Chapter - 4 The End

Taki’s House – Night

The room is drowned in silence.

Only the television speaks.

Its low, mechanical voice fills the darkness.

Taki stands in the middle of the house.

Completely still.

Not even breathing properly.

His face has turned pale, almost lifeless.

His eyes are glued to the TV screen, unblinking.

Sakura stands in front of him, worry written all over her face.

“Taki…?”

She hesitates.

“Are you okay?”

“What happened to you all of a sudden?”

Taki does not respond.

Television News – Continuous

The news anchor’s voice cuts through the room like a blade.

“It is being reported that a gunshot was fired from the top of the cinema hall, which resulted in this murder.”

“The victim’s husband tried to save her…”

“But he failed.”

Taki’s breathing becomes sharp and uneven.

“The victim’s husband, Professor Lanki, has suffered severe psychological shock.”

“His condition is critical, and he has been immediately shifted to a nearby hospital.”

Taki’s entire body trembles.

Lanki…
His wife…
Is dead…?

Suddenly, Taki turns and rushes toward the stairs.

“Taki!”

Sakura panics.

“Where are you going?!”

“Why are you so scared?!”

Taki doesn’t even look back.

“Nothing…”

“Just… don’t step outside the house.”

“Please.”

And he is gone.

---

Street – Night

Taki runs blindly, dialing his phone with shaking hands.

“Hoto!”

“Where are you?!”

Phone Call – Intercut

“Brooo…”
Hoto’s voice is slurred.

“What happened?”

“You both are coming to the party, right?”

“Stop drinking.”
Taki snaps.

“Something really bad has happened.”

“Get to the station. Now.”

“What happened?”

“Professor Lanki’s wife has been murdered.”

Silence.

“…What?”

“How do you know?”

“It was just on the news.”

“Right in front of the cinema hall.”

“Lanki himself is in shock.”

“He’s been taken to the hospital.”

Taki swallows hard.

“We need to hurry.”

“I don’t think Lanki has much time left.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“He told me once…”

Taki’s voice drops.

‘Just like my wife will die… your wife will die too.’

Hoto’s drunkenness vanishes instantly.

“Why would anyone want to kill his wife?”

“We need the truth.”

“Come to the station. Right now.”

Cinema Hall – Night

Police barricades.

Flashing cameras.

A restless crowd.

Taki and Hoto arrive breathless.

Taki approaches a police officer.

“Which hospital was Professor Lanki taken to?”

“Who are you?”

The officer narrows his eyes.

“A murder just happened here.”

“Why are you asking about him?”

“I’m his student.”

“I need to meet him.”

A senior officer steps forward.

“Neko Hospital.”

“Go. Quickly.”

They leave.

Police – Side Conversation

“Sir, why did you tell them?”

“They could be suspects too.”

“There was fear on their faces.”

“They couldn’t even breathe properly.”

The officer pauses.

“If Officer Hook were here…”

“He would’ve done the same.”

“Hook retired two years ago, sir.”

“He was a great lead officer.”

“No one can match him.”

Neko Hospital – Night

Hoto is stopped at the entrance.

He reeks of alcohol.

Taki goes inside alone.

Hospital Room – Night

Professor Lanki lies on the bed.

Tubes.
Injections.
Monitors beeping weakly.

A man counting his final breaths.

Taki staggers toward him.

“Professor…”

His voice breaks.

“Please tell me…”

“How did your wife die?”

“I need to know…”

“Because I need to save my wife.”

Tears fill his eyes.

“Why are these incidents happening before time?”

“Where were you for two years?”

“What were you hiding from me?”

Lanki smiles faintly.

“I…”

“I don’t know…”

“Why time is breaking…”

He pauses.

“And about my wife…”

He closes his eyes.

“I killed her.”

The monitor flatlines.

Silence

Taki freezes.

He killed her…
Then Sakura…
Will die by my hands too…?

No…
This is a lie…

He stumbles out.

Hospital – Night

Hoto waits outside.

“What happened?”

“Did he say anything?”

“…No.”

Taki looks at his watch.

11:20 PM – Real Time
8:00 PM – His Watch

Why…
Is time wrong…?

Sakura’s call comes in.

“Taki, where are you?”

“I saw you on live news…”

“I’m here too.”

Taki’s heart sinks.

“You’re still in front of the cinema hall…?”

“Yes—”

The call cuts.

Realization

If my watch is right…
I only have twenty minutes.

Cinema Hall – Night (Again)

Watch Time: 8:10 PM

Police.
Reporters.

Sakura stands there.

Taki runs toward her.

“Stop!”

“You can’t come here!”

“My wife is there!”

“I need to save her!”

He breaks the rules.

8:20 PM

“Taki!”

“Where did you go?!”

A gunshot.

Taki grabs Sakura’s hand and pulls her aside.

I saved her…
I saved her…

A car crashes through.

Sakura is thrown onto the road.

The End

She is dead.

People gather.
Police shout.
Chaos erupts.

Taki stands frozen.

I…
I killed her…

He collapses.

“NO—”

“THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!”

He screams.

He cries.

Hoto cries beside him.

From somewhere far away, a calm voice speaks:

“Professor Lanki…”

“Have some tea.”

“How long will you keep writing Taki and Sakura’s story?”

Chapter 4 End

Written by — Minus