"Finally, a nice bath", Nicolas sighed in relief after putting his back clothes on.
He wanted to change garments so he decided to head back to his place at the clock tower. The brick roads are desolate as almost everyone took refuge from the cold rain, especially on the underdeveloped muddy parts. The disappointed look on everyone's faces as they tried to carry on with their day is evident when the tower already made itself heard, sounding the bells marking 3:00 in the afternoon.
"It's already that late?", he wondered, looking up at the sky hoping to see a single ray of light but it does not seem to be on view due to the clouds. After a bit of a walk, he's finally back to the busy streets of Yggdryas.
"Help—", soft whispers tickled his ears. He scanned the surroundings looking for the owner of the voice but he found no one, at least no one who's close enough to whisper. The other pedestrians exchanged weird looks with him before the voice came again, "Please— help", this time with a scared and sorrowful tone.
Nicolas can't explain why but he felt as if a cold breeze just went pass him, he felt his heart suddenly rising as if it was in a rush; a feeling of danger filled his senses and at the same time worry kept him on guard about this something he does not know. His forehead was beading with sweat as he heard the whispers go louder and clearer until it is the only thing he could hear.
As the air of danger and urgency heightened, he involuntarily, not thinking a thing, rushed towards one of the alley ways at the back of the tower. Dropping the potatoes that the old lady had given him. He is certain that the whispers are coming from the part of the town which the locals would call "remains", far from the busy streets and houses, more desolate than the place he had just visited.
As the feelings grew heavier, his sweat kept dripping, and his heartbeat grew faster than ever before. He already knows where it could be, "The same place where I and Alice hid"
When he's feeling worsened and his feet had done their job, he found himself standing at the front of one of the neglected houses. Its walls were already full of holes and cracks, the wooden parts are already eaten by termites. Long vines dangle from the roof with small yellow flowers blooming from them while moss can be seen from the old, cracked bricks.
The inside was not visible but an agonizing sound is audible, echoing from inside.
"No— Please— HELP". Nicolas heard not a whisper but dreadful screams of a woman begging for help.
Her voice echoed inside his head as if it was bouncing back and forth without any rest. He felt as if his heart would burst from terror as he searched for a way inside. The screams kept getting louder and louder and as he got closer until they started to become unbearable. At the same time, devious hysterical laughter filled the atmosphere.
He was hopeful, wishing to get there in time, but when Nicolas finally located the source, he knew he was too late. The woman was already bathing in her own blood as she lied down naked on the cold floor with nothing to cover her up, her clothes torn to bits and scattered around the room. A man was on top of her holding a knife, savoring his prey but her frail body could not do anything against the deranged man. She kept squabbling and shouting but it was no use. The man just kept stabbing her again and again despite her cries.
Nicolas found himself hiding behind a wall, he saw every unlawful act from a tiny crack. He knows that he should be helping but terror kept him pinned down to the floor. He could not make a sound, not even move a finger, the burden of it was crushing his soul, his chest tightens and he once again found it hard to breath. His eyes and ears were wide, clear, and aware from the violence in front of him.
"What are you doing, help her", a thought popped into his mind.
"I can't", he protested.
"Yes, you can", the voice in his head assured him.
It was a small conference inside his brain as he debated what to do, "No, I can't"
"Would you really want to see someone die in front of you?", the voice in his head uprooted one of his biggest regrets. "Do you really want to see someone die again without you being able to do anything? When will you learn Nicolas"
It's suggestion filled his head, ringing like a broken siren as he came into a realization, "No, not again". His feet was still shaking, breathing heavily as he peeked at the wall. The same time when all the cries had finally stopped.
Horror filled his veins as the woman's legs and arms fell lifeless to the ground, her eyes were staring at him, cold and lifeless. The blood kept flowing down the fresh cut on her neck and opened chest cavity until it made another pool of blood around her. She was out and limp, but the man still did not seem to feel contented. He still kept stabbing her inanimate body again and again as if it was a doll and he's here to play.
He occasionally stops so he can laugh and lick the blood from his knife, when he feels like it, he even licks it directly from the body like it was a fresh savory steak. Jungling her insides as if it's a toy and he's a child who can't help but be amazed to his creation.
Nicolas's stomach wanted to turn, but as the man continued his frenzy, he can't help but produce a smirk. A smirk so wide that it immediately transformed into a grin, a grin so devious as his vision was filled by his very own memory of gore, swimming in the blood of his enemies. His trembling gradually grew calmer, the horror he felt dissipated as anger and thrill dominated his mind.
"What do you want to do", the voice asked him again and that's when he realized something.