《Indeed I Am The Boogeyman》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Perhaps A Chance The dreams of living in a big city is a dream come true for most people, better job opportunities, higher quality of education, the vast and varied entertainment establishments, and the list goes on. However this wasn¡¯t true for Maria and his son. Summer of 2009 Maria in a daze, lost in thought ¡®how long can we hold out, our savings running out¡¯ she lamented. Regrets lingered inside her as she thought of the day she ran away from home to marry her now deceased husband. ¡°Ms. Maria?, Ms. Maria?¡± called out the interviewer, seemingly annoyed as she observed Maria, who looked haggard with her unkempt hair, deep eye bags, unironed clothes, and in a daze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, yes?¡± Maria inquired, ¡°As I was asking, Why do you want this job?¡± Maria pondered as she turned sideways to look through the transparent glass, ¡®why do I want this job¡¯ she thought, as she observed the seemingly flying papers passed down from the overhead gaps of an employee cubicle to another, the endless ringing of telephones and buzzing of fax, the seniors yelling at the freshman and the unending marathon of the employees, Maria found this suffocating as she always found joy in living by the countryside, a simple, relaxed life. ¡®do I even want this job¡¯ she wondered, ''I''m curious as to what Gerald would think of living in a province.'' Gerald, wearing a hood and looking down, walked through the school corridors, anxiously glancing around to avoid someone, but as he looked back, he bumped into someone. Surprised by the sudden pain in his stomach as a fist drives into it, he knelt in agony, crumpling down, nearly touching the floor with his forehead. ''ah shit, just my luck¡¯ he thought, cursing his luck. ¡®Of all the people it had to be Brian, it could have been anyone a woman perhaps, then it would be the start of a clich¨¦ romance story¡¯ he chuckled, as he was dragged out to an empty lot behind the school building, ¡®now I¡¯d even be happy to bash my head on a wall'' he thought, he felt nippy at the cold wind blowing towards him, looking up, he observed the sky getting darker. ¡®looks like a bad day for a beating, wounds would sting after all¡¯If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Bam his thoughts interrupted by a fist making contact with his face, followed by endless wholly of kicks from Brian, a spoiled brat with an influential family background, and his lackeys. ¡°You¡¯re getting bold freak¡± laughed Brian, the grin on his face implied that he felt pleasure bullying the weak. Gerald quietly took the beating, he was used to it, in fact it was already a part of him. As a kid his father would lash out his pent up stress on Gerald. He would beat him if he laughed too loud, then beat him again if he cried, then continue beating him if he ran away from him. Comforted by his mother, Gerald would often forgive his father. He rejoiced at the news that he would be starting to attend school, but to his disappointment he was alienated, he thought differently, he was more mature than kids his age as his mother would often seek him for comfort, she told him about her everyday worries, her fear of how their future would turn out, things that a child wouldn¡¯t comprehend but what Gerald understood was that her mother looked vulnerable and really weak. He put to heart his mothers advice of studying meticulously, so he did, he was above average in his studies sometimes he¡¯d even be the top of his class but this has made him a target of extortion. His allowance or the money he took from his fathers pocket as he do the laundry, his assignment that he worked for overnight, or even the simple accessories his mother gifted him on Christmas all find themselves in the bullies hand, but he persevered he¡¯d go to school with no money no plans for lunch and would tell his mother that he wouldn¡¯t be needing gifts anymore, he even did assignments for three people but years of this needless suffering Gerald find himself exhausted. He comfortably laid down on the concrete enjoying the coldness it brings, while feeling the stinging sensation brought by the wounds on his face and the rain. ¡°Ah¡­.. I¡¯m tired¡± He murmured. It was starting to get dark, Gerald somehow found himself opening the door to their house. What greeted him was the usual view of his mother drinking by the living room, illuminated by the sunsets reddish light. Gerald, who was looking downcast, took a seat opposite his mother. ¡®she looks a lot tired than usual, probably another bad day for her, I have to try harder¡¯ Gerald thought, as he observe his mothers haggard appearance. ¡®he has more wounds than usual, probably beaten up again, I really need to try harder¡¯ Maria thought, as she stared at his sons shriveled clothes. ¡°the mayor¡¯s son again huh?¡± said Maria, aware of his son¡¯s bully but unable to do anything as it would only backfire. ¡°Yup¡± replied Gerald, aware that her mom would only make things worst for them if she stand up for him. ¡°failed interview huh?¡± Continued Gerald. ¡°As you guessed¡± said Maria, as she looked down seemingly ashamed of herself. Both sighed simultaneously and laughed. ¡°Gerald what do you say about going home to the Philippines?¡± asked Maria, worried that his son would disagree as she had already made preparation. Gerald''s eyes twinkled with joy, recalling the happiness he felt when his abusive father died. That''s right, he didn''t feel sad or anything when his father died; instead, he felt a heavy burden lifted off his shoulders. Sure, they were having financial difficulties, but he had found hope in living out his life. And now an opportunity to change his life yet again appeared, he didn¡¯t hesitate to voice out his answer. ¡°should I start packing now¡± asked Gerald, now standing up with a hint of excitement on his face. Chapter 2: Motherly Love June 28, 2009 Looking out the window of the now-landing plane, Gerald enthusiastically hums a lullaby. A lullaby that his mother would frequently sing to him when putting him to sleep or comforting him after his father had beaten him. He was worried about the plane shaking as it touched down, but this lullaby gave him a strange sense of warmth and calm. Waiting for the bus near the airports exit, Maria asked his son. ¡°Pretty hot, right?¡± ¡°A bit¡± replied Gerald, He was sweating enough to be compared to someone who just took a bath, his clothes were wet, his hair dripping and his throat felt dry but nonetheless, he felt refreshed. This was a new chapter for him, away from his stressful, painful past thus he felt liberated. ¡®Am I taking this too lightly? I don¡¯t feel anxious at all, in fact I feel light, perhaps light enough to fly. Sure it is a bit hot but this is due to the weather unlike the burning sensation of an alcohol pressed to a wound or the nightmare inducing fevers I had, this is nothing, I pretty much look forward to living here¡¯ Gerald thought, as he look forward to living in this new environment. