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Bright Hand
Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Katherine complains of pain and drops a bloody cotton ball on her nightstand.

"Well..."

"Hm?"

"What did you remember?"

"What Sebastian said is true; I saw him at the party; I remember escaping from him; and after that, I remember traveling down the street with a man, the wind in my face, trees, the city, and the sunrise."

"Hm..."

Katherine rubs her chin.

"Did you notice something?"

"I'm thinking... First, you went to the school to talk to the janitor, then you went to your *interview* with the old man, then to the party, and finally, you went to a place where you could see the city and the sunset."

"And trees."

"So you didn't go back to school, there are no trees around, and the closest thing is the flower field; we know you were there, but even if you came back to the place, it doesn't fit with your last memory."

"That leaves the janitor out!"

Katherine pokes her lip with her finger.

"I guess... you mentioned that you felt a blow from your left to your right, the janitor has his left hand in a cast, also, he always carries those pruning shears everywhere, if we go by your memories, the murder weapon was a blunt one."

"What about the shiny hand? The irons that come out of his cast reflect the light."

"Irrelevant, I doubt he could have used his left hand to hit you."

"Now that I remember... Yes! The shining hand was the left one!"

Katherine nod.

"Let's move on to the old man; after leaving the school, you went to his office."

"Mhm."

"Anything else?"

"We talked for a few minutes about models and then went to... the photo shoot."

"Do you remember going back to the building?"

"No..."

"It makes sense; from that place, the only way to see the sun is by the reflection of the building in front; also, no tree in plain sight."

"What about the cane? And the shining hand? Does Max have a bunch of rings on his hands?"

"Max...?"

Lexy doesn't say anything.

"Hm... on both hands, are you sure the shiny hand is just the left hand?"

Lexy nods.

"I guess the old man is innocent."

"And the cane?"

"The old man is not left-handed..."

"You sound disappointed."

"One way or another, that old man deserves jail."

They both remain silent.

"What about your ex?"

"Sebastian?! I don't know... he would never hurt me."

"You sure? He hurt me good back there..."

Katherine rubs the back of her neck.

"I remember seeing a spiked bracelet; it was pretty shiny if you ask me."

"He wears them on both arms, but the hand was bright only on the left!"

"Why do you defend him so much?"

"I think... no, I know he's innocent."

"Lexy, we can't go on a hunch if we don't find your body—"

"I know! You have already explained it to me."

Katherine lets out a long sigh.

"Kat, he's a good boy. Believe me, he cares about me. Remember when he told you how to defend yourself? He told me the same thing when he confessed; he explained what to do in case someone attacked me. I'll never forget his words on the lovers' lane when he confessed."

"The lover's lane..."

"Mm?"

"You can see the sun, the city, the trees... Lexy! Your body is on the lovers' lane!"

"How are you so sure?"

"It makes sense; a man accompanied you to the lovers' lane, and you were killed there."

"But many couples frequent the place. It is impossible for anyone not to find my body."

"You said it yourself, the trees. The forest is quite dense, enough to hide your corpse."

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"And how did I get there so fast? The lovers' lane is quite far from the party place."

"You went in a vehicle."

"Mm?"

"Do you remember what you said? *Traveling down the street*, *the wind in your face*"

"Yes."

"A vehicle."

"But we don't know what kind."

"I do know, one with two wheels. A motorcycle."

Katherine snaps her fingers.

"Why not a car?"

"When we were leaving the old man's office, he said something about his car at the mechanic."

"We could have taken a taxi."

"He hates riding in a taxi; besides, he asked me to call you for another photoshoot. He still thinks you're alive."

"And why a motorcycle?"

"Do you remember when we went to your ex's house?"

Lexy nods and swallows.

"While you were searching his house, I saw a motorcycle parked in it."

Lexy is silent.

"Have you ever ridden his motorcycle?"

"Yes..."

"So, you knew."

"Kat... I."

"It doesn't matter. We already know where your body is. What matters now is to find it, and you can rest in peace."

"But... what about the sunset? From the place of the party to the viewpoint on a motorcycle, it would not take me that long to reach sunset."

"Maybe you spent a lot of time at the lovers' lane. Maybe you stopped to buy something."

"Kat, it doesn't make sense. Why would I go with Sebastian to the lovers' lane if I was mad at him...?"

"To relive old times? to get back with him? Lexy, come on, you can't deny how it all fits together."

Lexy doesn't say anything.

"Let's get this over with."

Katherine gets up from her bed and heads to her bedroom door, with Lexy floating after her with her head bowed.

The two young women walk down the street; the artificial light from the streetlight begins to come on while the sun turns the sky into a red sunset, and the crimson light illuminates the city.

"Kathy... I... I don't want to go."

"You have no choice, Lexy. It's either this or get eaten by the teeth."

Both are silent. Neither looks at the other's face.

"Kat, I'm so sorry for causing you so much trouble."

"What are you talking about, Lexy?"

"Sorry for not having taken my pills. Sorry for not following my treatment, sorry for not being afraid."

"Lexy, don't apologize. Your condition is nothing to apologize for."

"It's just... now you'll be alone. I don't want to leave you alone. I don't want to go."

Katherine looks over her shoulder, her hair covering her face. Lexy can only see a smile.

"We're here."

Katherine looks out over the city, she can see the skyscrapers, and the wind blows the leaves on the trees.

"You're right... It was here."

A lone tear travels down Lexy's cheek.

"Let's go, Lexy."

