''s gaze meets the girl, and she immediately averts her eyes and rushes to the elevator.


    "Next." The voice calls from within the room.


    Katherine sighs heavily and walks through the door.


    A man looks at some papers on his desk. Katherine recognizes Maximiliano''s face.


    "Please take a seat." Mr. Du Pont says this without looking at Katherine''s face.


    The young woman obeys.


    "What brings you here?" Du Pont continues to organize his papers.


    Katherine remains silent for a few moments before answering.


    "A friend recommended this modelling company to me."


    Lexy floats behind Du Pont and looks at the papers and several photographs of naked young women. The pain returns to Lexy''s head, and Katherine watches out of the corner of her eye as the spirit of her friend writhes in pain.


    "Mhm~" Du Pont continues to look at the photographs.


    "Yes, in fact, you gave me your card."


    "So?"


    Katherine lets out a long sigh.


    "The name Lexy sounds familiar to you."


    Katherine catches Du Pont''s eye, and the man looks up, setting the photographs aside.


    "And your name is...?"


    "Katherine."


    "Oh! Katherine! I remember now! Yes... Lexy is a good girl, beautiful, and has a bright future. Are you telling me that she recommended you come?"


    "As I said before, you gave us both your cards; I was there."


    "Right, right." Du Pont tapped his forehead with his fingers. "My memory is not like before."


    "Mhm..."


    "So, you''re here for the modelling job?" Du Pont rises from his seat and, with his right hand, takes his wooden cane adorned with fine metals; the rings shine on his fingers.


    "The shiny hand..." Katherine murmurs.


    "You like them?" Du Pont raises his right hand. "If you work with me, you can have this and more; I have several friends on the scene, and I can make you a star."


    Du Pont moves behind Katherine and places his hands on the girl''s shoulders.


    "I can make you famous, the envy of your friends, the brightest star in the room, the focus of cameras, and the fantasy of men." Du Pont''s fingers squeeze Katherine gently.


    "To be honest, I don''t know if I''m very interested in the idea."


    Du Pont takes his hands off Katherine''s shoulders and walks over to the window.


    The reflection of the sun distracts Katherine; when she turns to the window, she can see the windows of the building in front reflect the sun''s rays.


    "What are you doing here then, if you don''t care about the job?"


    "I already told you; my friend recommended it to me; I came out of curiosity."


    "Ah... Lexy, a determined girl, worked hard in her interview."


    "What kind of effort?"


    Du Pont takes a step back, both hands on his cane, and places his weight on the object.


    "A small photoshoot to see if your confidence is what I''m looking for, my dear Camila."


    "Photoshoot?"


    Katherine ignores the mispronunciation of her name.


    Du Pont raises his right hand and looks at his nails.


    "I''m not interested in young women who don''t have the personality I''m looking for, I don''t want models who are shy to look at, or who are insecure with their bodies, I''m not interested in women who tremble and cover their bodies when seen naked."


    The man slams his cane hard on the ground, the metal tip echoing with each blow.


    "I want a woman with personality and strength, capable of walking into a room wearing a white triangle in her crotch and two circles on her nipples and smile, and wave, and pose. My models are unique not because of what they wear, but because of their personalities, rascality, and attitude!" Saliva splashes from the man''s mouth, and his eyes are wide for a few seconds.


    Du Pont walks over to his chair and sits down, gasping for breath.


    Katherine swallows, scanning the room. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Lexy''s spirit still writhing in pain.


    "You''re not what I''m looking for." Du Pont wipes sweat from his forehead with a red silk cloth. "Your friend is perfect; you are not like her."


    The man throws some photos at Katherine, the young woman looks at the images, and Lexy appears naked on a red chair; each photograph shows her in different positions.


    "What is this?"


    "Art."


    Katherine frowns, and her blood boils.


    "You''re right, I''m not good for this."


    Katherine gets up from her seat and walks to the door.


    "Hey Karina, tell Lexy to contact me; we need to resume the photo shoot; she''s not answering the phone; tell the receptionist to contact my mechanic; hurry up with my porch; someone like me shouldn''t be riding a taxi."


    "I''m not your secretary."


    Katherine closes the door behind her without saying anything.


    Du Pont takes the photos again and puts them in his desk drawer.

 Chapter 6

    Katherine leaves the building; the receptionist says goodbye, but he''s ignored by the young woman; the spirit of Lexy follows.


