CHAPTER 3

Loud cries of cicada filled the air as the prickly rays from the scorching sun bath Alexander's back, sudden gentle blow of the wind rustles the grass in the paddy field as Alexander is found standing in the middle of the paddy field. His yesterday shirt were drenched with mud and blood. His eyes locked on a motionless body, flies were already sitting on the mouth with its limbs amputated and skin peeled off, exposing the inner layer of skin.

Alexander heavy breaths, nervously lift his hand that is covered with fresh blood and moved his eyes back on the motionless body. It was a disturbing sight.

"Hey!" someone called out in the distance. Alexander turned around, it was a farmer. Alexander ran and went out of the paddy field, the farmer called him out as he ran. Series of questions raced through his mind as he ran, he can't comprehend of what happened. From being cozy, reading the book in enjoyment and dozed off the halfway to found yourself sleeping next to a dead body is something he can't get through with an answer.

Alexander halted and catches his breathe, looking sideways. A bright sunny day for a gruesome sight in the morning, he wished that alarm clock will be heard somewhere and everything is a dream. Alexander notice the blood that drips in his shirt, he removed his shirt and looked for a bin to throw it.

He can't just walk around with a blood in his shirt, people would be suspicious of him. A sudden vibration is felt on his pockets, he nervously reach for it and answered the phone.

"H-Hello?"

"Yaaaaachan, helllllo" a cheerful voice is on the other line.

Yaa-chan?

Alexander hesitated to reply, who might be the character that is calling to him right now?

"W-Who is this?"

The other line went silent. Alexander waited for the other line to reply but only to hear a sinster chuckle.

"How's sleeping beside Tanaka?"

Alexander's eyes widened.

"Are you with Tanaka right now? Let us hear his voice. Oh!" the other line paused, followed with a mocking laugh, "He is dead.. right?"

"See you at school, Yaa-chan. Don't be depressed now. After all.."

How could the main character's best friend died and it was found dead beside me?

"We are now your best friends" and the call ended.

Why in the world I'm the first short story main character?

Questions and confusion stirred in Alexander's mind.

How could I get out?

Alexander took a deep breath as he gathered his composure and his thoughts. Looking both sideways, Alexander headed to Yasuke's home as he questioned how does this relates to him.

"Yasuke-kun!"

Alexander slowly looked up, a grey-haired women around her 60s is sitting across Alexander in the room.

"Yes, Grandma?" Alexander replied, changing his confuse expression with a smile.

"You seemed weary, is there something wrong?" the concerned grandmother asked. It's the short-story main character's grandma, Kiyoku. She is described as a kind and concerned old grandmother, taking care of Yasuke.

"Nothing's wrong, Grandma" Alexander replied. He can't think straight after the sudden event of being beside the dead best friend of the character.

"Grandmother, I'll go upstairs to sleep. I'm kind of tired today." Alexander gently said, put his chopsticks down on the table and stood up, heading upstairs. The grandmother watch him with concerned as Alexander went upstairs.

A dark blue painted room with books and papers scattered all over the floor, unfolded clothes lay on the bed is what greeted Alexander as he arrived at the main-character's room, he head towards the bed and lay down.

Being called as Yasuke, a character called me after few hours of seeing the lifeless body of Yasuke's best friend. Who was the character that called me earlier?

The phone suddenly rings, Alexander reached and read who called. The phone caller reads, "Maki"

Alexander pressed the answer button and a voice is heard from the other line. "Hello"

"Yasuke, hey!" replied from the other line with a friendly tone.

"What is it?"

"Whoa, it looks like someone is angry. I just wanted to see you" Maki replied on the other line with a smile on his face. "I can't wait to see you at school tomorrow. It's been two days since you arrived, right?"

"Don't be sad about Tanaka. You'll know some things about him later. Tomorrow, to be exact" Maki added on the other line. Alexander clenching his fist, ended the call and put it back to the side table. Maki heard the end of call, he tossed the phone on the driver's side seat locking his eyes on Yasuke's house with an evil grin on his face and glanced on the time in his watch.

Stressed out, Alexander closed his eyes and doze off. It was already 3am, the pitter patter of water droplets outside from the window made an old woman, Kiyoku sleeps peacefully on her bed. The door hinge softly creaks as four figure dressed with a black cap and mask appeared, heading slowly to the peacefully sleeping old woman. The poor old woman's eyes widened as someone suddenly cover her mouth.

Faces couldn't be determined, Kiyoku wore the expression of dreaded fear. Not for her life but for her grandson. For the well-being of her grandson as the four undetermined figures is on their house. Muffled cries were heard and Alexander is still asleep, unaware of his surroundings.

A figure grabbed the old woman's hair and dragged it out of the bed after putting a duct tape over Kiyoku's mouth. The three figure carried her out of the room and dropped her in the kitchen, tied the old woman upside down. The old woman tears brimmed over and flowed out of her eyes as the sharp knife is drawn out, reflecting its newly sharpened knife. A figure handed it to other and put the knife on the boiling hot water. For few minutes, the figure took it out from the boiling hot water pot, Kiyoku muffled screams and squirming out only made the figures an evil grin, slowly heading towards the grandmother.

The figure slowly put the heated knife on its skin and slowly slid it against the grandmother's skin like they're skinning out the flesh of a fish. Kiyoku looked at the four figures as tears brimmed over her eyes, she felt her strength is slowly fading away and her vision blurs. A smile puts on Kiyoku's face as she vividly saw those days where her grandson shows a smile. An innocent smile, a smile that tells her he wants to be protected and love. As Kiyoku slowly lost all her senses, her heart stopped beating—she just hopes and prays for her grandson to be safe.