Beautiful Pain

12

*Two Years Later*

"Please, don't hurt me," the old man begs as the younger raises his gun, "I have a family..."

"As do I."

Those are the last words the man hears before his blood splatters across the younger's face and jacket.

When he had first killed, he had vomited and cried. But now, all Leo felt was a burning desire for revenge. He reaches up and, with the already stained jacket, wipes the blood away.

"Good boy," someone says behind him, he doesn't have to turn to know it's his uncle. A hand is placed on Leo's shoulder, he doesn't move.

"When can I see her?" Leo asks quietly.

The other laughs, then stops. His uncle whirls him around.

"You're seriously still only doing this to protect her?"

"It's only ever been about protecting her."

That earns Leo a harsh cuff. His uncle drags the boy back to the car and throws him in.

"I had been considering giving you both a day out, while being monitored of course. But now, all I'm going to give you is a front row seat to her misery."

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*Three months later*

Leo is alone in his room, staring at the ground. He felt empty inside, his hands wanted to take the gun on the side table, push it onto the roof of his mouth, and pull the trigger. But he knew he couldn't. Not unless he wanted her to die too.

'Death would be better than the hell she's living now' A small voice whispers.

'I wouldn't see her. She's an angel, I'm a demon. She'd go to Heaven, I'd burn in Hell.'

'You'd be able to see her happy' the voice persists

'I don't want to just watch her, I want to be with her. To be the source of her happiness.'

His thoughts are interrupted when his uncle bursts in.

"Leo," he booms.

His voice is slightly slurred and he is having trouble walking straight. He is either drunk or high. Leo didn't care which.

"Yes uncle?"

"I've decided, you've made minimal mistakes for the past two years, with the exception of a few months ago, you deserve a reward," his uncle slurs, "Get dressed, Anna is already waiting in the car."

Leo's eyes widen, he was getting time with her? He had only seen her twice, both times to watch her be abused. If his uncle was this generous when he was drunk or high, Leo wanted him like this more often.

He quickly throws on a pair of well fitting ripped jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black sweater. Without a second glance at his uncle, he runs outside where a black car is waiting. He slows down as he approaches. Could this really be happening? Is she really in the car. He opens the door and the scent of Japanese Cherry Blossoms hits him. Inside, there was a small figure with long hair.

"Anna?"

The figure looks up, the light shimmers off her green eyes.

"Leo."

Her voice is trembling and soft. She was afraid of him. He didn't blame her. He climbs in next to her.

"Where to?"

"A coffee shop."