Demented

You may continue

   [Michigan : Present Day]

He waited for the storm of his breath to calm down. It did, leaving behind the thrilling sensation and a smile upon Adler's face. There was no sound from the other end. The unknown person was waiting for Adler to speak. Adler too, kept to silence, knowing that the voice would reply if he kept quiet for long enough. He hoped for compliments but somewhere in his mind, he knew he wouldn't get any. He had recognized it long ago that he was different. That people were too narrow to devise pleasure from blood the way he did. During one childhood midsummer when Adler had cracked open the tortoise shell of Rune's pet tortoise with the wrench, Rune had started crying and Adler had gotten a scolding. The angels had hoped his parents would notice that something inside of Adler back then but they hadn't. The only discovery made that day was the acknowledgement of Adler that like many other things people do in private, his fun was also something he'll have to keep quiet about.

There was a sigh made on the other end that brought back Adler's train of thoughts to a halt. Adler waited intently for the man to speak.

"So, you think that was funny? Killing a cougar and the cubs just because of that lame story?"

"That was in no way funny. He wounded me. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to hide that from my family?" His breathing was reaching heights again so he took a second to calm himself. Then he continued, "No way was that funny. That was thrilling, like my first achievement. Their death, the first trophy on my shelf."

"That's what you see others' life as? An achievement to snatch? Do you have no respect for others' life?"

"Oh c'mon, don't give me that. No one gives a shit about others' life. Really, you don't give a fuck about who died in the blast in Afghanistan or some carnivore was killed by a cannibal so many years ago, do you?" Adler enjoyed himself.

"You're a cannibal?" The voice asked with no ambiguous attempt to hide his feelings like he had done previously. Adler was glad over his achievement to have made the stranger feel comfortable. It was decided from the beginning that this stranger's death was going to be another trophy on his shelf sooner or later.

"We'll get to that later, hold your horses," Adler laughed, "My point is, you don't give a shit about other people's life, don't pretend like you do. It's survival of the fittest. Strength is prerequisite for living."

"So, your weak son's life holds no meaning because he doesn't satisfy the condition," the voice teased.

The ghostly shadows watched as Adler's smile faded and his face drew into exasperation.

"Don't you dare touch my boy or I'll cook you in a furnace," Adler's voice was silent and clear.

"Just a side note, have you done that before? Cooked someone in a furnace?" the voice joked.

Adler had no words. He just realized that while he celebrated the triumph of making the stranger put down his guards, he too had unconsciously made the same mistake.

"Let me remind you Adler, you're in no condition to bargain. You may continue."