Keir’s abandonment

*This story is underneath my folder titled “A creature of love”. Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=116005&start=1425. This story is based off a tale from my story “31 horrendous Halloween tales”, which is under my folder titled ”31 Halloween tales”. Enjoy!*

Introduction

It was only a mistake. Keir never meant to push Kayna into the fire, he slipped up.

But his family, so full of hatred for their own child, left him to rot in their house.

And any heart can turn to grime if it is left alone too long…

Chapter One

Keir held all of the plates in his arms with much stumbling difficultly. For his parents were putting him in charge of putting the dishes away, saying that he needed to learn how to get by.

Keir wouldn’t mind doing all of that if it hadn’t meant that he had to carry all of those plates. They were just so…so much.

He was a thin, corpse-like boy of fifteen. He ate well, but for some reason, his bones never ceased to be visible underneath his pale, papery skin. It was something he wished that would go away, for he wanted to look as alive as his peers.

They’re just plates. They can’t be that hard to carry. Calm down, Keir. It’s alright. He thought to himself.

But his leg slipped and-

“Again, Keir? Really? Over a few plates? Clean that up, now!” Mom yelled out.

He got up to grab the dustpan in the closet, but then, Dad said:

“Pick it up with your hands!”

Pick it up with his hands? But they were plate shards, he couldn’t possibly pick them up himself.

“You heard him! Get on with it.” Mom seethed.

One look at his parents, and Keir knew that they were serious, just as they always had been. He had to pick them up himself, or they would sit on the floor for weeks, without anyone to clean it up.

He bent down and began to pick up the shards, fingers bleeding from the sharp points.

Chapter Two

After picking up all of the shards, Keir carried them over to the kitchen and dumped them in the trash.

On the kitchen wall was a crotched family sign, supposedly the prophecy of their family, which read:

“He who does a terrible deed will become a slavering monster.”

It had been passed down on his Dad’s side of the family for generations, and because of the way Keir looked, his parents always assumed that he would be the monster.

Keir stalked off to the bathroom, away from the hateful words. Why did his parents believe words that never turned out to be true?

Why couldn’t they just love him?

Chapter Three

Keir washed away the blood underneath the water of the bathroom sink, watching as his pink scars glistened freshly.

He didn’t heal instantly. He was only human, so why couldn’t they treat him as such?

Keir walked off into his room and pulled the covers up in his bed. There had to be a First Aid kit somewhere, there had to be something that could heal him, but his parents always hid it away.

He closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

There he was. The man, the criminal, running away from his problems. He didn’t need the money, but he wanted it.

His black shoes clacked against the stone path. He grinned, for the townspeople could never keep up. He was a master of stealing, of taking all that deserved to be his.

“Halt!” Another man’s voice cried out.

Against the criminal’s own will, he froze.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Keir woke up, his throat clammy with fright. It was the same nightmare, every time.

When Keir was little, Dad told him stories of a man in their family long ago named Atticus MacQuoid, a man who accumulated wealth by stealing, someone who never wanted to commit to anything. He never wanted to work, never wanted to love. He wanted everything to be easy.

In return, a witch cursed him to become a human-eating monster, a thing that no one would love, that was destined to rot alone.

Dad always said that Keir looked deplorable, that if he slipped up, he’d turn into a monster, just like Atticus did.

Keir hugged his legs close to his chest. He’d never hurt a soul. Why, if he had anyone to love, he’d hold them close and never let go.

But no. It was just him and his thoughts, his ever-so-growing loneliness.

Keir lay back in bed, looking at the moon shining on his window.

Wouldn’t he ever get anyone in his life? A friend? Perhaps someone more?

Did anyone at school even see him that way? In a loving, sweet way? Was he worthy of it?

Of course he was worthy. Everyone was worthy of love…weren’t they?

Tears slipped from Keir’s eyes, he shook with sobs.

At least his parents didn’t care enough to check on him.

Chapter Four

THE NEXT DAY

Though it was yet to be proven, many people avoided the MacQuoid family, in fear of the curse.

Keir didn’t sit at the back of class. He sat in the middle, where he didn’t have to be far away, but not too close to where they would look at him in disgust.

He didn’t bother telling his parents about the nightmare that he had, because why would they care? They ‘d only say “We already know the story, Keir. No need to tell us again”.

They were so adamant that he would be a monster, all because of some curse that may or may not have been placed on Atticus MacQuoid.