    "You remembered something."


    "Yes..." Lexy rubs her temples.


    "Tell me, what are you waiting for?"


    "What is your problem?"


    "What''s my problem?! I told you not to trust him; I told you that he was a pig, and you...! And you go and let him take pictures of you with your knees up to your ears!"


    Lexy doesn''t say anything.


    "Are you going to tell me what else you remembered?"


    "I remember the photo shoot; we first discussed modelling in his office."


    "First in the office?"


    "Yes, then we went to another place..."


    "That makes sense. I don''t remember seeing the sofa in the photos; where did you go?"


    "The photo session was... in a motel."


    Katherine puts her fingers to her eyelids.


    "Tell me you were there only to take pictures."


    Lexy doesn''t say anything.


    "Lexy, you are so dumb!"


    "I wanted to be a model!"


    "And you believed that disgusting old man?! Oh my god, Lexy!"


    From inside the building, the receptionist can see Katherine arguing with the air.


    "And do you think he killed you before or after he fucked you?!"


    "No! I... I do not know! If I knew, we wouldn''t be here trying to find out where I died!"


    "Oh, Lexi! I told you over and over again! Don''t trust strangers, and look what happened!"


    "Shut up, Kathy! We still don''t know if it was him or not!"


    "And now you defend it, fantastic...


    "Yes, because I remembered something else." Lexy closes her eyes and smiles proudly.


    "What?"


    "After I went to... my photoshoot, I went to the party."


    "And that was in..."


    "At the house of a friend of Sebastian''s."


    Katherine lets out a sigh.


    "Do you know where that is?"


    Lexy puts her thumb to her lower lip and thinks for a few seconds.


    "I guess that''s a no."


    "We can still ask Sebastian."


    "Do you remember where he lives?"


    "Of course!"


    Lexy floats forward, and Katherine follows behind.


    Katherine''s eyes dance from left to right, and her gaze stops on a group of men. One of them clicks his tongue, and Katherine looks nervously at the ground.


    "Lexy, this neighbourhood doesn''t look too friendly."


    "What are you talking about? Nothing ever happened to me."


    "Mhm... With that mentality, no wonder."


    "What?"


    "Forget it; I hope I don''t die trying to save your soul."


    "Relax~ Oh! It''s here!"


    Lexy stops in front of a dilapidated house, the windows boarded up, the paint peeling off the walls.


    "Huh..."


    "Sebastian!"


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Do you know that no one can hear you?"


    "Oh, true."


    "So should I knock on the door or...?"


    "Calling his name should be enough."


    "Don''t know..."


    "C''mon, Kathy!"


    Katherine lets out a long sigh.


    "Hello, S-Sebastian." Katherine says it in a muffled voice.


    "You''re hopeless, we better go in and knock on the door."


    "Are you sure?"


    Lexy walks through the gate and waves her hand.


    "Excuse me..."


    Katherine walks through the gate, and the rusty hinges let out a high-pitched screech. The young woman approaches the door of the house and knocks a couple of times, but there is no answer. Katherine looks at Lexy; she shrugs. After a few seconds, Lexy snaps her fingers.


    "Now that I think about it, I can walk through walls! Wait for me here; I''ll see if he''s inside."


    Katherine nods while looking around; to her left, she can see a parked motorcycle.


    Lexy disappears for a few minutes, Katherine waits in front of the door; she can feel the sweat running down her forehead, and she''s nervous. To others, it is her and no one else; she is frustrated by the fact that Lexy can''t fathom the idea of anyone but her being able to see her. For the others, she is alone; she is alone; she has lost her only friend; the limited time in which she is without the company of Lexy''s spirit becomes eternal, and she begins to miss her.


    "Boo!" Lexy''s face appears through the wood of the door.


    Katherine snaps out of her thoughts, Lexy''s voice brings Katherine down to earth, and Katherine''s body gives a little jump.


    "What are you doing?!"


    "I didn''t see him¡ª"


    Lexy says between giggles, but something stops her in the middle of her words. Lexy''s eyes fix on something behind Katherine¡ªa shiny object rising above the young woman''s head. Lexy tries to speak, but it''s too late; the metal bat collides with the back of her friend''s head. Katherine falls to the ground, writhes in pain, touches her head, and feels her fingers get wet with a warm, viscous substance. Katherine looks up and sees Sebastian''s huge figure blocking the sunlight.