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, my home town is much colder as it is situated at the mountains¡± Maria assured Gerald, worried that his son might be experiencing discomfort. ¡°ah its fine, don¡¯t worry mom, I like it here¡± replied Gerald, addressing his mom¡¯s needless worry. - ¡°Manong, para po¡± yelled one of the bus¡¯s passenger. *Manong term used for older brother, ¡°Para¡± means to stop a moving public transport, ¡°po¡± used to show respect. Awoken by the sudden yelling. Gerald noticed his mom Maria looking out the window, smiling, curious at to what she was staring at, Gerald peeked, what he saw was a bunch of crudely built houses sticking together, the houses were not made of concrete, but a bunch of plywood and iron sheets. Though what caught his attention was a woman surrounded by children probably in her eighteenth or twentieth years of age comforting a crying child as he tripped and hurt his legs, she reminded him of her mothers kindness. ¡°She¡¯s pretty don¡¯t you think¡± asked his mother, noticing that his son was ogling at the lady with a brown complexion, silky black hair tied in a ponytail, and a cute height. Surprised at his mother¡¯s sudden question, Gerald blushed and looked away. ¡°Yup, obviously kind too¡± he replied. Scratching his cheeks, Gerald pulled his hood down and slept yet again. ¡°my mother would often take me here to sell the vegetables, we grew¡± said Maria feeling nostalgic, recalling the days she spent with her mother and regretting the days she couldn¡¯t, Burdened with the guilt of suddenly leaving her family, she felt bitter with herself, the least she could have done was contact them when she settled but to no avail her husband had prevented her from doing so.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡®No point regretting it now, I was young back then¡¯ she thought comforting herself. She found her reason as disgusting, but she was young at the time, easily influenced by her emotions, impulsive, and truly believed that love overcomes all, which is total nonsense because his son Gerald never had the quality of life he deserved. Aware of her mistakes, She caressed Gerald¡¯s head. ¡°Wake up Gerald, it¡¯s our stop¡± - Gerald noticed that they were surrounded by a lot of pine trees, he could see one or two lines of trees but beyond that was pure darkness, and the houses were much farther apart than the neighborhood he was used to. After thirty minutes of walking, they came to a halt in front of a two-story house that appears to be an antique but still tidy, with the lights turned on, implying that someone is inside. Maria stood for a good five minutes in front of the door, composing herself; she is worried as to how her mother will react. ¡®What do I do if she tells us to leave?'' Maria pondered, having no plans and still as impulsive as she had always been. Gerald noticed that mosquitoes were starting to pile on her mothers un moving legs, concerned about the dangers of mosquito bites, he stepped up to knock on the door. Maria panicked and dropped her bag. ¡°Gerald!!??¡± She said softly with a hint of anger, She hurriedly picked her bag as the door opened, slowly looking up she saw an old woman¡¯s wrinkly toes, thin legs, wrinkly fingers, thin arms, and now staring at her mother¡¯s old wrinkly face accompanied by tear filled eyes and white hair. ¡°Maria?¡­oh my god, it¡¯s you¡­. My daughter¡­my baby,¡± the elderly woman wailed, stepping forward to hug Maria. Maria hugged her mother back tightly, recalling all the memories she had with her from when she was a child to the day she left. She remembered how her mother would brush her hair, take her to the park, scold her, kiss her on the forehead, and how her mother held tightly to her as she turns her back on her. Attacked by the feeling of guilt, the now-crying Maria uttered the words ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± not once but until her voice felt hoarse and her throat became dry. ¡°its fine, I never hated you for it¡± replied Anna, caressing her daughters hair. Gerald touched by his mother and grandmothers reunion, spreads his arms to join the hug. - Maria dozed off on the sofa, still clinging to her mother. Gerald, who had just finished unpacking, was looking around the house, when her grandmother called out to him. ¡°Your name is Gerald right¡± inquired Anna, smiling at Gerald. ¡°Ye-yes po, grandma¡± replied Gerald, he stuttered a bit as he was not familiar with the use of Po and Opo. *¡±Po¡± and ¡°Opo¡± are words that Filipinos are using to show their respect when talking to elders and/or to someone that they respect. ¡°You must have had it rough considering how childish your mother is¡± said Anna seemingly want to comfort his grandson and to build a good impression. ¡°She is a great mother Po¡± replied Gerald as he smiled at her grandma, not wanting to worry her ,he omitted the fact that they suffered years of abuse from his father. Now putting a blanket on her daughter who fell asleep on the sofa Anna looked at Gerald. ¡°You should take a rest too apo, you can use the left room upstairs¡± she said. *Apo is Filipino term for grandson. ¡°Okay po, goodnight grandma¡± he replied as he made his way towards the room her grandmother told him to rest at, he noticed that the room had her mothers pictures on the wall and a bunch of teddy bears aligned at the top of the bookshelf implying that this was his mothers room, what surprised him was that all this time the room was kept tidy, not even a spec of dust to be seen. ¡®Mother was really loved'' he thought as he laid down and closed his eyes. Chapter 3: Poinsettia July 22, 2009 Basking in the golden gleam of sunlight, Gerald never felt so warm in his life. Sure it was summer, not to mention he¡¯s in a tropical country and, in direct contact with the sun¡¯s light. But this is only a part of the warmth that Gerald is experiencing. He felt an indescribable warmth inside him as he observe his mother laughing and giggling more often than before, he felt warm as his grandmother dotes on him. ¡°Ill get fat grandma Anna¡± said Gerald, looking at his belly. ¡°young¡¯uns shouldn¡¯t worry about that¡± Anna chuckled, still serving food at the now nearly full wooden table. Gerald gave up convincing his grandma, when he noticed Anna¡¯s really bright smile, remembering that she had been alone all this time probably lonely, Gerald started shoving food in his mouth. It was delicious, it was the best food he had ever had. The dish was simple yet it had an indescribable flavor to it, it was so delicious his tears started to flow. This was the warmth he had always wanted, a warmth he had only dreamt of. Gerald, now engulfed with the feeling of love, felt that the years of needless suffering was nothing but a lie. - Missing the opportunity to enroll due to a difference in enrollment schedule, and disappointed by the countless rejection of store owner¡¯s not wanting to hire an underage. Gerald found himself walking by the houses made of plywood and iron sheets. There, he saw her again, she was standing by a foldable white board, pointing at the letters written on it, cheerfully teaching the children. ¡° A! B! C! D!¡± chanted the kids. Seemingly deaf to the children¡¯s chants, Gerald stared at her, he could feel his heart beating wildly, reminiscing this weird feeling, he kept his eyes on her. Noticing someone staring at her direction, Liah looked behind, realizing that he was staring at her, she fixed her pony tail and decided to approach him. ¡® A foreigner? Is he lost?