The Monster of the Slums

Part I

He walked to the edge of the crimson water its color derived from the waking sky. A barren wasteland composed his backyard, front yard, and everything in between. Envy consumed him as what mirrored him on the other side was a world of wonder. What stood tall and proud at the northern shore, what stared him down day and night was a home. Whenever he walked to the edge of the lake, a monster appeared gazing deep as if into his fate.

The monster repeatedly crawled up the water when he drew near. He himself always cowered with fear. He knew it was the slums. He knew it was this place. This place was the reason for this monster, this great disgrace. He wondered, he wished, he prayed for something to do about the elephant in the room. To escape the monster and leap into the lake of exuberance abloom.

Among his fraughtful problem solving, he witnessed many people on the opposing side of the lake. They frolicked and played together in the rose of a bay. He would be green if he wasn’t in fray. But then he had a thought, maybe two, a series of neurons that told him what to do. If those people are playing and swimming as friends, the monster’s not there to put that to an end. He picked up his backpack, some clothes and a phone, and a heavy-handed 6 shooter he promised to use for protection alone.

Part II

He crunched and he crashed his feet in the dirt, a few hours walking and his feet started to hurt. The splishing and splashing of friends drew near, it would be 10 more minutes until he no longer had to fear. He slipped through the trees blocking the view of the lake. It was only a few minutes, these minutes a mistake. When he peered from the trees, a few yards far from the rich side of the bay, he began to start worrying, his thoughts once again a fray. Where did they go? Where could they be? How could they leave faster than they could meet me? The sky was dark red like the blood of the dead. The thoughts of the monster flooded his head. It must have been the boogeyman living under his bed. But the monster wasn’t seen in the lake, the monster was nowhere near.

He dashed to the loch, almost tripping on a rock, he marched to the scene like an officer with a glock. When he reached the edge, his hairs rose with fear, the monster had risen and suddenly appeared. “Why do you follow? Why are you here? Why must you swipe my joy and cheer?” The monster stayed silent yet mimicked his actions, cynically provoking anger in the distraught man. The man in retort started to snicker and snort and snapped his gun to the monster in amort. The sky was bleeding and begging for the man to release. To release 6 bullets to establish world peace. The orb of divinity and life rising higher projecting rays of ichor, enhancing the sinless sky. The heavens were calling, this was his time, here was the era for punishment, divine.

Part III

For all things happy, for all things grand, this creature seemingly had no repentance for the fear brought to the land. If it did, it would change. Clearly that wouldn’t do, so the man ensured his future shot would follow through. He clicked back the hammer with his right thumb, the monster copied his actions that had been done. He put the gun to the monster’s head. This would ensure the monster would be dead. The monster stared deep, with a glint of remorse, but the bullet itself was already on course.

With the pull of the trigger, the gun made a roar. The monster rose to the hemorrhaging heavens, its soul began to soar. He himself would’ve loved to see what he had done. His body broke his reflection, the monster of the slums.