What the Blind Eyes See

My blindness made me the only survivor of a serial murders.

The police warned me the killer would likely come for me again.

I silently hung up the phone.

Because the killer was standing right behind me.

Imitating my boyfriends habit, he slid open my silk robe, caressing my body,

Is it better because you cant see?

The one kissing me passionately wasnt my boyfriend.

Ever since I lost my sight, Sean hadnt touched me.

Hed tried, but it always ended in failure.

He said my eyes looked dull as a dead fishs which showed no emotion and reminded him of the accident

The car crash where I shielded him and lost my eyesight.

Who asked you to protect me? Can you stop bringing it up all the time? Did I force you to throw yourself in front of me?"

"Serena, Im tired. I dont owe you my future!

That night, we had a vicious fight. Rain poured down as I tapped my cane, huddled in the alleyway near my building because I had nowhere else to go.

The next morning, I woke to the piercing wail of sirens.

A double murder had happened in that same alley overnight. Based on the time of death, I might have been the only witness whod seen the serial killer.

The killer is a serial murderer, known as the Cleaner. He targets recently released convicts or fugitives. Miss Young, if you remember anything, please tell us.

The police warned me the killer would likely come for me again.

Helplessly, I repeated the testimony Id given countless times on the phone,

Im sorry I cant help. I truly cant remember."

"I havent been blind long. Just getting downstairs is a challenge. And the rain was so heavy that night, I couldnt hear anything.

Before I could finish, hands suddenly gripped my waist from behind.

A startled gasp escaped me, cutting the call short.

My Serena, who were you talking to?

The man wrapped his arms around my waist. Large, warm hands pressed against my abdomen, moving suggestively under my thin robe.

My back pressed against his solid chest. His scorching heat made my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

He seemed to savor my fear. His teasing voice, accompanied by kisses, brushed my earlobe,

Baby, I hear it feels better when you cant see. Tell me, is it true?

Want to give it a try?

The deep, husky voice and mocking tone were about seventy percent like Seans.

But I was absolutely certain it couldnt be him.

Because, just an hour ago, Id killed Sean.

Sean had forced me out, needing the room for his new girlfriend.

As an orphan, I had no one to rely on.

Id thought Sean would be my lifelong support. But after the accident, the crushing medical bills wiped out my savings, and Sean promptly dumped me

Im exhausted. Married couples get divorced. Why cant we?

We used to be the campus sweethearts everyone envied. The slightest scrape on me would send Sean into a panic.

After losing my sight, everything changed.

He found me embarrassing, troublesome, no longer the polished partner.

After being discharged, some old classmates invited us to dinner.

I accidentally knocked over a wine glass. Instead of covering for me, Sean yelled in front of everyone,

Watch it! Thats Graces bag. You couldnt afford it if you ruined it.

I told you not to come, but you insisted. And now youre embarrassing yourself again. How long are you going to keep this up?!

The room fell silent. I fumbled, awkwardly trying to apologize, feeling myself shattering into pieces in the dark.

Sean tossed my suitcase out like garbage. I lunged for it, tripped over the sofa and fell flat.

He tossed a few cheap business cards my way,

Go learn massage therapy. Spread your legs, make some cash. Mention my name, maybe the boss will give you a bigger cut.

Something inside me snapped. Fury robbed me of all reason.

I grabbed the fruit knife from the counter. As Sean turned away, I plunged it into his back.

Once. Twice. Three times

Countless times.

I repeated the motion mechanically until Sean lay completely still.

The smell of blood finally brought me back.

I should have called the police, but raw survival instinct took over.

I groped my way to the bathroom, trembling as I wiped the blood from the floor.

I tried to reconstruct the scene from memory, dragging the body and shoving it under the bed.

My mind was still a numb void when the police called back for a follow-up of the serial murder.

While I nervously answered, I hadnt noticed the front door, which Id locked, silently swing open.

The killer had arrived.

What did he want? To silence me?

Pretending to be Sean, the killer embraced me. He seemingly wanted to crush me into his body. Every kiss made breathing agonizing.

Blood rushed from my feet to my brain. Every pore stood on end.

