Page 28 of Pure Silence

“You need to call the police,” Goldie was saying firmly. “You just killed someone. You understand that, right? That it’s wrong?”

“Dear God,” Day said, “please let my angel know that yes, I do know it’s wrong, but my Father was charged by You to carry out Your wrath against those who would harm others, and that mission was passed to me when You took him to Your kingdom.”

“What?” Goldie spat in disbelief.

Day sighed heavily. He wanted to put his headphones on so he wouldn’t have to hear how upset Goldie was, but he decided not to. He had to fix this so Goldie would understand. “Oh, and God. Please let him know this man was going to kill his neighbor and her kids, so it was very good that I killed him first. Thank you. Amen.”

“Come on. You knew that because you heard us talking,” Goldie accused, but he paused. “He didn’t say anything about hurting the kids.”

Day nodded and pointed at his ear.

Just because Goldie hadn’t heard it didn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Day knew that because Father explained that the gift couldn’t be shared. Only one person could have it at a time which is why Day didn’t get it until after Father died.

A gift and a curse, my boy.

Now, get rid of the body.

“Are you saying that God told you?” Goldie asked with obvious doubt. “Does He… talk to you?”

Day held up a hand to Goldie to tell him to wait.

He had to clean up his mess first.

Having looked around the apartment earlier while Goldie was still sleeping, Day knew what he was going to do already. He saw these things in his mind like a picture sometimes, and this was crystal clear. He opened the door to the balcony and then stepped outside.

It was freezing cold, and there was a light dusting of snow clinging to the screen. There was a big lawn chair, a table, and an elaborate cat-sized maze of platforms and ramps carpeted in fake grass and burlap. Day moved the chair and table to get to the screen in the corner.

Down below was the alley between this building and the next.

And an open dumpster.

Day smiled.

Go on, son. Take this as a blessing.

Day moved quickly. He carefully peeled the mesh back from one section of the screen, pulling it out from the staples piece by piece. He kept going until enough of the screen had been opened up to accommodate his needs.

The need, specifically, to shove a body out onto the street below.

Day returned to the bedroom, sparing a quick glance at Goldie.

Goldie appeared concerned.

Day grabbed the man’s feet and dragged him through the apartment, being mindful of Purrcy approaching the open screen door. He didn’t want her to accidentally slip by him and discover the hole in the screen.

Purrcy meowed loudly and darted out of the way, but her eyes remained fixed on the doorway.

Once Day had the man all the way outside, he shut the door behind him.

Careful now. Lift with your legs.

Day resisted the urge to roll his eyes, hauling the man up until he could get the upper half of his body onto the railing. That was arguably where most of the weight was, there at his torso, and then all Day had to do was wait for the right moment, let go, and allow gravity to do the rest.

He watched the man’s body fall.

Thwump!