The Criminal Innocent

Chapter 1

"Erin... Are you going to celebrate your birthday?" Jessica asked. I was stunned because instead of congratulating me, that was his question

"Y-yeah..." They looked at each other before laughing as if what I said was funny.

"Oh really? Are your parents there?" I smiled sparingly.

"Yeah, they will go to celebrate my birthday" I insisted.

"Okay, you said it. But if your parents aren't there, don't hesitate to call us huh so we can celebrate your birthday instead" I just smiled at her.

I was stunned when they suddenly left me. I took a deep breath and shrugged. I don't know if they're really friends of mine

I know and I can feel that I don't belong in their circle. I'm just hanging around because I don't have friends aside from them.

When I got home, I immediately entered the van owned by our family. I smiled at Manong June, our driver.

"Ma'am, happy birthday! Your parents are at home. They are preparing for your birthday" He smiled at the news which made me happy. Oh God! And lastly they also thought of celebrating my birthday

"Is that so? We should hurry" He just laughed at what I said and continued driving All our housemates are aware of my parents' bad treatment of me. I'm close to all of them so sometimes I will vent my anger on them.

Today is my birthday. Of course, I'm very happy because mom and dad are here together with me to celebrate my birthday. They're always busy with work and don't have time for me, so I'm so happy to know that they're here.

I went down the stairs smiling while wearing my beautiful dress. It's my boyfriend's gift to me last week and Oh! He's also here to celebrate my birthday with me.

I saw them in the dining area and stopped when I saw them start eating. I took a deep breath. Are you not used to it Erin? As always. They won't really wait for you because they don't care about you.

I continued walking and kissed mommy and daddy on the cheek. They were quiet and didn't even pay attention to me. I looked at my sister but she just raised an eyebrow at me

"You're going to kiss my cheeks too? Nah, stop it. I don't want your saliva to stain my cheeks" He cursed. I just smiled and sat in the seat next to him.

I looked at my boyfriend Shawn who's busy eating and didn't bother to look at me. I was a little hurt. Is there even no one to congratulate me today? It's my birthday...

I ate quietly and immediately smiled when I thought of something

"Mommy, daddy, thank you for celebrating my birthday" I promised with a smile. Daddy looked at me seriously while mommy raised her eyebrows

"What are you talking about? We're celebrating and talking about the engagement of Shawn and your sister" Because of what daddy said, I immediately stood up. That caused noise throughout the dining area

"pardon? Did I hear it right? Is Shawn? You're going to marry my sister?" I asked tremblingly. Shawn looked at me seriously

"It's for business matters Erin. Stop complaining" I faced him in disbelief while in tears

"And you agreed?! Why would you marry him? Why not me?!" I screamed. Daddy stood up

"Stop making a scene Erin and continue eating" I shook my head and started crying as I looked at all of them even mommy who was irritated and sister who was just quiet on the side

"Making a scene? Wow! I'm really the one making trouble?! Dad! Shawn is my boyfriend but he's marrying my sister? What's the meaning of this?!" I screamed at him

"Your sister and I are getting married for the merge of our companies. Your sister is the heiress and the successor of your clan. Our companies will get benefits and merge into one if we marry your sister" Shawn explained that the world was in ruins I. What he said froze me I could not speak and remained dumbfounded as tears continued to flow from my eyes.

"W-can you agree? W-what the h*ck Shawn... How about us?" I'm a weak question. He kept staring at me

"Stop being dramatic Erin. Erina will soon inherit your father's company and she just needs to find a husband--

"And it's really still my boyfriend? Why mommy? Isn't there another man out there and even my boyfriend will be taken away by my sister?" He looked at me badly and immediately approached me.

