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ONE WEEK AGO

Veronica's

"Help! Help me!" I shouted because I was hoping someone would hear me.

I continued to run through the thick woods and ignored the cold also the heavy downpour because more importantly, I could escape the creature that was chasing me.

I moaned after feeling pain from my side and stopped the flow of blood from the wound I got on that creature, and bore the pain I was feeling.

I was even more frightened to hear the loud growl of that creature, which made me run faster. I need to get out of this woods and ask for help.

With every run I make, the howl of that monster grows louder. My heart beat faster when I heard that scary hum, I felt like it was just around and waiting for the opportunity to attack.

But I immediately stopped running as I struggled at the same time the monster that was chasing me came out, his eyes were sharp. Its fangs are sharp as a knife and its claws seem to be able to cut the human in half.

I swallowed up when our eyes meet, and that deadly creature slowly approached me.

Is this my end? Tariq, where are you, my love?

"Have mercy, don't hurt me no matter what kind of creature you are!" I beg it as if it will understand my every cry.

"Please..." My tears started dripping at the same time the downpour of the rain increased.

The thunder was loud and the light coming from the lightning was enough for me to see what kind of creature was in front of me.

Wait, I can't go wrong because I know what kind of creature is this!

"What do you need from me? Did you take my boyfriend?!" I shouted at him.

But its red and frightening eyes just silently watched me.

"Where's Tariq? Get him out!"

I don't care even if I look like a crazy woman who begs a deadly creature because I know it won't answer and I also know what this monster wants.

It howled loudly, at the same time the incessant downpour of rain that continued to fall on my body. I saw how he raised his paw and lightning lit up his sharp claws, causing me to see more of how sharp it was.

"No, please... Have mercy..."

"Don't kill me, I'm a good person! I never did wrong to your race so have mercy on me!" I said, pretending that this creature would listen to me.

But I also immediately laughed at what I said and hoped this monster would listen, but I was wrong because I could see nothing else in his eyes, but myself lifeless. So I start praying for my life, this seemed the end of my life...

"Noooooo!!!" I scream at the top of my lungs as its claws slash my body.

~

"No!" I gasp as I immediately open my eyes and was exposed to the dazzling sunlight coming from the sun.

Wait? I'm alive?

I looked at myself and let a sigh of relief as I saw my body completely fine, but suddenly felt pain in my neck and tried to stretch it thinking I just had a stiff neck.

"Where Am I? I don't remember myself walking inside these creepy woods," I asked myself.

"Maybe I got drunk and ended up sleeping in the woods, I better leave before dad gets mad at me and punish me."

But when I was about to use my phone, I couldn't find it in my pocket. I check every pocket I had but screamed as I saw a corpse beside me and worst it was cut in half.

I covered my mouth, trying to process what I just saw but something was off on the corpse because I knew who it was. I gasp as I realized who is that half-body corpse, that was Tariq. My boyfriend...

"No, it can't be... This is part of my nightmare and I'm still sleeping," I nodded, agreeing to my own words.

"Tariq wasn't dead, he's alive..."

I looked at the corpse again and I'm positive it was my boyfriend, my tears started to flow as I approach the dead body. I couldn't help my tears and let them flow as I saw the ring I gave to him.

That's Tariq and my heart couldn't deny it!

I stared intently at my boyfriend's face and raised my trembling hand just to touch his cold, pale cheek.

"Who did this to you? They have no mercy! They killed an innocent man like you!"

My moaning got louder because I couldn't accept what I was seeing, I no doubt hugged its frigid body and I didn't care what it looked like.

"Veronica."

I quickly turned my back to hear that familiar voice, and there I saw my father standing in front of me. He was shocked like me.

"Dad," I said tearfully and quickly stood up to hug him, I couldn't hold back my tears.

"What happened?" He asked me before looking straight into my eyes. As if he's trying to find valid answers after seeing the dead body.

But I could not answer because of so much fear and resentment, I also did not notice the police that started investigating my boyfriend's lifeless body.

"Take your daughter home first, Victor."

Dad turned to his co-worker, "All right, just update me about this incident. It looks like Tariq's family won't be happy..."

"You're right, if you could get a statement from your daughter maybe she can give us a clue who killed her boyfriend, that's also a big help especially since she survived."

My father nodded, "All right, I'll try to talk to my daughter."

"Be careful, Victor," said my father's friend and tapped him on the shoulder.

We had already started walking away, but I was not yet ready to leave that place because I wanted to know who had committed that heinous murder.

I promise I'll make that person responsible for your death pay. Count on me, my love...