Breath in, breath out. 

      That's all that usually got him through his day. if it wasn't the sudden panic attacks, it'll be the harsh memories. He tried to make it all go away, make it all stop... but it never worked. He blames them for making him like this. They're the reason he lives alone, they're the reason he has been hurt both physically and emotionally. They're the reason for everything.

   Breath in, breath out.

   A sudden knock at the door caused Mason's ears to twitch.

"..." 

   Another knock.

"Mr. Mancov. It's me. I want to speak to you about your rent."

    He looked at himself in the mirror, his face turning with dread as he watched his reflection. Mason always tried his best to be kind with Mrs. Vanger. She's always been so kind to him, and to as well let him live in an empty apartment near the basement. She's the only one willing too.

   His antiques made little rattle noises here and there as he made his way to the door. He's always been a lover of the strange and mysterious. A collector. Anything others found odd, weird, ugly...he would take them home. Hang them up or find a nice little space. Anything broken he would fix. 

but he couldn't fix himself. 

"Mr. Mancov," Mrs. Vagner smiled as the large man opened the door. "good morning!"

    A wave is all she got.

"Sorry to bother u. May i come in?"

"mhm? mhm." He nodded moving out the way. 

  The older woman smiled walking in, looking around like she always does,

"Ah, see your collection is growing."

"Mhm," He walked over to the kitchen coming back. "mhm?" He grunted holding up tea bags.

"Huh? Oh no thank u i'm fine. I'm more of a coffee person. May i sit?" She pointed at a seat. 

    He nodded sitting across from her. 

"I don't..want to alarm you or anything but, you're 3 months behind on rent."

    Looking down he didn't know what to say, what could he say? I'm sorry? 

As if that'll help.

"Trouble finding jobs?"

   Mason nodded. He could never keep one job, he's always shuffling around doing "strange" jobs.

"Well..a friend of mine is looking for seasonal workers, I talked to her and she said she would love for you to come by and check it out. I mean it's perfect! Someone your'e size is great for manual work! That being said, if you're up to it--."

 "I'll check it out." His husky voice echoed the apartment as he cut her off.

"Really?! That's great!" she quickly took out a pen writing down the address and directions, "It's near the Art museum, can't miss it." 

"Okay..Thanks.." He grumbled staring at the letters.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    The plants seemed to dance with happiness as Mason watered them. The plants that he had in front of his old apartment were the only vibrant colored objects he owned. It's not much, but it's home. A home he made for himself.

    He was in his own little world, thinking about tomorrow. Thinking about different outcomes. Mason was thinking hard until his plant was kicked down the stairs. 

"Whoops! Sorry didn't see that there!" An overly obnoxious man yelled laughing. His other friends joining him. 

    Mason didn't say a word, he just stood walking over grabbing the damaged plant. He knew better than to give Tommy, the man who kicked his plant, any sort of attention. 

"I can't believe your mom lets a beast like that live down there" One of the guy friends said with a disgusted look. 

"Leave." Mason stoically spoke trying to keep his emotions in check. 

"How cute, he thinks he's going to scare us! I'd like to see him make us." One of the girls gave a bitchy smile. 

 "I told you to leave."

   It all happened so fast, next thing everyone saw and heard was the girl gurgling and drowning in her own blood. Her bottom jaw missing. Her friends started screaming and running off, but Mason caught Tommy by the hair.

"Mason! Wait no!"

"Didn't think so." Her bitchy voice rang through his hears again causing Mason to finally blink his burning eyes.

"Cmon, let's leave this freakshow to himself." Tommy walked off with his friends leaving Mason alone with his thoughts.

   Staring down at the floor his knuckles became white as he made a tight fist.

"Cmon Tommy! Punch him harder!"

"I wanna see teeth flying!"

    Scratching his scarred face, hee turned around slowly walking back into his apartment and slammed the door closed. His anger growing in his heart, a knot in his stomach, his teeth grinding as he tried to hold everything in. He hated this. Hated how everyone thinks they can just step on him! He punched his door. a dent forming. 

   Turning around he went towards his kitchen to grab water to calm down but stopped when he saw his reflection. Saw how red his face was with anger, saw how badly his scars made him look. Slowly he traced his fingers over his cold, pale, face. Something he tends to do, but this time it just cause him to be even angrier.

"Ugly. Just like everyone says you are." He mumbled to himself as he sunk his nails into his scars. reopening them, "This is why no one loves u." 

    The scars ran from his bottom lip halfway up his cheek as if someone slashed him, another one of going from eyebrow to ear, another going from all the way across his cheek down to nose. And finally a scar on his chin accompanied with one long one reaching from his hairline all the way down to his neck. 

such ugliness..they were all right. 

and as the blood trickled from his scars to the floor, he couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of blood on his hands.