We Became Witnesses

[23rd December]

I yawned and watched the others scan the menu thoroughly. Edged out by earlier events, we decided to leave and get a prompt dinner at a fast-food restaurant.

No work was really done in the end.

Ethel's grandma granted me the glass pendant for free and Jay the angel statue. He was over the moon when she insisted he takes it. Jay was caressing the figurine with his fingers as he argued with Ethan.

"Hm, the crispy chicken tenders look great too-"

"We're hogging the line, Ethan! Make up your damn mind!" Jay hissed and glanced over his shoulder. There was a rather lengthy line behind us.

"I think we should move aside first," Ethel peered at a customer who voiced out their displeasure.

"Wha-" I pulled both of them aside and allowed the next person to pass.

"We were almost done!" Ethan whined, not desiring to wait any longer than we should have.

"Now tell me your orders." I drew out my phone and went onto the notepad app.

"The zesty burger combo for me," Jay answered.

"I'll have the nugget set meal." Ethel piped.

"Hm..." Ethan squinted at the menu on the glowing monitors.

"He needs three business days to choose a simple meal. Just give him the burger combo like me," Ethan turned to Jay with a scowl.

"Fine, whatever," he crossed his arms with a huff.

"Come on, don't act like you weren't eyeing that burger meal." Jay nudged Ethan and they started play fighting in the small space we had.

"Hey, hey! Don't fight-" I was harshly shoved away by my shoulder.

"What the heck!?" rubbing the wounded area, I glared at whoever jostled me. He was a buff man and judging by his uniform, he probably worked as a guard. I glimpsed at the logo on his camo jacket.

He worked at the park where the carnival was being held.

The man simply regarded me through his sunglasses before turning to skip the long queue. What the-

"Hey! An excuse me wouldn't have hurt!" Jay hollered at the man who wordlessly stare at him over his shoulder. Jay scoffed, freeing me from his arms. I didn't even notice I was pushed into him.

"Rude," I muttered.

"He works for the carnival," Ethan pointed out, his eyes glued to the huge symbol on the back of the man's uniform. I snickered.

"Maybe that's why none of the guards have witnessed the murder." Jay gave me a look.

"Alright, sorry."

-

"About the carnival," Jay spoke when all of us settled at a table.

"Why don't we visit it today? It's literally just a couple of blocks away," he shoved a fry into his mouth as he looked over us. Ethan raised a brow at him.

"Jay, I'm the oldest here. I'd get an earful from Nick again for being unreliable,"

"The twins won't find out! None of them will, except us."

Ethel seemed at lost. "Why can't they find out?" he asked with a piece of nacho cheese-dipped nugget between his fingers. The three of us exchanged glances and sheepishly smiled.

"Erm...we'll tell you sometime." Ethel's lips thinned but he hummed understandingly.

"So, are we going?" I glanced at my wristwatch.

"Well, it's only fifteen minutes past nine. The twins said 'it' usually results around midnight." I sipped on my cola.

"See? We've got plenty of time! I wanna try the mechanic bull ride too." Jay clapped his hands in excitement while Ethan only sighed in defeat but I could tell he was dying to go too.

"Alright, we'll go."

-

"WOOO!!" Jay shouted eagerly, fisting his hands in the air as we strolled into the crowded park.

"This is your second time, right?" I inquired Ethel who stood beside me. He stared at me in hysteria.

"What?" I accidentally let it slip. He wasn't supposed to know! But it shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Ethan swiftly glared at me over his shoulder. "I meant this is your first time, right?" Ethel blinked at me before wordlessly nodding.

"Ah," why did he respond that way?

"Let's go to the bull ride first!" the two oldest cheered and skipped through the crowd, accidentally elbowing a few strangers.

"Hey!" I shouted for them to slow down. I was relieved the both of them were tall enough that we could see their heads in the mass amount of people.

"Don't run off like that, please," I told them when I was by their side, Ethel following behind curiously.

"That looks dangerous," he muttered.

"Ethel! I dare you to go on that ride!" Ethan chirped, making Ethel go wide-eyed.

"What!?" he hissed nervously.

"Trust me! It's really fun!" Ethan yelled through the loud cheering.

