1 Chapter 1: Schemes

***

 "What is free will and what is purpose? Are we all doomed to live according to the script that has been designed by Theós, or do some of us truly have a choice to shape our own destiny?" An ancient evil asked his servant.

 "I do not know the answers to your questions master, but what I do know is this; if it is not within Theós' plan, then it cannot be done!" The servant replied.

 "I feel that I am at the end of my script. Theós is done with me; another shall take my place." The ancient evil said with a look of longing.

***

 "Grayson, I already told you to stop playing with that dog! Get over here already and help me unload these groceries out of the car!" A tall brown woman said, struggling to hold the four bags filled with groceries, between her hands.

 This currently irritated woman is none other than my mother. The Saturday evening sun, sumptuously, complemented her perfectly smooth, brown skin as she blew her dark weaved hair away from her face.

 You could tell from the sound of her voice just how irritated she was, but her gentle, light brown eyes gave away the warm and compassionate woman she was, they always have.

 'The same eyes that will bear witness to the enliaghtenment.' I thought to myself.

 "Coming mom!" I shouted trying to get Nala to stop licking me.

 With how fluttery she's been, one wouldn't even notice that the stupid mutt was pregnant.

 Nala is a 68cm tall, greyhound with clear white fur, excluding the one grey patch surrounding her left eye. Her eyes are gifted with a pure, light shade of amber, you can feel the joy and excitement radiating off of them when they look at you.

 'If you weren't pregnant I would have killed you already.' I thought to myself.

 She went missing for one day and got herself knocked up. Must have been getting desperate I guess. She is getting pretty old and it's not like she's going to get any from us.

 "Hurry up please, I need to finish making dinner before your father gets back.... I can carry these four bags, you get the rest from the car then bring them over to the kitchen." She said trying to quickly get the bags inside before she lost her grip on them.

 "Here are the last ones." I said as I put two bags on the kitchen counter.

 Our family has been moving around a great deal. Normally, we wouldn't stay in one place for too long. We're not rich per se, but we're a lot better off than the average middle class.

 Recently, we moved into a two story house that was simply too big for just the three of us. Although it was not necessary, I enjoyed the space.

 "Mom, why do we buy groceries from the store even though we have fields full of them?" I asked irritated by this weekly routine.

 "Well, your father said we can't be eating our own supply. Sometimes I feel like he only says that just to sound like some drug lord. I really don't mind, it gives me a reason to go out and it's not like we can't afford it." She replied with a smile.

 'Foolish man, he keeps giving me even more reasons to kill him.' I thought to myself.

 My father is a tall white man with a perfectly built, toned body for his age. Out in the field he would always tie his semi-long, dirty blond hair into a ponytail.

 His face looked like it was carefully sculpted, having sharp edges and deep blue eyes that seemed to see through everything. He had always been wary around me. He always had his guard up as like he was expecting me to try something sinister. He never failed to remind me that there is something wrong with me.

 'Can't really blame him though, with all the animals around me that have met a most unfortunate end, hehe.' I thought with a chuckle.

 He's been especially cautious since we moved all the way out here this summer, in the middle of nowhere; where no one could ever hear them scream.

 'I just see no reason for him to be so paranoid,' I thought to myself knowing full well he has every right to be.

 The closest town out here in Sherwood was two miles away, a ghost town really. However, the isolation gave my mother the much needed time and space to think and get creative with her writing.

 She is quite the accomplished writer. Selling out each of her works, from historical novels to philosophical books.

 Her most famous work, 'Purpose', a philosophical book, broke so many records even I had to give it a read. I may despise her, but one fact remains undeniably true...the woman is brilliant. She viewed life in such a quirky and broad way, it's quite easy to admire that brain of hers.

 'Really makes me want to crack open her skull and see it for myself.' I gleefully had the thought.

 When my father decided to move all the way out here, my mother was completely on board with it. This was the perfect environment for her to be alone with her thoughts and away from the city noise.