¡¯ Liah thought, observing the stranger with a blonde hair, sharp eyes, and a really pale skin. ¡®I¡¯m guessing his around my age¡¯ ¡®ehhhh?? She¡¯s heading this way,¡¯ Gerald panicked, unable to calm himself he gripped his clothes tightly. ¡°Hello, are you lost? Mr...?¡± asked Lia, now standing half a meter from the stranger, pausing at the word ¡°mr¡± implying that she was asking for his name. Having zero experience at talking to girls his age Gerald awkwardly paused for a good two minutes. ¡®She¡¯s too close, too close, but looking at her closely, she¡¯s really pretty, her brown skin and her enchanting brown eyes complimenting each other, accompanied by her black silky hair and the sweet smell of perfume lingering around her, isn¡¯t she a goddess?...Not good, I¡¯m thinking like a creep¡¯ thought Gerald, composing himself. ¡°Mr. Ger-Gerald, Ger-Gerald, Ger-Gerald, Ger-Gerald, Ger Gerald, I meant just Gerald,¡± muttered Gerald, stuttering, nervously speaking in a rapid-fire rhythm. ¡®cute¡¯ thought Liah. ¡°I see Mr. Gerald...My name¡¯s Liah¡± ,extending her right arm for a handshake. ¡°Ger-Ger-Gerald is fine Miss Liah¡±, said Gerald as he awkwardly swing his hand to give Liah a high five. ¡° uhm? I thought you¡¯d be familiar with a handshake¡± said Liah, scratching her cheeks.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Ah yes, my bad¡± Gerald said, wanting to die, he shakes Liah¡¯s hand. ¡°So, are you lost?¡± asked Liah. ¡°Ah no, Im not lost, I¡¯m actually looking for a part time job or a way to kill time since I missed the entrance exam when we moved here¡± replied Gerald, still feeling awkward. ¡°hmmm¡­I''m not sure about a part-time job, but are you interested in volunteering to teach kids?¡± Liah inquired, anticipating Gerald''s response as she was beginning to wonder if she was doing a good job of teaching the kids. Having a companion would be extremely beneficial to her ¡°I guess I can, but I don¡¯t think I know how to teach kids and shouldn¡¯t they be at school?¡± asked Gerald, concerned of the children¡¯s education and well being. ¡°About the school thing, they lack money so they can¡¯t afford to attend, you see they often have five more sibling and most of my students here are firstborn, they would rather work than go to school, Yes tuition is free at the elementary level but they would be burdened with other school fees as their parents fail to see the value of education. So attending would be a naught for nothing. Thus I do my best to teach them how to read write and do basic mathematics at least that¡¯s the least I can do for them, and plus I can share my hobby of studying insects with them¡± said Liah as she smiles, but a hint of sadness is obvious in her wet eyes. ¡®A Goddess indeed, compared to me or to a lot of people turning a blind eye on these kids, she acted to actually help them,¡¯ Gerald thought, admiring Liah. ¡°Well, about you not knowing how to teach kids, why don¡¯t we start by getting to know them¡± excitedly said Liah, delighted to having a companion. Gerald failed to notice the kids clinging to Liah surrounding them both as he was immersed in their conversation. ¡®I''m not particularly fond of children, but after hearing Liah''s reasons and motivation for teaching them, I can''t help but want to try and help them,'' he reasoned. ¡°I¡¯m Gerald, and starting from now I¡¯ll be one of your teachers, so why don¡¯t you tell me your names too¡± he cheerfully said, waving his two hands trying to amuse the kids. However, the kids showed no response and was still clinging to Liah. Gerald still waving his hand stopped as Liah let out a chuckle. ¡°Pfft¡± July 29 2009 ¡°young¡¯uns really are energetic¡± Anna laughed, looking at the running Gerald still full of energy after a back breaking 5 hours of work. ¡°Ill be off now mom, grandma¡± said gerald, now feeling fresh after a quick shower. Gerald spent his morning helping his grandmother and mother tend the vegetable farm, then ride a bus to town to teach the children. He never was fond of kids but getting to know them, he changed. He now keeps a diary to record not just his daily activities but even the kids attitude, quirks, what they like, and brought by liahs influence, their favorite insects. Wanting to share the same hobby as liah gerald started to research about insects. Preparing for what to teach the kids next he flipped trough his diary reading out loud. ¡°Jonathan, like most Filipinos, has black hair and black eyes, and he is the eldest student, he is the oldest of four siblings, and he has a strong sense of justice, driven by his desire to one day become a police officer. He was an admirable young man who frequently assisted those who were bullied in their neighborhood.¡± ¡°Anica, the shy kid who was always clinging to Liah, she has really round black eyes, black curly hair, and her nose drips a lot, filling her cheeks with snot, which Liah would always clean. She aspires to be a teacher like her Ate Liah.¡± ¡°Justin, a bald naughty kid who always teases me because he caught me ogling at Liah once, he''s a pain in the ass but a really hard worker, he said he doesn''t know what he wants to be but surely he wouldn''t want to be a burden to his family, that, he imposed.¡± Gerald sighed. ¡°Sam, a quiet kid who excels at everything you teach. He grasps concepts quickly when they are introduced to him. He has an intellectual aura around him, observing everything around him, and he has a curious mind, as he asked anything he could think of in terms of seeking knowledge.¡± ¡°Last but not least, Gela, the really cheerful kid who is the epitome of headache. She brightens the mood, which is very distracting during class. She wants to be an actress, which I believe would suit her. She would frequently bring magazines with famous actors in them, but I had to confiscate one because of it¡¯s graphic content.¡± Thinking about a scenario of the kids happily playing. Gerald smiled and raised his hand, holding a small game board about the size of a fourth of a cardboard. It had a clock hand in the center with a vivid drawing of different types of insects replacing the numbers. - ¡°So the game goes this way, you¡¯d form a line, then ill spin the arrow the person first in line would describe the insect with at least 2 sentences but failure to do so, they would imitate the insect, got it¡± Gerald explained. The children excited, Simultaneously replied: ¡°got it¡± ¡°Umu¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy¡± ¡°Pfft basic¡± ¡°aight got it¡± After spending the whole afternoon playing with the kids, waiting for the bus Gerald who looked tired and haggard stood by a flickering lamp post, he had his eyes closed, pondering about a quote he remembered, ¡°The brighter the Light, the darker the shadows¡± he whispered, simultaneously the lamp post light burned out. Chapter 4: Appearance July 30, 2009 Staring at the mirror, Gerald noticed that his clothes were tattered, it appeared to have been pulled over and over again, his belt now missing. but more importantly he couldn¡¯t remember how he got home yesterday, he was feeling a burning sensation all over his body, he decided to scoff it off as he can¡¯t remember whatsoever. Feeling tired, he decided to skip farm work, and laid down his bed. ¡°Do you remember now?¡± asked an unfamiliar kid to Gerald. ¡°Remember what?