Chương 43: Blanks

"How are you certain I didn't do it?"

Ashley pressed her lips into a thin line, looking back at Ike solemnly. "Did you do it?"

"If I say yes?"

"Then I'd apologize to everyone in the council right after breaking all your limbs." Her voice was quiet, but her answer was quick with a tinge of certainty. "Don't misunderstand, Ike Lobo. The only side I am on is justice, and as such, I don't think dragging an innocent person based on speculation is proper."

"Justice?" Ike cocked his head to the side, letting out a dry laugh. "What an interesting turn."

"I'm not saying you aren't capable of doing something that would rile up people. Matter of fact, the council made a good point, which I cannot deny. Still, the reason I am certain you didn't do it is that it's too… below you."

Ike laughed, intrigued. "Below me?"

"I think you're suffering from an omniscient syndrome." She shrugged. "Killing someone might be something you'd do, but I don't think that would be fun enough for you. Sullivan died because he was strangled to death; if you're going to murder someone, wouldn't it be fun to smear his blood in his room and scatter his flesh everywhere?"

Ike and Bernis blinked, staring at Ashley with blank eyes.

"Are you telling me you think I'm a psycho?" Ike pointed at himself.

"If that is too much of a hassle, you would've at least left something behind to give the authorities a riddle," she continued indifferently. "That is why I believe it's not you and the council were pointing their fingers at the wrong person. I don't know why Yama is suddenly acting the way he was acting, but he is wrong this time."

"I also think Yama is being rash in this case." Bernis joined in the conversation, warranting Ike and Ashley's attention. "It is not the first time the student organization is facing backlash, but it is the first time there is a murder case right after a duel between an organization member and another student."

"Still, I can't help but wonder." Bernis carefully shifted his attention to Ike, holding the latter's gaze solemnly. "Why, of all people, is he focusing on you?"

Ike kept quiet for a while before he shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe it's his way to get my attention," said Ike, waving dismissively. He then turned on his heel, resuming his steps.

"Or maybe there is another reason and I just happen to be the perfect bait." He sneered. "What an interesting lad, indeed. He makes me want to go down on my knees just so the council takes me in."

Ashley and Bernis stood in the same spot while staring at Ike's back. A deep exhale slipped past her lips, casting Bernis a look. However, Ashley said nothing before she jogged her way to follow Ike.

"Another reason…" whispered Bernis as he took a large step to follow the two. "... that didn't cross me until now."

***** BREAK *****

Just like any other day, Ashley and Bernis walked Ike home, but the latter didn't invite them inside.

"Hey, won't you even offer us a glass of water?" Ike stopped upon Ashley's complaints, looking back while holding the gate. He said nothing as he pushed the gate and shut it behind him without a second hesitation.

"How can you be such a jerk!?" was what he heard outside the gates. Ashley threw a huge fit outside the gates, calling Ike names for minutes before things quieted down.

Little did Ashley and Bernis know, even though Ike didn't respond to her complaints, he heard everything loud and clear. Ike didn't go straight inside his house, after all. He stood in the vacant space between the house and the gates motionlessly.

"Do you have any idea that you are the suspect in a murder case?"

"Some ridiculous ideas are rising because of that personality of yours, and I have to fight people because of it. But look what I'm getting in return. Is this how you treat a friend?"

"Don't misunderstand, Ike Lobo. I stood up for you, not because I wanted you to thank me. The only side I am on is justice, and as such, I don't think dragging an innocent person based on speculation is proper."

Ike gazed down at his open palm, wearing a sharp yet plain countenance. Ashley's statements repeated in his head like a broken record.

"How am I certain I didn't do it?" he asked himself once again, his eyes glinting sharply. "When my memories last night were quite foggy?"

Ike drew a deep breath as he closed his eyes ever so slowly. He clenched his open palm, trying his best to remember the missing piece in his head the night before.

Last night…

"No, Vritra. Not in this lifetime."

Ike watched his reflection sneer back at him with his other eye shining in bright crimson. His grip on the rim of the sink tightened, clenching his teeth.

With a huff, Ike dragged his feet away from the bathroom. For some reason, the floor he was walking on was as soft as pudding. His body was swaying, hitting his body against the wall and furnitures like a drunkard. He blinked, but his eyes were heavy, and his vision was growing blurry and red.

He remembered losing his balance before reaching the bed, landing with a loud and painful thud. Ike was gasping for air, fighting to not lose consciousness. He reached his hand out, crawling on the wooden floor whilst staring at the dark underneath the bed before everything went black.

"Huh?" Ike opened his eyes wearily. His vision was blurry, blinking ever so carefully until everything around him grew clearer.

"What am I…?" Ike lifted his eyes, looking around, only to realize he wasn't in his bedroom anymore.

Instead, he was standing in the space between his house and the gate in the middle of the night. His position looked as though he was just about to enter his humble abode, but woke up from the darkness he was sleeping in.

*****

[ PRESENT ]

Ike slowly reopened his eyes, raising his gaze toward the main door's entrance.

"This… is where I woke up last night," he mumbled, referring to the fact that the spot he was standing on right now was also the same spot where he regained his consciousness last night.