 On the bright side, this location was perfect for my parents to meet their demise, but my father's constant vigilance and obvious superior strength has proven to be a problem.

 He probably got his muscular body from a long childhood of working in the field, along with his time in the army. I clearly cannot overpower him, I'll have to rely on a surprise attack, most likely whilst he is sleeping, or perhaps some sort of indirect approach.

 Only shame would be that his end will have to be swift. I would love to at least impart a few words of wisdom to him before he goes. I want to see the look on his face as I tell him exactly what he did to me, just before he takes his last breath.

 I've been waiting for months for everything to fall into place and take them all out in one fell swoop. My parents, and the dog included. Cause let's be real, it's the suspense one gets throughout the hunt that really makes the kill worthwhile.

 Circumstances like these cannot be rushed, it wouldn't be wise. If all there was to lose was time, for the sake of validating every single detail of the situation, I can afford to lose it. Everything has to fall into place, or else, I won't get a kick out of this. Knowing this, it doesn't feel all that bad to wait.

 'Just like my good old hunting days...' I thought as I began to reminiscce my painful past.

 'They have to pay!' I continued to think.

 If everything goes well, tonight should be the perfect opportunity to end my first human lives. I've been starving Nala these past two days and she seems to be showing signs of giving birth. With all the moaning she's been making the past hour, she should be due later tonight.

 With how hungry and weak she must be feeling, she will either die from giving birth or end up eating one of her young, whoever is left breathing will have their head severed by the end of the night.

 "...Grayson...! Grayson...! Get out of your head and go check on Nala! Make sure to take some food to her, she seems to be getting a little thinner lately....

 You as well actually, I can practically see your bones. As soon as you've fed Nala, I want you to come right back to eat. Dinner is almost ready. I don't want my handsome young man to grow up with all bones and no meat.

 I might end up not getting any grandchildren if all the ladies will be running away from you, hahaha." She said laughing, clearly proud of her little mom joke.

 "Alright mom." I respond to her ignoring her joke.

 'She's so cheerful. What gives her the right? The oblivious nature of both my parents are what has been refuelling my rage for all these years!' I thought to myself.

 "Can't argue with her though, I am quite handsome." I said looking at the living room mirror.

 Mother always said I have the most beautiful turquoise eyes she has ever seen. I got my dark hair from her with the exception of the few blonde strands here and there. That I most definitely inherited from my father. I'm only 17, but I must say I'm quite the looker.

 "Grayson, I understand why you would want to admire yourself, but please go check on Nala. If she gets any louder, my eardrums might burst." Mom said to me, her worrying only increased.

 As I walked towards the barn, with food in my hands, Nala's annoying moans kept getting louder and louder. I then opened the barn door and looked at her in disgust.

 Before me were three puppies on the floor with some disgusting liquid and a bit of blood all around them. One of them seemed to be completely silent and wasn't moving.

 "Ha-ha, bastard actually went on and died before I could get to him." I said out loud.

 'It seems there's still more of them coming, this might take a while.' I thought to myself.

 I closed the barn door then immediately threw away the food, right outside the barn.

 'You won't ever need to eat after tonight.' I thought to myself.

 As I walked back to the house, I ran into my father, who just came back from working in the field.

 He walked towards me, as he used the shirt he's supposed to be wearing, to wipe off the sweat on his face.

 "Grayson, what are you doing out here?" He asked a little more than curious.

 "I was just checking on Nala, she should be giving birth soon." I replied without hesitation.

 "Have you been feeding her? I've noticed that she's been drastically losing weight...I don't want her to end up like the others. Unlike you, she is actually capable of showing empathy." He said to me sternly.

 "Of course I have, I actually just came from giving her food right now." I replied ignoring his last comment.

 "Didn't you say you only went to check on her?" He asked whilst his deep blue eyes stared at me intensely. It's like he could see right through me.

 "I, I may have failed to mention that before." I replied hesitantly.

 "Is that so...? Anyways, I can smell something good being prepared in the house. Let's go and eat." He said dropping the topic, but not without taking a few curious glances at the barn.