    The young man takes Katherine by her blouse and leads her into the abandoned house.


    "What are you doing, idiot?! Leave her alone!"


    Lexy waves her fists in front of Sebastian''s face, her ethereal hands digging into the young man''s flesh.


    "Stop! Don''t do it! Argh!" A throbbing headache immobilizes Lexy.


    Sebastian closes the door behind him. Katherine complains of pain on the floor.


    "What are you doing trespassing on my property?"


    Sebastian sits on Katherine''s stomach and puts the tip of the bat hard on the young woman''s neck. Katherine gasps.


    "I''m sorry it was not my intention¡ª"


    "Wait... I know you; you''re Lexy''s little friend." Sebastian squeezes hard on Katherine''s chin.


    "Yes... Lexy is my friend¡ª"


    Katherine tries to move the bat from her neck, but Sebastian''s strength is enormous.


    "And what brings you here?"


    Katherine watches Lexy; she can see her friend writhing in the air.


    "Lexy... I haven''t seen her since yesterday."


    "Oh?"


    Sebastian pulls the bat from Katherine''s neck; the young woman takes desperate breaths. The young man gets up and approaches one of the windows, looking outside through a small space.


    "Are you alone? Does anyone know you''re here?"


    "I am alone, but I told my brother and my mother that I would come to look for you at your house, Sebastian."


    "Hm!"


    "So, have you seen Lexy? She doesn''t answer her phone." Katherine rubs her neck in pain.


    Sebastian puts his bat behind his neck and rests both arms on the object.


    "Yes and no, I saw her at the party, but I didn''t get the time to talk to her, I guess she was avoiding me."


    "That makes sense; I wouldn''t want to talk to my ex either."


    Katherine tries to get up, but Sebastian stops her; he presses the bat to her chest and pushes her down to the ground.


    "If little friends like you put those kinds of ideas in her head, obviously she''s going to avoid me; maybe I should get rid of the problem."


    "Try it; I warned you; my family knows where I am; I told them your name; you won''t get away with it."


    Their eyes remain fixed on each other. Sebastian breaks the hostile aura with a laugh.


    "I like your attitude." Sebastian moves the bat away from Katherine''s body.


    The young woman waits a few seconds before getting up.


    "So, you don''t know anything about Lexy?"


    Sebastian walks across the room swinging his bat from left to right, turns, and has his back to Katherine.


    "No, I already told you, yesterday she avoided me as soon as I saw her, the party was just starting when she left the place."


    "What time do you think she left?"


    "I don''t know... early? The sun was still shining, and as I told you, the party was just getting started."


    "And you didn''t follow her?"


    Sebastian looks over his shoulder at Katherine.


    "Yes, but when she turned the corner, she disappeared; maybe she went with someone."


    "Or maybe she hid from you."


    Sebastian twists and turns, his bat always resting on his shoulders.


    "You are not in a position to antagonize; I would be careful with what I say."


    Katherine lets out a sigh.


    "Look, I''m just worried about my friend."


    "She will show up; she always does. If you are her friend, you must already know how she is: without any worries in life, fragile but fearless, like a moth that likes to play near the fire."


    Sebastian''s eyes focus on the void.


    They both remain silent.


    "If you don''t need anything else from me," Sebastian points to the door with his bat.


    "Yeah, I think I should go."


    Katherine approaches the door, but Sebastian''s bat cuts her off.


    "I''m sorry about your head... I don''t have many friends, and this neighbourhood is dangerous. Don''t... don''t tell Lexy, please; she''s never going to forgive me."


    "Don''t worry, she''ll never know, plus I''m more concerned with finding her."


    "Also, if someone jumps at you like that, try to push them away with your legs, put your feet on their hips, you know, you''re a woman, hit the testicles, and run as fast as you can; if you have a sharp or cutting object, go for the throat or eyes; never try to fight a man, you will always lose."


    "Huh?"


    Sebastian scratches his head in annoyance, takes a knife out of his pocket, and offers it to Katherine.


    "If someone attacks you like that, they will most likely try to rape you, so you know how to defend yourself; I mean... this neighbourhood is not safe for a woman..."


    "Huh?!"


    "Just take this and get out of here."


    Katherine suspiciously takes the knife, puts it in the pocket of her sweatshirt, and walks out the door. She shakes her head a couple of times and touches her neck; she can feel a small bleeding lump on his skin, nothing very serious.


