Consequences and Repercussions

The lock to the abandoned apartment had been busted. The striated marks might mean that some sort of axe or something with a heavy blade had been used. The apartment itself hadn’t been vacated for long, but long enough that there shouldn’t be anyone lurking. All that I expected to find was what I was here for. I pushed the door open, and pulled my coat around me a little tighter because of the cold. There had been a front coming through for most of today, starting late last night. According to the weatherman, at least.

I took a flashlight out of my pocket. After a press of the button, the place illuminated. I stepped inside the doorway and swept the beam from side to side across the hallway.

I didn’t see anything that would seem out of place, except for a disturbance in the dust on the floor- a sure sign that someone, or two someones, had been there. With one left behind, most probably.

Not seeing anything of importance, I attentively kept walking. Most doors were closed, and the only marks on the walls were of discoloration and faded apartment numbers.

Soon, I came to a fork in the hallway. To my right was a staircase and to the left were more apartments. I bent down to look closer at the ground. Scuffle marks in the fine dust heading to the left. I continued onward.

Just down the hallway, there was an ajar door. Must be where I needed to get to.

I froze in my tracks when I heard a nearly audible moan. There shouldn’t be anyone alive here…there couldn’t be anyone alive here. Carefully, I set down my briefcase. I pulled my pocketknife out of my back pocket, and holding it steadily in front of me with the flashlight in my other hand, I pushed open the door all the way.

I nearly dropped everything.

Holy hell. It’s a kid…

He must have been only a teen. He stared at me, struggling, barely holding on.

His leg’s gone…there’s a blood trail to the door…

His arms were tied behind him. He coughed, his eyes pleading with me.

“I…” I stammered, my voice barely at a whisper.

Powerless to do anything…

I shook my head. He coughed harder and I couldn’t move a muscle out of…fear? Shock? His head lolled to the side and finally I scrambled to put away my pocketknife and take out my cell phone.

I fumbled with the phone, and my eyes darted from the buttons to his face. Just as I began to dial the nine, I noticed that he wasn’t moving any longer.

I lowered my arm to my side slowly. Thankfully, his eyes were closed, but the pleading in them still echoed in my head. I looked around at the room that was splattered with blood, and then back down at him.

I shook my head, and turned to leave.

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry.”

My briefcase stood where I left it, reminding me of why I was sent here. I scowled in disgust, picked it up, and went on my way.

 

Just as I entered Malcolm’s office, he could tell I was angry.

“Penny for your thoughts, Carter?” He asked, taking a drink of his coffee.

“The kid was alive when I got there.” I spat.

He choked on his coffee, and nearly spewed it everywhere. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I tightened my hands into fists. “A kid, Malcolm. His leg was gone…I saw him die in front of my eyes, and don’t even dare to ask me if I did my ‘duty’ because screw you if that’s what you expect from me.”

Malcolm shook his head. “Of course not…” He seemed distracted. “Uh, well…that’s one less for you, I suppose. Still, another we need…”

I held my tongue to the roof of my mouth in order to not say anything more.

It was raining when I pushed out of the building and into the city, but it didn’t deter me from walking away from the place. I desperately wanted to shoot something, but I hadn’t held a gun in a couple years.

I walked around the block until my clothes were soaked and maybe I’d be tired enough not to dream.

Author's Note

this one's really...messed up :/. it's sad. freaky, sorta.

needs a better title. two words, like usual. I've used a lot of those lately, accidentally, before I remembered this series. which is why I made a new folder for this.

I guess it's a series, now. there's three of them. I have a sort of goal to get out what's going on behind the scenes, and I'll write as many as I need to get there, but I'll only write them if I have ideas.

now, I'm all out of ideas.

pic by augenweide on deviantart http://augenweide.deviantart.com/art/x-ray-263931830