Still Alive

Chapter 07

The atmosphere that night was very quiet. Moreover, in a small lane that will lead pedestrians to a public cemetery or residential buildings. There is only the sound of crickets and wild cats that always dominate every night. The streets are always gloomy, because there are more trees and old walls than street lampposts. There is only one very minimal lighting on the main turn. This is also very bad.

The groans were clearly audible at the fork in the road. Emma, ​​who had just come from work, stopped at an intersection, tried to find where the sound was coming from. His steps were slow, his eyes looked observantly around, in which it was rather dark. And in a matter of seconds, the woman immediately hid behind a high wall.

Right next to the bushes growing at the gates of the public cemetery. The tall figure that he often noticed in the office no longer smiled at him with a sweet smile, as usual. The man's eyes were wet with tears, his face was bruised, and there was a stab wound on the right side of his abdomen that had turned his white shirt red. There were no more moaning sounds, only his hands were still trying to reach out to the man who crouched close to him in search of help. However, the man instead stood up and dragged a medium-sized log.

With just one strong blow, a wooden block hit William Austin, lying helplessly on the pavement, right in the head. That's right, someone who dies is William, a very warm figure, and he often greets him in the office as they pass each other. Emma covered her mouth as a weakened hand dropped as her life vanished. Meanwhile, Emma, ​​who was behind the wall, still kept her mouth shut. He never thought he would witness something like this after work. The girl leaned her whole body against the shabby wall, sighed with a roar, trying to suppress the sobs so that they would not burst out right now. However, this still failed. His heart was beating abnormally until it became difficult for him to breathe, even now his body was shaking violently. The reaction of fear and shock from watching all these cruel events made him completely lose control of himself. Emma was a witness to all this, but did nothing to help the poor fellow.

"Help ...."

The faint sound of that faint voice still sounded very quiet. Tears can no longer be held back. William's sweet smile, which always greeted him every morning at the office and at coffee breaks, was now replaced by a sad look with a face full of bloody wounds.

Emma trembled with fear in the dark. Cold sweat trickled down his temples and neck. Until a cat sound woke the girl from her sleep. The dark brown eyes blinked rapidly. He immediately sat up and shed tears that morning. Always the same morning with the same dream. His pet black cat was still meowing on the bed, asking his owner to pet him on the head.

"You're a killer, Emma!"

"I'm sorry," the girl would say between sobs every morning.

"Excuse me."

His hands covered his ears, hoping he wouldn't hear any more of what he saw that night.

***

William is still standing in front of the minimalist house farthest from the locals. Many times he knocked on the door at a fast pace, but there was no answer from the owner of the house. Although William himself was a witness to the fact that Emma clearly went there. He had been standing there for almost half an hour. William is still always waiting because the man is very sure that the girl can help him find the cause of death.

Because no one knows that William died at night. The article about his death also does not clearly state the time of his death. However, William had just heard clearly that Emma had mentioned a key word that he thought might provide a clue.

'That night.'

William believes that Emma knows something related to his death. He knocked blindly on the brown door in front of him again. William won't give up, he doesn't want to be a vengeful misleading spirit.

- I know it's weird. But you don't have to be afraid, I'm not the devil. So please open the door, only you can help me,” William said impatiently.

"Emma, ​​can you hear me? Come on, please open the door, I know you're still there. Please, just once! I need your help". William leaned his forehead against the door.

His eyes were closed, half an hour standing there was enough to make his legs ache. The man looked around, today it was really very hot. He looked at the door of the house again with a sad expression, touching his stomach, which began to growl.

“Id you not the devil. Then what are you, Will?”

The man shook his head slowly, remembering the stupid words he had just said to Emma. How could a girl believe him? After all, how can people who have died come back again? The joke about the angel of death is too much. William plopped down on a wicker chair on the terrace, next to the door.

"I won't leave until you open the door. I will stay here no matter what." William had already begun to yawn, his arms outstretched to stretch as he took a deep breath.

His stomach growled again at the wrong time, but as William had just said, he wasn't going to leave until Emma opened the door. William was determined, today he must find at least one lead. The black cell phone was finally touched too after being in his shirt pocket for so long. William opened a news site and found an article that was trending.

Appointment of a new CEO. The White Horse is back!

Even though it was difficult, William decided to read the article. He remembered how sad his life had been. Still, having achieved the title of CEO in just one day, William should be proud, right? At least, this is the record for the shortest work. Suddenly, the man's lazy gaze was replaced by an expression full of shock. After William read the article, many questions hung in his head. Now began to appear a lot of assumptions about who is the suspect in his murder.

