The Sound of Wind by Raegan Millhollin

  Chapter Six - Everyone Makes Mistakes

  The pink light of the dying sun filtered in through the little kitchen window with its four panes of frosted glass. Grease from a frying pan speckled the window, filling the small kitchen with the smell of salmon. Maggie gently shook the handle of the pan, using a spatula to sever the growing bond between fish and pan. A dark shadow crossed over her cooking and Maggie turned, but it was too late. Her pale yellow shirt with the delicate white flowers was staining red. She buckled, bending to the ground with a soft thud. Standing over her was a man, blurred and softly edged like a photo from a shaky hand; the bloody knife standing out in sharp contrast. Droplets of red dripped to the floor soundlessly.

  It was dark and his mouth was full of sour blanket. Hugo rolled onto his side, blinking in the dark. Have to call Maggie. He clumsily moved his arm outwards only to bash it on the nightstand. That should probably hurt, it probably did hurt, but he couldn’t feel it. His phone wasn’t there anyway, it was in his pocket. He hadn’t taken it out; he hadn’t taken off his shoes. Not that it mattered.

  After several tries he managed to pull the phone from his pants and he dragged it up to his face, flipping it open. The light glowed, illuminating a tiny world of blue. It took several foggy moments to recall the clairvoyant’s number, but when he did he pushed his finger down on each number carefully. His eyes closed. No he had to stay awake. He dropped the phone onto the side of his head.

  “Hello?”

  “Maggie lookout blurry guy isthere.”

  There was an extended pause which gave Hugo plenty of time to nearly fall back to sleep. “Hugo?”

  “Yesh. Whaddare you wearing?”

  “Excuse me?” The incredulous tone was a bad sign. Hugo blinked several times, but failed to sit up.

  “He’s gonna kill you when you makethefish. Be careful are you…what time isit?”

  “Hugo, it’s 6:30 in the morning. What is wrong with you and what are you talking about?”

  “I uh…I hadda bad day. Drank all the Nyquil, but he’s gonna killyou I gotta wake up.”

  “I’m…wearing a white t-shirt.”

  “oh goodsnot today. Goback is ok fernow.”

  “Hugo. I don’t know what’s going on, but go to sleep. Call me when you wake up and are coherent again.”

  “Kay.” The phone slid off the side of Hugo’s head and he fell back into the darkness.