Karl was standing alone in a desolate place when suddenly, his mother appeared behind him.
Sending her presence, he turned around.
"Mother," he called out to her.
She responded with a warm smile. One that he hadn't seen for a long time now.
His father was killed by his debtors and he and his mother were forced to leave their old apartment. His plan was to go college but after his father's death, there was no money to continue. He had no choice but to start doing menial jobs. From there, he got the job of a teacher.
But it was worst. They weren't paying him much, they made fun of him because of his family's situation, the children never regarded him as anything. He never complained though.
His mother soon fell ill and everything became worse. He spent all his savings on his mother, yet, nothing was working. Bills began to pile up for him, as well as troubles from people he was owning. There was nothing working for him. He toiled and toiled. Yet, nothing ever changed.
And now?...
"Karl..." His mother called him. Her voice sounded weak.
Karl glanced at his mother, seeing her standing there weak, barely able to stand properly, his heart fell. He stepped forward but the more he tried to reach her, the farther she seemed to get away from him.
He was trying to figure out what was going on but his mother's next words shocked him.
"Get away from me!"
Karl froze.
"What… what are you saying?" he asked, his voice breaking. "I didn't do anything. I tried. I did everything I could."
Her eyes lifted to meet his, they were no longer warm. They were filled with fear.
"You killed me," she said quietly.
The words struck him like a blow.
"No!" Karl shouted. "That's not true. I would never hurt you. I swear, I didn't—"
"You're lying," she interrupted, her voice rising. "I saw you. I felt it. You were standing there. You didn't stop."
He shook his head desperately. "I wasn't myself. Something was wrong with me. I didn't mean for any of it to happen."
She stepped back.
The distance between them widened again.
"Don't come closer," she said. "Stay away from me, monster."
The word echoed.
Monster.
"No… please," Karl begged. "I'm still your son. I'm still Karl."
She turned away from him.
"You stopped being my son the moment you chose blood," she said coldly.
Darkness began to creep in from the edges of his vision. The ground beneath his feet cracked and sank. The air grew heavy, her figure faded slowly, step by step.
"Mother!" he screamed, reaching out.
She did not turn back.
"Monster," her voice echoed one last time and everything went dark.
Karl's eyes flew open.
He gasped sharply, sitting up in bed. His chest rose and fell rapidly as sweat soaked through his clothes. His heart hammered violently, but beneath it, that familiar slow rhythm pulsed once.
The room was dark aside from the burning candles on the wall.
"You're awake," a male voice spoke.
Karl took a fighting stance immediately.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," the male voice said again.
Karl glanced at the door where a figure was standing, his hands inside his pockets.
"Who are you?" He asked the figure.
"My name is Dominic. Dominic Monte."
"I am not asking for your name," Karl grunted. He tried to come down from the bed but a sudden pain at the back of his head made him groan amd fall back.
"You shouldn't move for now," the figure said and approached him. He pulled out the chair by the side of the bed and sat down, facing him. "I happen to be your father's friend," he said, earning a glance ffom Karl. "Yes. Years ago, your father saved me from a fire outbreak even at the cost of his own life. Not many human these days would do what he did —saving a stranger at the cost of their own lives... No, not many will do that now. When I asked him why he saved me, he said. "It doesn't matter who I help because one day, the help will be returned. Also, I have a son, same age as you... If you want to repay me, find him when you grow up and be friends with him" That was all and after that, he left. I searched for him for years but I couldn't find him. I only discovered recently that he was dead. Yesterday, I found out where you live with your mother but who would have thought that..." He paused as he glanced at Karl.
"I know what you're thinking," Karl mumbled. "That I killed my own mother, that I am a monster. I don't care, think whatever you wish, I don't care."
Dominic tried to laugh but stopped himself on time. "When did I say you killed your mother? She just died a natural death due to illness, what does it have to do with you? If anything, you have tried your best. You've done what a son would do for his mother, there's no denying to it. And this whole monster stuff, I don't really understand it. You don't seem to me like one."
Karl hearing this let out a dry chuckle. The mocking-type of chuckle. "I know you're saying all these to make me feel good. I won't buy it. I am not a kid." Karl shook his head as he remembered how he got angry and killed someone. He couldn't believe that he could kill anyone during a moment of anger.
"What are you thinking?" Dominic asked him. "Are you thinking about your mother? If so, she has been laid to rest, you have nothing to worry about."
Karl's thoughts were far from his mother but now that Dominic mentioned it, he couldn't help but remember the dream he had. It was unbelievable that his mother also saw him as a monster. The fact that he didn't kill his mother was enough for him, even though no one believes him. His only regret was nott being able to give her the life she had once dreamed about
He sighed. He wasn't even able to pay his mother his last respect.
Another sigh and then glanced at Dominic.
"Are you really helping me because of my father?" He asked him, raising his brows.
Dominic hesitated for a while before replying. "Initially yes. But now, I just want to help you. I have a feeling that you are an interesting man."
Dominic's reply didn't sound convincing at all but Karl didn't want to prolong the discussion.
"Where are we?" He asked him.
"We are currently inside a bar. Soon, we'll be leaving this town."
"I see," Karl muttered and laid down once again. "I have a favor to ask of you."