Killer in Shadow

1.

Under the boiling Sun in July, two men got off from their car. One was older in appearance than the other, also much taller too. The younger one, however, was rather the one who was leading the way, walking confidently toward McKinley High's empty open gate.

The younger one, Blaine Anderson, scratched his dark chocolate hair as his hazel eyes looked around the buildings. Beam of soft sunlight landed on his face and made his eyes shining like a clear crystal. His walk, strong and assured, drew the attention from a few girls who were sitting on the side fence giggling.

Not long before they found themselves in the principal office as appointed. The principal had a serious look at the academic reports and the application form. After a few minutes of silence, he had finally spoken.

“So, from what I gathered, mister Anderson is hoping to transfer to McKinley High. Is that correct?” asked the principal.

“Yes.” The older man replied while Blaine noticed the wooden name stand on the desk that said “Figgins”. He then looked back to Figgins, who was now about to ask Blaine a question.

“And Blaine, could you please tell me why you'd like to transfer to here?”

“Of course.” He crossed his hands at his knees. “I've always interested in the glee club, and I've seen your glee club here, the New Direction. They impressed me so much. This is my passion and so I've decided to transfer. And then, of course, unlike other traditional schools, McKinley High allows students to imagine what they dare to imagine, and this is definitely what I look for too.”

The principal nodded and took a few notes, but what came next was a sorrowful sigh. “Hopefully you'd understand that in normal circumstances we don't take students this late.”

The older man, who was Blaine's father, pushed up his thick glasses. “Yes, I understand my son's application is very late, but –“ But Blaine put a hand on his father's, indicating him to stop.

“Well, as a proud principal of this school, I'd be very happy to take your son as part of our students.” He paused. “Blaine, you're a well-rounded student. Your academic records, sports or music records, all show you're on top of the top.”

“Thank you.” Didn't expect the compliment to come, Blaine shied away from the eye contact.

“But as an educator, speaking from personal viewpoint, I'm afraid this school's offer will not satisfy your son.” Principal Figgins stated. “From your application form,” he switched the form to the top, “mister Anderson, you come from Dalton Academy, a top ten high school within the United States. I've seen people who tried everything they could to get into Dalton. And yet, with many other better choices in Columbus, you came to Lima and picked us.”

“That is right –“

“I don't see where the problem is.” His father interrupted Blaine, showing his frustration and anger. “My son is an elite! What is the problem?”

“Please calm down, mister Anderson.” Figgins called. “It's not a problem for your son to enroll, trust me, I'd just hope that you two to, maybe, reconsider your choice.”

Blaine's father, who was now standing, was even more furious. He pointed his finger. “I don't care what you think, alright? My son is an elite so you take him as one of your student, alright? You either enroll him now, or you wait for me to sue the fuck off your ass! Now!” He shouted.

The shouting had to be very loud. A few administration staffs turned their heads around to see what had happened through the window. Blaine's face was embarrassingly hot and red. Uncomfortable in his seat, he also stood up but to apologize. “I'm very sorry, Principal Figgins. I'm sorry about any inconvenience that we've caused you today, but I really AM interested and wished to study in McKinley High.” He looked to Figgins.

Figgins swallowed hardly, froze in his seat, he was still trying to understand the situation. He had never dealt with a parent who had such bad temper like this.

A few moments had passed, Blaine's father was calmed again and they both sat down. Figgins, in shock, but managed to squeeze a few words out. “Okay... Alright, umm, go to the admin staff and they'll help you with the enrollment and all.”

“Thank you!” Blaine almost sang his words in melody. His eyes occupied with thrill, suggesting to his father that they should leave the office before it was too late.

They closed the door and immediately every staff was staring at them. Knowing the shouting could leave a bad impression; Blaine again apologized for his father. They quickly walked to the front desk and enrolled into classes. Fifteen minutes later, they were already in the car again.

“How did I do?” Blaine's father asked.

Blaine did not answer. He was looking at the empty place where the girls were sitting at earlier. That question was silly. How did he think he went? Blaine pulled out his wallet from his back pocket and took out a ten-dollar bank note.

“Now drive.” He handed the note to the older man without looking.

“Oh come on, you said twenty before!” The man complained. “And I got you enrolled!”

Now Blaine turned to him and gave him a death stare. “Got me enrolled? You almost ruin my plan. Your shouting is the least thing I'd want.”

“Well, fine! Anyway, my job is done.” He put the ten-dollar note in his pocket and loosened his tie.

