Chapter I

Chapter I

I awoke to the sound of beating hearts, a chorus of ba-dum ba-dums. Where I was I did not know. My hands were covered with blood. My body was covered with scars. I looked down at my body and thought, “Look at that repulsive being! That crazed murderer! May he die slowly in misery!”

I rose to my feet and began to walk. Where I was I did not know, nor did I care. People were all around me, walking through the street in which I treaded. No one looked at me which made me confused. With so much blood on my hands and scars on my body, I was shocked that no one was staring at my disgusting figure. I was shocked that no one would shriek, “What is that thing!?” No one in the sea of people I was swimming in had blood dripping from their fingers or hideous marks tainting their flesh. So how was it that no one saw me?

Their obliviousness was infuriating beyond reasoning. I grabbed a woman, shook her slightly and asked, “How is it, dear stranger, that you do not notice my hideousness? How is it that you do not scream in horror at the sight of my repulsive being?”

The woman cocked her head to the side and replied, “Dear sir, there is nothing disgusting about you. In fact, I think you are quite handsome.” Handsome? She was insane. She had to be insane! I let go of her and grabbed a man, then asked him the same questions. He too said that I was not hideous.

I was swept away by the sheer stupidity of the people around me. Just how was it that they did not see just how grotesque I was? They were all mindless, ignorant, and blind! I was growing desperate to find at least one sane person in the crowd that was walking past me. That’s when I saw her.

She too had blood on her hands, but only a little. There were a few scars adorning her pale flesh. Regardless of her blood and scars, I found her to be a shining jewel amongst a swarm of dull rocks. I forced my way through the crowd and over to her. She looked at me and her emerald eyes widened slightly.

“We are the same, you and I,” she stated.

I nodded and she gently grabbed my hand, her slender fingers intertwining with mine. We began to walk together; neither of us bothered by the hideousness of the other. And amongst clean fools who knew nothing of murder and shame, she and I were able to find peace in each other’s horrible arms.

Her name was Kera, which means pure. And to me, a crazed man of unimaginable grotesque looks and thoughts, she deserved that name, for that is what she was. Pure.