    Katherine walks down the street but is interrupted by Lexy''s familiar voice.


    "Kat, I''m sorry..."


    "Don''t worry"


    "I don''t think Sebastian¡ª"


    "We don''t know yet."


    "He tried to call me."


    Katherine watches Lexy for a few seconds.


    "Maybe the guilt is eating him up."


    "Kathy..."


    "Maybe he hit you as he did to me; I don''t doubt that a couple of those hits can''t kill someone."


    "One must be careful in this neighbourhood; it is quite dangerous, he said it."


    "Next time, at least try to warn me; say something like, *get down* or *watch out*."


    "I''m sorry..."


    "Let''s go back to my house; there you can tell me what you remember."


    Katherine rubs the back of her neck in annoyance as she walks, behind her float Lexy.

 Chapter 7

    Katherine complains of pain and drops a bloody cotton ball on her nightstand.


    "Well..."


    "Hm?"


    "What did you remember?"


    "What Sebastian said is true; I saw him at the party; I remember escaping from him; and after that, I remember traveling down the street with a man, the wind in my face, trees, the city, and the sunrise."


    "Hm..."


    Katherine rubs her chin.


    "Did you notice something?"


    "I''m thinking... First, you went to the school to talk to the janitor, then you went to your *interview* with the old man, then to the party, and finally, you went to a place where you could see the city and the sunset."


    "And trees."


    "So you didn''t go back to school, there are no trees around, and the closest thing is the flower field; we know you were there, but even if you came back to the place, it doesn''t fit with your last memory."


    "That leaves the janitor out!"


    Katherine pokes her lip with her finger.


    "I guess... you mentioned that you felt a blow from your left to your right, the janitor has his left hand in a cast, also, he always carries those pruning shears everywhere, if we go by your memories, the murder weapon was a blunt one."


    "What about the shiny hand? The irons that come out of his cast reflect the light."


    "Irrelevant, I doubt he could have used his left hand to hit you."


    "Now that I remember... Yes! The shining hand was the left one!"


    Katherine nod.


    "Let''s move on to the old man; after leaving the school, you went to his office."


    "Mhm."


    "Anything else?"


    "We talked for a few minutes about models and then went to... the photo shoot."


    "Do you remember going back to the building?"


    "No..."


    "It makes sense; from that place, the only way to see the sun is by the reflection of the building in front; also, no tree in plain sight."


    "What about the cane? And the shining hand? Does Max have a bunch of rings on his hands?"


    "Max...?"


    Lexy doesn''t say anything.


    "Hm... on both hands, are you sure the shiny hand is just the left hand?"


    Lexy nods.


    "I guess the old man is innocent."


    "And the cane?"


    "The old man is not left-handed..."


    "You sound disappointed."


    "One way or another, that old man deserves jail."


    They both remain silent.


    "What about your ex?"


    "Sebastian?! I don''t know... he would never hurt me."


    "You sure? He hurt me good back there..."


    Katherine rubs the back of her neck.


    "I remember seeing a spiked bracelet; it was pretty shiny if you ask me."


    "He wears them on both arms, but the hand was bright only on the left!"


    "Why do you defend him so much?"


    "I think... no, I know he''s innocent."


    "Lexy, we can''t go on a hunch if we don''t find your body¡ª"


    "I know! You have already explained it to me."


    Katherine lets out a long sigh.


    "Kat, he''s a good boy. Believe me, he cares about me. Remember when he told you how to defend yourself? He told me the same thing when he confessed; he explained what to do in case someone attacked me. I''ll never forget his words on the lovers'' lane when he confessed."


    "The lover''s lane..."


    "Mm?"


    "You can see the sun, the city, the trees... Lexy! Your body is on the lovers'' lane!"


    "How are you so sure?"


    "It makes sense; a man accompanied you to the lovers'' lane, and you were killed there."


    "But many couples frequent the place. It is impossible for anyone not to find my body."


    "You said it yourself, the trees. The forest is quite dense, enough to hide your corpse."


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "And how did I get there so fast? The lovers'' lane is quite far from the party place."


    "You went in a vehicle."


    "Mm?"


    "Do you remember what you said? *Traveling down the street*, *the wind in your face*"


    "Yes."


    "A vehicle."


    "But we don''t know what kind."


    "I do know, one with two wheels. A motorcycle."