¡± replied Gerald to the kid, who¡¯s back was turned against him, sitting at a fallen trunk. ¡°Do you remember now?¡± asked the kid again. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°Do you?¡± The kid¡¯s voice started to get louder. ¡°Remember Gerald¡± ¡°Remember¡± Now shrieking, ¡°REMEMBER, GERALD REMEMBER...REMEMBERRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!¡± Frightened of the screaming child, Gerald opened his eyes and quickly took a sit, he was sweating and panting. ¡®I must have been tired¡¯ Gerald thought, It was the afternoon, Gerald quickly took a change and headed to town. Greeted by Liah and the kids wide smile, Gerald felt lighter, it was as if his exhaustion was seeping away, though he was less livelier than usual. He seems to be distracted that¡¯s why Liah couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Gerald? Are you okay?¡± Tugging him. ¡°Ah yes I¡¯m fine¡± softly replied Gerald , wanting to ease Liah, he faked a smile. Not convinced by Gerald¡¯s fake smile, Liah persisted, ¡°You can tell me if something¡¯s bothering you I might be able to help¡± Gerald patted Liah¡¯s head and assured her, ¡°Im really fine, worrywart¡± ¡°Ayiiieeeeee¡± simultaneously said the kids teasing them, Justin even whistled. Gerald quickly took his hands off Liah and clapped. ¡°Aight break time¡¯s over!!!, Lets get back to class¡± ¡°Ehhhhhhhh??????¡± grumbled the kids, Liah sighed then laughed at the scene of the kids running away from Gerald as he persistently catch them, the sound of laughter drowned out the screeching tires of cars, the yelling vendors, and the conversations of people around. Staring at the kids and Gerald¡¯s wide smiles, She thought ¡®If only time would stop¡¯. Indeed if only time could stop. August 1 2009 Jonathan disappeared¡­ Concluding the daily class. Hearing about kidnapping cases rising, Gerald had a bad feeling about Jonathan not showing himself at class today. As the sun was already starting to set, Liah and Gerald decided to visit Jonathans home tomorrow. Gerald now waiting at the bus stop, couldn¡¯t shake the bad feeling his getting, so instead of going home, he decided to head back. Just minutes of walking by the slum, he saw a group of kids ganging up on Sam. ¡°Hey!!!¡± he yelled, the kids taken aback by Gerald¡¯s scream started to scram. ¡°Teacher Gerald¡± sobbed Sam, wiping the broken eggshells on his head.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.but my mom¡¯s going to kill me¡­I was supposed to buy an egg for dinner but those older kids¡­¡± explained the crying Sam. Wiping Sam¡¯s head ¡°I see, it¡¯s okay lets go buy some before you head home, okay?..so you can stop crying now¡± said Gerald comforting the crying Sam, holding hands they went to a nearby store. ¡°By the way Sam, did you see Jonathan today?¡± ¡°No, Sam is not around so those kids picked on me¡± ¡°then do you know where Jonathan¡¯s house is?¡± ¡°yes, we¡¯re neighbors¡± Led by Sam, Gerald questioned Sam¡¯s description of neighbors. Jonathan and Sam¡¯s house were connected, the only thing dividing it, was a really thin wall, so thin you can hear Sam¡¯s mother yelling at him. Gerald, invited inside Jonathan¡¯s house, by one of Jonathans sibling sat on the floor. As their parents was yet to be home Gerald decided to stay for a bit. ¡°My parents should be on their way now¡± said the kid. Gerald nodded and asked ¡°okay¡­but where is Jonathan?¡±, Looking around the really tiny house not bigger than the containers found in ships. The kid shook his head, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen him around, starting from yesterday¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t your parents worried?¡± ¡°No, not really, He¡¯d often be gone for 3 days that¡¯s why they don¡¯t mind¡±, said the kid. But the ugly truth was they don¡¯t care at all, this is the slum, often referred as the factory of kids, they don¡¯t give a damn about a single kid missing, in fact it was one less mouth to feed. They lose one, they make another one, worst they kill them through abortion. Gerald heard someone shouting, with the door simultaneously slamming. Startled Gerald quickly stood up. Now eye to eye with a guy in his 40s, Gerald forced the words stuck on his throat. ¡°Are you perhaps Jonathan¡¯s father?¡± Instead of a reply, a fist flew towards his face. Before making contact, Gerald found himself in a familiar room staring at the wall with his mother¡¯s picture on it. He checked the time and it was already midnight. All of this felt weird but what caught his attention is an unfamiliar yellow colored raincoat hanged by the door reflecting the light. He doesn¡¯t remember having a raincoat before or asking his mom to buy one. Gerald confused with a lot of things going on his mind decided to organize his thoughts. ¡®I parted with Liah, met Sam and then¡­Right!!... Jonathan, I went to Jonathan¡¯s house and met his father after that¡­after that¡­ shit I really can¡¯t remember¡¯ Gerald yet again scoffed the question about his memory and instead of worrying about himself, he was thinking on how to find Jonathan tomorrow. ¡°Where are you kid?¡± he mumbled. - August 2 2009 ¡°Kuya Gerald passed out yesterday when uncle punched him, so we dragged him to our house yesterday but when we woke up this morning Kuya is gone¡± narrated the sobbing Sam. *¡±Kuya¡± a term used for an older brother. Liah listening to Sam¡¯s story patted his back, comforting him, ¡°there¡­ there I¡¯m sure your kuya is fine¡± Gerald appeared in sync with Liah''s words. ¡°Yup I''m fine, I¡¯m fine¡­sorry for being late I went to check if Jonathan is home, but unfortunately he isn¡¯t¡± Gerald sighed. ¡°I¡¯m planning to look for him today as well, so you should stay here and teach the kids¡± he continued. ¡°No, I¡¯ll look for him too¡± said Liah, starting to pack the lesson plan she had made for today. ¡°I think you should stay here, it wouldn¡¯t be a good idea for you to go that deep at the slum¡± argued Gerald, remembering the naked fellows with knives and guns tucked in their shorts. Liah aware of the numerous rape cases around the area, and was unable to retort what Gerald had said, She could only sigh, ¡°Be sure to contact me when something happens¡± ¡°Sure leave it to me, I¡¯ll find Jonathan no matter what¡± - Gerad laid out a detailed map of the slum he purchased at a nearby local store. Encircling narrow passages, unused roads, anything he found suspicious even the abandoned dirty canals. Worried about Jonathan, he couldn¡¯t help but remember a conversation the had, ¡°Do you think I can become a great policeman¡± asked Jonathan. Gerald not wanting the child to be disappointed in the future, he explained the situation to him hoping that Jonathan would not be disheartened, ¡°lots of money is needed for education, so much that you would need to sacrifice a lot of things and work a lot of jobs to pay for your tuition, but¡­knowing you Jonathan, I think you¡¯d be a wonderful policeman¡± ¡°Well I can work a lot, I have a strong body after all, I¡­ will surely become a policeman¡± said the determined Jonathan. Heading to the last place unchecked in the map. Gerald sighed, it was already nearing sunset, But he was still unable to find a clue of Jonathan¡¯s whereabouts¡¯. ¡°this is the place¡± he muttered, walking in a really narrow path covered with high walls on both sides. ¡°Could you spare some change please please¡± asked an old man, covered with black cellophanes. Mistaking him for a trash bag, Gerald gasped. ¡°Please?