Chapter 6%
Before I could even get back on my feet, Sophia spotted her brother’s body in the corner, no longer even recognizable as human.!
There was a massive hole in his neck and his organs had been torn out.
She screamed and ran to him.
“Brother! What happened to you? Please, don’t scare me…”
I wiped my tears and knelt beside her.
“I’m sorry, Sophia. Your brother… he died trying to save me…”
I thought she’d hit me. Curse me. Tear me apart in her grief.”
But instead, she pulled me into a hug and sobbed.
“This all started with Caesar’s escape… but it’s not your fault. You’re a victim too.”
“My brother always said his mission was to serve the people. If he were still alive, he wouldn’t blame you…“}]
But guilt gnawed at me.
Sophia said Caesar had always been docile. He only went berserk after meeting me that afternoon. Why?
Was there something special about me?
There was still no word from Sebastian.
The police said the odds didn’t look good.”
The fire department was at their wit’s end.§
Caesar was too cunning, every time they came close, he slipped away.
I sat in my apartment, staring at Sebastian’s clothes, sobbing.
I finally understood why he’d been caught.}
The surveillance footage showed Sebastian on the first floor.”
If he had gone straight to the storeroom when I called, he would have made it.§
FO = = = = = F F F I α
But instead, he took something from the storeroom and then tried to go upstairs to save me.” That’s how he ran into the chimp.
There’s no other way to explain why the chimp could reach the basement before Sebastian.} That realization made my chest ache.§
He was never strong.
But whenever danger came, he always stood in front of me.§
Even when he doubted me… he still wanted to hear my explanation in person.
Even knowing he couldn’t win against that monster, he still tried.§
Soon, it was time for Benjamin’s funeral.}
I wore a black dress, a white flower and came to mourn.}
Sophia told me not to come that I’d only upset myself.
But Benjamin died protecting me.
I had to be there.
The moment I arrived, pale and haggard, I was slapped hard across the face.
Fransisca, Benjamin’s fiancée stood before me, her eyes red with fury.
“This is all your fault!” she screamed. “He died saving you! And now you dare show up at his funeral? You shameless bitch! I’ll kill you to avenge him!“S
She struck me again, then lunged for my hair.
I didn’t fight back.
If taking a beating could ease her grief, then I was willing.
Because deep down, Lfelt just as guilty.
Just as she was forcing me to kneel and bow to Benjamin’s portrait, Sophia rushed in and stopped her.
“Fransisca, what are you doing?!” she cried, her voice trembling.
“I’ve told you! Jessica didn’t kill my brother. She’s a victim too!” Fransisca laughed through her tears.
“I don’t care! If he hadn’t gone to save her, he wouldn’t be dead!“}
