3, 2, 1, Happy New Year

Looking back over the past few months, I have so many things yet to be done. So many people I want to talk to and be friends with but circumstances didn't allow me to. "10, 9, 8-" the mc started the countdown while the crowd followed. "7, 6, 5, 4-" The ground shook from excitement, greeting another year that will be filled with new resolutions and new beginnings. I can't wait too; to have a new beginning. The countdown continued, "3, 2-". I felt the adrenaline rush through me. Knowing what would happen, I crouched down, closing both my ears and eyes. "1"

A loud boom echoes through the air, accompanied by the jumbled terror of screaming and fireworks that now filled the entire place. I looked down from the 12th floor to make sure that all the explosives I had installed hours ago went off. Three behind the stage, a pair under the stage, five in different parts of the bazaar area, nine in the garbage bags; looks like all of them blew up. I shut the shutters and picked up the phone above the nightstand. I dialed a number.

The person at the end of the line picked up. Statics, then a distorted chuckle. This man or woman ripped the last humane instincts I had. He had taken away everything from me; my job, my wife, my son, my life. If only he had the nerves to meet me face to face, or without taking hostages of my family, I'd kill him instantly on sight. "Looks like you did as instructed." said the distorted voice on the line.

"Would there be another way?" I replied, the blood rushing to my brain.

"I suppose not," he said with a childish tone, sick bastard.

"Are they safe?"

"Probably. poof. tic to the toc what matters most is" he stopped to giggle, then continued, "when Cinderella dropped her fucking slippers." I can hear him hitting something, probably a table, repeatedly while still laughing out loud like a sick fuck. "Imagine if she didn't leave that slipper, can the prince still find her without any clues? That bitch dropped that slipper on purpose. That fucking whore, gold-digging son of a- Ah, looks like we're off topic."

If only he was here, I kept telling myself. My hands had balled into a fist, fingernails digging deeper into my flesh.

"Fine, fine. I can hear your breathing from here. They're alive but I can't guarantee they haven't been soiled. he chuckled.

Realizing the possibilities, I went on a rampage. "You son of a- Don't you fucking lay your hands on my wife and my son."

The line went silent for a few seconds and he burst into laughter. "Gosh, dumb dumb. Such fetishes aren't for me. I prefer manipulating people. Meek people like you, who'd do anything for their awh family. Disgusting." he spitted.

"So where are they now? You promised to release them after I did as you told."

"Sit still, baby. Rest and wait for my man to deliver you your rewards."

"I don't want rewards. I want my fa-" the line cut off. "fuck" I tried to call back but the screen stopped working from all the sweat and tears. Quickly, I wiped the grease off with my also sweat-drenched t-shirt. "No." I fell in front of the hotel bed, my body unsupported by my legs. I grabbed the blanket and continued wiping it again. "No.." the phone that I was holding so tightly fell to the ground, the tears that I had been trying so hard to hold uncontrollably streamed away like the river in the summer.

A knock on the door woke me. I ran across the room and grab the handle, banging it open, revealing a letter on the floor. I looked left and right down the hallway. No one. I picked the letter up and shut the door behind me.

As I read alone the line, I realized something, this handwriting, "your handwriting" I whispered to myself. It belonged to my wife.

-My love, my loveliest love. I'm here, in another country with our son. The reason I wrote you this letter is that I have decided to part ways with you. I decided that the life I was living with you wasn't the life that I desire to hold forever. And so I have run from you. Goodbye-

The phone rang. The premonition of the future has slowly cleared and the tears in my eyes dried up. I picked up the phone, and answered. "You seem to understand now. In a world like this, accidents always happen. And the fact that your wife has left you, gave me the advantage to manipulate you. Accidents connect to one another."

"W-wha.. What the hell is this? Then where the hell did you get that picture of them? All tied up, and, and-"

"Your wife wanted to destroy you completely, for all the times you've spent torturing her. Turns out, the ounce of love you have left for her is.. extraordinary. Physical love. The way you express love is unique. That's why I have conducted this very beautiful orchestra. An advantage for me, your wife, and yourself." He narrated.

"What part of this is an advantage to me? Why did you, Why did you do this to me?"

"I can see through people, Benjamin. Your eyes, they want to see blood. Satisfy yourself with all the screamings and roarings of terror."

"I don't get it.. I just."

"Find it yourself, the real you."

The sound of the end line echoes through the room. I sat there, on the floor, scratching the carpet over and over again, then my neck up to my cheeks. This man understood me completely, he saw right through me. I cannot accept this. I cannot accept the fact that a smile had formed on my face.