¡± continued the old man, ¡°Sure, but have you seen a this kid?¡± asked Gerald. Passing a rough picture of Jonathan to the old man. ¡°Yes I have seen him the other day, since not many people use this path, I saw them head towards that way¡± ¡°Really?¡± asked Gerald yet again, his eyes half closed, obviously doubting the old mans word, ¡®he might just be lying for money¡¯ he thought. ¡°Yes yes¡­He was a well built kid¡± ¡°It might just be Jonathan¡­wait them?, Was he with someone?¡± ¡°Yes...but I didn¡¯t see the other guys face, I just glanced for a bit that¡¯s why¡­ Can I have the change now please¡± begged the bum. Gerald took a 50 peso bill and gave it to the old man. Delighted to finally getting a clue he called Liah as he hurriedly walked towards the direction the old man pointed at, ¡°Hello Liah, I finally found a clue to Jonathans whereabouts¡± ¡°Liah?¡± The excitement Gerald had, turned to despair when he saw the dense pine trees at the end of the path, followed by Liah¡¯s crying voice on the line. ¡­ ¡°Gerald, Anica is Missing¡± Chapter 5: Fifty ¡°HUUUUH? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ¡°THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE¡±!!???THE HELL WITH THAT? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME¡­TWO KIDS ARE MISSING AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW¡± standing up Gerald, slammed the table. Gerald¡¯s image of a policeman was betrayed as he glared at the seemingly lax cop in front of him, the cop was leaning back on his chair, with his arms supporting his chin and his belly protruding off his tight uniform. The cop sighed, ¡°Watch your manners, I¡¯ll let you off this one time kid since you look new around here, but misbehave one more time and I¡¯ll throw you in there¡± pointed the cop at the cell behind him. Gerald lowered his tone, not because he was afraid of the cops threat but because he doesn¡¯t want to worry the people close to him, and he¡¯d rather spend his time looking for Jonathan and Anica than spending it in a cell packed with criminals. ¡°Listen to me sir, two kids are missing as we converse right now, I need your help¡± ¡°Your repeating yourself kid, so are you a relative?¡± asked the cop, now reaching a piece of a paper. ¡°No, B-¡° Returning the piece of paper and dropping the pen ¡°Then forget about it¡± the policeman interrupted, ¡°if the parent or guardian didn¡¯t even file a report, why bother? I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be home a day or two¡± ¡°Are you for real? I just told you they¡¯d been missing for days now. Those kids have dreams if they¡¯re in danger¡­ if they¡¯re in dang-¡° Gerald felt his throat tightening. ¡°If they¡¯re in danger, So what?¡± scoffed the cop. Gerald felt his blood rush to his head; he hated fighting because fighting with his skinny body always resulted in him getting one-sidedly beaten up; it was much better if he didn''t fight back because it resulted in less beating, but now, clenching his fist, gritting his teeth, and determined to find the kids, he threw his fist. The cop nonchalantly caught Gerald¡¯s fist and held it tightly, ¡°Violence would do you nothing good, mark my words kid, the children at the slum are nothing but scums in the making, 5 years from now those children that you are so proud of would be a bunch of degenerates, drug addicts, snatchers, name it they¡¯re the trash of society, But if you insist you could write a report and leave it here¡± said the cop, pushing Gerald¡¯s fist back.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Gerald kept quiet. The cop wasn¡¯t right nor wrong it was his biased opinion, Just like the cop Gerald had his opinion, he decided to pave in the silver lining of respecting one¡¯s opinion, avoiding conflict, plus he could feel his consciousness fading. So he decided to quickly write the report but before he could sign it, he found himself staring at his mother¡¯s picture hanged on the room. ¡°Just as I thought, fuck I¡¯m losing my shit¡± Gerald sighed as he close his eyes, Gerald had no time to worry about himself. Sure he felt odd that he finds himself home without a single memory of it, but it was the least if his worries. He was exhausted and was not in an immediate danger unlike the kids. - Watching the kid leave, Linda a policewoman picked up the report Gerald had written, ¡°Sir weren¡¯t you too harsh on him?¡± ¡°Harsh? With that attitude, He should be glad I didn¡¯t throw him in there, Now back to work newbie¡± ordered the fat policeman. Linda sighed, pausing to read what the child had written. Everything was the same as any other missing child report, except for one thing that gave Linda goosebumps. - August 3, 2009 ¡°Kuya Gerald do you think I can become like Ate Liah?¡± asked the fidgeting Anica. Anica had always wanted to be like Liah, thus she wanted to be a teacher, and like her ate Liah she is motivated to help others. ¡°Well, it would be best if you could be yourself, but if you wanted to be like her, I''m sure you can; in fact, I think you''re already halfway there,¡± Gerald replied, recalling a time when he passed by Anica''s house and saw her enthusiastically teaching her younger siblings. Anica giggled and held Gerald¡¯s hand tightly. Wiping his tears, Gerald fitted his shoes and quickly left the house. Gerald walked mindlessly to the usual teaching spot, preoccupied with what to do next. His heart was breaking as he stared at the now-empty lot where children used to play, sing, and chant. Their innocent smiles as they greet him, as well as their naughtiness, constant teasing, and the seemingly endless days of joy, all come to a halt. ¡°We can¡¯t find Justin and Gela.¡± Said the sobbing Liah, late for the daily class, She and Sam went to look for them but just like the other kids they were nowhere to be found. ¡°And when I thought things couldn¡¯t get any more worse¡± said Gerald gritting his teeth, but the sudden outburst of anger slowly turned into emptiness and self hate, he realized how helpless he is, he did everything he could even so there was no chance of finding the kids, the cops wont even help, running out of options, Gerald felt exhausted his tears started to flow, ¡°What should I do now, Liah?¡± hopeless as it seemed, Gerald found himself leaning on Liah. ¡°For now, lets go pray at the church¡± replied Liah, holding Sam and Gerald¡¯s hand. - Gerald who had never went or attended a church, had no idea what to do or what a prayer even does, instead he watched Liah and Sam kneeling and clasping their hand murmuring. He stared at the crying, crucified statue. Gerald gasped, ¡®Did it smile? Haha I really am losing my mind¡¯ ¡°Uhm Gerald, shall we go?¡± asked Liah, puzzled as to why Gerald was smiling wryly. Gerald nodded, lost in thought as they made their way to the church exit. ¡°But go where? The police won¡¯t even hel-¡° he paused, staring at a familiar face, he creased his eyebrows. ¡°Sup kid, I¡¯ve read the report, care to cooperate?