Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

43 ⚕︎Contrite ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 43
⚕︎Contrite ✍︎
Levi

con·trite

/kənˈtrīt,ˈkäntrīt/

adjective

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt

I walk around my old house, but everything feels... different. It's like this is a mirror world, as everything is flipped. The doorknob is on the right rather than the left, but I also feel weird, like my center of gravity is all jumbled up too, as if I am actually upside down.

Rounding the corner, I feel out of place due to the weird set up, but continue when I see a younger me of about thirteen watching someone or something through the crack in the door to the bedroom of Uncle Kenny.

My younger self doesn't seem to notice me as I walk beside him and stand in place, copying his movements to try and eavesdrop as well.

Suddenly, I'm thrust into my younger body, the fear and curiosity the same as that day.

"Boss, what should we do with the body?" a man that Kenny has us call 'Thomas' asks, adjusting his eyepatch so it sits more comfortably.

"Dispose of it," Kenny replies, taking a drag out of a cigar before blowing the smoke disinterestedly.

Thomas nods. "Should I get the boys to help?"

Kenny thinks for a moment. "Just Farlan. Levi seems... unequipped for this type of scenario. He's a bright boy and seems to want to be some sort of doctor as I remember. He'll probably turn us down. Farlan, on the other hand, he is kind of unambitious. He'll probably jump at the chance to join."

"Isn't he kind of young?"

"Do you want your other eye removed, boy?"

Thomas stiffens and runs out the door as I hide in the closet, watching.

"Uncle?" Farlan asks, looking at a sack laying on the man's desk. "You said you needed me for something?"

Our uncle unzips the bag and then another one. "Dispose of this body with Thomas. He'll teach you. Don't start yet. We need to lay out trash bags."

I watch and listen as my little brother cuts this man into little pieces the size of McDonald's chicken nuggets, separating pieces before doing so. The heart is stored in the cooler along with certain other body parts and organs, possibly for cannibals to buy.

Farlan, all bathed in blood looks up and asks, "What do I do now?"

"Throw it down the disposal."

Farlan nods robotically and leaves with the remains, the meat pieces flying around as the water rinses the broken body down the disposal. A piece of flesh sticks to Farlan's cheek.

The worst part is...

He doesn't cry.

-

I'm suddenly transported into Isabel's room, her voice calling out for me, but I can't seem to find her.

"Izzy? Isabel? Please come out!" I call, looking under the bed.

"I'm right here, Big Bro."

I stand up, glad that she isn't gone. Turning around, I say with a smirk. "I thought you were done calling me Big B-"