Kimi's POV
I stopped running, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the chilling wails of the baby echoed in my ears, resonating like a haunting melody that wouldn't fade. Guilt washed over me like a cold tide, drenching me in remorse and despair. I had killed a baby and a mother—two innocent souls taken away from the world by my actions. My mind spiraled into dark thoughts: what if there was someone—perhaps a father or a sibling—waiting desperately for them to come home, their hearts filled with hope and anticipation? The weight of this realization crushed down on me.
Overwhelmed by the flood of emotions that surged like an unstoppable current, I let out a primal scream that shattered the silence of the night. The sound reverberated against the stillness, a stark contrast to the beauty of the moonlit surroundings, before I collapsed to the cold, unforgiving ground. My fingers trembled as I frantically searched my pockets, desperate for some connection to the outside world, a lifeline in this ocean of regret. Finally, I found my phone, the familiar shape a small comfort amidst the chaos.
With shaking hands, I dialed Audrey's number. The phone rang, each tone amplifying my anxiety until at last, I heard her voice on the other end.
"Hey, Kimi," she said, a note of worry lacing her tone. Immediately, I could sense that she knew something was wrong.
I never called her unless it was something urgent, and in that moment, the weight of the urgency pressed down on me even harder.
"Audrey, please come and pick me up. I'm near the lake," I managed to utter, my voice barely a whisper, cracked and drenched in despair.
"I'll be there in ten," she replied, her voice steady despite the concern that dripped from it.
As the call ended and the line fell silent, I found myself staring deeply into the still water of the lake before me. The surface shimmered under the moonlight, reflecting my troubled face—a face filled with anguish and torment. In that moment, the tranquil beauty of the scene was starkly juxtaposed with the turmoil raging within me. I couldn't shake the horrific images from my mind, nor could I escape the realization that my actions had irrevocably changed everything. As I waited for Audrey, my heart sank under the weight of what had happened, the echo of the baby's cries now a ghostly reminder of the night's darkness.