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Now, I don’t kill just any people. I kill disgusting criminals. As that hasn’t been established in the story yet. The man on the train? Rapist, pedophile, excessive drug user, abuses his wife and children, alcoholic, thief. What about the man in front of the club? I had only just met him. According to his bloodied knuckles, the smell of alcohol and women, and knife in his pocket, he was a murderer and alcoholic; and possibly even a rapist. I hate people like that. But since I only target one group of people, and according to the law “killing them is wrong”, I am considered a serial killer. My sister does the same, and Ivan… is complicated. He usually kills according to how much he’s being paid. His targets are usually politicians, government officers, and other people who are a pain the ass to other people. To put it simply, he’s a mercenary. Or an assassin depending on which word you deem more appropriate. I don’t care much for politics and boring things like that, so I don’t really care if he kills them or not.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hDraFwKx0
Let’s see… The android in the store would have caused me trouble, and besides, she didn’t have any emotions, so she didn’t matter much. The cashier- he was a teenager. An unfortunate casualty, to say the least. He doesn’t matter much to me anyway, just another person in the world dead, who cares?485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdxy4U4po5
I’m frequently considered insensitive and ruthlessly sadistic. Most of all, I’m called an emotionless psycho or sociopath. Brutal, inhuman, bloodthirsty, sadistic, evil, diabolical, merciless, uncaring, heartless, dastardly; I’ve heard it all. I’m a person that willfully causes pain and suffering to others and feels no concern about it. And while I do target criminals, I will not hesitate to kill an innocent one if deemed necessary. I’m scary, dangerous, and “uncontrollably” vicious. The FBI and any other law-enforcement type people make me sound like a wild, uncaged animal that kills anything in it’s path. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiWoSMZwm1
A spot a lithe, creamy-colored hand that slides gently over my shoulder. My body tenses, but I know who it is. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ598uv7XoiT
“Ethan.” he murmurs right behind me, into my ear.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd3woI9IKu
My expression is blank, my body is unmoving completely. I’m calm, collected, composed, this is normal. Or at least that’s what I think. He walks around the couch, to stand in front of me. This man is about my height, he has creamy, milky skin and golden hair with thick, short waves. The ends of his bangs are sharp and clean, and reach past his eyes. They seldom move, but when they do, you get glimpses of his eyes. They’re a treacherous crimson- the shade of passion and anger; blood and fire. The color does not suit him. While the color is aggressive, they’re always soft and kind. They droop the way a sad puppy’s would, and he’s always smiling. Almost so much that it’s creepy. He’s lanky and radiant. His body quite literally glows this warm light and he, surprisingly, smells like lavender all the time. He’s always wearing white clothing. Usually it’s white suit pants, white wingtip dress shoes, a white button-down, collared shirt, and a white blazer. Like some classy young guy that was born into a rich family or something. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU8MXAYylE
“Micah.” I answer, looking up at him a bit.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOdMDbANBI
Honestly, this guy gives me some comfort. Mainly because he’s an angel. He’s got these madly impressive wings that are big enough to touch the roof and drag on the floor at the same time. His voice is calming and harmless. He doesn’t seem to have ulterior motives or hostile pretenses. He’s just an honest being that comes to me as some sort of therapist.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ5Epq4Clw
“How are we doing today, Ethan?” he asks, tilting his head slightly.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ntfGskfrn
“Alright.” I state.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkopueXRgbN
It’s silent before he moves to sit next to me on the couch. I flinch a tad, but he turns to the window next to him, “A great writer once said that the stars above us govern our condition.” he said, looking at the sky outside the window.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMeytJ9M5Q
I scoff and murmured, “William Shakespeare.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLn02nYr9w
He turned to me, “Correct, Ethan. Do you read his works?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe98dgbyF9
I nod, “A bit. When I have the time.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnnYXKchTk
It’s silent again, but then Micah speaks, “Do you know what that quote means?” he inquires, and before I could answer, he continues, “It means that it must be fate that makes us who we are.” Some parts of his bangs fell to one side since his head was tilted. His right eye was exposed, a blazing scarlet eye stared at me with good intentions and understanding. Although startled by his eye, I nodded.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaqEq1VuLG
I don’t reply, which gives him the opportunity to keep going. “Ethan, you must not feel bothered by your actions if you feel they are just. This is who you were supposed to be.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTlq9Iz5oR
