Ace, My Mystery Monster

Part 4,

Richard continued cautiously, "My dear Lillica, Jennifer's mother, is from a family that has a 'special gene'," he pauses as if contemplating how to explain it further, after a few seconds he continued, "the women of the family have all killed their mothers on their 16th birthday, the gene I was referring to activates at the age of 16. The men of the family also have the gene but it is only active in the women." I noticed that Jennifer had gotten up and moved away from her father's desk. I also notice something shiny and silver in her hand. Richard had obviously noticed it as well because he looked even more nervous about saying any more. He choked out a weary breath, and pulled at his collar as if trying to relieve himself from heat.

I understood already, what she was planning. You could see it in her dull sapphire eyes. I stood up and made my way to her, her father looked at me with worry. I knew why. He wasn't sure I should get close to someone as dangerous as his daughter. I thought back to the cemetery. That night when he was holding her back and calling me a monster, it was to protect me. He wasn't looking at me with fear of hurting her. It was with fear of me getting hurt by Jennifer. She looked at me questioningly. I just smiled at her. "Jennifer, calm down. I understand. I know what you did. You don't have to worry. I am not afraid of you." After I said that she looked down at her sharp knife and held the pointed edge out towards me threateningly. I understood. She didn't want me coming any closer. I stood my ground and looked at her to tell her to put it down. "Why..? Why do you not fear me, Ace?" I could only laugh. They both looked at me questioningly. The room was tense. You could almost taste it in the air. It made the room silent, my laughter the only thing heard in the room.

I soon stopped laughing and took the blade in my hand, she tensed, I let the blade cut my hand as I tightened my grip. Blood dripped on the ground, running through my fingers, it felt warm, it felt familiar. Her eyes widened to see the blood, she let go of the handle and I let go of the blade. I didn't feel the pain coursing through my right hand. The knife fell to the ground with a clatter. "Ace, I'm so sorry. Is your hand alright?! Does it hurt?" She took my hand in her own and examined the cut, it wasn't deep but it bled a lot. The smell of blood filled the room and Richard left. I looked at my bleeding hand. "Jennifer, why is blood warm?" She looked at me with a confused look, as if that was the last thing I should be thinking about. I was injured. How was I not screaming in pain? I wondered myself, why don't I feel pain right now? "Are you insane?! Its warm because you are alive!"

I looked at her with confusion. Alive? What did that word even mean? What was the difference between being alive and being dead? Was being alive, something important or special? Was there a reason I was alive? Was I supposed to live? All these questions went through my head in those few seconds of staring at her. She stared at me as if expecting me to say something. What did she want me to say? Did she want me to deny being insane? Was I insane? I grabbed a knife. Was that an insane thing to do? Wasn't it, wasn't it normal? We stared at each other for a few minutes until she finally broke the silence. "Let's go bandage your hand. I don't want you to pass out from blood loss." I went with her and we fixed up my injury. Now I had a wrapped hand. But, something felt familiar. Like something like this had happened before, with me grabbing a blade. But I don't remember doing anything like that. Had I been in this situation before?

TO BE CONTINUED...