Chapter 5

She had become my saviour. No thought would cross my mind that she was not inevitably apart of.

This finally allowed me to shut off my past, and in turn preventing the darkness from creeping any higher. It should be evident by this point of the story that everyone has an inner darkness, that version of oneself that you would do anything to hide from the outside world.

Some people let it consume them and devour their world and the people within proximity, these people are unable to find that one thing that keeps them grounded, to which ultimately controls the dark urges.

Fortunately, for both my sake and everyone else's, I was able to chain up my shadow self and keep him buried within the basement.

But that is the issue with chains, eventually, if not maintained, they begin to rust and waste away; then there is nothing stopping it from rising.

In my case paranoia was the obvious first of many rain droplets that would cause the inevitable rust. All caused by a stupid text that I stumbled upon.

I knew that I was overreacting, but I could not help it. My emotions very quickly began to run away with the notion.

As soon as the infection of distrust sets in on a relationship, there was no cure. It then became a matter of preparation for the inexorable and making sure all parties involved were comfortable until the end.

However, this could have all been avoided if honesty were used. I asked Sarah constantly about the text from this unknown parasite 'Steven', but to me dismay she denied it had ever existed. But I saw it. She must have deleted it. Right?

As the chains began to fall apart so did I. the anger and pain were uncontrollable – at a constant climax, bubbling just beneath the surface.

The rage outburst was accompanied by flashes from my past, the memories that I had tried so hard to forget, now playing whack-a-mole, like a sick minded slideshow on repeat.

The pain that they left behind was excruciating, second to none. A scab being repeatedly ripped open is the closest comparison.

I had tried and done everything to become a different, better person. Perhaps it would be better, less painful in fact, if I just accepted that this was who I am and allowed the shadow to consume me.

The pain now becoming too much to tolerate, I sat down to regain composure and a sense of I. within seconds the front door creaked open. As a figure emerged from the shadows, it became quickly apparent that it was Sarah, returning from work.

Had something happened? As the light from the living room illuminated her, I spotted her bruised, battered, and blackened face.

"H-HOW?!" I asked as my hands gently brushed against her face.

"It doesn't matter now". Sarah replied abruptly.

I had a very guttural reaction, it could only be one of two things: she had either been mugged on her way from work, or the mystery user 'Steven' had abused her beautiful face.

I stared into her terrified eyes, in search for comfort and protection.

How could I allow this to happen? As I sat back moping for days, I allowed this monster to abuse her.

She needed to be avenged, for the after protection to now take place. The only option left was for 'Steven' to be aborted.

As I put on my coat, ready to leave the house in search for 'Steven' I found myself stepping into the darkness. But HOW? It was only 3:30pm a few moments ago. Had I fallen asleep?

I raced hopelessly, eventually making it to the bar where Sarah worked. I enquired about this mystery 'Steven' to every employee of the bar.

It took no time at all until a member of staff eventually caved in and confessed to the whereabouts of 'Steven' who had just finished his shift for the evening.

Steven approached me, grinning.

Unable to contain the anger I already had, this notion alone was teetering me over the edge of an abyss filled with hatred and rage. How dare this animalistic abuser smile at my, or even look in my general direction after what he had done.

As I grabbed the collar of his white, sweat soaked work shirt, I could feel the rage pulsating with every heartbeat, a serum of adrenaline had been injected into my very veins. A misty cloud of red began to drape over my eyes. This was no longer David in control.

The anger had overtaken and now all he saw was the darkness surrounding him – leaving me in the driver's seat. He saw an obstacle that needed removing and the rage in addition to the fixation gave me a clear target.

Of course, I will do this for you David, after all we are one.

I dragged Steven from the comfort of the illuminating light of the bar, and into the shadows where we monster's play.

As the torrential rain cascaded down, the neon lights from the street allowed for a breakthrough the blanket of rain. The lights gave a clear message of a safe haven, for those in desperate need of refuge, but neither I NOR David needed this, as we were now at home.

My fingers now tickling with the comforting sensation of pleasure and anger, I proceeded to coil my hand into a fist, each of my nerves began to spark with the pure adrenaline and hatred.

If this was not the man that destroyed my future, then I would surely still find pleasure in the act I was about to commit.

The first punch that collided with his face, gave vibrations throughout my body. The cracking of his jaw electrifying the next punch to proceed it. Each hate filled blow I delivered to Steven's face was 100% critical without the repercussion of pain.

This man was either very strong willed, or truly had no idea about Sarah's indiscretions, either way I did not care and either way enjoyed every moment of it.

Blood began to paint the wet gravel of the car park. Gallons must have accumulated into separate pools, teeth and clots of blood made up the rest of my decorative piece that I had now created.

David will be so pleased with my artistic vision, and if not, at least he will appreciate the ridding of a parasite from his life. Water rushed down my face, burring my vision for seconds at a time.

My hair now draped into clumps of strands directly from my scalp. My knuckles battered and hands torn apart, but this did not and never did bother me.

As I gazed upon the final masterpiece that I had created without an ounce of remorse, I could only feel the fulfilment of pleasure. Steven's sprawled out body, lay there lifeless, his face barely recognisable as his jaw sat 4 inches apart from his cheeks.

His left eye now firmly out of its socket, hanging by a thread. His skull caved in on itself as everything that was contained within this once precious shell had now been violently vomited from its case.

Blood drenched the gravel, completely smothering it, not only contained to the nearby circumference of where steven lay but now splashed around several cars and windows.

My face and clothes were now a washed out red, with the mixture of steven's crimson blood and the translucent rain colliding onto the canvas of my body.

Perhaps I should frame these clothes for David. As the body twitched, uncontrollably, I could feel David pulling back to the surface. In turn, I chose to give him back control of the driver's seat, just for now. Just in time to witness Steven's mangled, crushed body sprawled across the gravel – alone.

"I swear to God if I find out you hurt her Steven, I will." And that is when I saw him, his body beginning to settle in the crushed state it was.

"Wait, no. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. Did I - Did I do this to him?"

I could not even begin to comprehend how. I was only just talking to him. I remember grabbing him, and then, as if the following second he was, well like this.

Quickly, collecting myself, I soon realised I had two options if I were guilty of this.

Option one: the body needed to be disposed of, and urgently.

The second: leave him there to be found and pray that there is no evidence that would lead this back to me.

Well the second option is not only dumb but clearly out of the fucking question. I see no murder weapon.

I looked down at my hands realising the crushed bones of my knuckles, the bloodstained skin that covered them and the drenched in his, now lightly washed out red, blood.

Sweat dipped down my forehead as I squared up my options and starred at them deeply and calculatedly.

Thankfully, it was dark enough to move the body, and the streets rang silently. Only my footsteps, and the flickering of streetlamps could be heard.