Blank

The page was blank, all of the contents deleted into the endless void that was the digital screen. It was almost cathartic in a way. Seeing all of his friend's record dissapear in a snap- just like that.

His fingers were easily guided to the keys. Ctrl + A, delete. It was that simple to delete every trace of marks on the digital screen, leaving nothing but a blank record. A blank piece of paper, that once held the weight of past deeds and crimes erased with the press of three keys. A memory.

He wished life was that simple, it seems like a horrible idea to wish for the eradication of the past, of his own past, but that was just the thing wasn't it? His own deeds and actions had caused his problems. A life that was poor led to a life of stealing to feed himself that led to a life of stealing for others and so on. Life was not a blank sheet of paper that could be erased but a vast tapestry of feelings, thoughts, actions, deeds, etc... It was a story not written on paper but on the flow of time like a woodburning etched into the skin of a great god; always moving and changing with the circumstances of it's surroundings and companions.

To delete the contents of time would be like deleting our past and present, a full reset. It would not solve anything, but put you back where you started. So, he was somewhat accepting of the gun pressed to his head. His story was long and arduous but was not something that could be deleted like that sheet of paper. Like that friend who put his everything into helping the lower end community, or that women who became a teacher to show her little brother that everything is not as impossible as it may seem. Like that criminal who stole that piece of bread to feed his family.

So when the cops appeared after he had put a sledgehammer through the laptop he obediently dropped the hunk of metal and wood and raised his hands as high as they could go. Laying on the ground as demanded by the fully armed police forces pointing the high caliber AR's at his forehead and any other vital organ they could. Lights poured in through the windows like a ironic celebration of his uneventful capture. He smiled as the cuffs were slotted onto his wrists with the promise of a death sentence or a life sentence in jail. Most officers looked at him in disgust, some in self rightous fury. Others had no expression, as if capturing the most wanted criminal of the 21st century was a frequent pastime.

But as the man was violently jerked into a standing position by the chief officer his lips slowly jerked upwards as he viciously smiled. Raising his gaze to the ceiling he yelled with as much force as his abused lungs could muster:

"May the almighty God of Time forgive my trespass, may my friends lives stay blank and my enemies stay heavy with shame! May my own words be recorded into the jowls of history so it can decorate the statue of time immemoral!"

"My sins may decorate my body but the lives I have saved decorate yours. I hope your happy Officer! Cause tonight my record will not dissapear, only fester. Goodbye world!"

BOOM

Officer Tanaka reeled as the blood spattered onto his visor. His eyes widened as he looked at the ejected brain matter of the most successful criminal of the 21st century, lying on the ground in a circle pattern like a macabre painting depicting a violent end to a violent past. His sigh was inaudible as the rest of the officers began to dart in the direction of the onlookers with the intention of scattering the witnesses. Boots on concreet and wood made harsh banging sounds as panic seized the crowds and officers. With one last look down officer Tanaka readjusted his grip on his rifle and pointed it towards the gunshot's origin. Spotting a black shape in the distance he quickly pointed directly at it and slowly began to squeeze the sensitive trigger. Unconsciously his breath slows as the bullet is ignited by the firing pin and leaves the barrel in a concentrated explosion of heat and sound. A wet squelch is heard in the distance as the black shape disappears into what could be assumed to be a hidden back alley.

Looking back down the Officer once again stares into the eyes of the criminal with drawn brows and pinched lips.

"The past always comes to bite ya kid. I hope ya have a good rest 30 feet below."