“No.” Blaine simply stated. “Drive, in case they're watching.”

“Watching? Like spying on you?”

Blaine looked to the front. “Just drive.”

The man started the engine and turned the wheel. He could not help but laugh as he drove. “Kids, I've no idea who you're, but you're either insane or...” He laughed again. “I've no fucking idea! This is ridiculous. You're just insane. Honestly.” The man shook his head.

Ignoring all the things the man was saying, Blaine seemed to be concentrating in his own world.

“And where am I dropping you?”

“Here.” Blaine answered.

“Alright.” The man pulled the car over to the side. Blaine quickly got off the car and walked away. He heard a faint shout from the man saying, “Fucking crazy kid!”

He looked back. McKinley High was already out of sight.

At the main road he got on a taxi to get home. The taxi driver had a good old taste for music. On the CD player it was Bee Gee's Stayin' Alive. In his childhood, Blaine's mum loved to play this song in every sunny afternoon as she chopped the frozen chicken in the kitchen for dinner. She would ask Blaine to dance to it, even though he was in slight resistance, the groove at the end always won.

But the afternoons when the sun did not come out were different, too different, as he recalled. There would be no Stayin' Alive, no music at all. His mother would chop the chicken like she had gone mad. Blaine never tried to bother his mother when she was on edge, because one wrong move could mean more than smacking and slapping on his face. But there was one day, and the only day where he did the wrong move.

It was after his teacher told the class that everyone should be celebrating when it was their birthdays. On the road to home it was raining heavily and the wind was roaring like a lion out of the cave. In fear, but Blaine thought it was worth a try. It was, after all, his birthday today. Perhaps his mother would act differently just for this one day.

With all his hopes held up high, Blaine rushed to home and found her mother, as usual, sitting on the sofa, staring at the black screen on television.

“Mama?” His voice shaking, he approached to his mother without making too much noise.

“Mama?” He asked again. His mother still had not moved.

Blaine put his hand on his mother's arm. He watched, and realized how undernourished she was. He could see the blue veins mapping on her hands, extending to her upper arms. Her eyes, dark and empty, like her soul was taken away from her. Her hair was brittle and had long lost its gloss. He never grasped the idea of how broken her mother was until then. Suddenly the idea of celebrating his birthday had disappeared and was replaced by a sense of guilt.

The boiling water escaped from the spout of the kettle, leaving an irritating noise unable to endure.

“Come.” His mother said calmly.

She stood up and walked into kitchen. Blaine followed behind, unsure of what was going through her mother's mind.

Her mother turned off the gas and placed the kettle on the kitchen countertop. She then grabbed his arm firmly with one hand, and with the other hand pushing up the sleeve of his top.

“No! Mama!” Blaine cried. He knew what was going to occur. He could feel the heat from the boiling water in the kettle already.

“No, mama! I'd never do this again, please!”

“You're a bad boy...” His mother murmured. In her troubled voice, she had found her grief and fury. “You're a very bad boy!” She shouted in Blaine's ears.

His body trembling, Blaine tried his very best to break free from the grip. “No mama! I'm not! Please mama! Please stop! This is hurting me!”

“You're naughty boy...” His mother continued to grumble. “And this is why my husband has left me! It was all you!”

“It was you!” Her mother moved one of her hands to get the heavy kettle. She watched his son screamed for help. One last shout, and she poured the steaming hot water on her hands and all over Blaine's right arm.

“Mama!” Blaine yelled in exhaustion, his voice was almost broken.

“Sir?” The taxi driver called.

Realizing he was not a seven year old anymore, Blaine pulled himself away from his hunted memory, but only found himself holding his right arm tightly. After he got off the taxi, there was no more room for any song anymore.

He watched the sky gradually turned grey.

No more sunny afternoons.

No more happy moments.

He stormed into his house, filled the kettle with water and turned on the gas. He waited until the kettle was boiled.

Behind the kitchen was the door to his basement. He switched the light on, took his kettle and went downstairs.

A girl in white dress was wrapped around the chair with tapes all over body and her mouth. She tried to kick the chair to break free as she saw Blaine was getting closer. She tried to shout for help but no a sound had come out. Blaine watched her in satisfaction.

“It was really sunny outside today. It was so... lovely.” Blaine talked to the girl who watched him in terror.

“But then it turned so cloudy now.” He distressed. “And now is all... suffocating.”

Blaine turned his gaze at the kettle.

The girl shook her head hardly, tears wept across her face and the tapes, but everything was too late now.