A boy could be seen walking along the road, his pace slow and steady, as though the world around him didn't matter at all. The wind howled through the empty space, tugging at his shabby clothes and tousling his hair, revealing unsightly scars along the right side of his face. The boy's mask, hastily pulled over his features, did little to conceal the burns creeping through its fabric. His fingers, pale and trembling slightly, gripped the worn material of his shirt, blood spattering faintly across the fabric, though it wasn't clear whether it was old or new.
The dissonance between his soft, melodic humming and his grim appearance was unsettling. He moved through the crowd, oblivious to the gazes and whispers of passersby, as if the world itself were indifferent to him. Yet, the faint, blood-spattered traces on his clothing did not go unnoticed by the people around him.
"That isn't blood, right?" a woman murmured to her boyfriend, her voice barely audible amidst the bustling noise.
"Probably not," he replied with a dismissive shrug. "You know how weird some people are. Just look at him."
They continued walking, but their glances followed the boy for a moment longer, curiosity mingling with unease. The boy didn't notice. His focus was elsewhere, his eyes set forward as he walked with a determined calm. He made his way toward a slow bridge, passing unnoticed by most but never truly blending in.
Reaching the bridge's railing, he leaned against it, watching the slow flow of traffic and the bustle of life around him. For a moment, he let the world drift by, the sound of rushing cars filling the air. Then, leaning further over the railing, he listened to the water beneath, the rhythmic rush of the river soothing his nerves. He took out his phone, fingers trembling—not from fear, but from the thrill of what he was about to do.
Opening the most recent video on his phone, his breath quickened as he pressed play.
The screen flickered to life, showing a dimly lit room. A man, bound to a chair, glared up at the boy. "You better untie me, you little shit," he spat, his voice thick with venom. "You don't really think you'll get away with this, do you?"
The boy's lips curled into a cold smile. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment," he muttered, his voice almost giddy with anticipation.
"You've tormented me for so long," the man groaned, his face contorting with fear. "You can't really be doing this…"
The boy's smile faded into something darker. "What, this? It's just some light beating compared to the hell you put e through."
The man was about to speak again when his words were cut off by the sharp sound of a knife plunging into his stomach. The boy's eyes flickered with a twisted satisfaction as he listened to the sickening squelch of the blade sinking deeper. The man screamed in agony, begging for mercy.
"Su..Susan will be heartbroken if you do this," the man stammered, his voice cracking with desperation. "Please, just let me go. I'll do anything. You don't have to do this!"
The boy's expression soured. "I don't give a shit what Aunt Susan thinks anymore," he hissed.
The knife continued its brutal dance, each strike to the man's body sending a rush of sickening pleasure through the boy. The man gasped, his voice weakening as blood pooled beneath him. "Please... Please don't..."
The boy's eyes glinted with a twisted, cruel amusement. He placed the knife at the man's throat. "Any last words?" he asked coldly.
"Please... please don't do this," the man croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The boy tilted his head, considering for a moment. "No last words I guess…. What a pity."
With a swift motion, the boy slashed the man's throat, watching the life drain from him, the final breath wheezing out. He stood still for a moment, staring into the vacant eyes of the corpse before finally looking away.
The video ended, and the boy removed his headphones, a wild, manic laugh bursting from his chest. He laughed for a full five minutes, a sharp, unhinged sound that echoed across the bridge before it finally trailed off into silence.
"Damn it… I should've tortured him for longer," he muttered under his breath, wiping tears from his eyes, though they were not from sorrow. His expression softened, and for a brief moment, a melancholy shadow passed over him. "Mom... Dad... I miss you so much."
As he stood there, gazing down at the traffic, a bystander approached, noticing the boy's quiet sobs. The man hesitated, then spoke, trying to offer some kindness. "It's pretty dangerous to lean on the railing like that, kid," he said, his voice filled with concern. "You shouldn't be doing that."
The boy didn't respond right away. Instead, he stared blankly at the traffic.
The older man sighed, trying to offer some comfort. "It's not the end of the world just because you're hurting. Wanna talk about it?"
Without warning, the boy turned to face him, fury flashing in his eyes. "FUCK YOU, OLD MAN!" he screamed, flipping the man the bird before storming off.
The old man stood frozen for a moment, taken aback by the boy's sudden outburst. He shook his head in disbelief, muttering under his breath as he walked away. "Hmph... this younger generation, I swear."
The boy exhaled deeply, watching the old man retreat, and his expression softened, almost wistful. He climbed over the railing, his heart heavy with the weight of memories long buried.
"I'll see you soon," he whispered, a bitter resolve in his voice.
He jumped.
The wind whipped past him as he plummeted into the cold, dark river below. As he sank deeper, the icy water rushing past him, his body grew numb. His thoughts grew hazy, and he felt himself slipping, his mind slipping into the blackness.
"Why did I have to pick winter to do this…" he thought bitterly, his consciousness fading as the water filled his lungs.
The darkness surrounded him, and as his final breath left him, his thoughts lingered on the life he had wasted. Sixteen years… I don't even know how I managed to survive this long.
And then... everything went silent.
Suddenly, a light surrounded him, and his body vanished.
"Huh!? What the hell is going on?" he gasped, his eyes snapping open. He was no longer sinking into the cold depths of the river. Instead, he found himself in an endless expanse of space.
As he spun around in confusion, a vague figure appeared before him, its form shimmering with an otherworldly glow.