The Choice

Chapter Two

After having committed several more murders as the days went on, Ichimatsu lurked around in the shadows like a rat.

He continuously stole food when nobody was looking, then he would end up killing someone. It was almost like a daily routine.

Slumping down in the grass beside the river underneath the small stone bridge , Ichimatsu let out a contented sigh as he examined his blood stained knife.

"Have I been noticed yet?" Ichimatsu thought to himself, chuckling a little. "I will be noticed. I will no longer live in fear as I had done for ten long years. I will be the one who is feared. People will not run up to me to attack me. They will run from me."

Ichimatsu's stomach growled loudly, signaling that it was time to go into the village to steal something for breakfast.

Sighing contentedly, Ichimatsu stretched then crawled out from beneath the bridge.

Slipping his knife into his pocket, Ichimatsu began to walk down the cobblestone streets, slumped over so he would blend in with the other peasant-like people around him.

The sweet smell of baking bread overcame his nostrils as he passed the first bakery in the village.

"I can't believe I haven't gotten them yet..." Ichimatsu thought as he pushed through the crowds of people. "Why are they alive? To bake bread for a living? That's no purpose. Their existence is worthless."

Ichimatsu reached in between two young women and snatched a loaf of bread from one of the carts.

"He's stealing! He's stealing!" one of the women screeched in shock. "Thief!"

The baker looked up from the crowd of people surrounding him, as he saw Ichimatsu running down the street towards the marketplace.

"Stop him!" he yelled, running away from his shop after the boy.

"He think he can catch up with me," Ichimatsu thought, as he held onto the bread tightly. "But unlike him, I'm not obese."

And at that moment, Ichimatsu made the mistake of turning around, trying to see where the baker was. That was the moment he crashed into a tall, sturdy dark figure.

Stumbling to the ground, the bread flew out of Ichimatsu's arms.

Groaning in pain, Ichimatsu tried to scramble to his feet and keep on running, but the man he had run into grabbed him by his wrist, pulled him to his feet, and held tightly to him.

"Let me go!" Ichimatsu yelled, but the man refused, just solemnly shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, young man," the man said, his voice deep. "But I can't."

Ichimatsu tried to jerk away from the man, but he found that the man's grip on his frail wrists only tightened.

Only seconds later did the baker show up, gasping for breath.

"T-That boy!" the baker said pointing at Ichimatsu, still catching his breath. "That boy is a filthy thief!"

"My boy?" the man said, turning Ichimatsu around to face him. "Did you steal something from this kind man?"

Ichimatsu suddenly felt very small as the man continued to gaze at him with such kindness, yet also seriousness.

"I-I..." Ichimatsu muttered, growing limp.

"Yes!" the baker exclaimed angrily. "That boy stole an entire loaf of bread from me! Give him to me! I'm turning him in to the police!"

The baker reached forward and grabbed Ichimatsu's other hand with his sweaty hands, roughly tugging on the boy.

"Wait just a minute," the man said to the baker, pulling Ichimatsu towards him. "I'll pay you back for the bread. But do not harm this boy. I will bring him with me, so do not worry. The village is safe."

The baker snorted after the tall man had paid him back for the loaf of bread, turned around, and waddled back to his bakery.

"My boy," the man said, pulling Ichimatsu off to the side of the street. "you're the child who escaped from the orphanage, am I right? You're the child who has been going around, ruthlessly murdering innocent shopkeepers."

Ichimatsu didn't say a word, beginning to tremble.

"Don't you dare send me back to the orphanage..." Ichimatsu thought angrily, yet he refused to jerk away from the man.

"What is your name, young boy?" the man asked.

"I-Ichimatsu..." Ichimatsu replied quietly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my boy, Ichimatsu. I am Karamatsu, the clergyman of this village" the man said kindly, beginning to walk down the street with Ichimatsu, still holding tightly to his wrist.

"So what are you gonna do now?" Ichimatsu spat. "Take me to court?"

Karamatsu shook his head and replied, "My God is a very loving and forgiving God. He will forgive you of your sins. So please, if you will, allow me to take care of you for now."

"You're so dumb..." Ichimatsu hissed, but he continued to walk with the priest.

"I will take you to my church!" Karamatsu said brightly. "There, I will be able to provide your needs."