Next to him was Kayna, a girl who never seemed to look at him with thinly veiled fright. Her eyes sparkled with kindness, something that he didn’t quite understand.

Perhaps she was sweet, but how would he know? Keir could never quite work up the courage to talk to her.

But that one day at school changed everything, because Kayna slipped a piece of paper on his desk when the teacher wasn’t looking.

Keir unfolded it, curious, but wary as to its contents.

Written in pink gel pen ink was:

555-220 call me! :>

But why would she want him to call her?

Chapter Five

After many minutes, the bell chimed for the dismissal of class. Keir collected his books and slung his backpack over his shoulder, puzzling over the note that Kayna gave him. They never once spoke to each other, so why would she give him her number?

He walked out of class, stopping Kayna in her tracks and asking:

“What’s with the note?”

Kayna turned around and smiled.

They were both standing in the hallway, students and teachers walking past them in a blur. It was as if they were the only ones awake in a constant dream.

“I think that you’re kind of cute. That’s all.” Kayna said.

“Me? Cute?” Keir asked.

His eyes were bugged out, like they would pop out of his sockets any given moment. His pale skin stretched on thin bones, and no matter how much chapstick he put on, his lips still managed to look cracked. His long, black hair grew haphazardly, in loops, mangled into knots. He tried his best to brush it all away, but he had far too much hair on his head to tame. His long nails were pointed like desperate claws.

Why would she think that he was cute? Kayna, with her russet-brown ponytail flopping side-to-side cheerily, her amber eyes sparkling brightly, her peach skin glowing…why would she like him?

“Yes, you! You, Keir!” She giggled.

With that, she skipped off to class, the epitome of carefree.

Keir folded the paper neatly to put in his backpack, his heart daring to beat with hope.

Never before in the history of his life had a girl actually liked him!

Chapter Six

BACK HOME

Keir opened the front door, heading off to his room before his parents noticed that he was home. Once they did, who knew what they would do with him?

He closed the door to his room and sat on his bed, picking up the phone on his nightstand. He dialed the number on the machine and spun the wheel, listening closely for the sound of Kayna’s voice, his heart beating with excitement.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“It’s me, Keir.”

“Oh, Keir! Hello! How are you doing?”

“I’m good. You?”

“Great! But I could be better…you always see kids our age in relationships, yes?”

“I mean, yes, but not everyone is in a relationship.”

“I know, I know. But I’ve been feeling lonely. I’ve been imagining what it’d be like to play with your hair…to kiss your sallow skin…to hear your secrets. I’ve been watching you, Keir. I’ve been too scared to say anything but I uh…I think I like you.”

“Really? Wow…I…I never heard that before. That’s…that’s new.”

“Do you like me too? You don’t have to, but I just wanted to tell you.”

“Your smile is nice. You look like a kind person, but I don’t personally know you, so it’s not the best judgment.”

“I promise, I’m kind. Do you like me?”

“Yes! Yes, I do! I just didn’t know if I should say anything!”

“You can always be honest with me. I don’t mind.”

“I think I have to go now.”

“Talk to me at school tomorrow?”

“Of course!”

Keir slammed the phone down on the machine, his face blushing a deep crimson. He felt his heartbeat begin to rise, and he curled up in bed, thinking only of Kayna’s eyes…Kayna’s smile…Kayna’s voice.

She said that she liked him! Him! It almost seemed too good to be true…but life brought unexpected surprises…somebody wanted to be with him!

“Keir, fix the mess that you made!” Dad called out.

It probably wasn’t even his mess, but he’d do it anyway. Besides, Kayna loved him. There was something good in his life!

He had to give her something special…

Chapter Seven

Keir sighed when he got to the living room. Dad spilled coffee all over the hardwood floor, brown liquid seeping through the cracks. It’d take hours for him to clean all of the muck.

“Why can’t you just clean it up? It’s your mess.” Keir said.

He was tired of having to say “yes” to everything without a second thought, he had to tell Dad the truth.

Dad frowned, narrowing his eyes.

“Are you talking back to me?” Dad snapped, his voice rising in irritation.

“No, I’m just telling you the truth.” Keir said, feigning calm.

The anger was rising in Dad’s eyes, a sign that he was about to do his worst. Well, whatever Dad had planned for him wouldn’t be too bad, as he’d still be alive, but it’d still hurt.

