"Haa!"
A gasp escapes out of the trembling dry lips. It becomes even stronger next time; the moment a cold breeze brushes his wrinkled naked cheeks. The middle man shudders.
With a heavy effort, he fastened his step swiftly as he tightly grabbed his old torn-out jacket and quickly pulled himself to maintain a posture. A foggy night, probably one of the coldest nights ever. In front of his bleary eyes, he had a never-ending long uphill road ahead of him waiting for him. As time passes, each breeze shudders him to the bone, and his heart is shaken.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
"Hello! Dad where are you-? How long does it take time to reach back ho-?"
He interrupted quickly, "-I'm coming over. Just one long turn and I'll be in front of you!"
"Ah? Ok? Come fast! The clock already ticked past ten so-!"
"No need to worry! Oh! And by the way, don't fall asleep all right? I've bought something for all of you-
His muscles around the eyes soften and the curves of his cracked lips lifted an inch.
"-something, that makes you all burst in happiness!"
"Really? Dad? We'll be waiting then."
He exhaled a long breath before he once again pulled himself in. He moved forward with a fresh mind and walked faster in a way as though he was never exhausted in the first place. Moving down his hands, a trail of blood was dripping from black polythene in a small amount serially…
From afar, he saw the blue light emerging out of his tiny hut. He smiled as soon as he noticed it. No matter how much he walked home back and forth, he never got used to it, the feeling of seeing that light of his house always lightened up his heart and uncontrollable emotions raised his blood as if nothing in the world beat the feeling of returning home after a long hard day.
Just a few miles, and he would be in front of the door knocking. As he approached more uphill road, his breath became more unstable. However, he didn't let that disturb him. Suddenly, a strong breeze came out of nowhere and fluttered his tightly gripped jacket. It was strong to the point he halted and closed his eyes.
Immediately afterward, he opened his eyes only to see the light of his faraway/ nearby hut get wavered and blurry. Suddenly, his legs weakened and he fell on the spot without anyone noticing him. Leaving him all pitiful.
…
"Hic! Hic!"
Suddenly out of nowhere, a lot of weeping sounds could be echoed somewhere there in the middle of the mountain. There was a large group of people seemingly attending the funeral ceremony. From the look of it, it seemed like not an ordinary person had died out.
Amidst it, as though their commotion had gotten on someone's nerves, a disoriented hand instantly lifted from a tomb a few miles away from the crowd. Followed by another broken arm, legs and eventually leads to a bent body rising. His body was folded into almost two with his neck touching the feet. A loud 'crack' was heard and in a blink of an eye, his body was back to its original posture and position. Similarly, numerous 'crack' sounds were heard before he halted for a moment. He swung his body back and forth as if he was looking for something. His search came to an end when he grabbed something circle from the tomb. It was none other than the head.
It only took him a few seconds before he rejoined his fallen head with his own two hands. By the time he finished, on the other hand, all the mourning people had left too, leaving him alone in the dark and starry night.
He raised his leg to walk but he fell. The second step he took, he stumbled and fell. After a few unsuccessful attempts, he finally managed to walk. He moved towards the new tomb and halted for a minute.
Just as how a new tomb should be, it was exactly in that way. Flowers, food, drinks..and to talk about the quality of the burial ceremony? It was top-notch. He lowered his eyelids straight down at the pit, all silent.
Not a second had passed and a strong breeze flew out of nowhere brushing his long black hair forwards and revealing a long silhouette of his back body. A bunch of flowers fled along with the wind as though some unknown force was diverting its direction revealing a name written on the top of the tomb.
…
"Click! Click!!"
Several photographs were taken from a different angle. Along with them, a few detectives were searching the entire area as well.
"Sir, this doesn't..seem a case of murder."
One of the police officers said.
"…"
"Neither a robbery either..cause he still has some money left in his pocket."
Another officer interrupted.
"Sir, I-I doubt it is linked to previous-
-"Uwahh! Uwahh!!"
??
All of their eyes swiftly followed the sharp sound.
"D-DAD, Dad what happened to him? Why doesn't he wake up? Why is he lying on the road motionless?? Hic..hic?"
Seeing it, an old detective waved his hands and he quickly dismissed the officer.
"I see, you can go now."
"Y-Yes sir!"
Half of the cops were busy handling and calming the little girl while the rest were pondering over the mysterious case presented in front of them.
"Now, this is getting on my nerves.. majority of cases are flooding with similar incidents this past week. It is giving me a headache."
One whispered out of his frustration.
"I know right? Working up all late at night, superior nagging us all day and night and talking about the devil, that journalist.Hmph!"
Another replied with the same agitated tune touching his forehead.
"Idk, what the detectives are up to? They are good for nothing. when the time comes they are never here in time. Hmph! Expect Aoi brother!! If only his grandma hadn't died then he would be here-"
Before he could complete his sentence, he was immediately elbowed by his coworker as if he was hinting at him to shut his mouth. In a second, the same old detective walked past them. Both of them hold their breath until and unless making sure he left.
"Be cautious man!! You almost caught us, haa~!"