#also yeah i made her unsettling slightly (mostly just having a mostly stuck expression) cuz lke. it is a nightmare after all HAAH | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

khymer-vulture · 7 years

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I decided to post 2 short stories today \o/

I’ve had em sitting around for like a month, cuz I’ve been liking the newer stuff I’ve been writing more. So might as well post em (after a bunch of re-editing).

There was an idea right after writing Last Chapters about Caleb one day finding out about his parents’ past. I just couldn’t figure out how to set it up, then I think about how most kids these days kinda believe creepypastas or urban legends are real and stuff.

Anyways, rambling...

Set after Last Chapters.

Secrets are secrets for a reason. Curiosity may lead one to find out things they wished they hadn’t.

Many years have passed by for the small family, Caleb was in school, made quite a number of friends, and even proved to excel in his subjects – just like a normal child.

There were times where Zack would joke about him growing too fast.

“Seriously kid, slow down for a moment…it’s like every time I blink, you grow like a weed!”

Rachel often chuckled at his comment, but she felt happy about it. With Caleb growing happy and healthy each day, it simply proved that Rachel and Isaac did their job right in raising him. Caleb was a bit of a mischief maker, but never to the point of causing too much trouble, he had his mother’s smarts to thank for that. He also remained an adventurer at heart like he’d always been, now that he was much older, he was given more freedoms to explore, especially when he wanted to go meet his friends after school.

Yet, in every growing generation there seemed to be different rumors or scary stories of madmen wandering about to scare or test the mettle of young minds. One of Caleb’s friends was bringing up a “supposed urban legend” about a killer that was still running loose. He always had friends that liked to say tall-tales, this seemed to be yet another one of those wild stories. The boy was always keen to pick out lies and exaggeration, thanks to his dad. Caleb lightly rolled his eyes at his friend’s attempt to sound ominous.

“I’m serious! Have you not heard of the Alleyway Ripper?”

“Haha, is that what he’s seriously called?” Caleb asked with a disbelieving chuckle. “Sounds like something you pulled from a movie…”

“Well…no…but it sounds like it could be…if the cops would’ve given him a cool nickname…” his friend grumbled.

Yup, another wild story.

Caleb lightly sighed, “Go on then…why is he so scary?”

“He’s a real person and the guy’s still loose, he could be anywhere. If someone got killed in the back-alleys, it’s definitely from him! I even heard he kidnaps kids too,” his friend said, “I think he was on the news for a long while because of that.”

If he was real, he should have a name, but he wasn’t given that either. He might as well start picking apart his friend’s claims.

“Okay? So, what does this ‘Ripper’ look like? I gotta keep an eye out, right?” Caleb teased.

“He’s like a grim reaper, literally. Hood, scythe, even a scary face that he keeps covered.”

A hood and a face that is often covered, why did he get a flash of his father just now?

“Uhh…right…maybe you should tell that to some girls, I think they’ll really get scared of that story,” Caleb reluctantly joked.

“I’m serious, he’s real,” his friend insisted, until mischief set in, “…but good idea though…”

A hood and a concealed face. No, that’s just a stupid coincidence…was it?

During the final half hour of school, Caleb decided to head to the school library and use one of its computers. He often went to the library for usual study time before the final bell, but this was a chance to do some investigation. Even though there were the typical internet locks to block out unwanted websites, some were permitted for research use only. Caleb decided to put in the vague details he heard until he got a match.

The computer directed him to an official website containing information of convicted criminals, one name had stuck out like a sore thumb – Isaac Foster. The very same name as his father.

Isaac Foster: approximate age upon registration, 20. Suspected serial killer in connection to multiple murders, assault with a deadly weapon, and kidnapping. Status: WANTED.

Caleb felt his blood grow cold, he didn’t want any of the information he just read to be true, until the mugshot came up.

A young man, his familiar face was completely covered in wrappings, and wore a bloodied and slightly charred hoodie while he had a bloodthirsty glint in his bi-colored eyes. This picture was an absolute opposite of the mischievous and gentle expression Caleb had known most of his life.

The supposed killer spoken as some sort of Boogieman was none other than his own father. Caleb silently closed out of the browser and excused himself out of the library as soon as the bell rung. He had a confused yet sullen expression on his face, normally he would walk with his friends until he met with his mother halfway, but he wanted to be alone.

