''Let go of me!!''
Screamed the shrill voice again.

''Stop fidgeting!!''
The angry male voices hissed back.

The girl?
The locked door?
Yesterday's men?
Joshua?

Everything suddenly came to me and I swallowed.
Joshua lay motionless next to me.

I got up very slowly and as quietly as I could.
After I got back on my feet, I crept to the door and looked out the keyhole into the waiting room.

A 6-7 year old girl was dragged by two men. The little girl's trembling and fear-filled voice made my body freeze.

She was so small and delicate, so powerless and innocent.
I continued to watch what was happening and saw that these men were dragging the girl into the room where the metal couch was.

With sobs and tears, the little child kept screaming for help, and spotted me while I cracked the door.

Her innocent gaze met mine, sending a chill down my spine.

''I didn't help her, it's all my fault, I could save her''
My thoughts would not leave me alone, and I felt guilty.

She probably thought I would save her. The girl did not tell these men that she had seen me.

They tightened their grip on the girl's delicate arms, and she was gone.
The door of the room was closed and the girl's screams became louder sobs.

''I..I don't want to die!! Put away the knife!!''
Screamed her trembling voice, and I put my hand to my mouth to keep from screaming.

Did these men want to kill the girl?

She cried out once more, very loudly, in pain, and continued to sob.
Over the next few minutes, her sobs got quieter and quieter, until they were really gone.

Cold and salty tears ran down my cheeks while I still covered my mouth. A little girl was killed two rooms down from me and I didn't even do anything about it.

My body started shaking uncomfortably, and I felt dirty and guilty.

I wiped away the tears when I heard footsteps behind me.
Joshua stood next to me and took my hand. He pulled us behind the door.

What's his problem?

I actually hated him after yesterday's action, but right now I needed someone to trust me.

It was too much for my psyche to take. I awkwardly hugged him tightly and wrapped my arms around his torso.

He stayed still and didn't move, which in itself confused me.
We heard footsteps and I froze again.

This time they seemed to be dragging something across the floor again.
My breath almost caught as I listened to the men's conversation.

???1:
''Unlock the door, I can't drag it with me any longer. It leaves marks on the floor and my fingers.''

???2:
''Do we have to clean again later? Do your job properly!''

???1:
''Why cleaning? Nobody comes here.''

???2:
''That's right, and we can't get rid of the marks from the last time anyway. It's dried.''

???1:
''Are the boxes outside? We don't do this shit for free."

???2:
''Yes, they are waiting for the trolley. He should come soon."

The voices stopped talking and all that could be heard was loud and exhausted breathing.

Thereupon the grinding on the floor became audible again, and the locked door was unlocked.

Then there was silence.
Joshua snuggled closer to me.

How could he stay so calm?

The men appeared to be exiting the building when the main front door was heard slamming shut.

After a few minutes, I broke away from Joshua and yelled at him.
''What do you think of? Everything is because of you!!''

With tears in my eyes, I clenched my fists and punched his chest.
He was standing still until he grabbed my arms and pushed me aside.

''Why do you think you can help everyone? You're just a little awkward and useless girl with panic attacks and anxiety disorders.''
He yelled at me.

I felt the anger inside me and said:
''Who saved you when you almost bled to death? Tell me who saved you?
At least I would have tried to save her, you son of a bitch! If you hadn't stopped me, the child might still be alive''

I stopped talking and looked into his blue eyes.

''Don't look at me like that! What about your promise? You wanted to protect me!''

''Tell me! Who will protect me from you? I want to trust you, to be able to rely on you, but you make it so difficult for me! I've got no one else by my side but you, and you're acting like a bastard. I hate you.''

I ran out of this room after those words, gasping for air.
Exhausted, I held my hands on my stomach and lowered my gaze to the floor.

My eyes widened as I recognized the mark on the ground.
They were the same as in the other rooms.

THE RED TRAIL

I take a few steps back and ran into Joshua's chest, who held me with his hands to keep me from falling.

I had trodden on it with my shoes, and now there were footprints on the floor mixed with the red liquid...

Blood