The moon tried her best to brighten up the night, yet the mood was unsettling as ever. With cats meowing like there was no tomorrow, a swaying fragile body started to crawl out of the alley. It looked like a gate of netherworld had just been opened there and a demon was summoned.
But it was no demon, but a normal human, of age around 20-ish. Well, people said that adult started at 25. For man, some even stated that it started at 40. 20 was no doubt a child!
"My head hurts," he murmured as he tried to support his body in order to get up. His left hand got higher, but the right one stayed motionless. It was there, but it seemed to be completely cut off from him.
For second, he was able to firm his leg and got his body up. His left hand was forced to work extra hard. Just like a madman, he tried to reach any object in the vicinity to get some support. It was clear he couldn't continue crawling with his almost non-existent ragged cloth and bruised body.
God knew what happened back there.
"I can make it..." And his body betrayed him as it plumped, smashing towards the earth.
What he didn't realize was that his head was full of red blood. Even his trail left streaks of blood and he reeked of ghoulish smell. With a single glance, he looked like a zombie. Whoa, who would expect a zombie in this modern day!
Perhaps, it was luck, or maybe it was just a pure coincidence, his body hit not the flat earth, but a bunch of papers and folded boxes. Of course, it was followed by an ear-piercing scream.
"Arghhhhh!"
A white haired old lady was there, pushing a cart of recyclable papers. There were still some streaks of black hair on her head, but combined with her short and skinny stature, she gave the aura of hardworking poor old lady.
Anyone who looked at her would feel pity, as if their kind souls were being awakened. But still, in this modern era, who would have time for others. Our own life was as hard as it was.
Out of a sudden literally a bloody boy slammered her cart, causing her heart to stop beating for a crazy one second. She was truly lucky to have a strong heart.
But that boy was no stranger, as she took only a glimpse to call him, " Holy Goddd! Jun my son!"
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That bloody zombie like boy was her only son, and he had been missing for a whole day.
"Mom, I'm going to be late today. Don't wait for me for dinner." That was the last thing she heard from him since yesterday. She thought everything was normal, until she saw her son right at the moment.
She didn't realize when her cheeks did become so wet, but she did realize she didn't have enough energy to get her son home. He was too heavy and she was just a frail aging woman.
An old woman and a bloody young man. One could see that the old woman did pop her veins and bulge her eyes out as she tried to pull the boy onto the cart.
Occasionally, there was one or two passerby. However, all of them just frowned their forehead and increased their pace. It wasn't a punishment for the weak and poor, but a norm of today's sinister society.
Why would you bother yourself into a stranger's affair, unless you wanted to risk yourself ended up like that young man? Who knew maybe some gangs set it up to rob people in this middle of the night. It wasn't worth the risk!
"Plopp..." She could feel her bone cracking, but she paid no heed. Time seemed frozen and even the midnight breeze wouldn't flow, as they held their breaths to see how far a mother would go for her son.
Her papers that were supposed to buy her lunch tomorrow were now soaked in red. The frail body of her son was lifeless.
Papers could be gathered again, but her son could never be replaced. Even if she were offered moon and sun in his place, she would reject them without battling an eyelash.
That night was fated to be another urban legend. There was an old witch who hunted on young man for eternal life. If the man resisted, he would have no choice but to become a bloody pup.
Of course, there were only a selected few who knew the truth. The night where even the most dazzling star was not even worth mentioning when compared with a mother's love.
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"Get a step closer and we're done..."
"I'm sorry, but I have no choice. I'm sorry..."
"Sorry your mother..."
"I'll take care of your family well... I'm sorry..."
"I curse you to a life worse than death..."
"I didn't really mean to do this... arrghhh..."
Back then, we were good friends. People called us the king and the pauper though. We ate and hit on girls together.
I was a spoiled rich brat with no friend and you were an independent poor boy who nobody wanted as friend. Somehow fate brought us together through our middle school.
I was thankful to have you as my best friend, but was it going to end like this? This was just like a happy movie that ended with a tragedy. It was sweet, but bitter. I didn't like this bittersweet feeling!
I cursed you to a life worse than death. And even your family was no exception. I would spare no pity to get my revenge. And even that little lass whom you had crush on.
Don't blame me. It was your fault.
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"What happened... I thought I was dead for sure..." Slowly, he tried to open his heavy eyelids. He clearly remembered those stabs on his stomach and how hurt it was to have your blood drained bit by bit, till your brain gave up.
The mice were laughing at him as his so-called best friend left him.
A slow, painful and cruel way of dying!