529.
Edward's favorite number. He loved it. Simply because it's a square number.
23. The square root of 529. His second favorite number. Today is October 23.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelHVm70FXI
529. The number of times I've texted Edward's phone after he passed away in hope of a reply.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jIgPlJctF
529. Edward's house number.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60RUGMxVLN
529. My hospital room.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMtaabER6S
I wake up in a haze. I expected to be cramped in a dryer but instead I'm spread out on a hospital cot.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22A8skRXv6
An officer near me speaks. "Jade, correct?"
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinDh2ngpkT
"Yes," I croak.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08mY7S6r6n
"May I ask you what the number 5-2-9 means for you?"
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHORQB0BK9X
Wow it's been a while since I've actually heard someone say it like that. I usually head five hundred and twenty nine, not just five-two-nine.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsBcKfU7ZT
"It... represents the mental and emotional utopia or paradise that remains unharmed after the death of my lover," I say neutrally.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYbdN7jf51
The officer looks shocked at my response. "I was just wondering... Since you've been repeating the number in your sleep without even realizing you're in a room with that number."
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K8G0N5gDp
I say nothing.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxFPpyo5q3
"Let's get to the point. You are going to be charged because you broke into Brandsmart. You—"
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWF3wBNHuW
"But I didn't steal anything! I was... simply on my way to give the security guard a meal since he looked hungry," I interject.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwel6Gip36
He chuckles some. "Miss Jade, that 'officer' is dead. Were you referring to the dead officer that was never hired by Brandsmart?"
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB18tXPsHQ
...
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp3mMStjpy
"What?! Of course he works there! I saw him in the uniform and—"
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjyGjU3TGY
"I don't have time for games. We took a blood sample of the guy and got his identity and the manager of Brandsmart showed me a list of all hired and fired employees of the last 5 years. This man, Derek White, was fired about 3 and a half years ago, after being caught and arrested for killing a man in some park a few years ago."
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqDEkVSZ3o
And finally all the puzzle pieces are fitting together.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2LmLc57G9
It was a setup.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wc6vHKd7y
"Officer? May I ask on what date did this 'officer' kill a man?" I ask.
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDZOWVvocx
"It was May 29."
707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEUkEpYfb2
5/29.707Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QDoahVX6y
