FINDING THEM

"I swore with my life! I promised myself that you all would pay!" Oswald screamed, his victim Belinda cowering in fear.

"I was just eighteen. I didn't know what I was doing— I was just making jokes like everyone else, please Oswald, I'm sorry!! You don't have to do this, "she pleaded.

"Jokes like everyone else? I just finished serving a sentence of fifteen years because of you! You guys messed me up!! Because of you, I do not have a family anymore. Nothing is left for me, and that would be the same for you too! Oswald siad, his voice going a tad higher with each sentence as Belinda shook in fear of death.

"I'm sorry… I don't know what else to say. I have a family please, two daughters. They do not have a father please, I'm so sorry—" Belinda cried.

"You will die the way my mom died, and they will live without parents, like you made me do!" Oswald said cynically, wielding his knife.

"Please—"

"I don't care. You would pay for what you did to me, and this is the appointed time" Oswald screamed, his knife going to work as Belinda fell down lifeless, the knife going deep into her skull.

He took out his smaller penknife, tearing her clothes open as he turned her over on her face. Her back was finally bare.

Belinda was a bully, so she got a stabbie.

It was carved neatly onto her back, and he wiped off the excess blood, leaving no prints or traces as usual.

He took out his small notebook as soon as he was home and he flipped the pages till he got to where he wanted. He went to number four. Belinda Johnson. "Good riddance to bad rubbish" he said to himself— Thirty six more to go!

Belinda Johnson — ticked.

She was his fourth victim. There was a group of names he had written down, people who had made fun of him in school. He had assembled it orderly— alphabetically using the second letter of their names. He wasn't going to get caught at all, at least not until he was done. He was going to eliminate all forty of them, as the world didn't need these people— or so Oswald thought.

Belinda had cussed him out on the same day he had killed his mom. He didn't even do anything to her as he was quite on his own when all this happened. She had made him a laughing stock at the cafeteria, and his lunch had been slapped onto his face. He was Thirty two years old now, and he guessed they would all be around that age.

He would take their gray hair from them! He had to stay in prison fifteen years because of them, and now he would waste their lives as they had done his.

Oswald stood at the kitchen counter, making oats for himself for dinner. He took fruits out of the refrigerator, then paused for a while.

"You do not deserve her!!"

"You're ugly and disgusting!"

"Why did you come to this school?"

"Ate your lunch so you don't have to"

"Just die already!!"

"We wouldn't notice you were gone!!"

The flashbacks hit terribly as he remembered all they had done to him. He didn't deserve that, as his only crime was being poor, short and a smarty-pants. They had picked on him until one certain day he had gotten home angrily and he had gone to the kitchen counter, staring at the knife slab.

He had a habit of throwing things about whenever he was angry, but his loving mother was helping him keep the habit in check. However, today he couldn't help it anymore. They had bullied his one and only friend, Patty into leaving him. Even as it wasn't her fault- she was the first person on his list. He watched her beg for her life.

Patty was my bestie -but she got a stabbie

He had written this on her back, but unlike his other victims he had felt a tinge of sadness as he did what he did.

She deserves it. She stopped being friends with me and went with someone else. He reminded himself. Patty had left him, and went ahead to be close friends with one of his major bullies- as though she had been waiting for the chance all along.

That fateful evening after school, he didn't hear his mother come in. She had wanted to surprise him, to hug him from behind as she usually did, but hemis rage and frustration didn't let him hear her come in. He had picked a knife, flipping it angrily backwards. Until she screamed, he didn't know she was there. The knife lodged deep in her skull- she was dead in an instant. The kitchen floor had turned red, colored by her blood.

He was sentenced to fifteen years and from juvenile, he went to main detainment, and fifteen years later, he made a list of everyone who had bullied him on that exact day. A knife would end them all! It didn't matter if it was a slight insult or a push or a shove. They would pay, and in blood. If they were dead, family would suffice!

He pulled his book. Next name —Merry Adams. She was a mother of two kids, twins, and they lived in Ontario. They loved painting, and they were just about to get a new art teacher.