This time I do speak, “It’s not that. It’s the circumstances for my carelessness towards innocent people in the way.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIjScXhPAz
Micah is silent, tapping his chin, but finally replies. “That is an understandable reason to be troubled. Hm… why don’t you avoid them in the act? Like, in comic books, the hero is the one who targets the villain, and not the victim. Your problem also is that you do not care for the victim, and the only goal is exterminating the one causing trouble. Let’s say, the casualty is critically wounded by the felon, and you enter the scene to dispose of the offender. How would you react towards the injured person?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fyflGyk4G
I blink, “I would leave.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWTTkmEtV8
“Ah, wrong. Ethan, you must aid the person and take them to a hospital, or somewhere safe.” Micah pinches the bridge of his nose.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoPb5nCR79
I sigh and look the other way, “But it’s troublesome.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuIWoQFIvl
“No, Ethan. Your initial profession as an android was to aid people. You were supposed to be a nurse, do you not have any sympathy at all?” Micah tilts his head more and leans to me to better look at my face.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPs7ERjJbP
I shake my head, “I guess not. If I did, then I wouldn’t be able to kill so easily.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrkQctvkZr
Micah laughs a bit, “That is not how emotions work, my friend. Sympathy is something that is selective and circumstantial. Perhaps your sympathy is just extremely limited?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHJp4zicSi
I think for a moment, “Only Valerya.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O0NEV7M5z
“Not Ivan?” Micah asks, his halo shining bright in the corner of my eye.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW9ChsEhTv
“Eh, hell no. If he hurt himself or something then that’s his own damn fault.” I spat out, “He’s an idiot.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47z2I3ezQH
“And is it never Valerya’s?” He asks, and I stay silent because he’s making a point across that I don’t want to agree with. Even though it may be right.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY1YJCs0JW
“Ethan…” Micah sighs beside me. I guess he’s disappointed because, well, he’s an angel, “The people around you that care dearly for you will soon begin to fade out of your life if you do not take precautions. Would you be upset if Ivan suddenly disappeared on a job and did not return?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n4g0xZ677
“I… I guess? Valerya would be worried, and that makes me anxious.” I said, rolling my eyes.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1FY6pCY6c
Suddenly, Micah’s hand covers my eyes, his actions are a bit rough, as if he’s irritated, “Shut your eyes. Do not think of your sister. Think of the man who is supposed to be your friend. He is dying, stabbed in the heart, slowly and painfully bleeding out. You’re standing over him, simply watching him die instead of helping him. You know his true feelings towards you,” Micah’s voice gets closer, “and he knows you won’t help him.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qYSNSZ8TT
I don’t respond. Micah continues further, “He knows you don’t care about him, but he still loves you because you’re strong, willful, and intelligent. You’re the person that saved him. The only person that took attention to him, so he’s naturally attached to you. How does it feel that he just knows you won’t help him? The only person he’s ever cared about, doesn’t care back?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95QoCHT4Wz
I felt a twinge of pain in my chest by Micah’s harsh words. This was unusual, but nevertheless I responded, “… b-bad…” 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjgjY4wmD7
“Really? Well, imagine it was you who stabbed him. You’re probably coming up with some excuses now that he might have done something wrong in order for him to get stabbed. But, Ethan, why was your first order to stab him? Ah that’s right, he was simply in the way and you don’t care about him.” Micah sounded a tad angry.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfAP4RxUIN
I tremble at his coarse, glaring words, like a lectured child and let out a small, pathetic, “n-no…”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhugw6tk5n
“What was that?” Micah asked, taking his hand off.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYUJOPBJcr
“… wrong… you’re wrong. I do care… “ I grabbed my pants on my thighs so tightly that my knuckles turned white.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3RaVyyZW6
“Is that so? Well, he doesn’t think so, and who knows when he’ll die? He’s a human compared to your android self.” Micah sighs at my shivering and pats my hand, “I apologize if I scared you. Angels can even scare the most emotionless of the bunch.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1G2Fu9sqQ
I don’t reply, but calm down.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sGg1ZU2PZ
“Just know that Ivan and Valerya won’t be here forever. You must properly explain your feelings to them before they perish.” Micah explains and soon disappears. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCpYmocMEU
The room is dark again and somehow, I feel lonely.
