Fater's corner

Warning shot

 

When the bell ring is telling us the school is over I quickly put everything I have on my desk away. The math book, a half-eaten apple and an empty water bottle lands on the bottom of my backpack. I put it on my back like usual not minding how stupid it looks with my casual black school uniform. One of my friend asks if I want to go with them to have ‘fun’, but I politely decline saying I have something to do. Yes, I have something serious job nowadays. My father is a widower private detective. You guessed it, my mother was murdered because of his work. He managed to track them down and put them into jail but what was done is irreversible. Ha wanted to retire but did not have enough money for both of us so he continued. Every day another warning comes up but he knows when he’s that deep he can’t back off anyways.  After asking the government for help I was sent as witness protection to another city. I’m alone while my father is working hard for the police. Don’t misunderstand, I’m proud of him but after losing my mother I don’t want to lose my father too.

In an unknown city it was hard to integrate, let alone trying to make friends. Even so, I managed to befriend someone. It’s a bit awkward because she’s a girl a year above me. Her having reputation as ‘the hidden beauty’ doesn’t help at all. There are many mysterious things about her that makes my blood flow backwards, probably I inherited some detective skills from dad. By the way, even if she’s my friend and I know her better than others, I still only know that her parents died in an accident years ago leaving only a one room apartment for her. She’s somewhat similar to me but I at least have my father. She’s alone. After I found this out accidentally I approached her and managed to earn her trust. She does not have other friends because she’s working part-time all her free time.

When I arrive at the school gate I see her back as she’s also going home. I quicken my steps and call out her name.

“Aurora! Wait for me. Let’s walk together.” She stops with an unpleasant expression on her face.

“I told you I don’t have time for you.”

Her voice sounds like she’s annoyed but I see that there is a small smile on the corner of her mouth.

“Then how about we talk after you finish your work? Wanna’ meet up?” Pushing a little I try to get her show me a real smile. She let out a small faint sigh.

“How ‘bout 7, at my place? It’s small but I have tea. I don’t have money to go to a coffee shop.”

Originally I just joked but her answer made me happy. Wait. A girl just invited me at her home. Me, don’t get any funny ideas.

“That’s good for me. Since I’ll be the one intruding I’ll bring some snacks. Any requests?”

I get a small chuckle out of her what is considered rare. I know well that she does not like others empathy, but this should be alright. We don’t really have many things to speak about, still enjoying each other’s company. After reaching the street where we usually part, saying goodbyes we part.

I walk home on the streets wondering how can this place be so different than my birthplace. That place was dangerous and you couldn’t even walk alone safely during daytime. Compared to that, this is heaven. There is no garbage every second step to ruin your shoes, no smell, no thievery. I heard there is a huge family controlling this place like some kind of maffia. Even considering that, this place is good to live in. If a lone girl with no money can live happily here, this can’t be that bad of a place.

 

In the simple part of the town where most houses are ruined and destined to be demolished a single youth stands with a small bag in one hand. Standing in front of an apartment door, he knocks using his other hand. No answer comes for some time, what concerns the boy, so he tries the handle. The door opens with a loud crackle making him concerned about something. He calls out quietly, but no one answers from the dark. The child steps in and pushes the light switch what  after a few seconds turns an old lightbulb on. The home only consist one room and a half-separated bathroom. It’s clear that this is a place where someone lives under minimal conditions, also there is nobody here.

‘Is she late?’ The boy thinks while looking around in the place. He only sees a shelf full of books, a fridge, a basic countertop, a cabinet and a sofa bed. Frowning a little he puts his bag on the countertop and notice the sound of steps outside the door.

A girl storms in through the door wearing a somewhat provocative pink dress while holding her side desperately. As she hobbles inside blood is ruining her clothes under her hands. When she notices the other person inside her body freezes for a second, like she forgot something crucial. With an annoyed pout she heads to the fridge ignoring the boy. The other is startled of course but after calming down he rushes to help. At this the girl kicks him in the stomach and opens a seemingly pre-prepared medkit.

“You want to help me right? Then go home and forget everything you’ve seen.” Aurora says this on the side while pushing a heatrod to the source of her blood. With a cloth put in her mouth she quietly moans from the pain.

“The hell I can after I saw this! I’ll call the ambulance!” The guy forgetting his own pain tries to reach his phone that fell on the ground making the girl’s eyes turn violent and intimidating. Noticing this he falls on his back again from shock. It was not caused by the girl’s frightening bloodlust, but by the fact that he knows this kind of feeling. He recognises the intentions in her eyes. It is the same as those who hunt his family for a long time, the same as the one’s who killed her mother. He does not understand how is that possible and tries to ignore it.

They both stare at each other for a while, until the girl finishes. After taking the phone from the ground she grabs the still frozen person in front of him by the neck and pushes him out of the door then lock it.

 

The boy sitting on the ground in front of the door can’t comprehend and is gasping in shock. For a long minute of paralyzed staring his heat somewhat calms down, making him able to think again. Despite his fears the first thing he does is reaching for the door, trying to go inside again but the door won’t budge.

“Let me in please.” He asks somewhat enduring the shaking of his whole body. Even though his fear is so strong, he experienced in his life what a loss is. The only thing that keeps him there is the fear of losing someone again. The person on the other side of the door understanding the fact that the boy won’t budge, decides to talk to him.

“No. Calm down and go home for now, we will talk about this tomorrow. Don’t tell anyone please.” Is what she says and goes away from the door.