Of course, Oswald would tender his application. He already made a fake CV. He was qualified to the very last, and he was prepared. He was even Van Gogh, as long as it got him into their home.

He took his oatmeal and went to sleep.

••••••••••••

Kate had barely slept three hours before she was slapped heavily on her back, forcing her to get up. It was morning, and she was supposed to make sure the kids were ready for school.

She had overslept- although she remembered going to sleep sometime around three that morning, having been overworked through the night, and she was sure that didn't count as oversleeping.

"You're still sleeping you stupid goat! Do you expect me to take over your responsibilities for you, huh?" Evelyn thundered. She was the owner of the house, and she had taken Kate in when she was ten years old.

The girl had been passed from one foster care to another foster care, after losing her parents and brother at the age of six. They had been assassinated, and no one knew the reason why. She didn't have any other family, so the government took care of the burial, which she didn't attend as she had fallen terribly sick.

"I'm sorry ma'am" Kate said, staggering to her feet and heading to the children's rooms. She had to assist them take their bath, make them breakfast and keep them comfy as they waited for their school bus.

"Be sorry for yourself. And you better hurry up because I have work to do today!" Evelyn screamed breathing in on Kate's back as the poor girl did as she was told.

She was not even a girl anymore. She was a woman, but here she was constantly treated like a little girl. She was in fact well approaching twenty, as the next year would make her so. She had lost her nineteen year old brother when she was Six.

"Why are you slacking? What's going on in that useless mind of yours?" Evelyn thundered and Kate felt like she had had enough.

"Do it yourself if it's that easy, okay!! Do it yourself. Why not leave me alone, why?" Kate retorted as Evelyn stared back in shock.

"Are you talking to me?" Evelyn asked, her eyes flashing in spite.

"Remember you have no one else in this life!! You wouldn't even have clothes on your back if it weren't for me!" She added, as tears dropped down Kate's eyes.

"You know what? I'm done. Tired of you and your annoying kids, tired of this filthy house, I'm tired of everything!!" Kate said amidst tears, heading upstairs in a blast of fury.

"Where the hell do you think you are going?" Evelyn asked her, scurrying after her as she moved briskly.

"Away" Kate said simply, picking her belongings which consisted of …nothing. Just a picture of her family, and the clothes she had recently. She couldn't leave with anything else as they were all Evelyn's.

"I need to know where the fuck you are going! You have no where to go!! You do not!" Evelyn screamed in her ears as the children looked from mother to maid, wondering what was going on.

"It's not your business. I'm a good nineteen years of age, and I am not your child. I'm tired and I deserve a better life, which I'm going to get!" Kate screamed and with that stomped off the porch, Evelyn's eyes following after her in disbelief.

As Kate strolled down the road, she tried to remember how life had been before her parents were killed. It was a whole thirteen years ago, and she couldn't remember much at all.

One thing she remembered was that her brother was the best brother anyone could have ever had. He took her to parks and played with her in the yard. She didn't even know where they were buried, she had never bothered to find out.

"When I have the resources, I'll avenge my family. Then I can go see them in peace!" She told herself as she walked down the road, stopping briefly at a small church.

There was a small fountain of water that ran in beautiful circles, and she squatted, washing her face clean of tears. When she was done she looked down at her appearance. "This wouldn't do" She told her self, throwing some water on the floor outside the fountain stone ring. She picked this muddy grime with her fingers, and applied it over her clothes.

She smiled, stopping briefly to enter the church.

There was a small petite lady on the step, and she paused to talk to the woman.

"Hello, ma'am, Good day" she greeted simply as the woman looked up, and Kate could see she was extremely beautiful. She had a kind demeanour to her smile, and she nodded her head in response to Katie's greeting.

"By any means, is there a selection of clothes I could choose from? Maybe like charity from the church? I kind of had a minor accident on my way here, and I'll need to get changed" Kate said, putting up a very pitiful face.

