Soulless

Seven | A Soulless Killer

Lunden Evergreen

He sat across the table from me with such an intense expression. I couldn't read what was going through his mind, but today it was weirder. It was like he was studying me.

He wasn't my friend, though I was to him. He had millions of them. I was one of the many. But yet, in this dining hall, he chose to sit with me.

"Why aren't you talking about your birthday?" Zack finally speaks. That's what this bull shit staring contest was about.

"It passed and happened a week ago? It's now October 9th, and I'm still twenty-one." Then his expression changed, and he seemed more concerned than before.

"Is this because I didn't say anything? I swear I didn't know until Eleanor... Who happens to be your real friend?" He mumbled, annoyed, "Told me it had passed, and I didn't say a word."

"I liked it that way. You would've wanted to do something, and I would've declined. Yes, I have one friend, and it's Eleanor because she got me through a painfully awkward first year. She forced her way in, and I didn't let her in." I stab my fork into my strawberry, frustrated. I shouldn't be taking this out on the fruit; they never deserved that.

"How about tonight?" he suggests.

"I have plans tonight, Zack. I am way too busy, and with midterms in two weeks? Are you crazy? I don't have the time." I take a bite of the berry, and he nods in understanding. He wouldn't be winning this fight if he didn't.

"If it helps, I went out by myself and got hammered. Celebrated in real twenty-first style just how I liked it, it was a perfect birthday."

"A perfect birthday, huh?" I looked up to see one of Zack's soccer buddies joining in on our conversation. He was waiting for Zack to follow, but of course, being stubborn, he remained seated with me.

"Sorry, you can come back to collect your son in just a few minutes. I just need to convince him to go back to his parents." The guy looked at me, confused, and I tilted my head at Zack. It was my signal for him to return to his friends.

Zack was an interesting guy. He was friends with anyone and everyone you could think of, but he never had a close cluster of friendships. He was just a nice guy who everyone knew. But I felt like I was his challenge, with the goal of us becoming friends.

But I was too reserved. My one friendship with Eleanor already broke my rules. But she was an exception; she was a real friend. They were hard to come by, especially in a seriously lonely world.

"You should go," I whisper, not so quietly.

"We never finished breakfast?" he argues. I point to his finished plate in disagreement and nod.

"Get to practice, I'll be fine. I have some reading to do." Annoyed, he stood and followed his soccer buddies out of a dining hall.

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I traced the heart on her forehead as the blood pooled by my shoes. A woman, a child abuser, sat at my feet. Her despicable acts were overlooked by each call-in and home check. She was in the care of many foster children, her partner lacking awareness.

But I watched this home, this 'family' for months. When she almost killed her son tonight, a distraction was made by me. She'd been reported several times, but due to no criminal charges, she swept away clean.