¡± said the fat cop, accompanied by a policewoman. Stupefied, Gerald looked back at the crying statue. Chapter 6: An ally! ¡°Sir shouldn¡¯t you look more carefully into this¡± nagged Linda, shoving the piece of paper into her senior. Cardo with his half closed eyes sighed, ¡°How many times have we had this conversation already, as I said even if we found them alive and kicking they¡¯ll be a deadweight to society¡± ¡°Are you a psychic sir?¡± ¡°No, what¡¯s the point of this again¡± asked Cardo, mocking Linda¡¯s random question. ¡°Then how would you know sir, how would you know if those kids would end up as a criminal¡± ¡°Huh? Through the countless report in that cabinet, now go away¡± said Cardo, clearly agitated. ¡°Then, if those reports decided the children from the slums future, why are you a policeman sir? You¡¯re raised from the slum right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡± replied Cardo, closing the door to his office ¡°but I didn¡¯t become a policeman cause I wanted to. You think I¡¯m opposed to finding those kids because of some reports? Wrong, it¡¯s because I know. I know that if we indeed found them, the only thing waiting for them is hell. Living at the slum, I am no different from them. At the age of 6 I witnessed 2 of my sisters die of hunger, at 13 my 2 close friends were shot down at a drug raid, burdened by the increasing tuition and unable to find a job at 16 I spent my days at a gay bar looking for gigs having my back spread open at night, getting paid by those disgusting ugly motherfuckers for their pleasures, At 17 I resorted to stealing, scamming, even selling cocaine, I was fortunate enough to not get caught, unlike my brother who¡¯s now rotting at the city jail, At 18 I was able to enter the academy not because I was competent but through falsified documents. And why am I telling you this? Its because you¡¯re so annoying Linda, I felt the need to educate that bird brain of yours, that slum breeds the same kind of people, and if not for the law I would have razed it to the ground. I am planning to resign anyway so fell free to disclose what you have heard here ¡± Unfazed by Cardo¡¯s confession and with a glint of determination in her eyes Linda replied, ¡°But you¡¯re here sir never mind the past, you¡¯ve put uncountable number of criminals behind bars, isn¡¯t that enough sir, enough to atone for your sin, enough to call you an admirable man, sure you¡¯ve suffered a lot by living in the slum, but you are here sir, a proof that the people of the slum are not at all the same kind, I won¡¯t be disclosing what I¡¯ve heard, and I¡¯m sure that the children that kid is looking for would be admirable people in the future¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Giving up on convincing the bird brain in front of him, He could only sigh ¡°You¡¯re really annoying¡­ Why are you so sure?¡± ¡°Please read the report, sir¡± Pausing to read the report, Cardo took the keys out his pocket and threw them to Linda, ¡°You¡¯ll be driving¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± enthusiastically replied Linda. - ¡°Why just now? Two more kids are missing because of your negligence¡± yelled Gerald, ready to lunge at Cardo. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the last time we met but, how are we supposed to find those kids if all you¡¯ve written are their dreams and aspirations? I admire that you took time to actually teach them but you didn¡¯t even leave a contact number¡± replied Cardo, lowering his head. Gerald refuse to believe that the cop in front of him was the same person he met last time, instead he turned his head to look at Linda. ¡°Hello, my names Linda¡±, having read what Gerald was thinking and knowing Cardo¡¯s usual attitude, she continued, ¡°And yes that¡¯s the same guy¡±. ¡°The name¡¯s Cardo kid, I think we¡¯ll get along fine, lets hear the whole story¡± Thus Gerald, Liah and Sam spent the afternoon narrating how the kids disappeared one by one. ¡°Ah, now that I remember a homeless man on the outskirts of the slum told me that Jonathan went inside the woods with someone, I think we should check there.¡± Said Gerald. ¡°Um, okay but you¡¯re not coming with us¡± said Linda, pointing out the dangers of going with them, if perhaps they did found the culprit in the recent kidnapping of the kids, there would surely be conflict. ¡°Well it¡¯ll be fine, I think the kid plans to work in this field anyway, I shall call it early exposure¡± said the laughing Cardo, guilty of refusing to listen to the kids report, he wanted to build a favorable image towards Gerald. ¡°You¡¯re irresponsible as always Mr. Cardo, but I like it¡± chimed in Gerald, ¡°told you we¡¯d get along¡± said Cardo, winking. ¡°Miss Liah and Sam would stay though¡± ¡°Yes please take care¡± replied Liah. Watching the police car drive away, ¡°So shall we go home too?¡± asked Liah, turning to her side to face Sam, but to her surprise Sam was nowhere to be seen. ¡°S-Sam!¡± - Feeling lighter now that they¡¯re moving to find the kids, ¡®Jonathan, Anica, Justin, Gela, just wait a bit more¡¯ Gerald preoccupied with his thoughts didn¡¯t notice his phone flashing. Chapter 7: a burnt out hope Evening of July 30 2009 The sun had already set, yet it was still bright, brighter than the dim light of the lamp post stationed in his way home. Their cold stares and mocking smiles made him froze, he could hear them murmuring in their native language, they were all men yet some were dressed in revealing women¡¯s cloth. He slowly walked, intending to pass by them peacefully, he was nervous, his heartbeat echoing through his now sensitive ears. One of them shouted, it was not that loud however he was alarmed, the seemingly normal shout sounded like a gunshot to his ear. ¡°Oi Tisoy¡± one of the men shouted. His alert level raised to the max, they were blocking the path home, He sprinted to the direction of the abnormally high pine trees, the heavy stomping of dried leaves and the creaking of broken branches, muffled by his loud panting, then the worst happened, He slipped, hitting his head on a tree he fell unconscious. He felt a fist drive into his stomach regaining his consciousness. He was reminded of a past experience he wished to forget, he could feel two people holding him tightly, they were not a small group, probably numbering in the tens. ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± he asked, these were the guys he constantly pass by drinking near at a shed near his pathway home. ¡°He¡¯s awake pin him down¡± said one of them. They hurriedly pushed him down flat on his belly, he was confused and frightened as to what they plan to do, ¡°Bring the lube, take his pants off¡± ¡°oi what the fucks with the lube?