    Katherine snaps her fingers.


    "Why not a car?"


    "When we were leaving the old man''s office, he said something about his car at the mechanic."


    "We could have taken a taxi."


    "He hates riding in a taxi; besides, he asked me to call you for another photoshoot. He still thinks you''re alive."


    "And why a motorcycle?"


    "Do you remember when we went to your ex''s house?"


    Lexy nods and swallows.


    "While you were searching his house, I saw a motorcycle parked in it."


    Lexy is silent.


    "Have you ever ridden his motorcycle?"


    "Yes..."


    "So, you knew."


    "Kat... I."


    "It doesn''t matter. We already know where your body is. What matters now is to find it, and you can rest in peace."


    "But... what about the sunset? From the place of the party to the viewpoint on a motorcycle, it would not take me that long to reach sunset."


    "Maybe you spent a lot of time at the lovers'' lane. Maybe you stopped to buy something."


    "Kat, it doesn''t make sense. Why would I go with Sebastian to the lovers'' lane if I was mad at him...?"


    "To relive old times? to get back with him? Lexy, come on, you can''t deny how it all fits together."


    Lexy doesn''t say anything.


    "Let''s get this over with."


    Katherine gets up from her bed and heads to her bedroom door, with Lexy floating after her with her head bowed.


    The two young women walk down the street; the artificial light from the streetlight begins to come on while the sun turns the sky into a red sunset, and the crimson light illuminates the city.


    "Kathy... I... I don''t want to go."


    "You have no choice, Lexy. It''s either this or get eaten by the teeth."


    Both are silent. Neither looks at the other''s face.


    "Kat, I''m so sorry for causing you so much trouble."


    "What are you talking about, Lexy?"


    "Sorry for not having taken my pills. Sorry for not following my treatment, sorry for not being afraid."


    "Lexy, don''t apologize. Your condition is nothing to apologize for."


    "It''s just... now you''ll be alone. I don''t want to leave you alone. I don''t want to go."


    Katherine looks over her shoulder, her hair covering her face. Lexy can only see a smile.


    "We''re here."


    Katherine looks out over the city, she can see the skyscrapers, and the wind blows the leaves on the trees.


    "You''re right... It was here."


    A lone tear travels down Lexy''s cheek.


    "Let''s go, Lexy."


    Katherine heads into the woods, always turning her back on her friend.


    Both begin to search among the foliage; they enter the dense forest and cross bushes and unexplored paths. She approaches the ravine that marks the end of the lovers'' lane.


    Katherine looks around and notices a figure at the bottom of the inaccessible area.


    "Lexy."


    Katherine faces her friend, her black eyeliner smeared across her cheeks, a strand of mucus dangling from her nose.


    "I found you. You can now go to your body. You will remember everything."


    Katherine''s voice shakes with every word she says.


    Lexy bites her lips.


    "Do not worry. You will have time to say goodbye. You will not leave immediately; go and recover your memory."


    Katherine watches Lexy float down; her knees give out, and Katherine lets herself fall. She takes advantage of her alone time to let out her weakness. She holds her head and sobs silently, and a warm smile appears on her face as she begins to accept the fact. She watches the city bathed in sunlight. She drops her hands on the grass, and her fingers touch something hard.


    The young woman feels the object with her fingers, and Katherine holds it in front of her face¡ªa wrench with a bloody tip.


    Katherine wipes away her tears as she examines the object.


    "What?" Katherine whispers.


    "Katherine." A male voice calls the young woman.


    Katherine''s stomach turns, and little by little the young woman turns around; the familiar face in front of her is illuminated by the rays of the sun.


    "What are you doing here?" Bryan asks.


    Katherine''s mind races, replaying clues, causing panic and confusion; she can''t concentrate, and her body is torn between run or fight.


    "I am talking to you. Are you OK?"


    Bryan takes a step; Katherine flinches.


    "Stay away."


    Katherine presses the wrench against her chest; Bryan looks at the tool.


    "What are you doing with that? I was looking for it."


    Bryan takes another step toward his sister.


    "I... Bryan..." Katherine tangles her tongue with each word.


    "Hm?"


    Bryan takes another step.


    "Lexy."


    Bryan stops.


    "What about Lexy?"


    "I can''t find her."


    "I have no idea; I don''t know why you ask me." Bryan shrugs.


    Surreptitiously, the young man observes the ravine behind his sister and resumes his slow advance.


