[ WP ] `` Stop freaking out , it was just an accident . ''

I tried to calm my breathing. My heart felt like a jackhammer. To my right, the carton lay smashed on the ground. 
 
 `` An accident?!'' I swung around and eyeballed the man who had just told me to stop freaking out. `` You call that an accident?! Someone pushed that carton out of a window! It was meant to crush me!'' 
 
 The rest of the street was quiet. I glanced up at the high rises around me. In the darkness, it was hard to make out much more than shadows and the occasional movement. With so many tall buildings around, it could have come from anywhere. 
 
 `` Yeah maybe it was n't just an accident, buddy.'' The man had n't left. In fact, he had drawn closer. In the dim light of the street lamp, I could make out his suit and tie outfit. His cigarette glowed gently as he puffed on it. `` Maybe it was n't an accident, and somebody wanted you to remember something.'' 
 
 I instantly knew what he was talking about. `` Is this about Tacoma?'' I asked quickly. `` Because I never ratted anyone out.'' 
 
 His face was hidden in the long shadows, but I could hear him smiling. `` Yeah, Tacoma, huh. It might be about Tacoma, it might not be. All I know is that cartons can fall on people any time... so you might wan na watch out.'' 
 
 With that, he turned and walked away. I knew I could n't chase after him, and I was starting to shake now from the shock. 
 
 Tacoma. I knew it would come back to haunt me. 
 
 I walked away as quickly as I could, glancing up at the buildings as I moved in the shadows. 
 
 The past. Why could I never shake the past? 
 
 But the past was the least of my worries. It was the events of the next morning that were going to turn my world on its head again.
