It was a regular day within the outskirts of the eleventh district. There a young Simon was walking back from his local school. The education here was subpar, however it was considerably cheap and if nothing else, at least it was not absent entirely. To the young Simon though, the quality of his education meant nothing to him.
Simon only ever had a single concern on his mind, that being of his mother. Life was rough for him, he lived in a cramped apartment which possessed little of the life necessities expected of homes to have. Beyond that their home was infested with rodents that came to life upon nightfall.
Simon had already become accustomed to their noises whilst he slept. Beyond that he lacked much clothing and never had a full belly. To his luck at least, almost all within his rundown school were in no better shape than he was so it brought little ridicule from his peers.
This was a harsh life to have most certainly, and yet Simon rarely found himself worried over it. Instead he cared more over the deteriorating health of his mother. She was a frail woman who worked herself to the bone for the sake of the two of them. Simon could tell that despite her bravado, she was barely holding on.
She worked all day and throughout most of the night, only returning to gain a few hours of sleep before repeating the grueling process once more. It was only then that the two could spend some time together, perhaps an hour's worth or even less.
Simon loved his mother to no end, she was simply far too caring for him. Oftentimes she even neglected her own self for the sake of him. Food was expensive, and his mother often got the cheap veggie based products from third rate stores for them to enjoy. When she failed to afford it she would buy just enough for Simon then claim to have already eaten.
Such a lie worked on him once, however Simon was getting older and far less gullible. He was already twelve this year and was beginning to slowly understand just how much harder she has had it.
This sparked a deep desire to help her in any way he could. For that reason he never complained, did the house chores without fail, and pretended like the same stale veggies were the most delicious thing in the world.
When he did, his mother would always give him a tired smile. That smile brought warmth to Simon's heart, but also heavy sorrow.
Despite his efforts however, he was still young and immature. Sometimes he would catch himself staring upon the display pictures within meat shops, ones which promised them the quality which their mimicking machines could produce.
Simon had never had meat before, those products were simply far more expensive than the veggie ones, even when done by lesser grade food mimicking machines.
Grumble…
Feeling the plea of his stomach, Simon frowned then continued on his way. That night when he ate, he pretended that the green lettuce was the same piece of grilled steak which the display had shown. Somehow, that helped him keep up his facade for a day longer…
And so it was, this was their life. Until the time came where it all crumbled to ruin.
The change happened quickly and without warning. His mother, after many years of hardship, finally collapsed. She became deathly ill and soon lost her many jobs as a result. Simon was fourteen years old when she informed him that they had been kicked out of the apartment and would be going to live inside the slums.
She had told him through tearful eyes, with a voice drenched in sorrow.
Simon saw the regret she carried, he realized the pain it caused her, and still he could not stop his own selfish heart from finding a million reasons to explain why it was all his fault.
He hated himself for being nothing but a burden, however he hated himself for being grateful at having been born as her burden. He simply could not imagine having a different mother, nor did he ever wish to, even if him being born was the very reason for her current suffering and soon, the reason for her death.
Simon wished to deny it at first, his mother also tried to pretend it was not happening, but both knew that no doctor would come to help them for free. Her illness was going to be the end of her.
All Simon could do was go out to beg and see what he could find for them to eat. Meanwhile his mother grew weaker with each passing day. Her skin became even paler, her eyes barely opened, and her battered body could no longer muster the strength to move.
She remained talkative at first, then slowly began speaking less and less. Soon she was no different than a mute. Simon could do nothing but sit beside her, legs wrapped by his arms as he watched with empty eyes unto the scenery beyond the small hole they carved for themselves within the slums.
He knew she would die soon, perhaps today, or maybe on the next. Regardless of when, he knew it would be no more than three days.
He felt dread overcome him, fear, and sorrow. He also felt hope. Hope that the God Luminous would answer his prayer and save his mother.
He just needed her to survive a little longer. He was already fifteen, he had already given up on so many things, he had already begun trying to contact The Red Tiger Gang. If he was accepted by them then maybe, just maybe their lives could return to what it was before, however this time she could stay home and rest whilst he provided for them.
That was all he wanted. Just a little more time.
Tears soon surfaced within his eyes as his heart cried out its desperate plea without rest. Accompanying his growing anguish was his growing hunger. It had been three days since he had eaten last, however he had not gone out to beg since.
His mother would leave this world soon and he refused to not be by her side when she did.