"It's a dare," Jay added. Ethel gulped and stared at the horrifying ride. He cursed under his breath before shifting back to us.

"I won't die, right?"

"If you hold on tight enough!" that did not help at all. I shook my head in disapproval.

"...okay." I whipped my head to Ethel.

"Bro!?"

"I only live once!" he suddenly screamed and I stared at him, petrified.

"Johnny! I dare you to-"

"Don't finish that sentence!" I warned Ethan with a glare. He simply grinned, his eyes turning into crescent shapes.

"-RIDE THE BULL!!!"

"NO!!"

-

I didn't ride the bull, but for Ethan to stop tickling me into giving in, I offered to pay for their rides which were a total of fifteen bucks.

How much does the operator earn per day?

I scratched my chin in thought when one of them marched past me to the stairs, the host yelled out his name into his microphone. "Ethel's going first?" I was taken by surprise.

"He volunteered." huh. We stood close to watch as Ethel approached the bull with heavy steps. Not once did he glance at us as he swung his legs over its back and nodded for the host to begin.

The bull starting rocking and Ethel's mouth opened in turmoil, his grip on its horns tightened until his knuckles turned white. It was at a medium speed and Ethel was slowly getting used to it, his shoulders dropping gradually. But it started speeding up and he held onto the bull for dear life. He was mouthing something over and over again and I only assumed it was a curse word.

This 'level' of speed gave Ethel plenty of time to grow accustomed to it and I didn't know what possessed the hoodie boy as he attempted to lift himself from the saddle. "Ethel!" I instinctively shouted. Jay and Ethan cheered for him to go on.

Ethel started grinning from ear to ear when he finally got himself to completely stand, his feet planted on the stirrup. The wind was getting stronger and Ethel's oversized hoodie was blowing harshly but he didn't care. Steadily, he released one of his hands and held it up high in the air with a wide smile. The crowd went nuts over his stunt; Jay even got out his phone to take a picture of the hooded boy.

Just as Jay snapped a photo of Ethel, his hood was blown off and his entire face was revealed to the public. Even I was astounded. I've only gotten to see the lower half of his face until now. Some girls squealed over him.

He had the prettiest face I've ever seen on a guy.

His eyelashes were so long that I could perceive it from where I stood. His ashy blonde hair was so fluffy I almost reached out, as if I could even touch it from here.

From my peripheral view, I saw a huge brown spot at his nape area but before I could even lower my gaze to it, Ethel collapsed onto the inflatable pool with a loud thud. Apparently, he had noticed that his 'disguise' was blown away and rushed to put his hood back on, letting go of the horns in the process. It led to his harsh fall. Ethel was going to get up but swiftly ducked when he saw the still bucking bull rock in his direction. It could've smacked his chin pretty badly if he had not moved.

"Ethel!" the three of us dashed to the staircase to help Ethel down. Poor dude was limping on his left leg.

"That was a brutal landing," Ethan said as if no one could tell. Jay and I gave him judging eyes.

"I'm okay," Ethel muttered and settled his feet on the ground with a wince.

"You did really well! Why did you let your hoodie bother you?" I furrowed my eyebrows. He turned away from us.

"I didn't want anyone looking at my face," why? He was really pretty, and I told him just that. Ethel blushed and shook his head.

"It's not that..."

"It's my turn now!" Jay intervened and squeezed my sides before trudging up the stairs. I yelped, turning to glare at his retreating back. What was that for?

"We should go to the front...to watch him," Ethel suggested and we moved back to the front. I stared at Ethel's figure ahead of me with uncertainty. What was the matter with him?

After the rides, the four of us got ourselves cake pops. "I'm going to the bin right there." I pointed to the trash can near the carousel. They were doubtful and scanned around for another bin. The closest one was at the ride.

"Be quick." with a nod, I raced to the trash can and flung my stick into it. I took a glance at the two unmoving guards by the merry-go-round. I furrowed my brows. Wasn't that guard from the restaurant earlier? I squinted to get a clearer look. Suddenly, the guard turned to me and I sped to the others in embarrassment.

"It's getting late," Ethan said when I returned. It was already forty-five minutes past ten and we had school tomorrow.

"We should go back now."

