He had chosen the wrong victim...
Sometimes, people ask me why I do this little "horrible" stories when I could be creating some nice and beautiful tales instead.
As I said before, Shadowgames are not necessarily horror stories. They can be fantastic or just a little dark. But they always involve children.
Why is that?
Take this little story, for example. It is actually from the mind of a child I knew several years ago. A child who suffered bullying. We were both schoolmates back then. He told me once:
"I wish I could turn into a monster. I wish I could make them pay."
A nine years old boy. Wishing he could turn into a monster and made the bullies pay for what they were doing to him on a daily basis.
He was transferred. I don't know what happened to him, but that words stayed with me since then. The bully got into real trouble once and was transferred too, or so I was told.
But I always remembered that words. That look on his eyes. That absolutely serious voice tone.
Sometimes I still hear the same dumb argument. About bullying being ok because it makes you strong and prepares you for life and whatnot.
Bullying is not ok. It does not create strength. It creates fear. Anger. Hate.
I was a victim too. Sometimes, I realize now, I could feel that monster inside.
I write these little "horrible" stories because I think children are fascinating. Every feeling is stronger if it is felt by a child. It is more pure, more powerful. For good or bad.
And I write them to revisit those feelings sometimes. To remind me that the brightest and darkest spots in our spirit, frequently have a child in there. A child that never went away.
And maybe it is supposed to be that way, for a very good reason.