The moon was out on a misty night, casting an eerie glow on the alleyway as fog blurred the surrounding area. There was a heavy feeling in the air. It seemed to press down on me as I walked slowly deeper into darkness. This is the night. The perfect conditions are in place. When there was no light that could be seen, only suffocating darkness, I reached for the backpack I brought with me. I had prepared everything correctly. I cut out a photo of my dear nephew and slept with it under my pillow. In my dream that night, I took his photo, now mysteriously framed, to this alleyway. It had been months of careful planning and studying weather patterns, but it would have been worth it if this worked. Well worth it.

I looked around, trying to remember where I left the photo. It should be here. I looked behind a dumpster, and there it was. It was lying against the wall like another piece of trash. Like him. I clutched the photo and studied it. This was the same one I used in my dream. This could work, it was real. I couldn't believe it. A fluttering excitement caused me to almost bounce in joy. Soon he'll be gone, and that bitch of a mother will learn to have never left my sweet, innocent brother. Here's your karma. I walked, or really skipped, over to the dead-end of the alley. I was barely able to see the wall in front of me. Today he finally gets what he deserves... what she deserves!

Setting the picture down on the ground, I reached into the backpack I bought just for the occasion. I grabbed the candle, a lighter, and the piece of black chalk. I lit the candle to see. The darkness' snatching the breath out of me. It would be unsettling if I wasn't so ecstatic! I kneeled to the ground and drew a raven with the black chalk, but instead of a natural bird beak, I made certain to give it a smiley face. Standing back up, I looked at my work. It's a little on the lumpy side, but it least it looks like a bird. This should work. Now for the main event.

I took the backpack off and set it on the ground. I threw the chalk back inside and took out the pick and shovel. Now to bury you like your wretched mother will have to later. I threw the pick on the cracked pavement, on top of the bird. It made such a large clinking sound, but I could feel as if no soul would hear it. I bent backward and brought the pick forward on the crack once more, using the full force of my body. It split open a like a mini cavern and the sound rang through my head. It deafened my thoughts and soon it felt as if someone was guiding me, urging me to keep digging. I allowed it to aid me. My back was starting to ache, feeling the beginning of a crushing pain.

I don't know how many tries it took to reach the dirt underneath the pavement, but it's done. I threw the pick to the side and picked up the shovel. I was sweating profusely and taking in quivering breaths. My arms shook and my back was burning, feeling like my spine could snap at any second. Nevertheless, I was urged on. I dug a hole the depth of a foot, making sure the frame could fit inside. Once I was done, I set the frame gently inside despite wanting to hurl it in there with the strength of my rage. I felt like utterly collapsing. My muscles ache and my lungs couldn't seem to take in enough air. I kept going.

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I buried the frame in the soft earth. It was true you could never fully fill the hole back. A thought finally pushed to my attention, sounding like a voice unlike my own: "One final thing to do." I nodded absentmindedly, using the pieces of concrete to create a circle around the hole. I took a deep breath as my frame shuddered under complete exhaustion. It's time. I can feel it. I could see the sun start to rise over the horizon. I'm losing the night. I have to call him now.

"Come here. I have a job for you, Amir," I called for him and waited. Nothing happened. "Amir, I need revenge! Don't you care?" I was starting to lose my patience. Yet again, nothing happened. Only the call of a bird announcing the light starting to creep down the alley. "Get here right now!" My voice strained. I wanted to sleep and have that little bastard killed!

With a rumble and a loud crack, something clawed its way up, breaking through the ground. Dirt showered the area in front of me, giving it a new coat of Earth. A claw-like hand gripped the side of the hole, and with erratic, jerky movements, Amir struggled to the surface. I couldn't speak. He was blood-stained with new cuts on his body from the concrete. He inspected me up and down and I quivered much to my dismay.

"Expecting me my dear?" He asked... It asked, smiling. Its voice was like two metals screeching together in wailing unison, begging to pulled away from each other. It left the feeling of hearing nails on a chalkboard. Its voice was high and distorted and cracked with nearly every word. Amir let the question to echo in the alleyway, like a haunting omen. It waited for an answer as it towered above me like a giant. I couldn't move, I was planted to the paved ground. The look in its eyes told me it was starting to get annoyed, so it ripped the framed photo of my nephew, Jackie from the ground. The broken glass cut its claw-like fingers, and it didn't seem to notice the blood dripping to the ground. "Is this who you want for your vengeance?" I would not speak, it was like my tongue was dead in my mouth.

"What? Too scared to speak little girl. How pathetic are you? Coming to me to kill someone in your own family!" It taunted me, mocking me. I finally muttered a sentence.

"That thing isn't a part of my family," I managed to say.

"Oh? He isn't? Well than I bet you wouldn't mind me," It leaned in closer to my ear, like a lover whispering sweet, gentle things to their soulmate, "Ripping him apart while he screamed, would you little girl?" It proposing me like it was offering me to buy ice cream, like the weight of those words had no toll on it. It peered down at me, still smiling. I could tell Amir was exhausting its patience.

"N-no, I wouldn't," I tried to sound stronger than I was even as my voice cracked. What have I done? Oh God, what have I done? It chuckled at me.

"Liar." My scream echoed through the alley. No one came to my rescue as it lunged for me, its eyes piercing my soul like the pickaxe pierced the pavement.