We were already approaching the exit when Ethel suddenly hissed for us to stop. We looked at him in puzzlement. "What is it?"

"Look!" he pointed towards the closed-off carousel.

"What the-"

We watched with furrowed brows as the two guards hauled a struggling man into the forest behind the park. The three of us exchanged knowing glances. "Is that how?" I mouthed to them. Ethel just watched in fright in front of us. I fumbled with my phone and switched on the camera. I angled the device at the guards and let it record.

"The park's still buzzing with people. You think they'll come out soon enough?" Ethan asked.

"Let's wait and see what happens because if it's what I think it is, it might solve everything,"

"Let's hide behind the carts," Jay advised, beckoning to a couple of wooden carts not far from us. Ethel and Ethan hid behind one, Jay and I behind another.

"Should we tell the others about this?" I stared at Jay over my shoulder. He was keeping watch of the area.

He turned to me, bewildered. "What?! No! Unless it turns out to be a big issue. We weren't even supposed to be here in the first place."

"Yeah, and whose fault is that?" I sneered. He glared back at me with an arched brow.

"Who decided to come along?" he barked back.

"Guys!" Ethan hissed from beside ours.

"Be quiet!" he brought a finger to his lips. Progressively, the park was getting emptier. I checked my watch.

"It's already thirty minutes past eleven," I sighed, already feeling bored and drowsy.

"What exactly are we waiting for?" Ethel tapped Ethan's shoulder.

"For the guards to come out of the woods. We have to see what they've done to the man." Ethel was cynical about this.

"...I have a curfew," he muttered.

"What?!" Ethan yelled at him below a whisper. Ethel shrugged.

"What time?"

"thirty minutes ago."

Ethan stared at him, wide-eyed. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?!"

"I didn't know we were going to stay that late!" Ethan groaned and balanced himself on the snow ground.

"What happens if you stay up past your curfew?"

"I'll be grounded." Ethan scoffed at Ethel, returning his gaze to the forest.

"Well, it makes no difference. You're always in your room anyway." Ethel's eyes twitched.

"I'd still like to be out of trouble?" Ethan hummed and peeked through a small hole on the cart.

"Too late, too bad." Ethel huffed before poking his head out of the cart to have a look.

"Almost everyone is gone," I whispered to the two.

"It's almost twelve." I pointed my phone to the area, tapping on the record button. As if on cue, the two guards trudged out of the forest and briefly scanned the area. We immediately ducked but I made sure my phone still got the footage. Poking our heads out again, we noticed one guard nod to the other before they returned to the dark woods. We tried to breathe as composedly as possible. It was quite difficult, considering it was winter.

My breath hitched when the guards reappeared. One was tying a knot on a thick rope and the other...

...was carrying a lifeless body on his shoulder. I glanced at Jay with wide eyes and he did the same. We've literally witnessed a murder.

Ethel visibly shook in his place. "...are you okay?" that was a dumb question, Ethan had thought. But Ethel seemed to be doing worst than all of us. He looked like he was having disturbing flashbacks.

"N-no...don't-" Ethel started to sweat and tugged on his winter coat.

"Ethel-" suddenly, Ethel let out a shrill noise and Ethan was quick to slap a palm over Ethel's mouth. Ethan cursed under his breath as he stared at the guards through the gaps, a sweat bead rolling down his forehead.

Ethel seemed to have come back to his senses but that was not the most worrying part.

I held my breath as I lurked behind the cart with Jay, already long retreated my phone and hid it in my coat. I swore I saw one of the guards turn to us. "He's...he's still looking," Jay let out a shaky breath as he checked on them through the small holes. Out of impulsiveness, I fumbled for Jay's hand on the snow. We might end up being the victims today.

We heard footsteps approaching and my heartbeat quickened.

I heard one of the guards call for the other. He said something along the lines of, 'we don't have enough time' and 'boss will be mad'.

Who was their boss?

Not long after, the guard-that was going to approach us-retreated to the body.

The sky was already pitch black and we could barely see anything when we turned back. I squinted to get a better look and they were doing exactly what I thought they'd do. Hang the body on the carousel. Where even was the park's security guard?!

I switched on the flashlight on my phone to get clearer video footage. "What are you doing!?" Jay hissed anxiously.

