"Ohhhhh." I uttered a low moan. More of an animal cry than a human sound.
The skate bag fell from my hand. My legs were shaking so hard, I dropped to my knees.
And knelt over Kevin. Knelt over Kevin's body--and stared. I realized I had never seen a dead body before.
It's so weird the thoughts that flash through your mind when you're gripped in shock, in horror. But that's what I thought, leaning over Kevin, staring down at him: I've never seen a dead body before.
I stared at his eyes. They reflected the crescent moon. Like glass. Glass eyes. Doll eyes. No longer real.
I stared at the skate. The toe of the boot crammed so deep into his open mouth. The wheels glowing dully in the yellow alley light.
The other skate lay under Kevin's head. The two skates were tied together. The laces that connected them were wrapped around Kevin's neck.
Wrapped so tight. So tight. My stomach lurched. I held my breath. Struggled to keep my dinner down.
Without thinking, I reached one hand out. What did I plan to do? Pull it out?
I'm not sure. I wasn't thinking at all. I mean, all sorts of wild thoughts were flooding my mind. But I wasn't thinking clearly. I wasn't thinking or making a plan or deciding what I should do or where I should go or who I should call--or anything!
I leaned over Kevin's body. He's no longer Kevin, I thought.
He's not Kevin. Now he's Kevin's body. I reached out. Started to touch the heal of the skate.
But a burst of sound made me pull my hand back. I heard the thunder of drums, an explosion of guitars.
The back door to the rink opened. I heard footsteps. Then a scream.
"He's dead!" someone squealed. A high, shrill voice. I didn't recognize it at first.
"He's dead!" Then another shrill voice. "He killed him!"
"Nooo!" I screamed. I spun around. Off-balance. Dizzy.
I turned to the high-pitched voices. And in the shadows behind the yellow light I saw Aaron and Nick.
Their blond hair glowing dully, rising like flames over their pale faces. Their blue eyes wide with fear.
"He killed him!"
"No--wait!" I pleaded, stumbling, staggering to my feet. My legs so rubbery, shaking so hard.
"Wait--"
"He killed him! I saw him!"
"Call the police!"
"No--please!" I started after them. "Aaron! Nick--no!"
Another explosion of music as they pushed the door open. And disappeared back into the rink.
Leaving the image of their startled eyes glowing in my mind. Leaving their shrill cries of horror in my ears.
"No--wait! I didn't! I didn't!" My panicked cries falling unheard to the concrete alley floor.
"You're wrong! You're wrong! Wait--you're wrong!" I didn't do it, I told myself. I didn't. I didn't.
The police will believe me, I decided. I know they will.
Chapter 10
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