Because You Can
For the Epic Beginnings Challenge!
The person in front of Socco—no, the child—stared at him, eyes devoid of emotion. Blood soaked his green and blue cardigan, dripping off the tip of his knife onto the porcelain floor of Socco’s kitchen.
“Are you the last one left?” he asked, cocking his head.
Like he was asking about the weather.
“You?” Socco felt his arm go limp, the sword in his hand suddenly feeling every pound of its weight. “All this was… you?” The boy simply blinked back at him, uncomprehending. “A child… slaughtered the entire village?”
The boy’s lips twitched into a smile.
“You guys aren’t exactly fighters,” he said, almost kindly.
Socco blanched, his shoulders trembling. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
He’d been expecting someone else—anyone else. Could he really kill a child? This couldn’t possibly have been his plan.
Does it matter? a voice in his head whispered.
Socco didn’t know anymore.
“Why?” he asked, his voice shaking. “Who put you up to this?”
“Nobody,” the boy said.
“Nobody,” Socco repeated, his fists clenched. “So my brother was killed for nothing? My friends? My entire village?” The boy just observed him. “Tell me, or die. Why would you do this?”
The child’s eyebrows raised.
“To see if I could,” he said, as if it were obvious.
“Who are you?” Socco breathed out. “What are you? Who sent you?”
The child smiled again, a broken, repulsive thing. A chill wracked itself down Socco’s spine at the sight of it. “I suppose you’ll have to kill me to find out, mister.”
Socco clenched his weapon tighter.
For his brother.
For his friends.
For his world.
With a bellow of a cry, Socco ran forward, sword glinting in the low light.
The child, knife raised, met his eyes, and then his clash, and grinned.
—
Thank you guys so much for reading! ♥️
About the Creator
angela hepworth
Hello! I’m Angela and I enjoy writing fiction, poetry, reviews, and more. I delve into the dark, the sad, the silly, the sexy, and the stupid. Come check me out!
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Comments (4)
Oh I can definitely kill a child hahahahaha. Loved your story!
That was absolutely chilling - to see if I could! Wow. This was a read and a half! Fab.
Wahoo, that was a loaded read! "To see if I could" what an answer... a simple simple answer.
Did you draw that? also I dislike what the child did, but like socco I am undecided though the child seems to find pleasure in that. Very cool how you paired grief up against a cunning personality. A very fun read.