Stay calm, I reminded myself.

If he was truly in that alley and didnt kill me then, why would he need to now?

My priority was to find a way out.

Suddenly, a sharp sting cut through my thoughts. Id stepped on something barefoot. Blood pooled around my foot. I cried out.

The killer crouched down, scolding gently,

Careful! Its glass shards. Why are you barefoot?

I held my breath, blinking my sightless eyes,

The call came so suddenly, I didnt have time to clean it.

I was certain Id cleaned up all the debris.

So, the killer was testing me for how blind I really was.

You need to be more careful next time. If its truly an important call, theyll call back, he said.

I replied meekly, I was afraid it was you. If I answered too slow youd get mad again.

He was roughly Seans height but more powerfully built. Effortlessly, he lifted me onto the sofa.

After examining the cut, he said, Its deep. Needs bandaging. Wheres the first aid kit?

Cold sweat drenched me.

The first aid kit was beside the bed. If he fetched it, hed definitely find Seans still-warm body under the bed!

No!

Gritting my teeth, I threw my arms around the killers neck. The overly intimate gesture made him stiffen slightly.

Dont make me leave, Sean. I promise I wont be a burden anymore.

I was gambling.

The police said this serial killer targeted scum whod escaped justice. The two men killed in the alley that night were convicted rapists.

I gambled that such a man, overflowing with twisted righteousness, would disdain harming the weak.

I promise I wont mention the accident again. Ill try harder to adapt, not embarrass you.

Ive memorized the apartment layout. I know the kitchens position, where the salt is, how to light the stove.

Ive figured out how to hang laundry. Just toss your clothes in the basket, Ill wash them. Ill pull my weight.

I sounded like a desperate child, frantically proving my usefulness.

Tears streamed unchecked down my face. I pleaded with the softest, most fragile tremor in my voice,

Dont abandon me. Dont leave me alone here. Okay?

I reached up, touching his face, tracing his features in my mind.

A long, tense silence stretched out. Just as despair threatened to swallow me

His rough thumb brushed away my tears.

Okay.

His kiss landed softly through my tears.

The killers kisses rained down incessantly on my forehead, cheeks, eyelids, lips

His kisses werent forceful. They were almost careful, like he was afraid to scare me gentle yet insistent touches across my skin.

The police profile suggested the killer worked alone, possibly suffered childhood trauma and craved affection.

Love. That was his weakness.

It might also be my lifeline.

Focus. Sensing my distraction, the killer pinched my chin, Still distracted? Am I not trying hard enough?

He kissed me until my whole body trembled with sweat beading on my forehead.

Just as I was nearing suffocation, he mercifully released me,

Have you forgotten how to kiss already, silly girl? Do you need me to teach you again?

Heat flooded me. My fists clenched, slick with sweat.

Can can we take the lesson somewhere else? My hand rested weakly on his shoulder, ... Professor Sean.

Somewhere farther from the body.

Here, I felt like Sean was watching.

Sean used to be that gentle like the killer.

Before I went blind, I was an up-and-coming artist.

I excelled with color. My imaginative paintings sold for impressive sums the moment they hit the gallery. Thats why Seans family tolerated me, an orphan.

Sean was endlessly attentive to me. Hed often say,

Youll be one of the greatest artists of our time.

Then Ill quit to be your agent. Ive already found the perfect villa for us...

All those hopes disintegrated when my sight vanished, lashing back with hurricane force.

The killer murmured,

Serena, my familys been pressuring me, telling me to break up. They say youd drag me down.

Honestly? Of course I thought about it. But after that night you went out and was almost killed I realized I cant live without you.

Another slip-up.

The killer had observed our lives but hadnt known Sean had already moved on.

Hed even brought his new fling here to spend the night. I was next door when they did it.

At first, the girl tried to be quiet, stifling her moans. Then Sean got rough,

Shes blind! Whats there to be afraid of?

Later, their sounds of pleasure echoed through the night.

The painful memory was interrupted by the killers kiss on my neck,

By the way, you told the police it was raining heavily that night, and you were listening to music on a CD player? Thats why you couldnt hear anything?

