Page 2 of Monster in Disguise

"If that is all," I say curtly, already beginning to turn away.

"No," Vlad interjects, placing a file in my hands. Suspicious, I raise an eyebrow at him.

"What is this?" I ask warily, wondering what other plans Vlad has up his sleeve.

"Your first assignment as capo," he states plainly. With a sense of dread building inside me, I reluctantly open the file.

Inside are numerous FBI reports documenting a string of brutal serial killings. My stomach churns as I flip through the pages, taking in the gruesome details.

"How long have you known?" I demand, my voice trembling with fear and anger.

"Long enough," Vlad replies nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders. He then points to the last page with a sense of finality.

5th May, Philadelphia

I stare at the horrific details before me, my stomach churning in disgust. The photos show a family of four, their limbs gruesomely sewn together in a twisted display of death. Two children, once innocent and full of life, now reduced to mere body parts. I can feel the bile rising in my throat.

"This is last month," I say, my voice trembling with horror.

Vlad nods grimly, his lips pursed in deep thought. "You're right. But if it's not Chimera, then who is it?"

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This can't be happening. Not again.

Our sins always catch up with us. And mine have been chasing me for an awfully long time.

Marcello

AGE FIVE

"Ican keep it, can't I?" I look up at Mother's disinterested expression, silently begging her to say yes. With Mother, you never know what you're going to get.

Sometimes I think she's in a good mood, but just asking for a hug might set her off. Last time it wasn't pretty. I'd bruised my knee and wanted some comfort... I don't know why. Sometimes I just want some human contact. She'd said yes, initially, but a second later she'd shoved me off her and thrown me to the floor, saying it's a sin for a son to touch his mother.

She is unpredictable like that. But I've learned to keep myself out of her presence, mostly because I don't want to be berated for sinning all the time. I don't even understand exactly what sin is, but Mother says I do it. And considering her reaction, it must bereallybad.

Maybe Idosin... but why can't she teach me how not to do it anymore? If not her, then I don't know who else. My brother is twenty... I think that's a lot. But he doesn't like to talk to me. He usually just nods at me and leaves.

And my father... I'm simply happy when he doesn't notice me. Honestly, I've wanted to learn hownotto sin for a long time. My mother says that if I don't stop now, I'll sin even more when I grow up.

I don't want to sin when I grow up. I want to be normal... And maybe if I don't sin, then Mother will like me too.

"Sure." She takes one look at the puppy in my arms and shrugs. We'd just returned from a parent-teacher meeting at my kindergarten when I saw a tiny ball of fur outside my school. I'd nestled it in my jacket and given it something to eat. All this time I'd been waiting with worry, thinking she'd say no. But she agreed. I can't help but beam at the thought, hugging the little furred body closer to my chest.

I think the puppy likes me. And now, since Mother says I can keep it, I won't be alone anymore. I'll have a friend.

I've always wanted a friend. Other kids at kindergarten have friends, but they never talk to me. They told me their parents warned them not to become too friendly with me because my father is an evil man. I know my father is bad, but I'm not. I'd tried to tell them that. I do sin sometimes, but I try to be a good boy. At least not to anger Mother. But they ignored me.

Mother rolls her eyes at me and leads me towards our car, where the driver is waiting for us.

The drive home doesn't take too long, but Mother keeps clutching her cross necklace in her hand and whispering something. I try not to think about that since she's scary when she's whispering things.

When we get to the house, I hurry out of the car, taking the puppy with me. I don't want to wait around in case Mother changes her mind, or worse, she has one of her fits. I immediately dash to my room and close the door.

Our house is enormous. I sometimes get lost in it, but I try not to wander too much. Father's already told me off for goingwhere I'm not supposed to. My room is on the third floor, but I'm the only one living there and it's a little scary.

My brother, Tino, used to live here too. Now, he rarely comes home. But he always brings me a chocolate bar when he comes. I like that... even though he doesn't speak to me, at least he remembers I exist.

I tried once to go downstairs, but some areas are forbidden, especially the basement. I'm really curious though. I've been curious ever since I heard some maids talk about it. They're not allowed there either. I once tried to go to the basement, but my father's men stopped me.

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