    "Bryan, what did you do to Lexy?"


    "It was he who did it." Lexy''s voice is heard behind Katherine.


    The young woman turns around for a second to observe her friend floating in the void.


    Bryan seizes the moment and pounces on his sister.


    "Watch out!" Lexy exclaims.


    Katherine steps to the side, and Bryan stops a few steps from the ravine.


    "Woah! Don''t move. I almost fell!"


    "Bryan! What did you do with Lexy?!"


    "I have no idea what you are talking about! Give me that!"


    Bryan holds out his left hand, and she can see the gold watch reflecting the sunlight.


    "The shining hand!" Katherine exclaims.


    "Give me my tool, Katherine!"


    Bryan attacks his sister again. Katherine turns around, but a hand grabs her ankle; the young woman stumbles and falls to the ground. Something fell from the pocket of the sweater; Sebastian''s knife flew a couple of meters away from the girl.


    "Let go of me, Bryan!"


    "Bryan, stop!" Lexy waves her hands in front of Bryan''s face; a strong but harmless current of air moves the young man''s hair.


    Katherine kicks the air; Bryan reaches out and grabs the other end of the wrench; they both struggle. Katherine puts her feet on her brother''s hips and keeps him away.


    "Drop the fucking wrench, Kathy!"


    Bryan throws punches into the air but misses his sister''s face. The young man pushes the girl''s legs away but is disabled by a kick to his testicles. Katherine crawls towards the razor, but her brother''s hand stops her. Bryan squeezes his sister''s ankles hard.


    "Katherine!" Bryan yells furiously.


    The young woman stretches out her hand, but it''s not enough. Her fingers brush against the object, but she can''t reach it. Desperate, Katherine throws the wrench into her brother''s face; he manages to evade the tool.


    Anguished, the young woman stretches out her fingers; a gust of wind lifts the knife and brings it closer to Katherine''s hand.


    Without thinking twice, Katherine turns and slashes into the air.


    Bryan takes his neck, the liquid gushing out generously.


    "Why did you kill her?!" Katherine asks with her wet eyes.


    "K¡ª k¡ª kag¡ª"


    Bryan stretches out his hand, takes a step back, his body collapses, and Bryan disappears into the emptiness of the ravine.


    Katherine sits up, her chest heaving; she puts her hand on her forehead.


    Lexy''s face appears in front of Katherine.


    "Lexy..."


    "Are you OK?"


    "He is dead."


    "I''m sorry, Kat."


    Katherine shakes her head.


    "That piece of shit killed you. Right now, I find it difficult to feel sorry for him."


    Lexy''s spirit watches the sky.


    "I remember everything."


    Katherine slowly calms down.


    "W¡ª why?"


    "It''s the lovers'' lane, Kat. It''s where couples confess their love."


    Katherine watches the sunset in silence.


    "It was after the party, after escaping from Sebastian, that''s when we came to the lovers'' lane on his bike."


    "On the stupid bike... That''s why you arrived at sunset."


    Lexy nods.


    "It was here that he confessed his love. Where I saw his bright hand."


    "The watch"


    "It was here where I rejected him. He couldn''t stand it."


    "Lexy."


    "Kat, now I understand. I don''t want to leave, but I have to."


    "Lexy, I''m sorry. I should have been more patient with you. I should have looked after you better and spent more time with you. I do not want you to go! Please do not go!"


    Katherine resumes her cry; Lexy walks over to her friend and gives her a cold hug, their cheeks touching.


    "Kat, I love you so much."


    "Not Lexy, no!"


    Lexy fades into Katherine''s arms. Her body turns into small spheres of light. These are warm to the touch; the last thing to fade is the girl''s smile.


    Katherine cries out loud. The girl''s tears distort the sunlight, and the last sphere disappears into the orange sky.

 Chapter 8

    Katherine stands on the edge of her bed, her eyes glued to the wall, a piece of pizza resting in her hand.


    "Kathy, why can''t I remember anything?"


    The young woman doesn''t answer.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Why Kathy? When I see your face, I feel nothing but fury and rage, hatred, and contempt?"


    Katherine doesn''t react.


    "Katherine!"


    Bryan waves his arms in front of his sister. They pass through her; a light breeze ruffles the girl''s hair.


    "KATHERINE!"


    A black mark appears on Bryan''s neck; Katherine smiles.


    THE END