I didn't know my way

Masquerade Party

Chap.2

I ran as fast as my legs could endure. There was no looking back, the police sirens were scurrying after me looking for the escaped victim. I didn't know what to do that time but one thing that was cleared to me was that if the police took hold of me then the people with the black masks will chase me down.

To escape the brutality that was going around me, I just went to the only place I knew except for my home. It was hard, I was literally out of breath and I was screaming about how vulnerable I am. I didn't have a single clue about what my parents have endured. I was only looking like an insensitive son who was so pitiful that he couldn't help his own parents.

*****

"Police have announced that the murder was a well-planned one and unfortunately the assailants were gone before they could reach there and about 200 people were being murdered".

"Ryan I am going now son, be cautious and take supervision of your sister."

"Okay Dad you too be safe", I said while my father made his way towards the door, I closed the door as advised. It has been years since a murder like that happened here. The massacre was slowly becoming everyone's nightmare.

*****

"Hey! Why did you turn off the TV?", I asked frustrated with Jenna. Jenna was my younger sister who was going to be fourteen this month, she was a regular girl but she loved to boss around. Her blond hair, brown eyes and white face made every boy fall for her but unfortunately, my sister had a thing for my best friend Denver. Recalling his name he was also going to the Masquerade Party.

"Hey, what are you thinking of Ryan?"

"Hey, umm did Denver call you or something?"

"Oh come on look who is asking, he is your best friend why on the earth he would call me?"

Wait, he was at the Party, was he okay? There was one fled victim could it be that one was him? I couldn't think of anything, I can't lose my best friend. I made my way to the telephone disregarding whatever my sister was blabbering. At that moment all I could think about was Denver. I quickly dialled my father's phone number.

"Hello? Ryan is everything okay?"

I inhaled and exhaled a huge amount of air," Da--ad we're okay, completely fine don't worry," I asked as I lifted up my hand to Jenna's direction asking her to stop flooding me with questions.

"Then what is it?, you know I am on duty," my father sounded frustrated, maybe the crime scene was a lot worse than it seemed.

"Dad Denver, Denver was there at the celebration today, you have the deceased bodies right can you please identify if he is one of them o--or did he escaped," my voice was shaking with every word that I spoke. I could see my sister's eyes go wide, right no one knew except for me that he was going at the party.

"Son relax okay, it will take some time to recognize, each and everyone's face has been disfigured."

"Okay Dad," I muttered.

"What's happening?", Jenna asked anxiously.

"Jenna, Denver was there at the party and I don't know if he is alive or not," I grumbled as Jenna hugged me.

"Don't worry I am sure he is alright", but deep inside Jenna was also having her questions. There was no guarantee if Denver survived even if he did where was he now?

The clock ticked as we both waited for our father's call hoping to find some news. There were dispersing noise on the window of the rain, October 19th was the gloomiest night the L.A. city, its people had ever seen. I turned on the TV grabbing the remote from Jenna's hand, nervously, sweats were draining from my forehead. My head was heavy with thoughts.

"Ryan I don't think Denver is alive".

"Don't talk rubbish Jenna, I am sure he is", I said not sure about what I just stated.

"Ryan, it's hard I know but at least eat something please, you didn't have anything since 11 p.m.".

Just then there was an audible knock on the door. We were both stunned, it was 2 a.m. and the rain was just getting heavier. We glanced at each other, battling with our own thoughts if we should open the door or not.

"Jenna open the door", I uttered.

"You open, you're the older one here".

"Come on, if it's an intruder I will stay behind you and safeguard you".

"Oh no, you're not".

With that Jenna jerked me towards the door, sometimes I imagine what my mother provided her to make her tougher than me, too bad she left before I could ask her. I took small steps towards the door, Jenna was right behind me, keeping up with me. The knocks were getting wilder and wilder. I clutched the doorknob slowly twisting it to the right side.

"Ryan! Open the God damn door!".

Hearing that voice I instantly unlocked the door allowing the outsider to make an entrance. It was Denver, he indeed did survive. His white trousers were coated in blood and mud, his coat was drenched and water was gushing from his messy red hair. I quickly made him sit on the sofa of the living room.

"Jenna go get some towel and a hot coffee".

She scurried to get the desired items while Denver and I were left together alone. I could see my friend shaking but I wasn't sure if it's because of the cold or because of the uncertainty that he had inside.

"Denver are you okay?", I asked.

He looked at me, his eyes were red as if he was weeping while coming here. Just then the telephone rang, I went up to take the call.

"Ryan, as far as I know, there is a chance Denver escaped".

I looked at my friend who was looking down on the wooden floor, "I know Dad, I met him".

****

For an hour we stayed like that, Jenna was practically snoozing on the couch next to mine. I looked at Denver, he drank three glasses of water and 2 cups of coffee and it seemed he needed some more to get rid of the fear and sting inside him.

Denver looked at me, his face was red and he was sweating heavily, I gave him some new set of clothes to change into as the shirt and the coat he was wearing were either drenched in rain or red blood.

"Rya--an".

"Den, come on, speak up dude", I said softly even though I never knew how to be soft.

"The--ey kill-ed all of them, my pa-arents they are dead too, I am so pathetic", he began to cry. It was the fifth time I saw him cry that day.

"Den, it was not your mistake, relax okay I know it's hard but think you lived for a reason". I tried to convince him that it is not his fault that his parents are dead. "By the way I know it's not the right time to ask but how did you escape?".

"A girl helped me".

"Did she survive?".

"She should, after all, she is the daughter of the gang leader".

Denver clarified everything to me even though his voice hitched, he continued. Apparently, the girl who saved him was the daughter of the gang, she didn't know all these shits. But why would she help Denver? I am not saying that it was an awful thing, it was incredible to have my friend around me, seeing him stable, I was just worried if it is another shitty scheme of the Massacres.

"Ryan, you said I had a reason to survive right?", Denver asked more like stating.

I hummed.

"Please then ask your Dad to tutor me".

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, "But why?".

"Simple, they started it and I will finish it", he said wiping his tears.

"Checkmate?".

"Yeah, checkmate".