Dad flashed his teeth in an attempt to grin, and tossed the burning contents of it on Keir.

“Clean up this mess.” Dad seethed, walking away.

Keir stood still, shaking from the scalding hot liquid of the coffee. He felt like screaming, but his teeth were chattering too much to let him.

He ran to the bathroom, again to wash himself of his wounds.

Chapter Eight

Keir sat in the bathtub, letting the cool water wash away the coffee spill. There were red burn marks blooming on his body, no doubt they needed the attention of a doctor, but why his parents take him? He was destined to be a monster in their eyes.

Why couldn’t he sink deeper into the tub? Why couldn’t the water just swallow him whole and whisk him away?

“All you do is steal. You don’t steal as a means to live, you steal because you want more. More and more and more!” The man said.

Keir blinked. Why was he looking at the memory he had the other night, the vision of Atticus’ fate?

“You steal what the people need. How’d you like to steal the people away, too?” The man asked.

Atticus began to shake and contort, his teeth growing longer, his nails growing sharper.

“No one will want a creature like you.” The man seethed.

As a flesh eater, everyone would shut their doors. Atticus was doomed to an existence of eternal hunger, all because he took from them.

A new thought dawned in Keir’s head. Did Atticus steal to feel company from the objects? To feel less lonely?

Was he really the heartless stealer that his parents told him about?

There wasn’t much time to think. Keir had to get up soon and clean the mess, or else who knew what would happen next?

Chapter Nine

AT SCHOOL

The other night had passed by as though it were a hazy dream. Keir cleaned up the coffee spill, which meant that he deserved dinner.

Even on a full stomach, he still had the nightmares.

That was alright though, because Kayna was waiting by the door to her Math class, her friendly eyes catching a glimpse of Keir.

Keir walked up to her, his heart beating with sunshine joy. He had one special thing to give her, something that would have her think of him all the time.

“Hi Kayna. I think that you’re absolutely wonderful and I uh…I wanted to give you something special.” Keir said.

Kayna watched intently, twirling a strand of her hair. He hoped that he didn’t sound too strange, that she wouldn’t want to run from him.

She was the very first whom he wanted to give everything to, the very first person he believed deserved everything from him. So, only a fitting gift would do.

He reached into his mouth and yanked hard on his tooth. It took a few minutes, but eventually, he could feel it slip out of his gums.

Blood was rushing into his mouth, but who cared? He’d rinse it later. His tooth would never grow back, as he was much too old for his teeth to grow back, but it was all worth it, for Kayna.

“I want to give you everything, Kayna. Ever since you’ve spoken to me, I feel like someone finally cares. That someone finally loves me. So I hope that you like my tooth, among other things.” Keir said.

Kayna outstretched her hand, to which Keir placed his bloody tooth on it. She didn’t seem creeped out by it at all. In fact, she beamed and kissed the tooth.

“Thank you, Keir. It’s beautiful.” She said softly.

The bell rang for class to begin. Keir watched as she walked back to class, licking the spot where his tooth once was.

If she loved it so much, why not give her more? Why not give her all of his teeth? She’d love to hold them close and look at them, wouldn’t she? Maybe they would get married in the future. Maybe she could pick off pieces of him to keep for herself, and he could become nothing but a skeletal husk for her to love.

No, he was getting ahead of himself. One step at a time.

He’d be hers. One day.

Chapter Ten

AT CLASS

Thoughts of Kayna swam in Keir’s head as he sat in class. Even when she wasn’t with him, she was in his mind. Her smile, her kindness, never once failing to leave him.

You can’t lose yourself like this, Keir. You only just met her. A voice said in his head.

A voice that strangely sounded like a man, a voice that wasn’t Keir’s own.

I’m Atticus, Keir. I stole to feel, you’re ripping yourself apart for a girl you just met. Stop it, don’t become a monster. It can happen many different ways, even with good intentions.

Didn’t Atticus steal because he was self-centered? Why would Keir take advice from him?

What did Atticus know about love? He never had the time to form any relationships! Keir had Kayna, they were perfect for each other.

He wasn’t going to let anyone stop him, no matter what they would say.

It was Keir’s life, he was going to make his own choices.

Chapter Eleven

BACK HOME

Keir opened the front door to his house. He hoped that his parents wouldn’t notice that he was missing a tooth, because then they’d rag on him about it.

