Sanemi knelt over the crumpled body, the echo of his own scream still ringing in his ears. The chill of the night seeped into his bones, but it was nothing compared to the cold horror that had settled in his heart. Tears streamed down his face, a mixture of rage, terror, and profound regret. He had killed him. A real person, with a face, and a life, and it was over.
He heard the voice again, a faint whisper on the wind. "Until we meet again… Sanemi."
He snapped his head up. The spot beneath the street lamp was empty. The voice had been a ghost, a taunt from a hidden enemy. He was alone, and with a dead body at his feet. His mind screamed a single, panicked thought: I'm going to be caught.
He stood, his legs trembling. He couldn't leave the body here, a clear sign of his crime. He walked past a few buildings, his eyes darting for a solution, until they landed on a large, plastic dustbin. An idea, cold and desperate, formed in his mind. He took the bin and returned to the alley, his hands shaking as he hoisted the man's limp body inside. The weight was sickening, the sound of the body hitting the plastic like a hammer blow. He secured the lid and began rolling the dustbin down the street, its wheels scraping and rattling loudly against the pavement.
It was just after 1:00 a.m. when he saw a man approaching in the distance. Sanemi's blood ran cold. The man was walking his dog and, as they drew closer, he stopped, his gaze fixed on the rattling bin.
"Hey, pal," the man called out, his voice laced with suspicion. "What are you doing rolling trash at this hour?"
Fear seized Sanemi, but a different instinct took over. He let his body go limp, his walk turning into a drunken stagger. He slurred his words, waving a hand dismissively. "Just… takin' the trash out, man. It's a… it's a late-night chore, you know?" He laughed, a high, panicked sound. "Night-time is the best time for… garbage."
The man hesitated for a moment, then shook his head in disgust and walked away, pulling his dog along. Sanemi's acting had worked. He breathed a shaky sigh of relief, his heart pounding in his ears.
He continued rolling the bin until he reached a bridge overlooking a river. He considered pushing the body into the water, but the risk of it being found was too high. He needed to hide the evidence completely. He looked around, and in the middle of the empty street, he saw it: a manhole cover. Heavy, rusted, and perfect. After confirming no one was watching, he jammed the knife from his attacker into the seam, using it as a lever. With a grunt of effort, he pried the cover open and dumped the body down into the sewer system below. He watched it disappear into the darkness with a wet, final splash before he replaced the cover and kicked it to settle it into place.
On his way back home, Sanemi's walk was that of a man who had given up on life. Every step felt like he was pulling a huge, invisible burden behind him. He looked at his hands, still holding the knife, a trophy of his kill. He stared at the blade, then at his reflection in a dark window.
Why do I have to live like this? he asked himself. His mind went to a dark place, a place he hadn't been since his father's death. Or should I just take my life right now? Maybe everything will finally come to an end.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the piercing wail of fighting stray cats. He jumped, his heart lurching into his throat. He hated cats, and their shrill cry, so close by, nearly made him run.
He forced himself to calm down, and continued his walk home. The only way in was the window he had climbed out of earlier. He groaned in irritation, remembering the pain and humiliation of his fall. He carefully slid the window open, slipped inside, and started taking off his soiled clothes. Just as he did, his PC seemed to sense his presence. It turned on, the screen glowing as it displayed a series of updates from when he was gone.
The text was sharp and clear: 'Kill C Grade confirmed, no power used. Bonus: $200. Congratulations, you are promoted to Grade C.'
Sanemi's eyes widened, his head swimming in confusion. He stumbled closer to read it again. 'No power used'? What the hell is this? Damn, damn, I hate this. He dropped onto his bed, checking the time on his phone. It was 1:30 a.m. I should sleep now so that tomorrow I won't miss classes. He lay there, his mind finally exhausted, and remembered his life with his father, how things were simple and good. Sleep took him quickly, a long-overdue escape.
It was another beautiful morning on the other side of the city. Chief Officer McKay was preparing to leave for work, but he made a last-minute decision to take his daughter with him so he could drop her off at college.
"Goodbye, Rina. Have a good day at school," her mother called out, her voice warm and loving.
Rina smiled, waving back as she got into her father's pristine white car, a luxury Mercedes-Benz. On the way, McKay told his daughter stories about his old days as a detective, and Rina laughed along, enjoying the rare moment of normalcy with her dad. He reminded her to be careful before they reached the school gate. As Rina went in, McKay's phone rang. He picked it up and listened, his face turning grim as he received some important news. He said a few words, hung up, and drove off, his earlier light mood completely gone.
Meanwhile, Sanemi was in the shower, the hot water washing away the grime of the night. His body, not bulky but well-built and lean for an eighteen-year-old, showed the results of his father's kickboxing training. He got out of the shower and checked his phone. There was a text from Vito, asking if he planned to miss class today, too. He ignored it and looked at the other notifications. The money deposit message now showed his account balance had grown to $800. He hadn't touched a penny of it.
He got ready and went out to the kitchen, where his mother had prepared some breakfast for him. He had no appetite, but he ate a little to not disappoint her.
"Did you hear all that noise last night?" his mom asked, her eyes searching his face.
"No, Mom. Maybe it was some cats outside," he lied, his voice flat. He quickly finished his food. "Thanks, Mom," he said, and went out.
His mother's face filled with a hopeful smile to hear him say that. She started to hope that her son was finally changing back.
Just after coming out of his front door, Sanemi saw a woman walking by. She was the new neighbor, and she was simply breathtaking. Her long, wavy brown hair cascaded down to her back, framing a face that was a work of art. She had a perfectly structured nose, high cheekbones, and soft, full lips. Her eyes, the color of a warm hazel, were wide and gentle, a stark contrast to the darkness that had consumed his world. The soft light of the morning seemed to cling to her as she moved with an effortless grace.
Her figure was just as stunning. She had a narrow waist that flowed into the perfect curve of her hips, and her back was smooth and elegant. Every detail, from the gentle swell of her chest to the confident way she carried herself, was perfect. She was a vision of beauty and warmth.
She greeted him first, a polite smile gracing her lips as she introduced herself. But Sanemi was in a hurry, his mind still miles away and burdened by the horrors of the night. Without a second glance, he simply walked past her, his heavy steps a world away from her serene presence.