¡± shouted Gerald. ¡°Well you¡¯ll know soon enough¡± said the guy behind him. His obvious grin instilled fear to Gerald. He muster up all his strength to break free, but pinned down in his hands and feet by people much muscular than him it was all for naught, he started to scream. ¡°gag him¡± With his pants off they took his underwear and gagged it into his mouth. He could feel the slimy liquid sliding on his butt cheek, followed by the painful sensation of his ass ripping. A memory flashed as he writhed in pain, It was just like the time when they went hiking, tricked into thinking that his father left him a present inside the old cabin in the woods, he was excited, genuinely happy, only to be raped countless times, a memory he buried deep inside his mind, resurfaced. ¡°I cant wait anymore, hold him up¡± said one of them. To his surprise his thing was hard against his will, they laughed, ¡°Hehe you like that¡± said one of them now holding tightly to his hair, continuously forcing his thing inside him. Contrary to what the guy said, he didn¡¯t like this at all. It broke him much more than anything, he didn¡¯t feel this much pain from anything before, getting beat wasn¡¯t so bad compared to this, this shit crushed his pride, ¡°You like it don¡¯t you¡± Said one of them, putting a lube in Gerald¡¯s thing and pushing it in inside of him. As his body reacted in a different way than what he thought it should, he was humiliated. He despised himself for feeling that way. he was not aroused or anything and yet, and yet, and yet, and yet it wa- He felt his rationality fading as countless thoughts and emotions jumbled in his mind, anger, shame, sadness, then he felt empty ¡°Someone help me,¡± he mumbled, despairing that no one would hear his cries for help. Instead, he consoled himself by recalling happy memories. The memory of his mom comforting him interrupted by the memory of his father beating him, the memory of finally leaving his home to attend school interrupted by the memory of his peers bullying him, the memory of living a new life jumbled with the memories of him getting his ass kicked, and the memories of the children he started to care about yet again interrupted by the painful sensation induced by the ongoing rape.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. This thought repeated a thousand times, overlapping one another, he could feel his brain throbbing, the never-ending flashing of memories felt like eternity, it felt so cramped in his head that everything is hazy anymore, his thoughts, like entangled strings, made no sense anymore, and so... Snap Gerald broke.- Now left alone Gerald slowly stood up and said, ¡°Its fine Gerald, I¡¯ll pay them back for sure, rape them, kill them I¡¯d even be thrilled to eat them¡± - ¡° Now that¡¯s one ominous looking forest, shall we go then?¡± commented Cardo, staring at the dark spaces behind the dense forest. ¡°You stay at the back Mr. Gerald¡± said Linda , As they enter the forest, having no clue of their fourth company. Sam slowly climbed down the trunk, Knowing that they won¡¯t take him with them even if he insisted, he had hidden himself. ¡®Its my turn to help Jonathan'' he thought, hastily following behind Gerald, Cardo and Linda. He could hear them conversing as he made his way through the forest. Gerald was 5 steps away from Cardo and Linda, having heard a footstep from behind them he was checking his back every now and then worried that someone might be following them. ¡®shit, not now'' he thought. ¡°That reminds me Kid, you can be pretty childish sometimes, why did you sign your name as The Boogeyman?¡± asked Cardo, turning back to look at Gerald but to his surprise he was gone, ¡°Kid? Where¡¯d you go?¡± Sam suddenly heard a humming, it was drawing closer and closer then, it stopped. ¡°Found ya¡± whispered a voice behind him. He was startled and terrified as tears welled up in his eyes, and before he could scream, a pair of hands covered his mouth. - ¡°Linda I think we¡¯ve been duped its been 2 hours¡± mocked Cardo. ¡°I don¡¯t think someone would go that far for a prank¡± replied Linda, it was too elaborate for a prank plus the emotions Gerald had shown would make him a terrific actor, it was far too real, She continued, ¡°lets search a bit longer¡±. ¡°Sure, sure what ever you say¡± said Cardo, Continuously tapping his broken flashlight repeatedly, he may appear unconcerned but in truth he was worried for the kid, the glint in his eyes as he persisted in convincing him, his determination reminded him of his younger days, he didn¡¯t understand why but he felt a sense of camaraderie with the kid. ¡°Shhhh, don''t tap that, I can hear something.¡± Asked Liah, who began to move slowly, bending her knees to muffle the sound of her footsteps. Stopping in his track, Cardo can hear a violent munching sound behind a fallen pine tree trunk, probably a wild animal he thought, signaling Linda to approach from the other side, he slowly lifted three fingers¡­then two¡­and one. Cardo turned around by the trunk''s corner, flashing his light in the direction of the sound. ¡°Free-¡° shouted Cardo, his throat tightened, his normally composed expression had crumpled into one of fear. ¡°ARGGGHH¡± Linda screamed, she was on her knees, violently panting, trembling and now puking. Cardo tried to calmed himself, trying to force his words but instead he puked. In his years of experience it was the worst he had seen. Gerald was clutching Sam''s head, devouring his now half-eaten face, Sam''s innards dangling from his bared chest and belly with blood constantly flowing out. Gerald unfazed, continued to eat Sam''s face like a ravenous beast. - August 9, 2009 ¡°That reminds me Kid, you can be pretty childish sometimes, why did you sign your name a-¡° ¡°As wha-¡° replied Gerald, but next thing he knew, he was handcuffed and was currently being escorted to a city hall, flashes of camera were blinding his eyes and several media reporters were questioning him. Suddenly he was assaulted, ¡°You fucking monster¡± shouted one of the guys behind the rail, throwing an egg at Gerald. ¡®huh? Monster?...Me?¡¯ Gerald thought, staring back at the guy. Incited, the crowd started shouting and throwing, one or two wouldn¡¯t be that painful but several numbering to tens were thrown. Gerald started a call for help, he took cover to a nearby cop only to be kicked back. ¡°piece of shit¡± ¡°you should just die, monster!¡± ¡°you¡¯re the worst go fucking die¡± Confused as to what was happening Gerald couldn¡¯t do anything but cry for help repeatedly taking cover at a cop only to be kicked back again and again. ¡®help me¡¯, he cried, but no one would answer his pleas. As he decide to make a run for it, a familiar face in the front row of the crowd caught his attention, It was Liah her usual cheerful smiles with her red lips and round eyes now replaced by a cold piercing glare. Tolerating the pain of getting thrown at, Gerald stopped, ¡°Liah? Hel-¡° Before he could continue speaking, Liah threw a stone straight above his eye. Then another, hitting Gerald¡¯s forehead ¡°How could you?¡± She screamed so loudly that her voice seemed to break. ¡°How could you?¡± ¡°How could you?...to the kids, how could you do that¡­you¡¯re a monster, they¡¯re right you should just go fucking die¡± wailed Liah, it was the first time she had ever cursed someone out of hatred, An intolerably painful feeling arose within and she was unable to stop herself from flinging stones. Gerald stood still receiving the endless stones and eggs the crowd are throwing. Gerald felt numb ¡®she¡¯s in pain¡­because of me?, Nothing makes sense anymore, kids? Me? a monster? ¡¯ ¡°Alright that¡¯s enough¡± shouted the cop coming from the inside of the court. Cardo went down the steep steps then hurriedly dragged Gerald inside. ¡°Mr. Cardo, what happened?¡± asked Cardo, Cardo¡¯s eye opened wide in surprise, the kid had stayed quiet all this time. but now he could see the old look in his eyes. ¡°this is unbelievable, is that you kid?