Rachel met up with Caleb, but she seemed to sense a different vibe coming from her son, she offered to help carry his things as they made their way back home.

“Hey Caleb, you’re looking so down today…did something happen in school? Nobody’s giving you a hard time, are they?” she sweetly asks.

His mother’s tender voice always lightened his spirits, but his mind continued to be clouded with uneasy thoughts. Does his own mother know what kind of man she’s married to? He felt compelled to ask, but deep down he wanted to hear the truth from his father first, someone he felt like he was his best friend for the longest time.

Rachel was unsure what was bothering her son, she brought a hand up to gently run her fingers through his hair, “If you feel ready to explain what’s on your mind, I’m always here, okay?”

“Alright, mom…thanks…” Caleb replied with a partial hug.

Rachel opened the door for Caleb to step inside first to make himself comfortable while she set his things off to the side for him to take care of later. It was always time to unwind first, then take care of responsibilities afterwards.

Soon, a voice called out from the kitchen, “Is the kid back? Hey Caleb, I just stockpiled some snacks!”

Both Caleb and Isaac had a soft spot for junk food and their son would go flying right towards the kitchen, but even now, he seemed to drag his heels. Zack seemed to detect a change in behavior, so he met both his wife and Caleb to the doorway. The man had a large plate in his hand filled with assorted junk food, mostly chips and cookies. He glanced at his son and noticed an expression Caleb had never given before.

“Hey kid…what’s up? Are you feeling alright?” Zack asked, already having a cookie halfway in his mouth.

Caleb lightly bit at his lip, he didn’t want to see his father’s face for a moment, all he could picture was the mugshot, and the grim expression that showed clear as day.

“Dad?”

“Yeah?” Zack asks.

“Have you…ever…killed someone?”

That question made both Zack and Rachel freeze, the plate simply slipped from the man’s grasp and crashed onto the floor. What brought this question? Why did he ask it? How could he avoid it? Caleb could see a conflicted expression on Zack’s face, it was a mix between regret, anger, and grief.

“How did this question come up?” Zack stoically asks.

“A friend of mine was making up stories again, stuff about a runaway killer. At least, I thought it was made up…it obviously sounded fake, but the description fit you…” Caleb said, “I was hoping it was just coincidence…then I…”

“Enough, Caleb…” Isaac interrupted, his voice wasn’t raised, but it was slightly firm. “I know where this leads…”

Zack knew that Caleb was very smart for his age, the boy was already in middle school. If Caleb got curious, he was damn determined to get results. He must’ve found it, judging how unsettled he was.

“Zack…” Rachel beckoned.

The man glanced to Rachel for a moment, then sighed to himself, “Let me talk with him for a while…sorry for the mess…”

Rachel was still uncertain as she watched Isaac gently nudge Caleb with him to follow. The boy felt like he had opened the door to the lion’s den and became nervous for what he was about to be lectured on – or possibly find out. Zack remained an unnatural calm, and didn’t even utter a single word until he guided Caleb into his room.

“Sit down,” Zack said as he closed the door.

Caleb did just as his father asked, and sat himself on the edge of the bed, Zack quietly walked over to the closet that contained his assortment of hoodies and Rachel’s outfits. The man swiftly pulled the articles of clothing to the side to reveal his scythe.

A hood, a scythe, with his face covered up.

“Yes Caleb…I have killed people before…” Zack answered, “it was the only nature I’ve known back then…the only thing that gave me the feeling of purpose…”

The ugly truth finally came out, Caleb could see a crestfallen expression on his father’s face, like the truth hurt him instead of a lie.

“I never wanted you to know…” Zack murmured, “I never wanted you to learn the ugly truth about us…”

“Wait…Mom too?”

Zack faintly sighed, then nodded. He walked up to the bed and sat down next to Caleb, then buried his face in his hands. He thought, for once, whispers of his infamous misdeeds were put to rest after his ‘inactivity’. Instead, it was cast into mere urban legend, keeping that dark legacy of his alive.

“Fuck…”

It wasn’t the time to be watching his language, he was both frustrated and hurt with the situation they were in now.

“Your mom didn’t do it as high of a degree as I did…she did have her…moments. That was about it,” Zack continued, “She’s still the loving know-it-all you know her by, Caleb…”

“…am I going to end up the same way?”

