Thought You Knew (based on A Gorey Demise)

"L is for Larry who bled and bled..."

        I had a feeling the Misfits weren't satisfied with just that one sacrifice. As soon as I returned home I thought "I should have taken the risk and shot them all," as foolish as that might have seemed. I was afraid. I didn't want Twenty Four to hurt me anymore, so I had to hurt others. I spent the next day flinching at the slightest movement, starting at every sound, and reading into everything everyone said. I had to make sure that no one was spying on me, or planning to harm me. For all I knew they could be working for the Misfits and were sent to watch me, or maybe the Misfits were actually completely fed up with me and wanted to terminate me. I no longer trusted the familiar faces of my classmates. It was as if I had gained a sixth sense, the ability to see right through everyone's façade. I finally understood how to discover the true meaning behind every single word that was said. Compliments, friendships- everything!- was a lie. I examined the world around me through a new view, a clearer view. But I learned soon that it wasn't a good thing. No, the truth is a dark, horrible shadow that lingers just behind a brick wall of fibs. Humanity isn't what it seems, and I came to realize that. I had awoken, and the voices helped me explore the truth in even further detail.

        I came to the conclusion that Twenty Four was right- it WAS fun to kill, I just had to get more used to it. Some people need to kill to survive. Weak people don't win. Strong people always reign victorious. That's how it's always been. That's how it will always be. I didn't care if people thought I was psychotic, I was going to do what I could to cling onto life. Who cares if my philosophy was questionable? It made sense in my mind, and to me that's all that mattered. When you're stuck in my world, surrounded by lies, threats and entities that watched and judged your every movement, the only option you have is to follow your boss' orders. It's all I've ever known. But who could I kill? When could I kill them? How could I kill them without getting caught? Why had I grown so flustered, so foolish, so cowardly? Why did every idea I thought of seem insufficient? Was I starting to feel guilty? Was I finally feeling remorse for my wrongdoings? Certainly not, Twenty Four chose me and he doesn't seem like the man to misjudge his clients. Nothing seemed clever or cunning enough anymore, no matter what dastardly plan my brain thought of. I grew more and more frustrated as I scribbled down the garbage I came up with. I stared blankly at the barely legible chicken scratches that I had written in the notebook before me. None of it would suffice. Oh god, why couldn't I think of anything? Fed up, I let out a brief growl of vexation and slammed my pencil down onto the desk. I violently snatched my notebook and frantically flipped through the previous pages containing countless devious ideas.

        "No, no, no, no, NO, NO, NOOO!" One by one I ripped out the pages, tearing each of them to shreds, scattering gray-and-white confetti all over my bedroom floor. I noticed with a touch of terror that it was almost midnight and my parents thought I was asleep. They would have heard me. They would punish me for thy sins committed. They would discover all of my past and future plans. It was over. I rushed over to my window and heaved it open, panicking as I picked up the sound of footsteps from down the hall. I started climbing out without hesitation.

        "Curtis? Are you okay- CURTIS!" I let myself drop down to the freshly cut lawn below me. It wasn't far from a rough landing with brief waves of pain scorching through my left arm and leg. Paying no mind to the small price given in exchange for escape, I scrambled to my feet and sprinted off into the night. I allowed myself one look over my shoulder at my mother who was hopelessly reaching out of the window, calling out my name. She was furious. I could tell. I was getting away from her and she wasn't happy about it. But then why was she crying? I faced forward again and vanished into the looming forest that was all too familiar to me.

        I recall telling you all how I adore travelling through forests at night. They're the only places where I feel safe. Protected by the welcoming shadows that swallowed me out of the sight of my enemies. Lulled by the soft breeze that rustled the leaves of the trees, soothed by the melodic songs played by the crickets, and calmed by the separation from the rest of the world, promising my security within the borders of nature. Never would I have thought of keeping my guard up in such a relaxing setting. That was a mistake that nearly cost me my life. I was startled out of a daze by the sharp crack of a twig nearby. The footsteps that momentarily followed it sounded too heavy to be a harmless woodland creature passing by. I reached into my pocket and drew a short knife that I recently decided to take with me everywhere I went, for safety measures, of course. Something got near me, dangerously near me, because I had let it. Oh how disgustingly mindless I was acting. It makes me want to strangle myself just thinking about it. In fact, maybe I will. Yeah, I will. I'll get back to this in a few minutes.