“What’s with the gap in your mouth?” Mom asked.

It was too late. She already noticed.

“I gave my tooth away to a girl.” Keir said sheepishly. He didn’t want to say it, but alas, the truth came out anyway, as he was never one to lie.

Mom threw her hands up in the air in frustration, her eyes holding a hint of annoyance.

“Why would you give your tooth away to a girl? That’s disgusting. This is why you don’t have any friends, Keir. You’re disgusting.” Mom said.

Keir felt as though he wanted to shrink within himself, to crawl under his skin, but he didn’t run. He wouldn’t run, he’d stay and defend himself.

“She liked my tooth! I want to give her what no one else will give her. I want to give her parts of me! She likes me! She thinks that I’m cute!” Keir cried out.

At that, Mom laughed. Dad joined in the laughter as well from the couch, for the living room was the first room in the house.

Keir didn’t run.

“Cute? Cute? You look like a mutant, Keir. Is this girl even real? What’s her name?” Mom asked.

“Her name is Kayna, and she’s very much a real person. I don’t have to prove her existence, though. You’ll meet her one day.” Keir said.

With that, he stormed up the stairs to his room.

Kayna was real, and she loved him. More than anyone in the whole world.

Chapter Twelve

Keir lay in bed, fingering the gap in his mouth. Was he wrong to give Kayna his tooth? Was that just the thing that would drive people away?

There would be no use in taking it back, for it’d raise more questions about his nature.

He’d come to school the next day and hope for the best. Hiding would be cowardly, and Keir couldn’t hide.

Not anymore.

Chapter Thirteen

THE NEXT DAY

Keir watched as Kayna chatted animatedly with a group of kids in the hallway. He didn’t wave, didn’t acknowledge her. The previous night had been rough, for Kayna’s later reaction had lingered in his mind, even through the demands of his parents.

If she saw him, great. If not, then fine. He didn’t have to force his presence onto her. Besides, he gave her a tooth. Who would want to talk to him after that?

“Keir! Keir!” Kayna called out.

Keir turned around.

Kayna was running towards him, her brown ponytail swaying side to side. Something was in her fist, Keir could tell from how it was clenched.

Or maybe she was coming to punch him.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t wave to you earlier. Some other kids wanted to talk to me.” Kayna said once she got up to him.

She didn’t sound very enthusiastic about the “other kids”.

“Anyway, here’s my tooth! I thought that your gift was really sweet, so I decided to give this to you! You can put it in the gap, just like I did!” Kayna said brightly.

She pointed to a spot in her mouth. Sure enough, lodged deep in there, was the tooth that Kier gave her.

Keir smiled as he took the bloody cavity tooth from her extended hand. He never imagined that she’d give him a tooth in return, or that the tooth she would give would be rotten, but who cared?

If it was her tooth, then it was perfect.

He lodged it deep into his gums, wincing a little at the pain. Kayna reached out to help, but he shook his head.

After a while, the tooth was in his gums.

“That tooth was the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever given me.” Kayna said.

“Really?” Keir asked. He couldn’t quite believe that out of all things, Kayna liked his tooth. It seemed too good to be true.

Kayna nodded.

“Everyone wants to hear what I have to say, but when school is done, they all go home and I’m left all alone. I’m just the “cheery one”. That’s all. I’m everybody and nobody’s friend.” Kayna said with a shrug.

Just the “cheery one”? But she was so much more than that! She was a human, just like him! She had hopes and dreams, just like him!

Just like him…

The bell rang, a deafening banshee scream that rang throughout the halls. Kayna grinned at him and skipped off to her next class, paying no mind to the demanding bell.

She liked teeth, just like him.

Chapter Fourteen

AFTER THE DAY ENDED

School had been a monotonous day of work and pencils, but it was all worth it when Keir left with Kayna, the two of them heading off to the playground under her request.

“You know, people always assume that I’m happy because I’m smiling. They don’t think that I’m capable of sadness because of how I ask, and they never ask how I’m doing.” Kayna said.

Keir noticed her green eyes bloom with tears, crystalized gems pooling with sorrow, but nothing came out.

“I always wanted to feel a real, true connection with someone. When I was little, I used to give people necklaces with my fingernails glued to wires. My parents never liked it, they said that it was what drove people away.” Kayna said.

She paused, a wistful look on her face. Keir thought back to how Mom called him disgusting, and how Dad simply laughed.