That question felt like an immediate stab in the heart, he even groaned from the internal pain, but Zack simply took a deep breath to calm his nerves. It was the only best thing he could do instead of swearing at the top of his lungs and punching a hole through the wall to combat the ache he was feeling.

“Do you want to?” he asks.

“What?”

“Do you want to end up like me? Do you want to hurt people?” Zack asks once more.

Caleb paused at the question, then quickly shook his head, “No…no, of course not.”

Zack brought a hand up to gently ruffle his hair, “Good, keep saying that…you won’t end up that way. Your mom and I did everything we could to have you live the best fucking life possible. Shit, I dreaded the day something like this would happen…but I kept ignoring it…”

“…What made you want to do all those horrible things?” Caleb asked.

Zack sighed as he leaned back some, “…People have a breaking point, kid. My scars are one, I got lit on fire when I was young. Then was left to rot away in that fucking orphanage…but I’d rather not get into full detail about that right now, this god damn topic is gloomy enough as it is. Murder looked so easy, it eventually became my calling. I was so sick of seeing the happy smiles on people’s faces and preferred to see despair. Every person was given a count to three to try outrunning me before the deed was done…it was a guarantee to see that look…that was how I rolled…”

“Was mom the same way?”

“Her parents were a fucking work of art…at least, from what she tells me. Drunk cop for a dad, a mouthy and bitter woman for a mother. Fights, shouting matches, even she was caught in the fray…someone like her to go through that kind of bullshit for that long…it was no wonder she snapped too. The worst things in life loves to bring out the worst in everybody…”

Zack sensed Caleb’s insecurities, “…Monsters are made, not born. There’s always a reason for the insane shit people do. I guess with work…monsters can be unmade too. You’re a good kid, Caleb. Hell, you and yer’ mom are really fucking important to me than just a few seconds of thrill. I…I think that’s proof enough…”

Caleb thought about that statement for a moment, but another question sparked in his mind, “Do you still want to kill people?”

“I’d be lying if I said no, I still get those urges from time to time. It’s something I’ve been doing for years…it doesn’t just go away with the snap of the fingers. That’s why when I go out at night, I do a bit of stealing to try and suppress it - bonus if a brawl is involved, helps me vent out aggression,” Zack replied. “If I can knock a guy out, that satisfies me for a good while…”

“Who was the last person you killed?”

Zack paused for a moment, “Do you remember the scary lady?”

The woman from before, when Caleb wandered too far off from home, Zack was there to chase her away from him – didn’t he? His father’s old answer came back to mind. Scared her to death. To death. Now it made sense as to why Zack lacked a hoodie and bandages when he returned.

“Why did you have to kill her? I mean - yeah, I was terrified of her, but what reason did you have?”

“Because she knew who your mother and I was, and now she knew where we lived. If I had let her go…” Zack stopped in his sentence, then grit his teeth as he felt frustration build, “Fuck…if I had let her go…the life we got now…everything would have gone to hell in an instant…”

The thoughts of the possibility were showing signs of upsetting Isaac greatly, he began to feel tears threatening to build up. Zack had never expressed this side of himself before, but it seemed right now that it couldn’t be helped, he felt like he was being torn apart.

“They’d send your mom back to that fucking psyche ward, I’d be executed in a heartbeat, and…” Zack couldn’t finish, the final possibility was killing him on the inside, “and…fuck…fuck…losing you would be the hardest, especially if they found out who your parents were…”

There were actual tears streaming from his eyes, dampening the bandages that covered his face, “I can’t fucking have you go through that nightmare, Caleb. God fucking damn it, I know it’s not happening but shit, it fucking hurts to think about…it fucking hurts…”

His father had tears streaming down his face, the truth was agonizing to spill out, along with the ‘what ifs’ that was plaguing his mind, especially when that ‘what if’ was his family being ripped from each other.

Caleb learned his father lived a life of horrific crimes, a person that people would often depict as a monster with no conscience - even his mugshot would’ve said the same. Yet, here Zack was, showing the most human of emotions beside him. Zack was fully aware of his past, still struggles with it, yet feels like every sacrifice he made for the sake of his family was worth it, and having it be taken away could literally kill him.

No, not just Zack - Rachel too.