My head tilted because of his strong slap "How dare you to talk to me like that?! You are not in the place to answer me!" I tearfully looked at him

"W-what did I do wrong for you to treat me like this mommy? I-I'm the one at a disadvantage here

"I don't care! All I care is Erina and not you!" I smiled bitterly and nodded then bowed

"Why mommy? Is your sister the only child?" He was surprised and stunned while looking at me. Later I looked at him without emotion

"Can you Erin... Don't dramatize me like that. It's boring to hear!" He said irritated. Sister stood up and held mommy's arm

"Mommy, calm down" He made mommy sit on the chair and looked at me

"Stop shouting at mom Erin. She's still our mom--

"Wow! Our mom? Maybe just yours!" Shawn intervened and looked at me without emotion

"Stop arguing with your sister Erin. Whether you like it or not, I will marry your sister. And you'll be the maid of honor--

I didn't let him finish and immediately slapped him with great force

"The thickness of your faces... Don't you think about how I will feel? It's my d*mn birthday but what?! This is your gift to me? Wow! What a beautiful gift!" I applauded with a bitter smile and teary eyes

"What a great gift! Your gift is so funny! I will never forget it!" I ran and immediately left the house.

I just walked until I got out of the subdivision. I stopped and smiled bitterly when I felt that they didn't even follow me. They didn't even call me to send me back

"What are you doing Erin! Why are you asking?! You really have no use for them!" I cried sermon to myself.

"I f*cking hate this life! I hate you sister!" I smiled and sat down. I was stunned for a moment. I don't want to go home. My chest is too painful and heavy now.

Suddenly my cell phone vibrated so I immediately looked at it. It's my friends. They have a chat in our GC but it seems like I'm not involved in it. Yes, they're my friends but they're treating me like I don't belong in that circle. It's like I just squeezed myself into her.

"Oh my God Erin! Is it true? Your boyfriend will soon get married? To your sister?" It's my friend Martha

"My God! It's good, isn't it? So that Erin won't get hurt anymore. We know her boyfriend is a woman and besides, they're good for Erina" Jessica's reply brought tears to my eyes.

"Just find someone else, Erin. If someone is going to cut you" It seems like a joke but not for me. I know that Arianna really hit me

My fist clenched. I don't know if I can still call them friends. They have tripped me several times. I've been treated as trash a few times, left in the air a few times and when there are night outs I'm not even included.

They come strongly when someone is in need but when I am in need, they are not there. I didn't even remember them congratulating me on my birthday.

I took a deep breath and immediately fell asleep. I should stay away from toxic people from now on. It hurts too much and I don't want it anymore.

"Oh my God Lord... Is this your present for my birthday? It hurts" I couldn't help but cry.

I heard a moan that seemed to be hurt somewhere. I frowned and would have ignored hearing his hurt voice. Man I don't know but I was nervous and immediately slowly followed where that moan came from.

I slowly peered into the dark alley. I was stunned and terrified to see a man being tortured. One was carrying a knife and had his back turned as he slowly beheaded the man who was moaning earlier. I covered my mouth so as not to make any noise. I should leave now but my legs feel stuck and I can't even move them.

I'm an idiot and I can see with my eyes how to killed the man. I can see how it loses its head and how killed.

I can't speak or move where I'm standing. I kept staring at the man with his back turned and was surprised when he turned his gaze to me. My eyes widened when he grinned. He was wearing a mask but I could see his scary grin

"Happy birthday..." My hair rose on my body when I heard his baritone voice

"Oh God..." I weakly promised and immediately backed away. The man grinned even more and immediately let go of his died man's body while holding his head.

I froze when he threw it at me which made me back away even more

It slowly approached me and when it turned to the light, I smelled its pungent smell. smell blood...

My eyes widened when I finally saw him. His whole clothes were stained with blood. I looked at his face but he was wearing a mask.

"Happy birthday Erin..." He sang coldly. I stood up and backed away. H-how did he know my name?

"Happy birthday happy birthday... Happy birthday to you" He took out a sharp knife and played with it in his hands with a smirk on his lips. I feel scared

"Come here love... Let's celebrate your birthday" I shook my head and immediately ran away from him. I'm nervous.