“But then, my parents are too busy to even notice much of me. If I tell them that I’m okay, that satisfies them enough. It doesn’t even cross their minds that I still want to give away parts of myself. They think that it was only a phase from when I was young.” Kayna said.

Finally, they stopped in front of the playground. Not a soul was around, and the grass was beginning to dry up. One would have mistaken it for being abandoned, but the fresh candy wrappers on the pavement ground told of the presence of children.

All it needed was a little more love.

“Am I talking too much?” Kayna asked.

“Not at all.” Replied Keir with a smile.

Kayna beamed and looped her arm around Keir’s as they walked to the playground. If she was so comfortable with talking about her past, then maybe she wouldn’t judge if he talked about his.

Perhaps she’d even believe him about the curse. It’d be nice to not have it hang over his head like a billowing, dark cloud, the looming threat of misery and regret.

Chapter Fifteen

“My parents don’t really like me much, either. Except…it’s a little different.” Keir said.

He and Kayna were on the swings, Kayna looking at Keir patiently, waiting for him to speak.

He took a deep breath. She was listening for his words, he couldn’t keep it down for long.

“My parents believe that I’m cursed to be a monster because of the way I look, so they treat me like I’m a rat. They didn’t like that I gave you my tooth and called me disgusting…” Keir trailed off.

He swallowed hard, thoughts of his parents’ treatment swimming in his head. Why did they have to follow something that happened so long ago, a legend that may just be a legend? What did he do to deserve their hate?

“I..I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry that your parents think so low of you. That they believe in some story. You deserve so much better than that.” Kayna said, placing a hand on Keir’s back.

Though he didn’t tell her the whole story, he felt the stress in him melt away.

At least someone cared enough for him.

Chapter Sixteen

A few hours had passed since Keir and Kayna met up at the playground. His parents would be upset with him for taking too long to come home, but who cared? He finally had a true friend in his life.

“Do you think we should get going now?” Kayna asked.

The afternoon sun was fading into the evening moon. Though Keir would have loved to stay with Kayna in the playground while the cool, still air wafted around him, he knew that he couldn’t stay with her forever.

“I guess so.” Keir said glumly. He didn’t quite feel like leaving yet. He supposed that he never would.

“Don’t look so sad! Keep this necklace I made.” Kayna said.

She threw a necklace of white wire and glued-on fingernails onto his lap. Keir smiled, placing the necklace over his head and around his neck.

“It’s lovely. One of the most thoughtful things I’ve ever been given.” Keir said with a smile.

Kayna beamed, her eyes sparkling more than they usually did.

Just the thing to get his heart going.

Chapter Seventeen

Keir opened the front door of his house carefully. He didn’t want to disturb his parents, lest they found out he was with Kayna.

“You’re late.” Dad said.

Keir turned his head towards the corner where Dad spoke, for he could not see in the dark.

“I-I didn’t mean to be. I was-“

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re sleeping on the roof tonight.”

“The roof? Don’t you think that’s a little much?”

“I don’t care. I can’t risk having a monster attack us. Any day it could happen.”

“But Atticus only changed because he stole. I didn’t do anything.”

“Not yet you didn’t. But you will.”

“Do you really think that?”

A prolonged, uneasy moment of silence stretched between the two of them. Keir walked past Dad towards his room, but Dad grabbed his arm and dragged him up the stairs.

Though Dad had no answer in his words, he had an answer in his actions.

Chapter Eighteen

Dad let go of his wrist once they got to the roof and slammed the roof window shut.

There, Keir stood, up on the roof, overlooking all of the houses. Not one person in his block was awake, save for Dad, who would soon be asleep.

The cold wind whipped around him, seeping right to his skin. His clothes looked like they were bought, but they were actually made by Mom. They were thin, unable to keep him warm.

A vision of a man and a woman drowning in the ocean flickered in Keir’s mind.

Keir almost slipped off the roof, but caught his footing just in time. His heart raced from the sudden slip up, but more so from the vision.

Why did that come up in his mind? Who were they? And why did he have to see them drown at all?

Chapter Nineteen

I never wanted to be what I was. But yet I still chose that path. You can do the same, Keir. Don’t give Kayna your teeth. Don’t hurt yourself.

It was the voice of Atticus whispering in his mind, the only thing that Keir heard in the still night.

