aLTerEd (In Progress)

Chapter One: The butcher

Authors note: I doubt anyone will bother reading my story, but it's nice to put my work out there. For anyone that is reading, thank you, and I hope you enjoy the first chapter of my story (constructive criticism is always welcome)

I woke up in my cozy, bed, with only one thin blanket and rubbed my eyes with my small 5-year-old fists. I hear shuffling noises in the kitchen/den. I walk over into the room and smell the scent of cooking meat.

"Mornin'. You burnin' the meat again?" I rocked on the balls of my feet, eager to get out of the musty old house and play in the field.

The butcher chuckled, and gestured me to sit down. As I took a seat, he sat a plate of meat and a glass of water in front of me, before sitting down himself.

We started out like we would most mornings, eating in silence. Then, the Butcher, would go off to his work, and I would explore around the house. He always put me on a rope around my waist before leaving so I wouldn't wander off, which never bothered me as I could still go plenty of places.

This morning, however, is different. I had a question to ask. I looked up at the Butcher in front of me.

"Ummm..." I started. The Butcher looked up, not used to me talking at the table.

"Wamenber when you wead me dat boo... Book... Wit da pic... Pictuwes..."

I hesitated.

"Go on"

"Well, da boy in da book had a ma and a da. Wewe is my ma?"

The butcher grimaced, as if he knew the question was coming.

"Welp," He grunted. "Might as well tell ya' now."

I watched the big burly man take a long drink of water, before slamming the cup down, with a little too much force.

"It's simple, really. I ain't your dad. The job that I have, butchering people and animals, It ain't exactly something Id want to do with a partner. But I was always so exhausted, gettin' back from work. And I was good awful lonely! When you came into my life, it was too good a chance to pass up. Free labor and a partner... How could I pass that up?"

He said it so casually, I didn't think it a big deal that I used to have different gardians, so I didn't ask how I came to be in the butchers custody. The day simply went on as usual.

****

It didn't bother me that the butcher killed and sold people just as often as he did animals- he was good to me. He helped me learn to read with old picture books, and taught me how to cook different kinds of meat. I wasn't however allowed to play with knives, However, until I was ten, the Butcher told me.

Not until I was ten.

I didn't really want that day to come..

I wouldn't admit it though...