Apartment for Rent ch 13.6 - Hallway

Back to Bo Yan's room, I continued to sit on the bed like a bystander and watched them put the separated body into six plastic bags, then wrapped them in another six plastic bags, in case the bags ripped and the foul-smelling fluid leaked out.

I looked at Ling Hu's intact head inside the toilet, "I'll get the head, it's more secure this way."

Guo Li was too scared to agree or disagree. He just gave Bo Yan a look and Bo Yan immediately wrapped the head up and handed it to me.

"Let's go," I said.

"Let's get into my car then decided where to go," said Guo Li.

"We should also get a shovel, but I'm not sure where we can find one at this hour." Bo Yan said, visibly tired. He rubbed his starving stomach, but I knew he wouldn't be able to stomach anything right now.

Guo Li looked like he was about to say something but didn't. He probably had the hole ready, that's why we didn't see any digging tools in his room?


No, Guo Li killed Ling Hu two days ago. He returned yesterday to cut up the body, he wouldn't have the time to dig the hole.

Ergo, the tools would be inside his car.


"It's too late to find tools now. Why don't we bury it somewhere shallow for now. We will go back in two days to dig a deeper hole," I pretended to make a suggestion.

Bo Yan dared not to disagree, but couldn't help but to grumble, "God, we had to go back? It'd be bad if we couldn't find the right spot."

Guo Li summoned up his courage, "I still have the tools from Tomb Sweeping Day¹ in my car, they will have to do. I only have one shuffle, we will have to take turn digging."

"That's perfect," I said, being oh so proud of myself.


The three of us picked up the bags and just about to cautiously head downstairs.


"Wait, it's safer to take the elevator. It will take us directly to the exit leading out to the back street behind the building." said Guo Li, obviously had it all planned out.

I disagreed, "The elevator is too noisy. It made a loud 'Kang Kang Kang' sound when it runs. I think we should take the stairs."

Bo Yan looked at Guo Li and I, he struggled to express his opinion, "It doesn't matter that the elevator is loud, nobody will give it a second thought. It'd be more odd to run into someone when the three of us carry all these bags downstairs."

Guo Li looked at me.

I pretended to grapple with the idea, "Okay, I admit I didn't want to use the elevator. Please, you two can leave here after this, but I will still have to use the elevator or large items. I don't want to think about this incident every time I use the elevator in the future. Would you want that if it was you?"

Guo Li had no objection; Bo Yan resentfully shook his head.

Three murderers, carrying six pieces of a dead body and headed downstairs.

In the order of level of responsibility in the murder, Guo Li was leading the pack, followed by Bo Yan, then me at the very end.


2:10 AM.


I just saw too much "red", even the light bulbs in the hallway started looking red to me.

The gruesome and surreal scene inside the bathroom continued to spiral in front of my eyes like a watching a kaleidoscope, making me dizzy. The hallway felt stuffy like a secret passage inside an air-raid tunnel, as though it'd collapse any minute.

Every gasp of oxygen was a luxury.

Of course it was worse for the two who were bombarded by the bloody scene in close range.

Bo Yan's steps were shaky. Guo Li who was leading wasn't much better, snaking his way forward.

We walked almost on our tiptoes, like a cat.


Up until now, all the events took place according to the prophecy, with the exception of Mr. Wang's part.

Mr. Wang was supposed to be in a body bag, being carried by us just like Ling Hu. But since he's got to die one way or another, I didn't mind too much to allow a more experience dead body disposer took over the task.

It made our task easier anyway.


I looked at Bo Yan who's walking in front of me.

The back of Bo Yan's shirt was drenched, sticking to his skin.

He was experiencing the biggest turn of event of his life. His body might be dehydrated, but his mental state was getting stronger and stronger.


Murder, can strengthen a coward. It's the fastest way to make a kid grow up.

"This is so gratifying," I thought to myself, as I secretly unknot the body bag in my left hand.




***

1. A day where people go to visit and clean up ancestors' grave sides, not literally digging anything.