SCORCHING DEATH
LAUREN'S POINT OF VIEW
The painful cries of the people cast down the room where Airen's coffin is lying. Just like what our professor told us yesterday, we pay Airen's parents a visit.
"We had a business trip abroad but we immediately went back to the country when the police notified us about the incident," Airen's mother, Mrs. Romea, said while staring at the casket. "I-I thought it's just a small and minor trouble, w-we did not expect that we will be greeted by my daughter's corpse."
Her harrowed voice and blood-shot eyes made the scene more distressing.
"And until now, I can't help but to blame myself for her death. We should not have left her that night, we should have taken better care of her, maybe this will not happen, m-maybe she's still here with us." She finally permitted herself to cry, her voice cracking.
Ms. Clara caresses her. "Stop blaming yourself. You did not want that happen, the only person to condemn here is the person behind her death. I'm sure Airen is in a better place now and she's watching over you," she consoled the crying mother.
Amber is on other side, staring in the empty air in front of her. The dark circles under her eyes are proofs that she had no decent sleep yet. Ashley and Lei are beside her, the latter seems to temporarily forget the dispute between them.
"Do they already have leads as to who did this to her, Uncle?" I overheard Evan asking Mr. Romea, Airen's father.
Airen's father sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, the crime was done perfectly, the culprit did not leave any clue, they could not find any evidence yet."
Evan pats his shoulder. "My father is also willing to send help, Uncle. We have our private investigator that can help us. He's also sending his deepest condolences."
Mr. Romea smiled lightly. "Thank you very much, Evan. I highly appreciate your help."
My best friend suddenly slump beside me. Lost for words that can comfort her, I just enclose her in a warm embrace.
•••••
CARTER'S POINT OF VIEW
My head is throbbing when I wake up. I cleared my dry throat. The moonlight seeping through the glass window is the only illumination of the dark room. I can see the broken wooden chairs scattered on the floor. I tried to stand up, but I later realized that both of my hands are tied up from behind.
"Where the fuck I am?"
As if on cue, the door suddenly opens, and a man wearing a hooded jacket emerged from outside. Anger abruptly crept up my system when I recognized his face.
"You traitor! Untie me and I will break every bones in your body!" I shouted furiously, sparks flying from my mouth.
He grinned while walking towards me. He bent down and tightly cupped my jaw. "It amazes me how you can still act high and mighty despite your piteous situation." He eyed me dangerously. "Tell me, Carter, aren't you afraid to face your own death?"
My blood starts run cold, but I won't let him see him it. I won't give him the satisfaction that he wants.
I returned his cocky smirk. "It takes more than that to make me shiver in fear, you bastard." His grip on my jaws tightened and my snigger eventually gets wider when his eyes burn in fury.
He suddenly punched me- hard enough to make my lips bleed.
I lick the blood and looks at him. "You call that a punch? You hit like a puny sissy," I taunted him.
He let go of my face and bow his head. I take advantage of the situation and tried to unknot the ties binding my hands, but it was too tight.
"Don't waste your energy because you will never be able to escape this hell."
He crouched in front of me. The eerie aura surrounding him a while ago flared up. He pulled out a knife from his pocket, its blade shimmering against the moonlight.
He crawled the sharp knife on my face. "Are you familiar with death of a hundred cuts?"
Shiver run down my spine. I gulped hard, trying to hide the fear. "Y-You're crazy."
He laughs like a mad man. "I am, Carter, I am indeed crazy."
He stood up and walked behind me. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat when I felt the tip of the knife on my throat. "We will play a very simple game, Carter. I will ask you some questions, all you need to do is answer me honestly. You know what's going to happen if I heard disgusting lies from that sordid mouth of yours, hmmm?" he said, slightly digging the tip of the knife on my neck's skin.
"Now, let's begin" He paused for a bit and smile wickedly. "Do you still remember what happened back in July 2019?"
Apprehension dawned me. The erratic beating of my heart intensifies.
How did he know that?!
I look at him in disbelief. "W-What the fuck are you saying?"
Without any warning, he stabbed my right shoulder.
