Page 109 of Monster in Disguise

Marcello

AGE FIFTEEN

With one last slash, I throw the knife to the ground and grab a cloth to wipe the blood off. I head to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror.

Damn, the blood really got everywhere this time. Even my blonde hair is now splattered with red. I turn on the faucet and splash some water on my face.

When I return to the room, Father is already there inspecting my work.

There are four lifeless bodies on the floor. This had been one of my more intensive torture sessions, since they didn't seem to fear a teenager as they would an adult.

I'd set to prove them wrong.

It had taken me two hours to break the first man. The others had quickly followed, which proved my theory that they would be more malleable if they were to see what happened to their friends.

Father stoops low and inspects the mortal blows, his brows furrowed.

"Are you sure you got everything?" He moves over to the next corpse and does the same.

"Yes, sir," I answer, addressing him with his due.

"That was fast." He stands up, looking pensive. "I have to say, boy," he pauses and I mentally cringe at his use ofboy,"I am impressed." He doesn't look like it. In fact, his expression shows how much it cost him to admit this. After all, I am always the disappointment.

I don't reply. Even his praise can't affect me anymore. If anything, I find myself growing colder.

"I think it's finally time for the next step." Father narrows his eyes at me, almost reluctant for what's to come.

I simply nod.

In the last years, I've learned that the less I talk, the less I reveal of myself to the world. This way, no one will find any faults or weaknesses in me.

I simply am.

My existence is to serve the famiglia and to do Father's dirty work. I've come to terms with the fact that I can be nothing more.

I am, but I amnot.

Even the notion of pain can't faze me anymore. Physical pain is just that – physical and as such ephemeral. I can close my eyes and dissociate.

Emotional pain... That doesn't go away. So I do the only thing I can. I stop feeling.

"I'll have someone clean this up." He points to the dead bodies before adding, "Let's see how you'll fare in the position I have in mind." He turns to the exit.

I give him a brisk nod, following.

"There is a reason people don't mess with us." Father continues as he leads me towards an area of the basement I haven't been to until now.

"Not that they don't want to, but that they don't dare." He smirks, pride reflected in his gaze.

He opens the door, and inside I see a man strapped to a chair.

The room is much smaller than any of the others, but I've never seen so many instruments of torture in one place before.

"There's a tradition in our family. The younger sons are trained to serve their capo, which is what I've been doing with you until now. Every test I've given you has been for this." He motions me towards the center of the room.

"You've proven yourself to be beyond my expectations." Father muses, and it's the first time he doesn't scowl at me. "But now you must pass your biggest test yet."

"Yes, sir," I confirm. What can be worse than what I've been through so far? I almost want to laugh at that thought.

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