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.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwo9xl4VK0
529. The number of times I've texted Edward's phone after he passed away in hope of a reply.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkyAyvUv2c
529. Edward's house number.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeGOv39dUI
529. My hospital room.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUNQgI6UkX
I wake up in a haze. I expected to be cramped in a dryer but instead I'm spread out on a hospital cot.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee2le1aWMY
An officer near me speaks. "Jade, correct?"
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtt4FiuWxm
"Yes," I croak.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjDwXYn6EN
"May I ask you what the number 5-2-9 means for you?"
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzGhMvGRsY
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.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgAgeescby
"It... represents the mental and emotional utopia or paradise that remains unharmed after the death of my lover," I say neutrally.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgblqAQr1vs
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."
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93YCcrh3vy
I say nothing.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYatn13IFsT
"Let's get to the point. You are going to be charged because you broke into Brandsmart. You—"
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dhBNBZymU
"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.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPlAwZ9k7i
He chuckles some. "Miss Jade, that 'officer' is dead. Were you referring to the dead officer that was never hired by Brandsmart?"
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UPkRoFluc
...
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceGmXjIXqP
"What?! Of course he works there! I saw him in the uniform and—"
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcaRAG4eiZ
"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."
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr9W1psMJ5
And finally all the puzzle pieces are fitting together.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwHvHMOygC
It was a setup.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqddckqaRa
"Officer? May I ask on what date did this 'officer' kill a man?" I ask.
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP53s9ipQdh
"It was May 29."
701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ35KYmTxs
5/29.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Puu0WZky0