Katherine heads into the woods, always turning her back on her friend.

Both begin to search among the foliage; they enter the dense forest and cross bushes and unexplored paths. She approaches the ravine that marks the end of the lovers' lane.

Katherine looks around and notices a figure at the bottom of the inaccessible area.

"Lexy."

Katherine faces her friend, her black eyeliner smeared across her cheeks, a strand of mucus dangling from her nose.

"I found you. You can now go to your body. You will remember everything."

Katherine's voice shakes with every word she says.

Lexy bites her lips.

"Do not worry. You will have time to say goodbye. You will not leave immediately; go and recover your memory."

Katherine watches Lexy float down; her knees give out, and Katherine lets herself fall. She takes advantage of her alone time to let out her weakness. She holds her head and sobs silently, and a warm smile appears on her face as she begins to accept the fact. She watches the city bathed in sunlight. She drops her hands on the grass, and her fingers touch something hard.

The young woman feels the object with her fingers, and Katherine holds it in front of her face—a wrench with a bloody tip.

Katherine wipes away her tears as she examines the object.

"What?" Katherine whispers.

"Katherine." A male voice calls the young woman.

Katherine's stomach turns, and little by little the young woman turns around; the familiar face in front of her is illuminated by the rays of the sun.

"What are you doing here?" Bryan asks.

Katherine's mind races, replaying clues, causing panic and confusion; she can't concentrate, and her body is torn between run or fight.

"I am talking to you. Are you OK?"

Bryan takes a step; Katherine flinches.

"Stay away."

Katherine presses the wrench against her chest; Bryan looks at the tool.

"What are you doing with that? I was looking for it."

Bryan takes another step toward his sister.

"I... Bryan..." Katherine tangles her tongue with each word.

"Hm?"

Bryan takes another step.

"Lexy."

Bryan stops.

"What about Lexy?"

"I can't find her."

"I have no idea; I don't know why you ask me." Bryan shrugs.

Surreptitiously, the young man observes the ravine behind his sister and resumes his slow advance.

"Bryan, what did you do to Lexy?"

"It was he who did it." Lexy's voice is heard behind Katherine.

The young woman turns around for a second to observe her friend floating in the void.

Bryan seizes the moment and pounces on his sister.

"Watch out!" Lexy exclaims.

Katherine steps to the side, and Bryan stops a few steps from the ravine.

"Woah! Don't move. I almost fell!"

"Bryan! What did you do with Lexy?!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about! Give me that!"

Bryan holds out his left hand, and she can see the gold watch reflecting the sunlight.

"The shining hand!" Katherine exclaims.

"Give me my tool, Katherine!"

Bryan attacks his sister again. Katherine turns around, but a hand grabs her ankle; the young woman stumbles and falls to the ground. Something fell from the pocket of the sweater; Sebastian's knife flew a couple of meters away from the girl.

"Let go of me, Bryan!"

"Bryan, stop!" Lexy waves her hands in front of Bryan's face; a strong but harmless current of air moves the young man's hair.

Katherine kicks the air; Bryan reaches out and grabs the other end of the wrench; they both struggle. Katherine puts her feet on her brother's hips and keeps him away.

"Drop the fucking wrench, Kathy!"

Bryan throws punches into the air but misses his sister's face. The young man pushes the girl's legs away but is disabled by a kick to his testicles. Katherine crawls towards the razor, but her brother's hand stops her. Bryan squeezes his sister's ankles hard.

"Katherine!" Bryan yells furiously.

The young woman stretches out her hand, but it's not enough. Her fingers brush against the object, but she can't reach it. Desperate, Katherine throws the wrench into her brother's face; he manages to evade the tool.

Anguished, the young woman stretches out her fingers; a gust of wind lifts the knife and brings it closer to Katherine's hand.

Without thinking twice, Katherine turns and slashes into the air.

Bryan takes his neck, the liquid gushing out generously.

"Why did you kill her?!" Katherine asks with her wet eyes.

"K— k— kag—"

Bryan stretches out his hand, takes a step back, his body collapses, and Bryan disappears into the emptiness of the ravine.

Katherine sits up, her chest heaving; she puts her hand on her forehead.

Lexy's face appears in front of Katherine.

"Lexy..."

"Are you OK?"

"He is dead."

"I'm sorry, Kat."

Katherine shakes her head.

"That piece of shit killed you. Right now, I find it difficult to feel sorry for him."

Lexy's spirit watches the sky.

"I remember everything."

Katherine slowly calms down.

"W— why?"

"It's the lovers' lane, Kat. It's where couples confess their love."

Katherine watches the sunset in silence.

"It was after the party, after escaping from Sebastian, that's when we came to the lovers' lane on his bike."

"On the stupid bike... That's why you arrived at sunset."

Lexy nods.

"It was here that he confessed his love. Where I saw his bright hand."

"The watch"

"It was here where I rejected him. He couldn't stand it."

"Lexy."

"Kat, now I understand. I don't want to leave, but I have to."

"Lexy, I'm sorry. I should have been more patient with you. I should have looked after you better and spent more time with you. I do not want you to go! Please do not go!"

Katherine resumes her cry; Lexy walks over to her friend and gives her a cold hug, their cheeks touching.

"Kat, I love you so much."

"Not Lexy, no!"

Lexy fades into Katherine's arms. Her body turns into small spheres of light. These are warm to the touch; the last thing to fade is the girl's smile.

Katherine cries out loud. The girl's tears distort the sunlight, and the last sphere disappears into the orange sky.