Their son only heard a brief summary of his mother, but Caleb was sure that she had her own share of dark secrets. Having to tell him would be just as heartbreaking for Ray as it was now for Isaac. He can reluctantly picture it, especially for someone as giving as his mother. From what Caleb gathered, his parents were emotionally broken people, whatever further history there was to share, it seemed to heal them in some sort of way.

Caleb was torn at first, he didn’t know what side to truly believe. There was the truth laid before him that his father committed atrocities, and there was a feeling like there was an attempt at some sort of redemption, no matter how large or small of an impact it would make. The years that was spent growing up until now, their feelings towards one another as a family was genuine. Should things be allowed to change after coming across this new information?

Caleb lightly bumped his head against Zack’s shoulder and wrapped an arm around him in his way to hug his father. Isaac turned his focus to his son, then quietly chuckled to him.

“…The guy hug?”

“The guy hug…” Caleb replies.

Isaac brought his arm around his son to pull him close into a returning half hug, and stayed that way for a brief moment. It was comforting after a heart-wrenching moment for the two of them.

Within seconds, Zack suddenly yanked his son close to give him a playful noogie, feeling the lad flail underneath his grip.

“Jeez kid, stop growing…you’re almost as tall as me…” Zack teased, then let his son go.

Caleb huffed as he tried to fix his messed-up hair, despite the darkest contrast of his parents, they certainly acted like everyday people. They truly wanted what was best for him while growing up.

“Hey dad?” Caleb asked.

“Hmm?”

“My friends often gripe about their parents being too strict and stuff. I guess because they don’t see from their parent’s point of view. How you and mom act every day, you behave just like ordinary parents. You both care for me, you’re firm but fair, and of course…you’re both really embarrassing at times – like normal parents,” Caleb spoke.

Caleb really did inherit his mother’s smarts after all, those words alone made Zack express a touched yet proud smile.

“God damn, you’re like a fucking gift from the gods, kid…” Zack quietly laughed, “I’m glad you’re our son, Caleb…”

Caleb softly smiled back at his father, then a question came to mind that he almost forgot.

“Hey…one of your crimes said kidnapping…who was it you kidnapped?”

Zack raised a brow, then had a smirk on his face, “Shit, I wouldn’t call it kidnapping…more like rescuing.”

“It was Mom?”

“Yup, I was the knight n’ shining armor and all that shit,” Zack answered proudly.

Now Caleb wasn’t convinced. The expression was clear as day.

“Oh, come on, I was joking with that bit…jeez…you’re like your mom.” Zack muttered with a pout.

The two then shared a short laugh before getting up to reunite with Rachel.

“Your mom is still probably worried to death about this whole thing…look, there’s still a lot more to tell you…but I think right now, this is as far as we’re going to go. When all of us are ready...me and your mom are gonna sit with ya’ and tell you what you need to know…okay?” Isaac said as he was heading to the door, “…it may not even be pretty…shit...we know what we did, just please don’t view us as any different.”

The eventual talk was going to be an emotional struggle without a doubt, it’s a hidden and dreadful truth, even if it was kept away with the best of intentions. It may be later tonight, tomorrow, or any other given point in time. The secrets coming forth was still so much to take in, and tackling it all straight away would be far too taxing for the entire family, it was better to handle it one step at a time when they were prepared.

“Oh Christ…uh…don’t let your mom know that I was letting my language fly in front of you,” Zack said.

“It’s fine, dad…I think the situation called for it…” Caleb replies, “Besides…your language is tame compared to my friends.”

“Seriously? Fuck, I’m getting old…”

He allowed Caleb to leave the room first, but he paused to look back at the closet where he kept his scythe. Zack slowly approached the small room littered with hanging clothes as he gazed at the old weapon. He stared at it for a good while to reflect on the past, then placed his hands on the hanging garments and slid it back into obscurity.

Caleb did learn some parts of an unpleasant history, and he still had much more to learn when he would be ready and willing. Whatever wild rumors and stories his friends felt like fabricating to scare and create their own creatures that go bump in the night, Caleb decided to leave it just as that – just stories. As his father said, monsters are what they are because they were made to be that way.

Yet, like his parents, he did not see them as monsters or anything compared to it, but as normal people – eccentric at times, but normal human beings nonetheless. They were simply wronged at the start and had an unorthodox way of coping, but they at least admitted their faults and errors.

After all, it’s only human to sin.

#khymer's fanfics #that our bond series thing

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