My nerves snapped taut again. I moaned softly,

Yeah why?

The passionate kisses stopped abruptly. He lifted his head,

But this CD player its broken. What could you possibly have been listening to?

My heart skipped a beat.

Click. Click. He pressed the play button. Silence filled the room.

The killer sighed, Serena you did hear the killer that night, didnt you?

Yes. Id heard him.

Id lied to the police all along.

The moment I stepped into that alley that night, I sensed something wrong.

Through the storm, I smelled blood. A primal fear prickled my skin.

I couldnt see, but an artists sensitivity told me my cane tip was sticky with blood, leaving faint traces with every tap.

I even heard the killer pull his knife from flesh, the wet scrape of steel.

I knew turning back meant instant death.

What could I do? Countless possibilities flashed through my mind in seconds.

Blindly, clumsily, I felt my way along the wall and slumped down.

H help

From maybe twenty feet away, one of the victims wasnt quite dead, gurgling a final plea.

A faint shift in the air told me the killer was crouching right in front of me.

He waved a hand before my unseeing eyes.

I kept humming like nothing was wrong. I was like walking a razors edge. One misstep meant oblivion.

Yes, Im despicable, Sean.

I knew he was there. But I pretended not discovering anything.

Long hair spilled over my bare shoulders. I trembled and hugged myself tightly,

What choice did I have? I had nothing left.

I was afraid telling the police would cause more trouble. Youd resent me for it Your mother would call me a jinx, blame me for dragging you down.

It took me over half an hour just to get downstairs. I kept hoping youd come after me but you didnt.

The killer walked towards me silently. I couldnt tell if he held a weapon.

Yes, Im afraid to die. Im selfish. To survive, Id do anything.

He watched me, just like he had in the alley.

Sweat poured down my back. Would he believe me this time?

He reached out to embrace me. I pushed him away. My voice rose sharply,

I dont care if the police catch him!

There are so many able-bodied people in the world, why should I, a failure, have to sacrifice myself for justice?!

Besides those two got what they deserved, didnt they?

But they served their five-year sentences. the killer said gently, Theyve paid for their crimes.

So what? I let out a bitter, cynical laugh, Does five years erase what they did to their victims? I almost want to thank the killer for cleaning up the trash!

I was subtly stating my position, proving I wasnt a threat.

I lifted my face, letting tears roll freely.

Disgusting, right? I know Im pathetic. Sean what now? Are you turning me over to the cops?

If you hate me lets just break up.

Suddenly, he slammed me against the door.

My back screamed in pain. The killer cupped my sweaty face,

Silly, Im just mad you kept something so important from me.

What did he mean? Not killing me because he thought a blind person couldnt testify? Or was this a ploy to make me drop my guard?

A frantic knock shattered the tension,

Sean! The ceremony starts soon! You here? Are you still asleep?

It was Grace. Our college classmate.

The woman Sean had brought home that night.

The killer pulled me up and buttoned my robe collar,

Honey, get the door.

I trembled as I opened it a crack.

Seeing me, Graces voice instantly dripped with disdain,

Serena? Why are you still here? Wheres Sean? Honestly, clinging onto someone elses man is pathetic.

Id never forget her voice her moans of pleasure, her mocking laughter through the wall, and her calls using a voice changer,

B**ch, how long are you going to cling to Sean? Useless cripple, just die!

But now, she was my only hope of escape.

I wanted to scream and warned her a killer was inside.

But that would doom us both.

I mouthed silently: Call the cops! Call the cops!

Grace mistook my resistance for possessiveness. She shoved the door violently,

The press, the critics everyones waiting! Where is he? I need to see him now!

She said Seans painting, Fallen Venus, had won a major international prize. Today was the award ceremony. But he was missing it.

I gritted my teeth,

Sean said hes done with you! Get lost, stop bothering him!

Grace burst out laughing,

Ooh, Im so scared, Serena. Newsflash? Sean and I hooked up in college. His chasing you was my idea.

Youre the one who needs to leave. So, where is he?

Open this door, or Im calling the cops.