The Curse - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 25: The Cold-Blooded Murderer

Heavy snowfall marks the penultimate day of December.

As Leeroy walks the white streets of Salem, he sees ornaments at every house, wreaths on every door, and Christmas trees through every window.
It doesn't bother him. It doesn't.

So why does he feel like this? What is this wrath building inside of him? Where is it coming from?

Maybe it's not the holiday that irritates him. Maybe it's the laughter he hears when he passes by every house. That has to be it.

He hasn't celebrated Christmas in a long time. He was never a religious person, but that is not the real reason. He likes customs. He would be glad to celebrate it if he had a family. He hasn't celebrated New Year's in forever either. He doesn't see a point in it. Every new year is another year that he failed. Failed in finding her. And every year he loses one silk strand more in the veil of hope he weaved in finding her one day.

But he will not quit. He will never give in. Because he cannot make peace with the thought of living without her. Because in his case, it would indeed be an eternity of pain.

"Your turn!" a curly-haired child screams as he catches up with his brother and pats him on the shoulder. They're playing hide and seek. The other one giggles and takes a turn to the right, entering the wooden fence surrounding their one story house.

Leeroy looks at their home. So petite. Yet, these children's parents look a lot richer than he is as they beam opening their house door to let the kids come in.

"You little devils, always making trouble. Look at how wet you are..." The father shakes his head, while the mother has already left somewhere in the house.

Before he starts guessing to where she had gone, she is approaching with a big white towel in her hands. "Relax, honey. It's only snow," she says as she kneels in front of the shorter child. "Let me dry your hair, little angel."

He bends his head instantly, and as he does, the woman catches Leeroy's gaze.

It takes a few seconds, as if she is having an inner struggle, but she then raises a hand and waves at him.

He doesn't know what he expected. A scream, maybe. Or her husband sheltering the children, rushing them inside, and her closing the door quickly. Maybe. Anything, really, but not this courtesy.

His rage suddenly deepens. He knows why. His dark mind is not a secret to himself. The lady's gesture was not out of generosity. It was pity. And if there was one thing he hated...

"Hello, neighbors!" Leeroy yells and puts a smile on his lips, the most genuine one he can pull off. "You have a beautiful family," he states, walking slowly but determinedly towards them.

"Neighbors?" The lady straightens up, and presses a curl of auburn hair behind her ear. "Are you new in town?"

"New in the neighborhood, really. I moved here yesterday. It's a really nice place to live in. Well...if you want to raise a family, that is," he nods and stares sideways, trying to look nostalgic.

The husband puts a hand over his son's back. It's a sign to go inside and leave the adults to do whatever there is to come. Smart move. A man always senses physical danger.

"You do not have a family?" The lady asks kindly. Too kindly.

Leeroy slowly shakes his head, and putting his hands in his pockets, he modestly shrugs. "Not anymore."

There is that spark of pity in the woman's eyes again. God, how he hates it.

"I lost them in a car accident three years ago," Leeroy continues. "Life hasn't fed me candies..."