"Willy."
He wasn't listening; he'd rather not listen to that old hag.
"William."
The little world he'd created on the sidewalk with chalk- a tall purple rabbit with a thirst for naughty children- was way more interesting than Mother. The rabbit loved to dance and sing, especially after doing away with one of its hostages. The red chalk had run out and William had to use orange instead.
"William!"
Uh-oh. She's coming out here. William used the white and scribbled away his creation. Bye-bye, bunny. Sometimes he wished he was the bunny, so he could finally be noticed. Then I won't be the only one in constant pain. Bye-bye Mummy.
Mother grabbed his ear and yanked him to his feet. William rubbed his ear, mumbling, "Ow..."
"Didn't you hear me calling you?" Mother wiped her sweaty forehead before putting her hands on her hips.
"No," he lied, "the... birds... were loud." He took a longing glance at the colourful blotch on the sidewalk, then turned back to see a flash of white. He stumbled back, clutching his face. Mother hit me again! After clearing his vision of tears, he straightened his spine and waited for another blow. Mother raised her hand but hesitated. Then she did something that William had never thought she'd do.
"I'm sorry," she said and threw her arms around her son. She's hugging me?
William had forgotten how a hug felt. The warmth spread through his body, feeling strange and foreign. Before he knew it he was crying. Why is she hugging me? The confusion only caused more tears. In a mix of emotions, William forced himself out of the embrace and shook off the fuzzy feelings. This isn't real. This isn't like Mother.
"You think an apology will fix eleven years of torture?" he snapped. Mother's eyes widened; she hadn't expected such an answer.
"I-" she started, then failed. She sighed. "I wanted to show you something. I've been thinking about you. You're always sad and alone." A tiny smile crept onto her face as she rubbed what William assumed to be tomato sauce off her apron. "I- I did something to make you happy."
William trailed behind Mother, his brow furrowed with his ever-growing confusion. Something is wrong here, I can feel it. And it's not me.
Mother led him into the bedroom. William's eyes traced the bloody handprints and streaks on the walls leading to a curled-up body on red sheets. He swallowed. Mother did... this? He never thought she was capable of sinking to his level.
"I wanted to keep him alive," Mother explained, "so that you could have a turn." His eyebrows raised. A turn? He stepped up to the victim and instantly recognized his face.
"Father," he mumbled with a blank expression. The man's eyes widened.
"Will," he croaked, reaching out a trembling hand to stroke his son's face. William recoiled. It's been too long, Father. He turned back to Mother, who took the weapon out of her apron pocket. William held the cool metal knife in his hands, remembering vividly the first time he'd done this. But he'd never killed a human before. Would it be harder? Would they scream louder? He focused on negative thoughts to avoid feeling any guilt for what he was about to do.
You were never there for me. You treated me like one of your cigarette butts; you threw me out when you were finished with my existence.
"William," his father whimpered, suddenly paler than before. "Don't."
For only a second, William imagined what would happen if he spared the man in front of him. He saw the memories of himself on the floor, watching with blurry eyes his mother screaming with a bloody nose.
She hurts me because of you.
William jammed the knife through his father's heart. Blood sprayed across his face. Father's gargled scream rang in his ears. Stop! William stabbed again and again until the screaming stopped. He gasped at the warmth spreading through his fingers. The beautiful red had coated everything. William stared at Father's lifeless gaze, a new feeling taking over him. My pain is now yours. He squeezed the bloody knife and turned to his mother.
"Does this make you happy?" she asked. He nodded.
"Good. Now, I will show you how to dispose of the body."