Chapter 2: A bone - her barest self

Son's POV:
    "For now, we'll play some music to make you relaxed. In dancing that's important since you don't want to look stiff. By the way, I'm Katarina, but everyone calls me Kaća! Nice to meet you, Nikola!"

She turned on player on another song. As the first notes of the music gently floated through the air, Katarina smiled warmly with her eyes glittering with excitement. She is a real artist! I hesitated, but feeling the weight of the mission pressing on my back made me give it serious try. My arms felt akward, but I had to do it. Everyone started doing their planned choreography. I lost the track of time. My hesitant movements became less noticeable. I got hang of it.   

   "Okay, now 15 minutes break!"

Katarina stepped out of the dance room. My curiosity kicked in. I don't have much time. I looked where she was headed. She turned around the corner as I followed her, my footsteps' sound neutralized by Renai Circulation that started playing. She entered one room. It seems like it's her office. It had old-fashioned wooden door. It's rare seeing those these days. As I stood behind those doors to hear something useful, I realized there was no point in playing spy game. There are cameras everywhere. As I didn't want to look suspicious, I decided to knock instantly.        "It's free," she said.I entered her office, knowing I have to make something up in about five seconds.

Five.

I saw desk in front of the same blue glass. With computer and bottle of juice on it.

 Four.

On my left a big shelf.

Three.

Katarina.

 Two.

No cameras in the corners.

One.

Blue rays upon my face.    

      "What is the matter?" 

       "I just needed to go to the toilet, but I don't know where it is."  

        "Ohhh, I forgot to tell you. My bad. It's actually on the opposite side of this direction. Hurry up, don't make a mess here!" she laughed. I turned around closing the door, started running as if I'm in actual hurry.   

     "Also, it's against rules going in this office without my presence and permission!" she shouted. After I finished standing in the toilet for no particular reason, I came back to dance room. The remaining half hour went really fast.    

    "My legs are completely numb! I can't do this anymore!" I cried, throwing tantrum like a spoiled brat. "But, I can't wait for the next lesson! I'll keep coming here to become the best dancer!"  Her eyes locked onto mine, happiness sparkling in them.  

     "I'm really happy to hear that! By the way, I have a question!"

  I nodded as a confirmation.  

  "How old is your dad?"   

 "Twenty-eight," I shot back, with confusion creeping in. "Why?"

    "Did he perhaps study medicine in the University in Belgrade?" 

    "Yeah, you know him?" 

    "Oh, yeah. Just by the sight. He totally disappeared in his second year, so I wondered what happened. He probably got married or something. He left a strong impression on me when I first time saw him."  

  "Do you like my dad?" I asked in the most monotone voice.  

   "Oh, no, no! No! Not like that," she hurried to clarify. "He still has amazing hairstyle, but you need to see his old photos! He had a long black hair and feminine features. He was so gracious!"   

  "He was not!"  

   "Eh?" she was pushed back."Anyways.. since you wanted to go now, shall I walk you to the exit?"  

   "No, thank you. I'll manage on my own. Cya later!"     

"Bye, bye!" As I was exiting the dance room, I glanced back at the kids and Katarina. They were waving. Except one kid who watched me with malicious scowl. I came out of the blue building, chills flowing through my body. There is something strange with that girl and that kid. 

Three weeks have passed. I continued coming to the lessons. Three times per week all by myself. It was relaxing. Those lessons were always lifting my spirit. I really love it here. I even learned all the names of the kids. The one I was getting along the best was Marko, the one with malicious grin. Probably didn't even know what kind of face he was making, poor thing. He was very mature for his age. Sometimes he even sound like a 30 years old man. Really serious boy. Again, first hour went by, so I decided to go to her office with something in mind. Of course, I'm just coming to sniff around but I'll tell her that I'm interested in dancing competition. As I stepped closer to the office, I noticed something. Today is my lucky day. The doors are half open. I heard Katarina talking. It was probably on the phone since I didn't hear another person talking in that conversation.
 

   "Yes, my job is doing unexpectedly good. I have a lot of kids so I had to separate them in two groups. One for older and the other one for younger."

 ... 

... 

There is older group?? I should've been there not with these brats. I leaned closer to hear them better. 

...    

 " Yeah." 

...

 ... 

    " There is competition soon, yeah. They better get me some gold, haha. It's really hard acting all nice whole day." 

.....

 ....    

 "Oh, by the way!" 

...  

   "You remember that hot guy from university with long black hair and weird bangs?"

 ....  

   "Yeah, Niksha! His son is attending my classes. Can you believe it?"

...    

"Aleksandra?" 

When I heard that name, my whole body shocked and started trembling. My heart started pounding like crazy. Aleksandra was the only person connected to present time after university. 

    "What do you mean by that?" 

I entered the office followed by the sound of doors cracking. Mousou express started playing. It could be heard from the dance room. Katarina turned around shocked as I am. She was sweaty and nervous, she started shacking. 

In second, she snapped, "Who the hell are you?" Her hand started shacking uncontrollably, fast as a machine, but still looking natural. Finally the moment of truth. Huge bones popped out of her hand. I realised what that meant.      

         "Nikola, be calm," she smiled wickedly. I turned instantly to ran out of the office to avoid her coming attack, but in an instant she pierced me four times. 

One.

Right shoulder. 

Two. 

The middle of my back. 

Three. 

My left kidney. 

Four. 

My left arm. 

Blood came out of my mouth like from a waterfall. I slowly started loosing consciousness, but I could hear the voice.    

 "I didn't want to do this. I had no choice. What's going to happen now? I'll get rid of the camera footage and the evidence after today's lessons. I'll out him behind the desk for now." 

I was being dragged under a fucking table. 

    Dead can't be narrators. 
Katarina's POV:
    "Hello kids! Are you ready for the dancing?"   

 "Where is Nikola?" kids asked.     

"He went home. His tummy hurts really bad!" They all forgot about it in 5 minutes and continued with their choreography. Everyone except this one kid. Marko. He was watching me with some evil grin as if he knew what I've done. How can a child even make such face? With time, he continued dancing, too. I actually wanted to tell them to go home, so I can hide the body but that would be suspicious. It's almost like the time was taking slow on purpose. I have to remain calm. It's not like it's my first time doing such thing. I have to keep it calm, otherwise my body will go out of control again. It's hard being driven by emotions like that. I just want to live a normal life. Finally, it was time to go home. My paranoia made my mind busy so I lose a track of time. I only waved to these children from the door of the dance room. I wanted to make sure no one gets to the office before I do. They all left, Marko was the last one. He was still grinning. I'm going insane. I rushed to the office and locked it immediately. I started looking for big bag on my shelf. My back facing the desk. Maybe some  kind of fabric to put his body into. 

Out of nowhere.. 

A shadow rises. 

My heart started itching.

 Pain in my chest. 

My pupils dilated as I turn only to realise that Niksha's son never existed.