He reached into his mouth, ignoring the words of Atticus. Why would he trust someone who stole? Kayna was the only one who cared, the only one who loved.

Keir yanked three of his teeth out of his mouth, for though the pain stung, it was all worth it for Kayna.

For her.

Chapter Twenty

A man and a woman were on a sailboat, admiring the sight of the watercolor sky. A little boy with wide blue eyes and curly black hair sailed the boat, smiling along with the adults.

The waves were slightly choppy, but if the boy kept sailing, all would be alright.

Keir smiled at the tranquility of it all. One day, he and Kayna would get to watch the sky on a sailboat, hand in hand.

The boy stopped rowing, joining his parents in gazing at the sky.

Nothing happened at first. It was a night out, with the ocean and the sky.

But the waves became more aggressive, and rocked the boat side to side. The boy desperately began sailing, but instantaneously, the waves swallowed the man and woman whole.

The boy’s panicked scream rang in Keir’s ears, a sound of lost hope echoing in a barren, lifeless space.

Keir woke up, his back sore and his eyes blinking away at the glaringly bright sun, as though the Earth itself wanted to burn him.

Chapter Twenty-One

AT SCHOOL

Keir tapped Kayna lightly on the shoulder with his free hand, so he wouldn’t startle her too much.

He didn’t tell his parents about the nightmare, and he doubted that they would listen much to him anyway. To them, he was a rabid, feral creature who would kill any given moment.

He didn’t talk much at breakfast, like he always did, and simply made it to school.

Kayna made everything worthwhile.

“I got some teeth for you.” Keir said, placing them gently on her open hand.

Kayna grinned and…peeled off a pimple on her arm? He hadn’t even noticed that the pimple was there until she peeled it off. In its place was a spot of red blood glistening, which would no doubt become infected if she kept picking at it.

“This is for you.” Kayna said, placing the pimple in his hand.

A piece of her skin, just for him!

Before she left, Kayna kissed his cheek.

Keir blushed, watching her ponytail move side-to-side as she skipped away.

She really loved him, didn’t she?

Chapter Twenty-Two

AT THE SCHOOL BATHROOM

Keir opened the door gingerly, checking to see if anyone was there.

No. No one was in the boy’s bathroom.

Keir walked up to the mirror and reached for his cheek, pulling out a piece of skin for Kayna to take.

Eye for an eye, skin for skin. Everybody would win.

Chapter Twenty-Three

A boy ran throughout the town’s street, carrying bundles of trinkets and treats.

His eyes were lonely, he seemed to hug the bundles as though they were his only friends.

Keir shook from the vision. It had come to him out of nowhere, in the middle of class.

Was Atticus lost…like him?

Chapter Twenty-Four

THE WALK BACK HOME

Keir looked up at the sky that had a darkened blue tint to it, the sign of late afternoon. He didn’t want to make it back “home”. He wanted to stay in school and rip more parts of him off, just so he wouldn’t be alone.

He had Kayna’s pimple in his pocket. He was going to sew onto his face later, and then he’d give her more skin to take. She was going to get everything! She deserved everything!

“Keir! Keir, come on! I want to show you something!” Kayna called out.

Wait…Kayna?

Chapter Twenty-Five

Keir turned around, facing Kayna, who was running right towards him.

She grabbed his wrist and said:

“It’s spectacular! It’s a show! It will be wonderful!”

Keir looked back behind him at the row of houses, all perfectly lined up in the block. He could go back home and face his parents…

Or come with Kayna to see whatever she was talking about.

Keir grinned widely, his heart beating with joy as she dragged him away.

He’d make sure that it was only a few minutes, and then he’d come back. He would be very careful.

Chapter Twenty-Six

AT THE LOCATION

Where Kayna had taken him was an abandoned fairground, built right next to a deep, gaping pit filled with burning junk.

“It’s lost to time, but if you imagine hard enough, the fairground is filled.” Kayna said.

Keir grinned at how she cared for an abandoned, shackled place. It was as though she saw the beauty in everything, even with peeling paint and the scent of flames licking at garbage.

He never knew of such a location until she showed him, and he couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend time with her.

It was a magical, timeless, forsaken part of town.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“How did you find this place?” Keir asked. He lived in that town his whole life, and he had never found the abandoned fairground with the burning dump.

“Oh. I’d run here when my parents weren’t looking. It was my safe space.” Kayna said with a shrug.