"I'm gonna film it," I turned to Ethel and Ethan.

"If we get caught," I said.

"We'll run out of here as fast as we can." they were doubtful but gradually nodded. I located the lens on the largest hole in the cart and started recording. I was glad I got almost everything on my phone. From the dragging of the body down to the guards cleaning the snow ground off any tools. I'd have to take extra care of this device in the future.

I was trying to angle the camera better but I slipped on the wet snow and fell on my chest with a thud. It basically echoed in the empty park. The guards whipped their heads in our direction and we knew we were caught. I cursed under my breath as I stared at the guards who were frozen in their spot.

"RUN!!" I screamed before making a run for it. I could hear the others follow behind and hoped that the delayed footsteps didn't belong to the guards. I swiftly looked at them over my shoulders. Good! They were all right behind me.

We continued to run even as our lungs were burning and our throat stinging with cold air. We ran for our lives, fearing for our lives.

We were approaching a busy street. Good. I glanced back again and my face instantly morphed into horror: the guards were less than a couple feet away from the slowest runner out of us, Ethel. They were literally on our tail! "Hide your faces!" I yelled and swiftly lifted the hood over my head. They can't know our identity. They were already so physically close to us it was easy to tell, especially with the street lamps shining above us.

The three of them didn't question and did as I had said. I turned the corner into the busy night market and rapidly sneaked behind the wall as I paused for the three of them to turn. They stared at me in bewilderment and slowed their steps. "Johnny, what are you-?" I lifted my leg into a diagonal line and backed my hands onto the wall to ready myself to dash afterward.

The guards fell for my trick, quite literally. "Run!" I yelled and we disappeared into the crowd. Good thing our jackets were black, it was a common color amongst the people.

It was as if we were in slow motion while we made a run for it, I looked over my shoulders and I saw was the guards shouting furiously, still on the ground before my view was blocked by the faces of strangers. I grinned from ear to ear. They'll never get us.

We've escaped.

We decided to stop by at a bookstore that stood at the end of a row of shops. It was safer to settle down on the shop's second floor. "Oh my god-" I collapsed onto the floor and started wheezing for air, passersby stared at me in concern.

Jay and Ethan threw themselves onto the beanbags and wiped the sweat on their foreheads. Ethel seemed to have calmed down the fastest as he approached a refrigerator nearby and tossed us bottles of soda.

"Did we escape?" Jay gasped and gulped down the soft drink.

"I hope so," I crawled to the glass steel railing to inspect the entrance. The transparent door was closed shut with people bustling right outside. I proceeded to gasp for air as I took a seat on the wooden flooring.

That was the most workout I've gotten since I have taken over Johnny's body.

I quickly removed my winter coat and threw it to the ground beside me. I cringed when I felt my uniform clinging onto my back and biceps. It was probably see-through by now but that was the least of my concerns. "Should we leave now?" I asked, feeling a tad bit afraid to go back outside in case they might be at our doorstep right this instance.

"Wait a little more," Ethan closed his eyes and leaned his head on the flimsy seat, his chest rising and lowering rapidly. I simply nodded and kept watch of the door, flinching every time someone walks through them. We could even consider what happened as a near-death experience. Especially when both guards were so huge and buff, we had little to no power over them. Not even with Jay's defense skills.

"We should go now," Ethel said before picking up his buzzing phone. He muttered to the caller that he was just out with a couple of friends and is coming home soon.

"We should." Jay lifted himself from his seat and almost tripped in his steps.

"My legs are kind of numb," he awkwardly laughed and dragged Ethan up.

"Do you want to die?" Jay hissed at the eldest when he refused to rise.

"Kind of...I've not done the carnival presentation yet-"

"Oh, for heaven's sake!"

Jay threatened to kick Ethan in the crotch. The eldest immediately got to his feet in fear.

"Let's go."

The three of us hid behind the cashier counter as we watched Jay cautiously open the door and skim through the crowd. He gave us the 'ok' and we left the counter, swiftly waving the staff goodbye. She waved back in confusion.

As we marched through the crowd, we surveyed left and right, front and back. We had to do it discreetly so we didn't come off as suspicious. Fortunately, we got into the housing area without a hassle.