BROKEN BUTTERFLY; Beyond The Night That Differs Love And Lust
CHAPTERS 16. THE HANGED MAN
From the article I read, someone who hung himself had 13 seconds before losing consciousness. Imagine how long three seconds were? more or less that the time needed for status updates on social media, as short as that time 13 seconds passed. But for me right now, struggling to breathe these 13 seconds feels so long and excruciating.
My neck hurts, and my chest feels like it's going to explode. Both my hands were trying to untie my neck, I could feel that there was a rope quite thin and layered tied there. Since when is this rope here? And how can it be? Alright Juno, you have 13 seconds to solve this mystery, while continuing to thrash in pain.
First, there's no tie to the rope wrapped around my neck. I've made sure all these twists consist of the same rope that must also be tied to the support above it. Before it ended like this Alice pulled me closer to her place, just below the garden lights. Well, now that I'm hanging under the garden lights, the shadow below me also reinforces that argument. Next one!
Damnit damnit! my throat's sore. Furthermore, what rope is currently tying me? And where did it come from? Is this some kind of trap he set for me? Inhere? But it was me who obviously invited Alice to meet her in this park, tonight. He couldn't have set up this trap before, or maybe? Did he make it while listening to my story, how could he? This doesn't make any sense.
I saw Alice smiling down there. I unconsciously extended my right hand to him hoping he would help me, which he felt impossible to do. But, from my hands I realized something. Alice's bracelet is no longer there. Yes, the bracelet I had been desperately taking off was finally gone. Waitaminute! Is it possible this rope.the bracelet she gave me?
Alice welcomed my hand, and she held it with both hands. But he had no intention of letting me go, just holding my hand was like trying to calm me down. I'm struggling, my legs are kicking irregularly. He realized this and immediately hugged both of my legs. Both of my knees were locked in his arms, his face tightly clinging to my forehead.
Gently stroking my thigh he saw every second of my suffering. From this position he could easily pull me down and make the giggles on my neck tighter, also preventing me from continuing to thrash.
And that smile, that smile that led me to death.
Is my 13 seconds over? Of course not yet. No matter how I struggled I knew I would not be able to escape from this trap, I understood it very well, but my body was still trying to escape. Still struggling with the rest of his strength.
I don't know how many seconds I have right now, no matter how long it feels it doesn't matter to me. I no longer wish I could get out of this situation. I can imagine the news head line in the next few days will be talking about me dying in this park, and the killer who's still not getting caught. There will not be much told about the victim – in this case I – other than what people already know about me. It might take a few weeks until my parents find out about this incident. They must be sad, but I think this is also natural considering the presence of those who are between there and not in my life. They must understand.
This may sound selfish, but they themselves leave their children unattended, so it is only natural that something like this happens. And I don't blame them either. I know very well their research is much more important than their own children.
Ah, maybe my sarcasm is too late.
I don't want my last memories in this world of my parents being between there and nothing. Let's think of something good. The one thing I'm grateful for, I can get back to being better with Weena. Nothing can be my biggest regret but having to leave without straightening my problems with him first. Whatever he is..
She was Weena, who would come all the way to my house without a second thought and take care of me who was sick. Who wants to listen to my boring stories during lunchtime. Which if nervous always tightly grasps whatever items are nearby. Who can always say the right thing at the right time, especially the thing I'm too bothered to say. The soup that he made has saved my life many times, thank goodness I had eaten it earlier. Who would scold me for being worried about my circumstances, I still don't understand this one but he is like that.
She's Weena, my best friend. The laughter and crying always replaced my laughter and tears that were never used to such an emotional thing. Even at a stage where I thought he was too dramatizing. But that's how he is.
Saw his angry and worried face this afternoon. I can't imagine what that face would be like if the news of my death reached him later. Well, I can't say. And I don't want to imagine. I don't want to imagine him being destroyed any more after yesterday's incident. Imagining Weena crying inexplicably felt more painful than imagining my own death. Which is right in front of me right now.
I don't want to die! I can't let this happen!
That wish just came out in the last seconds of my life. There must be a way to get out of this situation! Think Juno! My time does not remember much my legs that had been hugged Alice had started to feel weak, but there must be a way! That's her! My legs were hugged if I could gather the rest of my energy there and somehow balance my body over his shoulders maybe..
“Juno stop! Don't squawk like this, your neck could break!”
Bodo time! I have to try even if the odds are small. I just need to lock my feet on his shoulders and keep my balance. It can't be harder than that.
AARGH!!!
The rope that snared my neck was pulled up higher. The thing that I don't think makes sense to do considering my weight of about 55 kg is that he can lift only with a simple hand gesture. Cancel my plan.
“This way you can be calmer. Honey I can no longer hug you, but you yourself are a lot of motion so it is difficult for me to embrace.”
This snare felt tighter and tighter, and the pain in my neck grew. But I can't give up here. Think Juno! There has to be a way for me to get out of this. Now I hang about a meter from the ground. Alice was standing a little far away I couldn't get from my place. And this snare I can't let go of no matter how I tried. And the rope, that's it! If I could reach the support of this rope maybe..
I held my hand as hard as I could up high, hoping to reach the pole that was the support. But I can't touch it even with my fingertips. Damnit damnit! Is it still less high?
I saw Alice smiling at my current state. He must have calculated this situation before and felt that whatever I did could not possibly save me. Well, however he had killed people in the same place and most likely in the same way.
Of course, the victim found in this park was also tall and his weight was not much different from me. So maybe he had already calculated everything.
After two attempts to outsmart me it seems like there will be no third time. Like in a best of two game where the first player who managed to get the second win came out as the winner. Once again I said well played Alice, beyond my expectations you have taken everything into account from the beginning. Or maybe not from the beginning, somehow it makes more sense that he just improvises following the circumstances. Well, whichever one it is, he's clearly beaten me.
Any last words?
It might be more appropriate to say the last regret. No, I don't regret being involved in this serial murder case. Honestly I enjoyed it, the times I investigated this case were the times I felt most alive. What I regret is that weena was worried about, and saw her face like that. Well, after this I'll make it even more devastated with my death. And that's what I regret the most.
I'm sorry, Weena.
Finally I stopped struggling, other than because there was no more energy I also could not find a way out of this situation. Death is right in front of me, I can't control it anymore.
DOR'S!
The thunderous sound was followed by sparks at the end of the lamp post I was hanging from.
DOR!!
The tremors at the stake awakened me, as well as my position that had suddenly plummeted. The sparks and the impact sounds he followed, were unmistakable! I prepared myself to fall out of that position.
BRUK!
The first thing I did was feel my neck and feel the rope still there. It hurts so bad. Fortunately, I was no longer hanging on that pole. Two shots hit one end, the bullet marks were seen tearing through the iron plate.
Alice looked pale and looking around for where the shot came from, I could see the terror from the color-lost face.
He was just as scared of me right now.
“Bring this kiss on your forehead.”
The voice rang out from the entrance of the park, someone walked over from there. From her silhouette I recognize she's a woman.
“And now, before we part. That's all I'm saying.”
Can't be! No, this is very possible. But so I might not have taken this possibility into account.
As his figure drew closer, the garden lights began to illuminate the figure making it even clearer in each step. He just dropped that expensive bag over there.
“You who believe not wrong.”
I can see clearly his black suit. The posture is still perfect like a model, so elegant and confident.
And a revolver he pointed at Alice ignored the girl's pale face.
“That my days are mere dreams.”
The mysterious woman who claimed to be named Risa has saved me.
…