"Argh! Fuck you!" My screech broke the silence of the night.
He leaned closer to me. "Wrong. That's not the answer that I wanted to hear. I will ask you again, what happened in July 2019?"
I shoom my head. "I-I don't what shit you are talking about. You're fucking insane!"
His eyes flared dangerously. He stabs my left shoulder this time. "I told you to not spit some stupid lies, didn't I?" He shove the knife deeper, slowly twisting it and digging in my flesh, aggravating the excruciating pain.
"I'm giving you one last chance, Carter," he whispered perilously. "Answer my question and I might spare your useless life."
He walk in front of me, his eyes blazing with fire of fury. "Tell me what you did last summer, Carter."
The beating of my heart is getting faster with every passing seconds. Beads of sweats are already forming in my creased forehead. With tears streaming down my eyes, I faced him. "I-I will never betray them."
His eyes widened, an expression of shock crossed his face. He shook his head. "As expected, you will disappointment me."
He grabbed a chair and sat in front of me. Without any hesitations, he dug the knife near my chest.
"Ahhhh! Stop this!" I screamed in pain, but he did not listen. He continuously stabs every part of my body without having a second thought.
I'm literally bathing in sweat and blood when he stops. "N-No, s-stop this." The severe pain is coursing through my entire body, even my fingers are shaking. I can feel every flesh of mine aching and screaming in so much pain.
A smirk made its way on his lips. "I gave you a chance earlier, didn't I? But you chose to be a pompous bastard."
He walks towards the nearest cabinet and grab a container, its revolting smell irritates my nose. He opened the lid and pour its content on me. I tried to wiggle despite the wounds and blood weakening my body as soon I realize that it's a gasoline.
"D-Don't do this, I-I will admit my sins now. P-Please, spare me." I swallowed my conceit and pleaded him.
He looked at me and smiled cockily. "Oh, what happened to the arrogant and dauntless Carter? Death doesn't scare you, right? Why are you begging for your worthless life now?"
The door suddenly opens, someone enters the room and looks at me. "Why is he still alive? We need to hurry up and leave this place before morning, the guard might be lurking around now."
I raised my head, and the fear inside me worsens. Her presence just adds fuel to the fire.
"H-How? I-impossible." I said underneath my breath. I look at her straight in the eyes. "How the fuck you're alive? How?! Tell me! Tell me!" I shouted.
She averted her gaze from him and walk towards me. "You have no right to boss me around," she replied flatly and slaps my bleeding face.
She grabs the knife from his hands and pulled my hair. "You don't know how much I have waited for this time, Carter. Seeing you trembling in fear satisfies me so damn much."
"F-Fuck, stop!" I screamed when she slowly cuts my ears off. Tears couldn't stop falling from my eyes anymore.
"Scream more, I want to hear more of your screams."
I felt a stinging pain in my shaking legs, she continuously stab me on that part.
"I still want to see more blood coming from your flesh, but I think we really need to send you to hell now."
She turned to him. He grinned at me before handing her a match box. I started wiggling on my seat again, hoping that I can still escape. My heart almost pump out of my chest when she lights up the match stick.
I shake my head relentlessly. "N-No, please don't k-kill me, I-I'm begging you."
The grin on their faces vanished, it was soon replaced with so much coldness. I didn't even see any uncertainty when she throws the flaming match stick on me. All I can do at that very moment is to scream as fire immediately covered my entire body. I couldn't see any remorse on their faces as they watch my suffering
THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW
The sight of Carter's burning body is a taste of delight to them. The blazing fire dances in their eyes as they watch him screaming in pain.
His voice slowly fades with every passing seconds. Not too long after, his cries and shouts vanished along with the cold wind. The eerie silence of that night came back, and his lifeless body fell on the floor with a loud thud.
She picks out a black rose inside her pocket and throw it on him "Goodbye Carter, see you in hell."
"Let's get out of this place now, the guards will soon wake up."
She nods her head. They walk towards the door and left the place as if nothing happened, as if they did not end someone's life. The ominous whisper of the wind should at least scare them, but darkness is their friend, it's living inside them.