"Oh, I'm so sorry about that. This church closed sometime ago, although the community left the building open for people to meditate or have quiet times. How about we go get something for you, and perhaps a bite to eat, dear?" She suggested, and Kate noticed her polished tone. Looking the woman from head to toe, she realized she looked every inch expensive, although she made effort in appearing very simple.

"I'd be so grateful ma'am. Thank you so so much!" Kate blushed, surprised at the woman's generosity towards a total stranger.

"It's nothing. You can wait here while I bring my car out the corner, okay?" She asked kindly and Kate nodded, her face a confusing mix of surprise and Joy.

In about five minutes, the car rolled by. A Tesla.

A Tesla? Kate asked herself as she hopped in, the doors closing on their own accord after her.

"I'm Monica" The woman introduced herself, the car rolling into the smooth plain road.

"I'm Kate, ma'am"

"What kind of accident got you this dirty?" Monica asked, looking away from the road briefly to steal a glance at Kate.

"I ran away ma'am. I fell down during pursuit" Kate said, trying to sound as honest as possible.

"Ran away? Monica laughed mid sentence. "Ran away from what ? From who?"

"The woman I lived with ma'am. She was going to kill me" Kate replied.

"Why? Murder most usually has a reason, no?" Monica asked tactically, slowing down to maneuever a road bump.

"You should see her. She'd prove you wrong ma'am. I think she was just tired of me and didn't need any other reason asides me being in her skin. I have nobody you know, no family. She knew that and treated me like shit, but anyways I knew it was time to leave" Kate said, her voice changing as emotion welled up inside of her.

"Firstly," Monica started as she rolled into the parking lot of a mall. "Call me Monica. Ma'am is creeping me out. Secondly, let's discuss this later. You have to clean up, at least eat something" She added stopping the car, as they both climbed out.

"I'm grateful ma'am- sorry, Monica" Kate said, fidgeting as they walked into the mall, people staring at her because of how dirty and unkempt a young woman was looking.

"They're staring at me." Kate said simply, apprehension and fear settling in on her voice. Monica's hand reached for hers, holding it tight and releasing the tension she was feeling inside.

"How may we help you, ladies?" An attendant asked, and Monica gestured her to corner.

"My daughter, she has been in a minor accident, and she got dirty. I want a complete makeover, clothes, shoes, her hair, and maybe slight makeup if that would be possible." She said simply and the attendant nodded, whisking Kate away.

"Are you not coming along?" Kate asked, her eyes begging Monica to come along with her.

"I'll join you shortly. Let me get us something to eat- you'll be fine, they don't bite" Monica said with an assuring smile as she walked out, heading for the restaurant across the mall.

The attendant showed Kate an array of dresses she could pick from- the confused teenager looked around, thinking about what she was going to pick. She had only ever worn clothes provided for her, and she hadn't had an opportunity to choose clothes for herself. To add to her stress she wanted to be so careful, so she wouldn't pick things that were too expensive, although money didn't seem to be Monica's problem.

"Hey! You look so much better already!" Monica beamed as she returned, holding two paper bags of food. They had washed, dried and curled Kate's hair, and she was in a new set of clothes. Color returned to her cheeks and as she smiled, one could see that she was truly beautiful.

"Thank you, ma'am- sorry Monica.. I'm sorry I haven't gotten used to—" she started but Monica cut her off.

"It's fine. Where are the other dresses you selected?"

"I was waiting for you, I don't really have or know my style yet. Kate said shyly.

"That's what the attendants are for darling"Monica said, reaching for her food. "oh my, finally. I'm famished, dear "

"She insisted she wanted you to be here first, so we just settled on one fit while we did the makeover" the attendant explained.

"That's fine. Come eat, Kate dear" Monica cooed as Kate approached, settling down beside Monica on a short bench. It was pasta and chicken, and although it was visible that she hadn't eaten in a long time, Kate had the meal with so much grace and etiquette.

"I hope I'm not much trouble, Monica" Kate said, swallowing a bit of food, and turning to look at Monica who was eating with as much zeal.

"You are not, my dear. If you were, I'd tell you that" Monica replied, not breaking to look at her.

