Jasper

My eyes slowly opened as I was met with the plain familiar color of my ceiling. Rolling on my side, I glanced at the electrical alarm clock on my nightstand.

The time read ten forty-five.

I watched the timer on the bottom right of the square screen counting the minutes passing. Today I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor at noon. If I wanted to arrive on time then I should at least get ready now.

Pulling my body into a sitting position, I threw my legs off the edge of the bed. Then with a big stretch, I dragged myself to the bathroom.

Observing my appearance, I leaned in close to the mirror moving my head from the left to the right slowly. My skin was so pale that under my eyes lay a pinkish color, and right under that was a more darkish-looking tone. Due to my lack of sleep, these dark circles were only to be expected, though I didn't mind. I wasn't here to impress anybody.

I ruffled my messy medium-length chestnut brown hair, I could see the split ends through my reflection. My bedhead looked different than the average person, you see, any semi-normal person would have some parts of their hair laid flat. Though this wasn't the case for me, I looked as if I had just walked through some type of sandstorm or maybe even been struck by lightning.

But I didn't mind.

My mouth was dry as I licked my bottom lip and quickly bit down on it, I watched a cut open as small seeps of blood began to pour out.

Frustration towered down on me as I could feel my insides tearing up. I glared at the eyes that I'd been cursed with since birth, the eyes that my mother cherished and loved so much, made me sick.

Surprisingly enough, I get many compliments on them. Many people are flattered by the shade of green they hold, and many are infatuated with their shape. Or maybe it's just my face.

Though I remind myself once more, I'm not here to impress.

I washed up quickly and threw on some tan-brown cargo pants with a baggy gray hoodie, then I proceeded to grab my dark green coat and took one glance around before seeing an apple sitting on the counter. Before exiting my cozy safe place, I snatched the fruit and headed out.

As the crisp cold breeze hit my face, I scrunched my nose, it burned.

The cool winter air had always been my favorite ever since I was a kid, I'm not sure if it's because my father told me he'd bury my body in a pile of snow with no one to find it, or the fact that my mother would knit snowflakes with white yarn. She used to hang them around the library we had as she proudly stared at her work.

My attention was quickly caught off guard as I felt myself stumble forward with my apple leaving my grasp, I swiftly turned around to see the deranged person who had committed the harassment but was met with nothing but an empty sidewalk.

Sighing in irritation, I turned back when I noticed my apple was still laying on the ground. My poor red fruit had been thrown so carelessly onto the cold, hard concrete. I watched as it stared back up at me. The right side of its soft layer had been dented and I could see some pieces missing.

I crouched down and picked my breakfast up when I noticed something strange. There were red spots in the snow ahead of me.

Had I not seen this before?

My hand traced over the apple and my eyes continued to follow the deep crimson trail when It had continued around a corner, what's this?

A pit began to form inside my empty stomach as anxiety was now kicking in. I shoved the apple into my pocket as I steadily followed the dark liquid on the white blankets.

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Then I heard it.

"Jasper."

Her voice echoed through the streets as I stood with wide eyes.

My body moved on its own as I sprinted hard, please don't leave me again. Not like this, not like last time.

I continued to run through the streets passing shop windows and waiting for her to call my name once more, nausea began to knot as I remembered the newspaper headlines.

I could hear my own heartbeat thumping out of my chest. When I saw someone in the distance, her head was hung low but I knew exactly who it was, and I know she wanted me to follow.

The cold thin air was harshly biting my skin, and my lungs were on fire. I pushed my legs to continue when she turned around and started walking away

She wore the same outfit she did the day she passed and was taken from this world. It consisted of a plain white shirt and dark blue jeans, but something was different. I could see the rips and holes in her clothing, the bruises that latched onto her rough skin, and the cuts and gashes that were dug deep in her sides. The long brown hair that always had a shine now contained twigs and patches missing. Parts of her hair were cut, and she looked rough.

I watched as the ghost took a sharp turn into an alley and I continued to push on.

As I slowed down my pace panting for air, I crept into the alley.

One hand was placed on the wall for support while the other was on my thigh, my body was bent forward as my eyes scanned the dark slim alley.

Bricks surrounded me, and there was a metal door on the right that had a huge bar over it. A green dumpster with trashbags was sloppily placed on the left and there were multiple empty cans of some sort.

Gross.

My attention was knocked into me when I saw the ruffle of a huge trash bag lying next to the dumpster. Were there animals hiding in attempts to warm themselves?

The muffled sound of a cry was heard faintly more down the darkness, then the elastic black bag moved once more.

I approached the bag when my heart nearly jumped out of my body, sweat began to form on my forehead while my body jolted back within seconds. My nose scrunched again as the foul stench of something strong entered the tense air. I pulled my shirt up the lower half of my face in an attempt to block out the horrid smell.

Just then, a soft noise was heard. The low hum fell upon me when I saw a small gray cat walk out from behind the dark-colored dumpster.

The small creature made its way and slithered around me while wrapping its long tail around my leg, I felt myself exhale on command. A sigh of relief escaped my throat as well as comfort washed over me.

The cat meowed as it walked passed me and stomped on a cardboard box with all four paws, creating a circling motion before the elegant animal laid itself down softly.

Then I heard it again, no I saw it again.

The bag had shifted.

The thought of another animal being compacted in the suffocating sack made me feel some type of way, it was anger.

I steadily approached the bag and took a sharp inhale while my shaky hands bent down to the top of it, my fingers intertwined with the strings and I began to pull it apart.

Bile began to form in my stomach as I had only caught a small glimpse of what was inside the giant trash bag, it was a hand, or what seemed to be one. . .

I continued to unstring the top as my body tensed up and froze in place.

The vomit rushed up my esophagus as I fell back onto the concrete, turning to the side I threw up. I threw up stomach acid with chunks of my lunch from the previous day. Tears were welded in the corner of my eyes as I couldn't stop my body from keeping it down.

There were mutilated body parts sprawled around inside.

I scooted back in horror when I heard a voice behind me, "You alright man?"

Snapping my head to the source of the question, stood a tall man in a big coat. He was bald and had sunglasses on. A cigarette hung in the corner of his mouth while he carried a book in his right hand and a lighter in the left.

"You look like you've seen a ghost kid, really, are you okay?" The man began to approach as I pointed toward the crime scene, my mouth opened but no words were forming.

"T-the bag!" I stuttered out, "Call the police!" I began to hyperventilate as the man raised an eyebrow, "I want whatever you're on kid, say, where do ya youngsters find stuff like that here up in the mountains?"

Anger began to explode inside of me, "Someone's dead!" The words left my mouth quickly, "Someone got fucking murdered!" I screamed, "Their body is in the bag, call the police before it's too late-"

The stranger quickly cut me off as he stepped forward, "No need to shout kid, people around here are gonna get the wrong idea." He sighed before crouching down in front of me, "There's no bag, trash came yesterday."

I froze in a panic, what?

Turning around, I was met with an empty dumpster and no disposable garbage.

But I saw it. . .

The man then extended a hand in my direction causing me to flinch, "Relax, I'm only offering a helping hand." His voice softened.

Hesitation fell over me as I placed my grasp into his, he pulled me up quickly and turned away, "Look kid, I was like you too once when I was young" With one last glance he gave me advice I didn't ask for, "Don't go messing around into that sugary shit and free yourself before it's too late."

I stood there in the alley alone, cold, and confused.

What just happened?