The reason is that a photo of someone he knows is displayed among the articles. Someone who was familiar enough to drive him home and eat together during recess.

"Sean?" William muttered to himself.

He suddenly became serious, staring at the picture of Sean and Adam shaking hands while giving the other hand a thumbs up. It's only been a week since he died, but how soon did Sean take William's place? Was William the only one to whom all this seemed so suspicious? Or is it really true? Because William still remembers very well how he and Sean often competed to get news that would become popular. Only Sean can match his ambition to rise in rank.

It turns out that the feeling of disappointment extends not only to people. In fact, now, despite the fact that William has become a half-spirit, he also feels disappointed with the reality that has happened. William got angry, he began to hate all the assumptions that appeared in his head. The man hoped that what he thought was a big mistake. It's enough that he died so mysteriously, I hope he doesn't get betrayed by his closest colleagues.

William gripped his cell phone tightly, his eyes sharp as he gazed out over the narrow but neatly landscaped yard. The small pots that were neatly arranged and planted with beautiful flowers couldn't really suppress his anger.

Kruuk...

“Ah, damn it! Why don't food vendors pass by at all?!" William swore as he stroked his growing belly.

He glanced at the door, which was still tightly closed. A second later he stood up and peered through the windowpane. This was followed by swearing again countless times. William really couldn't see anything outside. The man knocked on the door with his index finger, taking a deep breath.

“You have nothing to worry about. I'm not a bad person and I wouldn't mess around. I just wanted to ask you something, Em. Please open the door, she said, at least accept me as a guest, give me some water too. He swallowed roughly.

This time, William was leaning against the brown door, turning his head back from time to time, as if he could see Emma from there. Hoping that the girl inside melts at the sight of his handsome face and then is ready to open the door for William. But, alas, it was, as usual, William's silly fantasy.

In fact, the girl with the long black hair was still sitting with her arms around her knees and shedding tears. Emma is afraid and at the same time feels guilty about the man who is currently still there. After the nightmares that haunt him to this day, it seems that everything is not enough. Today, Emma even met William in person.

"How can one who has died come back to life?"

Since then, the same question haunted him. Emma again wished she had been someone braver that night. Maybe William Austin, who he knew was very friendly and kind, would not die. Maybe even to this day she can still see a man who smiles sweetly and greets her warmly every day.

However, Emma was not so brave. He is just a killer who still continues to hide from all the facts of what happened. He thought that he would be fine after moving out of his old house, but in reality everything is still the same. These dreams, fears and guilt will never go away without responsibility.

Emma went to her room. He hoped the man at his front door had given up and left immediately.

***

It was getting late, although William couldn't see it directly, William was sure the sun had returned to his bed. William was already weak in front of the door, he was starving and had to do so since then, unfortunately, no food vendor has passed there. William was worried that if he went for food, Emma, ​​as his only hope, would simply run away. William's long legs are stretched out, his body is also completely leaning against the door.

"I think I'll die twice at this rate," he muttered indistinctly.

However, suddenly

The door slowly slowly opened, but due to the weight of William's body leaning against the door, it opened completely. Now William is lying on the floor of Emma's house. Looking at the girl with a stupid smile. The girl, too, remained silent, though her head was lowered, her eyes moving restlessly to avoid William's gaze.

"I'm not the devil," said William with a thin smile.

The man jumped up and stood up quickly. Meanwhile, Emma almost closed the door of her house again if William didn't keep her.

Sorry, I'm not ready to tell you yet. Emma kept trying to close the door with hard pushes.

However, in vain, because William's strength is greater than his. William furrowed his brow as he looked at Emma's face so closely. Both try to push the door to show who is the winner.

"I'm not going to make you talk now," the man said softly, trying to convince Emma. Then, with one push, William pushed the door open.

“At least help me this time,” he said, “I need food if I have to go home first, my home is far from here. I may die on the way."

***

Emma looked at William, who was sitting in front of her, enjoying his instant noodles. Even the occasional man was coughing from the food like crazy. He poured fresh tea into a cup and handed it to William, to which he responded with an exaggerated smile.

“Thank you very much, Emma,” William said with his mouth full.

William smiled with his charming eyes, causing the girl to suddenly lower her head. He was still confused by the figure in front of him. It was clear that he had seen all the terrible things that happened to William that night. So, who is this figure sitting in front of him? However, without a doubt, William's smile still made Lintang happy. The girl bit her cheek in excitement.

"Leave when you're done, I don't want to see you here anymore."

To be continued ....