Sweet Serial Killer [ Riren ]

ONE HUNDRED FORTY TWO

ONE HUNDRED FORTY TWO
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Levi's family was never really around.

Levi's aunt and uncle were, but he only saw them occasionally, once a year on Christmas, maybe even Thanksgiving. It wasn't like they knew him well, and he didn't want them to. And it wasn't like they even liked Levi's mother. They hated her.

He knew they did.

The only person who didn't was Levi's uncle Kenny. He stopped by a few times, maybe once a week if he was in a good mood. Levi's mother, renown Kuchel Ackerman, was often out working her ass off to supply for them. Levi didn't like her job. Even as a young child, at the ripe age of six, he understood what she was. A prostitute . . .

She told him it wasn't the life she wanted, but the life she had to have. She said she had no degree, no evidence of an education. She wasn't qualified for any high level job. Not like anyone would take her, anyway. Living in the slums where they were, most women were forced to resort to selling their bodies to survive. It was sad.

But it was life for them.

When Levi was eight, his mother grew frail. She began to eat less, sleep more, and she lost a lot of weight; not like she had much to begin with. She would assure him that she was fine. Levi knew she wasn't. He would have to help her sit down, sometimes he'd even stand outside the bathroom while she showered in case he heard her fall.

Kuchel hated being so helpless, but she was unable to stop herself from succumbing to the unknown illness that seized her. After feeding her and letting her fall asleep, Levi would go out into town and beg people for help. Plead for a doctor. Of course, people only turned their noses down at him. He searched and searched, but help wasn't there.

Levi didn't want to lose his mother. She was the most important person to him. The person who brought him into this cruel world . . . But a world, nonetheless. One night, Kuchel caught him sneaking out, and she scolded him. She warned him to never go outside ever again without her, because it was dangerous outside for him all alone.

She made him promise, so he did.

Eventually, winter settled in. Around the middle of January, Kuchel's health had slipped away completely. One night, Levi had woken up abruptly. He'd gone towards his mother, about to wake her up with his usual kiss to the cheek, when he realized she was unusually cold. He'd panicked, shaking her and calling her name. She didn't answer.

He knew she was dead.

Days passed, and Levi kept silent vigil at his mother's bedside. Only eight, he had no idea of what to do — and he had promised his mother he wouldn't go out all alone. He wanted to respect her final last wish. If staying here meant starving to death, so be it. He didn't think there was much left living for, anyway. The world outside was bleak.

It was dark.

Without his mother with him, Levi felt like the light in his short life had been drained away. His father was never around; no one knew who he really was. Levi didn't want to know. As far as he cared, his father could stay away from him. If he showed his face, Levi would probably attack him. Attack him for leaving his mother all alone.

It was dark in this world for her, all alone.

Levi could feel a lump in his throat. No . . . No, that was all he could feel. Other than that, his whole body was enveloped with numbness. He was cold. He was alone. He was all alone in this dark world. He didn't know how much time had passed since his mother had died. She was starting to smell. He hated thinking it, but she was gross.