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.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrnxlrWpIa
529. The number of times I've texted Edward's phone after he passed away in hope of a reply.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF8XdSXxeX
529. Edward's house number.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QbKUwMg1L
529. My hospital room.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB9yORy9dU
I wake up in a haze. I expected to be cramped in a dryer but instead I'm spread out on a hospital cot.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjeZn1Sbf2
An officer near me speaks. "Jade, correct?"
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMeyN43QKY
"Yes," I croak.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW9XFttXZf
"May I ask you what the number 5-2-9 means for you?"
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFLirEpViN
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.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhO9SyQPUf
"It... represents the mental and emotional utopia or paradise that remains unharmed after the death of my lover," I say neutrally.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGZ4SlrJ7x
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."
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZrK69napC
I say nothing.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdtddtLvkl
"Let's get to the point. You are going to be charged because you broke into Brandsmart. You—"
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24a71eDvi8
"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.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04hAXOcsVp
He chuckles some. "Miss Jade, that 'officer' is dead. Were you referring to the dead officer that was never hired by Brandsmart?"
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39DvP3b8PZ
...
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoCGpCtgi5
"What?! Of course he works there! I saw him in the uniform and—"
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQSLPdJj7F
"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."
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMoOYUq2ur
And finally all the puzzle pieces are fitting together.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18b2yMRwtd
It was a setup.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAUQe3HdGQ
"Officer? May I ask on what date did this 'officer' kill a man?" I ask.
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlII4vRrl1H
"It was May 29."
699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonDmyqTwL1
5/29.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qvFyWF4UB
