Red Threads

CCTV Footage

The clouds are gathering in the sky. The occasional sound of thunder rang out, accompanied by a gust of wind that was quite strong. The smell of rain hit Mika's face which displayed a gurat of anxiety. Several times he sighed and bit his nails. I hope it speeds up time. And in the blink of an eye, Raga's motorbike had already arrived in front of Nagra's apartment building. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen.

Raga drove her motorcycle towards Nagra's apartment at moderate speed. Enough roads on make it have to be satisfied only with a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Several times Raga glanced at the rearview mirror, observing the reflection of Mika's face from the object.

“You nervous? Why?” ask Raga. Sounds not too loud because of muffled sports helmet.

“This is my first time to Nagra's apartment, after that incident. Naturally if I am nervous,” said Mika whose voice was defeated by the sound of the wind and the roar of the motor engine. So, Raga had to sharpen her ears to hear it.

“No need that lump of. Nagra Apartment is not as bad as you think. Over time, you must have made peace with those memories. You just need some time and get used to it."

Mika wanted to approve Raga's remark. He also tried to remove the shadow of Nagra lying on the bed with a blue body. He had tried to forget the incident that night, but his brain seemed to refuse. The shadow still remained in his head, although it had now started to faint. Only, the pain in his heart was still not over. Not at all. The pain grew even more, when it came to knowing the reality of today. If he knew that person, he would not let go of that person this time. He will make that person feel the way he has been feeling all along.

The nervous feeling in his heart grew even more intense as the Raga motorbike entered the apartment parking area. Nothing has changed from that place. He could still remember clearly, the place when Nagra drove him that night. He never thought, if it was the last minute he could talk to the guy.

There was a void that covered his heart. Wadding wobbles. Stabbed the recesses of his heart, and created a sense of pain. There was a regret that he could not get rid of. If only, that day he would not have left Nagra alone. If only, that day he did not obey Nagra's orders to go home immediately. If only, that day he would have gone back to the apartment sooner. Maybe, that won't happen. Nagra was still with him. And, her family will not be what it is now.

As for his family, his mother did not look for him at all. Only her father sent her a message several times with similar content; telling her to go home immediately. He ignored the message. In fact, not once did it receive an incoming call. He still could not accept the reality that had happened. He still could not forgive his mother, his father, and Nagra. They had covered up the lie from him for too long.

“Come down,” Raga's word. Mika immediately went down, and handed the helmet to Raga.

Mika nodded. Then, walk behind Raga.

A few meters away from them, someone stopped the bike a little bit away from Raga's bike. His eyes observed every movement made by Mika and Raga. A line of sly smiles and dislikes being imprinted on her lips. Accompanied by a rough snort.

He got off the bike, after making sure the two people did not see his presence. Then, he leaned behind a pillar not far from the entrance of the apartment building. From his place, he could observe around, including Mika and Raga. However, the other people who were inside the building would not know of its existence. After making sure Raga and Mika went to the second floor, he slipped into the room on the ground floor located at the very end, just below the stairs. A small room with the inscription 'CCTV Storage' above the door. 

He stood for a moment near the room. Waiting for a security guard to come out of the room. He put his jacket and hat together.  Not to forget a black eyeglass perched on his nose. After making sure no one would recognize him, he entered the room. Today, luck is on his side. A security guard who had just walked out of the room, forgot to lock the door back.

Slowly, he closed the door of the room. His gaze swept across the entire corner. There are quite a number of widescreen monitors on the walls that display footage of every corner of the apartment building. Regardless of that, he headed for a computer in the corner of the room. It was the only computer in the room. Deftly, he searched CCTV footage with at the time of Nagra's death date. Fortunately, he once did a job like this when solving a theft case in his old school first. So, he was not confused to find the location of the recording.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he found the CCTV footage he was looking for. Without wasting time, he immediately moved the CCTV footage into a flash disk.

Without wasting time, he hurried to the door after the recording he could not. However, it seemed, this time luck no longer sided with him. Not yet he came out, the sound of Raga was heard approaching the door. His head turned left and right, looking for the right place to hide. Knowing there was no place to hide, he immediately ran towards the back of the door.

His breath was restrained, as the sound of door creaking rang out filled the room. The door opened, he could see the shadow of Raga and Mika entering the room. Unfortunately, they did not close the door. Thus, it made it easier for her to sneak out, before both Raga and Mika knew of her whereabouts.

Just two steps he left the room without a sound, an annoyed sigh Raga sounded behind him. The person smiled in anguish when he heard Raga say a sentence in a disappointed and furious tone. "The recording doesn't exist. Already deleted!"