Guilty

By Bhavya Kumari

“A murderer is on loose; the government has taken an initiative to protect the citizens. All citizens are to stay at home after 6 p.m. The Government has initiated a lockdown.” the news reporter read.

The city has been very quiet lately. No one has been coming out to play or to even visit anyone. We are not allowed to go outside after 6. I am also not coming out of my room because I have not got anything to do. Everyone is only talking about the murderer.

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“Bea, I will not be coming until 7 p.m. The babysitter won’t be coming because I think you are old enough to take care of yourself now.” Mom said.

“Yes ma’am” I exclaimed dutifully, saluting my mother.

“Now Beatrice, you should not open the door for any stranger. I will open the door when I come. Food is in the fridge; microwave it when you want to eat it. Lock all the windows and doors. Bye sweetie; take care.”

“Bye mum” I say waving her out of the door. I was very excited since this was my first time alone at home. Usually mom sent a babysitter to take care of me but I am a big girl now. Today my mum only allowed me to stay because my friend was coming who, my mum thinks, is very responsible. We were going to have a great time today.

After 30 minutes-

“Jennifer! You are here! We are going to have a great time together.” I said excitedly as my best friend entered the house.

“Yes we are, after all you have the best party thrower in your house.” She said in an excited voice.

We really had a great time. I made Jennifer go at 5:45 since I knew mom would be home soon. I cleaned the house and switched on the T.V. leaving no traces of our little party we had. It was already 6 until I finished cleaning. Mom hasn’t come home yet. I heard a thud in our backyard. I knew that won’t be mom because our garage was in the front of our house and a car doesn’t make a thud sound. I was getting a bit scared now, I knew that I should not open the door. I went to the kitchen’s door that opened to the backyard and saw through its window whether I could see any signs of someone human. I had a pan with me in other hand in case I had to protect myself. I couldn’t see anything, no sign of a human being. I thought it might have been a stray cat and let the thought fly away from my mind. I went down to the sofa and sat there waiting for mum. Not much time later the door clicked and mum was home I was glad she was because I was freaking out inside.

During dinner I told my mum what happened she appreciated me for not going outside and using my mind. I was glad nothing serious happened. We were out of sauce so my mum sent me to get some. I went down to the storage in the backyard. I went to the door and opened it. It was extremely dark in there I couldn’t see a thing; I forgot to take my flashlight. I went down through the shelves blindly trying to look for something like sauce. My leg hit something soft in the way. And suddenly I was caught by someone, a hand was over my mouth. I was trying to fight the no bodied hand from over my mouth. A cracking voice whispered in my ear “stop fighting I am not going to hurt you.” I stopped fighting and the hand loosened its grip. I got away from the human as fast as wind and faced the guy.

“Who are you? What are you doing in our backyard?” I asked, trying not to look scared.

“I will but promise me you will let me stay here.” He said. He was a tall, skinny and pale guy. He looked like he hasn’t eaten in days. He had dark bags under his eyes.

“Okay” I said before I could control my mouth. It was a little weird that this came out of my mouth. I let him stay. He told me that he ran away from his house today and needed a place to stay for some time.

“I will only let you stay if you don’t try to come in the house. You have to make sure my mum doesn’t see you. Right now I have got to go. Don’t make any noise.” I told him urgently. My mum wouldn’t like the thought I was letting a 16 year old guy stay in our backyard. I hurried back toward my house, showing no signs of any emotions.

I heard the news as I entered the kitchen. The news was talking about a family being murdered not far from our colony. They said that the murderer was on loose and everyone was supposed to stay at home after 6 p.m. I came into the dining area with the sauce and my mum looked at me, fear in her eyes. We did not share a word and we continued to our dinner. After dinner I went upstairs thinking about the news. I let the thought slip out as I got tired and tried to sleep.

A week later-

“Mom don’t worry nothing is going to happen to us. We will be okay” I said, my mum has not been going to work lately because she is scared something will happen to me. The school holidays started 3 days ago and I mum didn’t want to leave me alone.

“Bea I know that nothing will happen it’s just I am concerned. What if the murderer is hiding in our backyard.” This clicked my mind hard. What if the guy in our backyard was the murderer? I got scared but I thought that he couldn’t be the murderer and it might be a coincidence that he ran away the same day as the murderer killed the family.

After two weeks.

I went down the backyard thinking about what my mum has been talking about on the phone. She was talking to Jennifer’s mom about the murderer being a 16 year old boy who was mentally unstable. I was very scared but I wanted to make sure that the boy was the murderer. I went in the storage.

“Thank you Beatrice you have been a great help. I think I should go now. I have given you much problem.” The pale and skinny guy said.

“Before you go I have to ask you something. Promise me that you will answer honestly.” I said in an urgent tone.

“Okay sure”

“Well there is a murderer on lose you know and it is confirmed that the murderer is a 16 year old. So, I was just wondering whether the murderer is you?” I ask trying to look as innocent as possible.

“No, of course not. I am not the murderer.”

“Any murderer would say that!” I said

“Well you think that I am the murderer now, do you? I am NOT the murderer!”

“OH yeah! Tell this to the police.”I said and the police came in the storage and took the boy, him screaming at top of his voice to leave him. He was prisoned now and the lockdown was lifted. Everything was back to normal and my mum was no more scared.

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20 Years Later………

“So have you finished writing?” My husband asked as he gave me coffee.

“Yes I have dear. Thanks for the coffee.” I said taking the drink.

“What were you writing?” He asked looking at the computer.

“OH. Do you remember that boy I sent to jail to save you? Well I am writing it into a story.” I said in a proud voice sipping my coffee

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By Bhavya Kumari