A day passed, then another, until finally the destined moment arrived. Before all life seeped from her dark eyes, Simon was gifted with the sight of her warm, caring smile once more. It gave him an indescribable stir, one a complicated mix of joy and anguish.
He did not let his suffering show however, instead returning a warm smile of his own, along with his earnest gratitude.
"Thank you… For everything. Thank you so much. I love you with all my heart ma!"
His mother's smile seemed to deepen as he spoke those words, then her eyes closed, never again opening.
Simon entered a deep depression following her passing. So much so that he did not move for a long, long time. He did not wish to do anything anymore, however his body demanded that he obtain some food and water.
He had ignored its demands for a long time, until it became so unbearable that he had no choice but to submit. It was as he was standing with empty eyes that he felt his sudden movement stir his mother's corpse slightly.
His eyes fell upon it, hanging there for a moment before he did something without much thought. He raised a piece of her arm then sunk his teeth into it. He did not know why he was doing it, however he simply wished for her to stay with him.
Beyond that twisted wish, was the simple primal hunger which had been assaulting him for many days now.
Simon's first taste of meat was that of his mother's flesh.
Worst yet, he found it the most delicious thing in the world…
*****
Simon ate his mother. Then life continued as it had been before, indifferent to his grief. However, Simon experienced a change. He spent many years within the slums, only entering the outskirts to beg for what little change people were willing to spare.
He however, no longer used that money to eat but rather to gamble. He was unlucky most times, with only a few significant wins. When he did win he would hide the money within the small hole he had been calling home for years now.
It did not take much effort to hide because no one expected a slum rat to have any money. That rang true for both his fellow slum rats and the outskirt folks. This was all part of his eventual plan of starting his own business in a place he could fully claim as his.
With enough patience then he knew it would bring him a better life in the future. In the present there was also another change which occurred. That was his diet. Simon no longer bought food, instead he had begun eating the freshly found human corpses within the slums.
Of that there were no shortages.
However, Simon had yet to find a delicious meal like that of his mother. He did not know why that was either, only suspecting that his love for her had somehow allowed him to enjoy the taste of her flesh far better than of these sickly nobodies.
Regardless of the reason, he continued to eat human corpses, discovering many ways in which to prepare his meals. It was only after many years of this that one day he had a strange encounter. A corpse that had been carved open laid before him, with a distant symbol of a spiraling incomplete eye painted upon the stone wall.
Staring upon it brought voices into his head, ones that spoke of a great existence. These voices worshiped this existence and encouraged him to do the same. Simon was skeptical at first, unwilling to believe in the false promises of another god ever again.
However the voices never left, soon becoming far too unbearable to ignore. As a test he prayed to this being and requested for something outrageous and impossible, hoping to mock the whispers for claiming its supposed greatness.
He wished for his mother to return.
To Simon's utter shock, his prayer was answered. His mother did return to him, however she did not do so in flesh but rather as a silent phantom. This phantom donned that familiar warm smile which he loved. She also never left his side, silently following him wherever he went.
Simon had no reason to doubt after this, just like so he became a loyal worshiper of this hidden existence, to The God of Death.
He learned to make an altar and received more guidance. He had a role in spreading this god's grace, and by doing so he received its favor.
Before long Simon could see another layer of the world, this one of phantoms. He also finally saw through with his long time plan, successfully opening his own meat shop within the outskirts. It was there that he would not only continue to follow the will of his lord, but also indulge himself.
He would select women which had resemblance to his mother, then corrupt and devour them. Simon at last was able to taste something truly delectable, proving that it was love which had made his first taste of flesh so unforgettable all those years ago. When he ate those women, memories of his time with his mother would stir, along with his deep love for her. Those emotions were the greatest seasonings.
And so he continued to indulge himself, with each meal tasting better than the last.
To his side, the phantom of his mother would always watch intently as he ate, her constant smile transforming even more radiant each time.
His mother also seemed loyal to the god which reunited them, always becoming elated whenever he completed its will, whenever he spread its corruption, and especially so when he completed the massive symbol of the spiraling incomplete eye with the blood of his victims.
His lord too, only continued to bless him, granting him the ability to feast on those he wished without fear of being caught, and also the ability to spread the lord's glory.
Yes, everything was great now.
Simon was happy now, so, so happy.
And all of it was thanks to 'HIM'.
Within his heart zealous grew, and his soul had but a single phrase etched into it:
"Praise you!"
"Praise you!"
"Praise you!"