wee-woo! wee-woo!
The time was 13:45 when the earthquake had gone subsided and the rescue team arrived to remove the debris and recover her body, and I sat there leaning back on the remnants of the destroyed wall, my head bowed, my mind refusing to accept the truth.
"Are you alright, kid? are you hurt anywhere?" the EMT asked. I looked over his shoulder, and saw Arna on a stretcher, her body broken and battered, the form of her figure now a mess.
"Let's not look there, shall we?" the man said.
"It looks like you aren't hurt anywhere. Well, where are your parents?"
"I don't know."
"Okay, what's your relationship with her? Is she your girlfriend?"
"Hmm, not exactly."
"Well, my condolences."
Time started to pass quickly, it hit 14:15 , and I saw a black flying car coming to halt in front of the area where the wall collapsed.
A man and woman stepped out of the car, their boots and heels clicking as they rushed towards the paramedic team, and the woman sobbed upon seeing the state of Arna, the man comforting her.
They were Arna's parents.
Arna's parents finally came. When will Siku's parents come? I should leave, I shouldn't be here.
I pushed myself up my knees straining under a sharp pain which i didn't care about and i started to walk away in a clumsy way my mind unable to think and I walked to siku's house
"Where do you think you are going?" I heard the sobbing voice of Arna's mother behind me, it was quite similar to hers except a bit aged.
"You think you can just go away after my daughter's death? Answer me!" she shrieked, and I turned around to face her, my eyes downcast.
"Honey, don't take it out on him, he couldn't have done anything," Arna's father comforted her, restraining her from moving close to me.
"You could have saved her, couldn't you? You survived unscathed, so why is Arna dead, huh? Why didn't you protect her? Why did only she has to die?" she cried into the arms of the man as he patted her back.
"Answer me…answer me, you basta*d. Did saving her ever cross your mind? You could have, but you did not. You used your ability to protect yourself, not her. Why, huh? We left her in your care. We left her alone because we thought you would be there and you would take care of her better than us, but you left her to die. I should have taken Arna with me that day. It's my fault for leaving her with you. It's my fault for putting my trust in a kid like you...you selfish basta*d, you selfish pri*k," she sobbed, dropping to her knees as she cried.
"Sorry for your loss," I said in an hollow tone, turning back to walk away.
"Siku, wait, don't go. Don't take Lea's words seriously; she is just distraught. Did you contact your parents? Just stay here, let's wait for your parents. Leaving you alone is dangerous. Come here, Lea would calm down sooner or later. Just don't go. "
"I am sorry for your loss," I said, looking at him over my shoulder, and walked away, forcing myself to get out of the scene. If I stayed any longer, I might blurt out the truth that I valued myself over her, that I was selfish just like she called me out, and it's the reason for the sorrow they now face
*****
Good Morning. I'm Helena Voss, providing the most recent information from our Kingdom of Evercold, where the city of Crosmo is recuperating from a devastating earthquake that occurred at 13:30 on Zephyr 17. The first tremors started at a magnitude of 6.7 and decreased for a short while before rising to a peak of 14.3, and then subsided by 13:42. Experts attest that even old artifacts and documents were unable to foresee it, highlighting how haphazard the catastrophe was.
Two days have passed since that catastrophic event, and the human cost is high. Seven confirmed deaths, including a thirteen-year-old girl, three thousand seven hundred forty minor injuries, two thousand three hundred serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and about three hundred critically injured people who are still alive are reported by the authorities.
There have been numerous rescue operations. The search for survivors was aided by relics, heavy machinery, and aerial reconnaissance, and more than twelve hundred trained personnel from all over the kingdom were sent out right away. Teams work in shifts to navigate flooded streets and collapsed buildings as relief efforts continue around the clock. While shelters have been established to house displaced residents, emergency medical units have set up temporary triage centers.
Rescuers worked through streets littered with debris while it rained nonstop, evacuating survivors to safer locations and offering critical assistance to those who were trapped, as seen in photos from multiple sources. Operations have been complicated by the prolonged rainfall that followed the earthquake, which totaled thirty-three inches over three hours. However, the speed and effectiveness of the coordination between emergency services and local volunteers have been commended.
In order to help local authorities, the Kingdom of Eversleep has approved additional support, sending medical teams, supplies, and transportation. Following a string of tragedies, including the tsunami last month, families are still in shock and grief and are doubting the government's readiness.
As rescue efforts move forward, we will keep an eye on the situation and provide updates.
We will now take a quick
click-
I turned off the monitor of the PC, which also had an inbuilt TV in it, as I lay quietly on the bed.
It's been two days since her mom lashed out at me. I passed the time by laying on Siku's bed pondering what I should do next. I couldn't eat. No, I didn't want to eat. I didn't even wipe the dust off. I just laid there, my mind replaying the day I spent with her.
I saw her funeral, I didn't go. I couldn't brace myself to go. I saw it on the news; there were lots of people who came to share their grief. They even placed a photo of her smiling. I should have gone, but I couldn't. It's been two days, but Siku's parents are yet to call me or ask how I am doing. They are pathetic, aren't they?
Am I supposed to feel happy that I am alive, or am I supposed to be sad that she died? I don't know; she died because of me, didn't she? It's because of my selfish desires. It's because I wanted to live. If I died, I would have gone somewhere else, but for her, it's the end of the line. Maybe she would have gone to the Luminaries' lap...no, she should go there. She is a good person. It's my fault. It's my fault for crossing the line. I should have just listened to her and learned how to control and live my life, wandering until I make it, but no, I was selfish. I wanted to live just because she showed me some kindness. I wanted to be with her, to be a replacement for her brother. I valued my happiness over hers. She preferred Siku, not me. She even said it: "No matter what happens, I am still not Davvil." After all, I am stupid, aren't I? If I put her happiness above mine, who would have known she would have survived? If Siku was there in my place, he would have protected her, not himself. I protected myself like a wimp. I didn't deserve her, did I? I don't even deserve to live or die. This is the worst. I could have saved her; I should have saved her. May she rest well in the Luminaries lap.
"Wait. What am I thinking?... Why am I thinking like this? Why am I sad?... My mind is messed up. I am not supposed to be sad, I should be happy... that I am alive. Why am I sad for her? She is just a girl who helped me...I shouldn't ....be sad. I don't even know her... for even a day," I said, letting out a sobbing chuckle.