There was a row of homes down the block, so perhaps Kayna lived there. Perhaps she ran off to a place where she wouldn’t be judge, where there wasn’t any civilization to perceive her.

Keir ran his hand through the surface of a depleted horse on a carousel.

Though left to rot, there was still time for the circus to shine.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Give her too much and you’ll lose yourself.” Atticus’ voice said in Keir’s head.

He had only been saying it so many times. What Keir gave was exactly what Kayna needed.

Keir reached into his mouth and pulled out several of his teeth, leaving only three in his mouth. Blood was pooling out, he couldn’t speak, but he tapped Kayna on the shoulder and placed the teeth in her hands.

The teeth which she accepted gratefully.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“It’s nice to know that I’m not alone. That I have someone who can relate.” Kayna said breathlessly.

She began to spin around the fairground, dancing without a care in the world.

Her dress swayed, opening up like flower petals. One day, Keir would be able to watch her dance for the rest of his life, and she would be in his arms forevermore.

She was getting too close to the fire pit.

“Kayna, stop! Fire!” Keir called out.

She didn’t listen, she still danced, completely free to be.

Or so she thought.

Chapter Thirty

Keir grabbed Kayna’s wrist, trying to pull her towards him, his body crashing into hers out of fear, but then-

She slipped off.

Her body fell into the starving flames.

Keir was holding nothing, Kayna’s wrist was gone.

It was all his fault. He made her fall. He accidentally pushed her down. Out of his fright, he pushed her to the ground.

Kayna was no more.

Epilogue

Keir took a deep, shaky breath. He opened the front door of his house carefully. He had to tell his parents exactly what happened, and then more people would gather at the dump to help bury Kayna.

If there was anything left of her, that was.

He walked inside of his house, Mom at the kitchen, Dad watching the daily news.

“Mom! Dad.” Keir said. He made sure to call out for Mom since she was at the kitchen.

Dad turned to look at him, eyes wide with judgement. Mom was rubbing a pot furiously as though she wanted to peel the paint off it.

They were waiting for him. They were anticipating the worst from him.

“Me and Kayna were at this abandoned fairground and I accidentally pushed her into this burning dump. I was trying to stop her from fall-“

“You killed her, didn’t you?”

“Yes Mom, but-“

“But nothing. You killed her, and now, her parents have to know.”

“You know her parents?”

“Yes.”

“Good! Then you can tell them to come over and help bury her so she isn’t in there forever!”

Keir turned the knob to go back outside and wait for his parents, but Dad pushed him aside.

“You’re not coming. You’re staying right here and waiting for us.” Dad said firmly.

They wanted him to wait! They cared! They weren’t mad!

“Okay. I’ll wait.” Keir said.

He walked over to his room, just as they asked.

Things went better than he expected.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Keir waited. And waited. And waited some more.

Nobody came back.

He turned on the TV and was relieved to find that Kayna’s Mom and Dad could bury her properly. That word had gotten out about her death.

But interestingly enough, his parents described Keir as a “soulless monster, with no compassion for anything”.

Everyone knew that Keir pushed her down. But that wasn’t what he was most upset about.

It was that they thought he did it on purpose, when Kayna was the only one who showed him love. Who showed him that she cared. Who saw beyond his looks.

Kayna was gone. She wouldn’t be around to give him pieces of herself, and Keir wouldn’t be able to do the same.

As the days went on, Keir ripped up his skin, even the pimple that Kayna gave him, and pulled out all of his teeth, even the ones that Kayna gave him. How could he live if no one was coming back, if he was locked in his own house?

That was what he was. Locked. The windows and doors were locked. He couldn’t find anything sharp to break them down. His parents took away everything in the kitchen. They really wanted him locked away.

Nobody came to let him out. For the longest time, he wandered throughout the house, a skinless, toothless, hairless creature, moaning and groaning about Kayna, the pretty popular girl who wanted to be known for her soul, not her looks.

That was, until his pale skin grew back. Until his nails grew into claws. Until he got sharpened, deadly teeth. Until his hair became like a long, black sheet.

Just like Atticus, Keir lost everything and in return, became the monster his parents believed him to be.

Flesh. Flesh. Flesh. Keir was so, so hungry for flesh. He was starving. There was nobody around. He just wanted somebody, anybody, to fill the hole in his heart.

He couldn’t grow up. He couldn’t change.

He just had to wait. Just a little bit more.