"Please when you're done there, could you select about ten to fifteen dresses she'd like? We do not have much time, and I would love to see my husband and son before they catch their flight tonight" She said, gesturing to the attendant.

"Yes ma'am" the attendant replied simply.

A son.

A husband.

She hadn't said anything more, Kate thought to herself. So her family was relatively small. She seemed like a genuinely nice person, and Katie couldn't help but hope that she had found a family.

When they were done at the mall, they drove home, Kate sitting with her in the front part of the car, trying so hard to recognize herself in the mirror.

"What's your family like?" Kate asked, breaking the initial silence. Monica looked at her for a brief second, and then answered her question.

"A marriage of twenty- two years to a wonderful man- my teenage lover, and a son of twenty- five who doesn't show any interest in getting married, nothing much" Monica said and laughed, trying to sound as though she was in love with the entire situation.

"How was yours, I mean-before they passed?" She asked, fixing her gaze on Kate.

"I can't remember much. I was six at the time my parents and my big brother were killed. I didn't know much, and I can't say much as well, but my family was happy, at least as far as I could tell" Kate said, turning to face Monica as the older woman looked at her with compassion.

"I'm sorry about that,hunny . Life isn't the least bit easy but we always got to try" Monica said, reaching out a hand to pat the younger girl.

"Has life being hard on you, like ever? You look around and there's no one at all to call your own?" Kate asked Monica, as her eyes watered up in tears.

"A lot of times, dear. Alot of times." Monica said reassuringly, and in that brief moment, Kate knew she had found a mother, and as she burst into tears, she decided she wasn't going to hold anything back.

"I didn't fall down, I didn't" she said, crying heavily. I applied dirt on my body- I wanted the church to get me something to wear. I didn't know all of this was going to happen, I felt without looking needy they wouldn't help me!" Kate revealed, her voice breaking heavily as she cried.

"I saw you do that, Kate. I saw the exact moment you turned , walking to the church .There's no judgement here" Monica said lovingly, honking in front of a massive gate, which opened almost immediately.

The entrance and the rest of the fenced environment was massive and beautiful, and the entire house looked like something out of a fairytale.

"You're back, honey" A man around his late forties came out, hugging her lovingly. Kate guessed this must be Monica's husband, and he was followed by a very attractive looking younger man.

"I see we have a visitor" Her son said, turning to look at Kate and pausing on her face momentarily.

"Oh yes, we do . Kate, this is my husband, Alex, and my son, Scott. Scott, Alex , this is Kate, a good friend of mine" Monica introduced, gesturing to the group.

"You're welcome" Father and son mouthed as they all moved inside the house, Monica pulling her husband and her son to the corner. They spent about twenty minutes discussing as Kate sat awkwardly—she knew Monica was passing the details to them, and that their response held her fate in this big, beautiful and loving home.

"Come on hunny, I'll show you to your room" Monica's voice interrupted her thoughts.

•••••••••••••••••••••

"From what we can see here, you look alot qualified to handle our kids in this Art stuff, I'm not really familiar with all that, you know" Merry Adams said, looking at Oswald's CV and nodding in approval.

Oswald sat across from her and her husband, quiet and not saying a word. They should get this over with quickly— he needed to quickly move on to other people as fast as possible.

"When are you available to start?" Mr Adams, Merry's husband asked him as his heart danced for joy. As he looked at her face , all he could see was the he would place strategically in her skull. His fingers twitched as he envisioned carving on her back calmly, thinking about the card she had played in his life on that very day.

Merry was a bully- so she got a stabbie.

"I can start as soon as possible, Sir" Oswald said, thanking them as he stood up to leave.

"Tomorrow's is fine- the kids do not have classes tomorrow, and you can be here around twelve pm."

"That's fine, thank you" He said, the bodies of the other two applicants diluting in their bath tubs.

He didn't want anything to come between him and his goal, so when he saw that he had two other people coming in to apply, he had posed as injured strategically in their paths, and they had helped him in, trying to help fix his injury.

The rest was easy. By the time the bodies were discovered,they would be liquid.