My alarm went off and I realised I hadn't slept all night, but was sleepy right now. Anyhow I dragged myself to the bathroom still wondering about the weird noise. I had no clue what it was but it was loud enough to catch attention of the neighborhood. I quickly showered and after dressing up went to downstairs in search of my. She wasn't present on the hall. I peeped into her room when she didn't open the door after multiple attempts. I checked her room including her bathroom. She wasn't there as well. By the time I was feeling nervous, something was really wrong. I was freaking out. I rushed towards kitchen and found nothing. What the hell? Where is mom?
"Mom... mom...?"
I shouted but still no response. I ran outside the house, hoping she might be watering the plants, no trace of her anywhere. The car was right at it's spot where I parked it yesterday that means mom did not leave anywhere far but she didn't knew anyone in the neighborhood, so how could she go to neighbors'. This whole thing was freaking me out. I went out to check the neighborhood and it felt awkward as we are not familiar with the neighbors yet, but I still knocked.
An elderly woman with calm face opened the door and she was bemused, seeing me.
"Hi. I am your new neighbor. By any chance, my mom came to you this morning?"
I asked and she was still confused and took a moment to answer,
"No l, I don't get it. Welcome to the neighborhood but you are the first person who came here this morning and I just woke up when you came."
She answered with shaky voice and I didn't got much help from her. It's not her fault, she is just too old to remember things, maybe.
But if not here, then where did mom go? Because the rest of the houses were few feet away and this was the closest. If mom had to go to meet neighbors she would have definitely started from here. I was on the urge of crying while walking down the street it was mostly empty at this hour. But today it was completely vacant. I felt a weird silence and negative vibes there and now I was cent percent sure something was really wrong.
I heard the siren and turned behind to see a couple of police cars going in the direction of woods. I followed the cars because it seemed like an emergency.
I had to run to keep pace with the speed of cars and when they stopped a few meters away, I was panting heavily when I realised there were dozens of people gathered there and were talking about something which wasn't cool, I could say that seeing their expressions. They were tensed and petrified and baffled.
I had no clue what was going on. But when my heart beat became normal I looked at scene attentively and thank god I finally spotted my mother there. But wait, what is she doing here? What is everybody doing here? I went forward to get a clear picture of what was going on and holy shit! I nearly puked seeing what I saw and had no control over myself after seeing a man whose body was lying on the ground with his flesh tore apart. It was the most disgusted yet creepy thing I ever saw. My mom realised I was there and seeing my expressions she came to me and dragged me out of the crowd but my mind remained there, with the corpse whose organs were lying with open flesh on the ground.
"What the heck are you doing here, Iya? Aren't you getting late for school?"
Mom scolded but I didn't paid attention to her still looking at the corpse.
"Look at me..."
She said and pulled my chin to face hers. I looked at her still disturbed by what I saw.
"You shouldn't be here. Come on let's walk back to home."
Mom said and dragged me to move from there.
"Mom... What was that about?... Who did this?...why were you there, without informing me?"
I had so many questions to ask and these were the questions I was most curious about.
"They say it's an animal attack and the police is investigating on it. I heard the siren and thought something wasn't good because cops don't usually roam outside the city. So when I went out few of our neighbors were also wondering the same as I did. And we followed the police cars. I didn't inform you sweetie because I didn't want you to get involved in all these things. I am really sorry for leaving without informing."
My mom told and I was panicked.
"You are getting late for school. Go and get ready fast."
She left for the kitchen and I went to my room to grab my stuff, trying not to think about I saw. I failed.
"Don't think about the incident much honey. It happens when you pester animals."
Mom said to calm me down and prevent me from the king about it much. I smiled and left for the school. I did not park my car where I parked it yesterday and kept it at a good distance where no one could harm it.
I found Jess on the way in.
"I heard about the news, an animal attacked a man in your neighborhood."
Jess said and the image of the dead guy came in front of me again.
"Yes it's quiet pathetic. The animal attacks aren't good to hear about."
I said. She nodded and we headed in. Ellis joined is near the lockers and I wanted to ask him questions about yesterday evening, he left in a weird way. But he was already tensed I didn't knew about what. I thought to let it go for now.
"Oh! Your mood doesn't looks good today. Did you fight with someone?"
Jess asked.
"No it's nothing like that I am just a bit tired."
He answered in a way that Jess glanced my way indicating something was wrong with him. But we didn't force him to tell.
Shane entered and his entry meant only one thing something bad was gonna happen. But to my surprise he didn't say anything even after spotting me and Ellis. They both just looked each other with a very unpleasant face for a sec and Shane went to the class. Shane wasn't in good mood either. What the hell is wrong with both of them. They are acting really weird since last evening. Did they fight after leaving my house? Can't say.
This morning is so wrong, I wish I could restart it. But then it doesn't depends on my wish.
Shane was leaving after giving a scowl to Ellis when I noticed a band aid on his left forearm. The gash must be deep as the band aid covered most of his forearm, he looked decent than yesterday, today as he wore full sleeves..to cover his wound, I guess. But why would he want to cover it up? As soon as his friends approached him quickly rechecked his sleeves, which he found were revealing his band aid and he quickly pulled the sleeves down to cover it up and started looking around to check... Don't know what. And that's when his eyes met mine and his expressions turned.