¡± Chapter 8: Sucks to be me August 3, 2009 Liam, a reporter on standby at police station one, was dumbfounded when he saw Gerald, a young man in his teenage year, with blood all over his body, including his mouth, accompanied by two police officers with horrified expression. With the stench of puke lingering around them, Liam hastily covered his mouth, grabbed his camera and attempted to take a picture only to be stopped by Cardo, ¡°Try it you take your shot, and I¡¯ll take mine¡± he warned, dragging the meek unmoving Gerald into the interrogation room. Gerald simply stopped moving after getting separated from Sam, making him easy to apprehend. After calling the forensic team and Geralds guardian, Cardo transported Gerald back to the police station. ¡°Why did you do that kid?¡± Asked Cardo. Gerald remained motionless, staring at the wall. To make matters worse, when Cardo pretended to hurl an ink pen at his eyes, he didn''t even bat an eyelash. As he picked up his ringing phone, Cardo let out a sigh, ¡°4 more corpse were found, probably kids 6-10 years of age¡± Cardo silently stared at the kid, took a cigarette then lit it. ¡®What is this? Something¡¯s wrong, he was eager to find the kids he killed?, Now that I think about it his eyes looks the same as to when he was about to leave the first time we met, is this an act?¡¯ he thought. ¡°Gerald, you know I¡¯ve been thinking of a way to die anyway so why don¡¯t we do it together?¡± yelled Cardo, He loaded his gun and pointed it at Gerald to see how he would react, but Gerald did not flinch. ¡°Is Gerald¡¯s mother there yet?, And while you¡¯re checking that call a psychiatrist as well¡± requested Cardo. Coming to a conclusion that Gerald is probably mentally ill. ¡°Are you a psychic sir?¡± asked Linda, staring at the impatient woman and a male excluding a calm aura rushing through the entrance. - (Gerald Santos Lewis, a teenager of American descent now known as the Philippines Boogeyman, who raped, killed and even resorted to cannibalism faces his trial here at the City hall of Baguio) Reported Liam, Millions of people were cursing as this live news report made its way to their televisions, ignorant to Gerald¡¯s side of the story, they were enraged and disturbed at the gruesome crime the young teenager had done, he appeared to them as nothing but a monster, a kidnapper, a killer, a pedophile on the loose thus earning him the nickname the Boogeyman. - ¡°what do you mean its already the 9th of august?¡± Gerald asked Cardo as they made their way through an empty hallway. ¡°That¡¯s the least of your worries kid, we¡¯re in here for a trial to prove that you are mentally ill¡± replied Cardo, still pulling Gerald¡¯s cuff.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°What do you mean mentally ill? Me? What to do I do Mr Cardo?¡± Gerald started to freak out, everything just keeps getting more confusing. ¡°this is a dream right? Mr. Cardo? What do I do¡± Pushing the door to the courts entrance Cardo replied, ¡°ah for now stay as quiet as you can and¡­yeah brace yourself¡± ¡°Gerald Santos Lewis, who kidnapped, raped and murdered five children recently¡± ¡°Huuuuh? I didn¡¯t kill anybody, what are you on about?¡± yelled Gerald. With his arms cuffed behind his back he stood up kicking the chair back. ¡°Order¡± solemnly said the judge, Cardo rushed to calm the kid down, taking a chair beside Gerald, he held him back to his seat, ¡° For now Kid stay calm just for now, after this lets talk it out¡± ¡°Please continue¡± ¡°On the evening of July 31, Gerald lured young Jonathan into a forest near a slum, where he raped him after hitting him in the head with a blunt object, parts of Jonathan¡¯s bodies are missing whereas it is suspected that Gerald had eaten it.¡± ''No, what are you on about?'' I didn''t do tha-'' Gerald reasoned, But the sudden rush of memories suggested otherwise, he could see Jonathan walking towards the woods, ''huh? What the hell is this, NO!, Jonathan, don''t go there¡¯, Struggling to stop his hand from picking the blunt stone he screamed internally, ¡®Jonathan, run! Please run¡¯ ¡°On the evening of August 1, Anica, Gerald''s second victim, was out on an errand when she was dragged and choked to death in a narrow alley. Gerald was seen the same day with a full garbage bag on his way to the forest. Anica, like Jonathan, was raped and parts of her body were missing.¡± ¡®Please stop, stop, stop¡¯ he begged, looking down at the chocking Anica, she was crying, struggling, her face turning violet, her cheerful smiles now replaced with the hollow eyes of someone devoid of life. ¡°On the evening of August 2, On the same day, two of Gerald¡¯s victims Justin and Gela, were in the same condition as Jonathan raped and parts of their bodies missing. All 4 bodies were hidden and tightly packed to a hollow trunk of a tree.¡± ¡°Blergh, plea-¡­stop! Just stop please Please Stop¡± said the puking Gerald, banging his head on the table. He was banging it so hard his head started bleeding. His lawyer quickened his pace as he saw Gerald breaking down. ¡°the 5th victim Sam as narrated by policeman Cardo, found behind a trunk getting devoured by none other than Gerald, his innards hanging out and blood continuously flowing out. Gruesome murders that a sane person wouldn¡¯t be able to commit thus the convict diagnosed with the condition of Dissociative Identity Disorder pleads not guilty for the reason of insanity¡± Gerald now at his wits end , the memory of him ferociously biting Sam¡¯s face starts to resurface ¡°No It wasn¡¯t me, I¡¯m sorry Sam, it wasn¡¯t me¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me Jonathan, Anica, Justin, Gela, Sam, it wasn¡¯t me I¡¯m sorry¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± cried Gerald, leaning back and forth. He broke into tears, and started mumbling ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­ It was me, I''m sorry¡± blood poured on the floor along with the flesh colored tongue. - Inside a mental institution¡¯s room Cardo find himself conversing with Gerald. ¡°Life surely is unfair, it holds true for you. Years of needless suffering leads you here, I don¡¯t blame you if anything I pity you, but that doesn¡¯t apply to the clueless people incited by the media¡¯s lack of information. To them you are a monster, a killer, a pedophile, an actor. How I wish you were an actor indeed, what a terrific acting skills you have kid¡± said Cardo, Gerald¡¯s eyes were hollow, his face devoid of any emotions, and his constant mumblings caused an uncomfortable atmosphere around him. ¡°About your mom, she knew all along. She told me that when you¡¯d go home you would go running to her arms like a kid asking for her help, begging her to cradle you, night after night she¡¯d wash your bloody hands and mouths leaving not that much of an evidence.¡± Said Cardo, hoping to see a change in Gerald¡¯s expression he continued, ¡°Your mothers dead now by the way, awesome right? you only have shit for your li- and you¡¯re not even batting an eye to your mother¡¯s death¡± Losing hope of the kid returning to normal, he had gone back to what he originally came here for. ¡°Well It¡¯s probably too late to persuade the masses and I am nothing but a lowly policeman, In this shithole my words would not heed any changes. They say compassion goes to the dead, tell me Kid...¡± ¡°Would you rather die?¡± slowly asked Cardo. Gerald¡¯s eyes slowly widened, ¡°I see¡± Bang-