I froze for a moment when I remembered the man's appearance. Is he the famous k*ller? Oh my God!

I shivered and hid in the dark garage. I don't know where I am. I was about to grab my cellphone when I couldn't get it out of my pocket. Gosh I left it!

I heard someone's footsteps so I was quiet. I'm nervous about what might happen to me.

"Where are you?" I held my mouth while crying in fear. Oh my God! Someone help me!

"Stop hiding... I know where you are" He said coldly. I was surprised when he let out a horrible laugh

Suddenly the surroundings became quiet and I heard his footsteps leaving. I breathed a sigh of relief because of that and immediately left my hiding place slowly.

I slowly got out but stopped when I felt a cold thing on my neck. I feel a mixture of fear and apprehension at this time.

I felt the man's gentle grip on my waist and his warm breath close to my neck

"Try to shout. I won't hesitate to wreck this beautiful neck of yours" He coldly promised. I was afraid to follow and closed my eyes when I felt the point of the knife on my neck.

I was shaking as I was standing in a statue

"Hmm. Your neck is beautiful. Can I l*ck it love?" I couldn't speak and closed my eyes when I felt his hot tongue licking my neck.

Oh God! Help me... I'm scared. I cried while unable to move.

"You taste sweet" I heard the sound of a smile on his lips. I was surprised when he kissed my head and lowered the knife he was carrying then whispered to me that sent a shiver through my entire system

"From now on... You're mine"

I opened my eyes. The dark ceiling and the pungent smell from somewhere dawned on me. I slowly looked around and saw the man in front sitting like a king on a beautiful chair

He turned his gaze to me and immediately grinned horrifyingly. I was scared to get up from the bed and immediately looked away.

"W-where am I?" I was afraid to ask him. He laughed and didn't answer and kept staring at me.

I looked around again and saw the appearance of the entire room. It's big. Dark and like a torture room. I saw a few blood stains everywhere. The tools inside are so sharp that when you get hit you know it hurts and n*k*k*m*t*y.

I looked at something in the corner, with legs. I was scared and hugged myself to the side and silently started crying.

"You're here in my kingdom love. Are you not happy? Why are you crying? Are you afraid?" I looked at him angrily. Is he crazy?

"Give it back to us..." I weakly promised and turned my gaze to the other corner. I was scared and cried especially when I saw a man's head hanging there. His eyes were wide open and he looked directly in my direction. I looked away when I saw the disgusting blood that dripped from there

"You're so funny. You can't go back to yours... See that?" He pointed to the man with the chainsaw buried in the back, it had already been cut. I cried even more that he laughed

"That chainsaw will cut your d*mn head" I was even more scared and shaking on the side. I couldn't breathe properly because of the pungent smell.

"P-please let me go... I promise I won't report what you did to the police... Please..." I cried promising that he smirked

"Oh... Really? You're not going to report me to the stupid cops?" I nodded slowly. I can't say that after this I will report.

He just grinned and threw the human skull he was holding onto the floor, then he came closer to me so I pushed him to the side.

"You can't fool me Erin" He seriously promised and slowly approached a cabinet.

I was stunned and surprised to see its contents that were completely used for torture. Different types of sharp knives. Some have fresh blood stains while others have dried blood

He shopped for a while and then looked at me

"Let's see what kind of knife will suit you" I was afraid and would cry loudly so he grinned and seemed to be happy. He laughed and took a sharp knife and came to me

"Oh... Love don't be scared, come here... It's my birthday gift for you" He said softly and approached me slowly.

"N-no no no please... don't have mercy!" He just laughed as he approached me.

"Don't test my patience love. Come here... Come closer" He said coldly and when I didn't follow, he deliberately pulled my legs and forcibly pulled me closer to him.

"When I say come closer! Come closer... I hate stubborn people" He said coldly and grabbed my head then pulled me

To Be Continued...