Graves for Young Men

Chapter One: Leo

"It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people can't be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it."

― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

Ricky Diaz was thrashing wildly on the café floor. Even though he was only drinking an expresso, the man's face was turning blue from the lack of oxygen. Making the off-the-clock nurse efforts futile as she tried the Heimlich maneuver on the suffocating man.

As Ricky Diaz's face turned dark blue, I could not help but be shocked by what I did. Yes, I sacrificed a Rooster to the Black Gods. But I did not think the spell would work.

At last no so obvious.

As the life slowly drained from Ricky's eyes, I felt shocked taking control of me. I mean... I killed a man who would've done the worse to his ex-girlfriend. Despite having an expired restraining order against him, the Black Gods warned me that my friend would go gun-oh on this bastard without hesitation.

After all, Ricky Diaz did rape the poor girl many times before.

As piss stained the dead man's jeans, everyone was either shell-shocked by what happened or throwing up their overpriced coffee. Either way, the café was dead silent.

Thus foreshadowing the path that I so willingly took.

***

I made my way to my car as calmly as I could. Trying to hide the adrenaline rush that was pumping through my veins like gasoline in a race car. Yet seeing the Black Gods magick was too much for me to comprehend. That despite the man being an oversize piece of shit....it was too brutal to be put into words.

Thus I started to laugh the moment I realized I killed Ricky Diaz.

***

A few hours ago, I bought a Rooster from some farmers. It was lame and dying. Thus I got a good price of $10 for the bird.

When I got to an abounded gas station 20 miles west of town, I quickly set up an altar to the Black Gods. Like a professional, I wore a disposable raincoat, brought a small satchel filled with holy items, a zip tie, and hand sanitizer.

But most of all the Bowie Knife.

Putting the picture of Ricky on the altar, I took the Rooster and gently put it before the Black Gods. Careful to point its anus away knowing it will void its bowels.

When I got everything ready, I hesitated to know what I was about to do was wrong. This was an innocent animal. It did no wrong of any kind. Where it's only sin was being a lame Rooster.

Yet the moment the Black Gods showed the carnage at the café shop, I tighten the zip tie without hesitation.

Like a geyser, the Rooster shitted all over the dirty floor as it struggled for life. That despite being sick, the creature wanted to live more than anything. Thus I took the Bowie knife and started to stab the foul with everything I had.

I don't know how many times I stab the Rooster. But I remembered myself screaming "why won't you die". Like some black humor internet cartoon. Thus the moment the Rooster stopped I was grateful.

***

Seeing Ricky Diaz being strangled was horrific. But knowing that I was solely responsible made me feel...alone.

Like a star in a vast and abysmal universe, the dark knowledge in my head was too much for me to bear. That despite doing my civic duty, the fact that no one would believe me was too painful to be put into words. While the idea of people knowing was nothing less than suicide.

Thus I could not help but laugh at the cluster fuck I put myself in.

"What is so funny?" The nurse screamed as she marched towards me.

"Nothing." I said as I tried to regain my sanity.

"There is a dead man back there! Show some respect."

"Ah fuck the spic."

The woman face turned red with rage. While her eyes became feral like a hungry Grizzly bear.

"You are an evil son of a bitch." The nurse growled.

"And you're a dried up cooze who nobody will love." I countered.

I must've struck a nerve. For the nurse charged at me with the force of a bull.

Looking back at the moment I guess I could not blame her. After all, she was a fat 30-year-old woman. Who only had a chance of getting married or having kids was to a black gangster. Even then, the chances of pregnancy were not in her favor. Add the fact she failed to save a rapist's life and I would lose my cool too.

But that did not stop me from kneeing the stupid bitch right in the stomach.

The nurse went face first into the asphalt. Cutting up her up to the point where she needed stitches. As she gasped for air, she ended up coughing blood up. Telling me she was suffering from internal bleeding.

Thus it was pointless for me to continue.

I should leave. After all, I did assault a nurse and in front of many potential witnesses. And since I lived in the Red side of Florida, the sentencing would be harsh.

However, there was something I hated about this woman. Every time I saw her at the café, she was so cold. As if the world owed her more than it could give and everyone was a thieving bastard. She was the type who loves bossing everyone around. As if to hide the triple chin that stood out like a bleeding wound.

But most of all, the pride that needed to be torn down.

"Now listen up, you fat toad." I said as I pulled the nurse by the hair. "That dead man back there was a convicted rapist. He was stalking a girl who worked there for some sick reason. And since her boyfriend is ever so loving, you could expect him protecting his girl in a ...unprofessional manner."

The nurse coughed up more blood. But the look of defeat in her eyes told me she knew I was not lying. Hence she listened without any sense of doubt.

"You need monsters like me." I said as I dropped the nurse's head on the ground. "Because it's monsters like me that keep the other monsters at bay. Understood?"

The nurse nodded her head knowing what I was talking about. Giving me the peace of mind to get into my car and drive.

Knowing full well I had nothing to fear from the law.