-[?]-
Life is such a fickle thing.
It can be created just as well as it can be destroyed.
Just as good is born, evil can also be born.
Try as you might, there is no ignoring the truth in that matter. Mankind is capable of creation just as it is capable of destruction.
It was a delicate balance that kept the world moving.
That was something he had realized early in his life.
Born to a father and mother who were both doctors, expectations were placed on him. His success and well-being were measured and determined from an academic standpoint.
While he met those expectations, the passion which he expected to find was missing. Rather than finding joy in following his parents' footsteps and saving lives, he found himself ever so curious about the other side of it.
Children are inherently cruel. From starting fights to killing bugs. It was labeled as childish curiosity, everyone assuming that they were unaware of the meaning behind their actions.
It wasn't until he bore witness to an accident that he found an answer. He didn't know when he began smiling but the joy he felt was clear.
Just as soon as he found the answer, he wished to forget it. Even he knew that such a nature was unacceptable as a living thing and so, tried his best to correct it.
The emotional negligence from both parents allowed this to fester and grow. He soon learnt that one's nature is not so easily changed.
Growing up, the sight of patients in agony brought joy to his heart but he pushed forward, throwing himself into learning the ethics and morals of the path that was expected of him.
But as the years went by, it became clear that he could no longer ignore it. His interactions lacked the warmth and empathy expected, replaced instead by a detached curiosity. While his peers laughed and cried, he observed, analyzing their emotions like a puzzle to be solved.
The mask of normalcy he wore in public concealed the sinister thoughts that swirled within his mind until he could contain himself no more.
"Nathaniel Grayson, you stand accused for the murder of Richard and Maria Grayson, your parents. How do you plead?" The judge asked the dark haired teen who stared back passively.
"I don't." Nathaniel said in a curt manner.
The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the judge adjusted her glasses, closely inspecting the unrepentant and unmoved look on the boy's face.
"Excuse me?" The woman said, carefully grabbing a sheet of paper from her desk. "According to the autopsy report, both victims were found with stab wounds all over their bodies. The murder weapon has been identified and has been confirmed to have your fingerprints all over it."
Nathaniel scoffed at that. "If you already know all of that then why are you wasting your time with all of this?" He said.
The reaction from the audience present in the courtroom was in the form of hushed but aggressive whispers and shocked gazes.
"Is that a confession?" The judge asked, trying to elicit an answer from him.
"Take that however you want. No matter what my answer is, you have already made up your mind." He said, already having noted the well hidden disgust in her voice and face.
"Murder is not an act to be taken lightly. Child or not, actions have consequences. I'd advise that you be mindful of what your words imply." The judge said, trying her best to show neutrality.
A strange smile surfaced on Nathaniel's face. "I don't really care about that, because I'm not going to spend my life locked up or be executed."
His crude words caused more murmurs in the courtroom.
"Oh? And what do you mean by that?" The judge asked.
"There are two ways this will go down, life imprisonment or death penalty, neither of which I am fond of. So, I created a third option." Nathaniel said before turning to the crowd. "If I'm going to die, I'll do it on my own terms."
At this point the murmurs had turned to outrageously loud chatter as the crowd threw harsh words at the boy.
Bang!* *Bang!*
The judge banged her gavel to get the attention of the courtroom. "Order! Everyone, remain calm." She screamed, getting most of them to calm down.
"Nathaniel, it seems you don't quite understand the situation and you are clearly not in the right state of mind." The judge said, about to motion for the guards to take the boy out of the courtroom when a strange atmosphere settled around the boy.
"It's you who doesn't understand the situation. By law, I'm allowed one phone call when in detainment. I knew this was what was going to happen so I prepared a little something in advance." He said, his smile widening in confidence.
"What do you mean?" The judge asked after a moment of silence.
Being the son of two rich and accomplished doctors, money was not an issue. Finding a way to get access to his parents' finances was even less of an issue.
A chuckle left Nathaniel's lips. "I called an acquaintance who is very good at getting things. It's amazing how much a little incentive can do." He said, turning to the security guard at the door.
"Mr Jones, how's your daughter?" He asked, causing everyone to look at the guard in confusion. "I hear abortion is quite expensive these days."
The sinister smile on Nathaniel's face shone as a look of realization formed on the guard's.
"You… You bastard!" The man cursed, pulling out his firearm to the shock of the crowd.
Despite the threat, Nathaniel's smile didn't leave his face. "Just as life is given, it can also be taken away. A fitting end for one such as myself." Nathaniel muttered.
Before the man could pull the trigger, multiple explosions rocked the building, destroying it as well as the people within it.
His eyes opened groggily as he found himself staring at a dark ceiling. 'What? Where am I?' He wondered in confusion.
His confusion only grew as he realized that he was laying on something soft before sitting up from the bed.
'I'm sure I'm supposed to be dead.' He thought, getting to his feet and looking around.
He found himself in what appeared to be in a medical ward, eyes widening. 'There's no way I survived that explosion but yet, here I am.' He thought incredulously until his eyes caught a reflective surface in the form of a metal bowl.
'What the hell!?' He almost screamed in confusion at the unfamiliar face he found staring back at him.
Before he could ponder further, the door opened as a white haired elderly man walked in, a concerned look on his face.
"You're awake!" The man uttered in surprise, concern and a hint of exasperation.
"Who the hell are you?" Nathaniel asked bluntly, his eyes narrowing barely a moment later. "And where am I?"