Inked in Red

Prologue

The wind blew leaves around. The grey clouds covered the sky like paint on a wall.

Little Asher Clay was at the park with his friend and his mother on a chilly autumn day.

They went through swingsets and slides, monkey bars and jungle gyms.

Asher noticed his friend looking over at a small sandbox a bit into the woods.

His friend grinned and pointed. "Do you wanna play in the sandbox?"

Asher turned his head to look at his mother. She gave him a nod.

"Okay."

The two boys squatted in the sandbox and while Asher's friend sculpted sandcastles, Asher dragged a stick along the sand.

"Hey, Ash," the friend called, "what are you drawing?"

While his friend bent over to see what Asher was scratching into the sand, Asher looked up in horror to witness something he expected already.

"Huh-?"

Crunch.

Asher's mother grew into a hideous demon, wrapped his poor friend in inky black tentacles, and ate him whole.

She looked at Asher and smiled unapologetically.

"Sorry, sweetie. You know I have to eat when I get hungry."

Asher looked at the remains of what was his friend, his face emotionless.

"...it's okay, Mother. I can make more friends anyway."

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As his mother held his hand while they walked back home, Asher looked at the ground.

"Ash, honey, what's wrong?"

Asher's head snapped up at the sound of his mother's voice, looking nervous.

He sighed and relaxed. "Nothing is wrong."

She smiled. "Good."

"That's how it should be. Show no one your weaknesses and everyone will think of you as strong."

But I only wish it was that way.