Chapter 1
Let's Play a Game
I remember meeting him when I was about six years old. It was my first week at school, but so far I had made a couple of friends. I was always good at making friends quickly. In the middle of recess, I came across a boy sitting on the swings alone. I smiled at him, and he looked up at me as if surprised I was there. He returned the smile.
We talked for a little bit about the normal things children talk about; their new toys, their families, their ideas for a game of pretend. He seemed like a really nice kid, and by the time recess was over, I found out his name. Lee Joon. He was three years older than me, but in my grade. Apparently he started school late and even got held back, which I considered a special talent. I mean, held back at that age?
For a couple of weeks we spent our recesses together. I got to know him well in such a short amount of time. I learned about his family life, and even how some of the older kids would bully him and make fun of him for being so old in a young grade. I told him not to let those kids bother him, and what only mattered was what his friends thought.
Oh, there’s another thing. I was his only friend.
He came to school one day carrying a stuffed animal that looked like a cat. It looked so lifelike; even felt like it too. I asked him where he got it, but he told me he couldn’t tell because it was a secret. I respected his "secret", and joked with him that he finally had another friend. His eyes widened and sparkled at the thought, and he nodded eagerly. "You’re right!" He shouted in excitement, hugging his stuffed cat to his face. "I have another friend".
Over the course of my first year at school, Joon seemed to change. It was subtle, so much so that since I was his only real friend, only I could notice. He would bring more stuffed animals to school, proclaiming he had a new friend. I just grinned and supported him, figuring buying stuffed animals was his way of coping with only having me as a friend.
Every couple of days I would see Joon getting bullied on the playground. I never tried to stop them or stand up for him, because I knew at my size they would just pummel me into the ground. So I stood there and watched Joon get talked down, get pushed and shoved, get rejected the friendship he so desperately wanted.
One day he came to me crying about these bullies. I wasn’t sure what to do to comfort him, but I tried my best. I managed to stop him from sobbing and dull it down to a quiet cry before speaking to him. "Just ignore them", I told him. "You don’t need them as friends, they’re so mean to you. You still have me". I think my comforting worked, considering he looked up and smiled at me through his tears. He thanked me for being there for him I assume, and invited me over to his house. I was unsure, but figured it couldn’t hurt. After all, he did only live a short walk from my own house.
So later that night, after dinner, I snuck out of the house and headed for Joon’s. I could have asked my mom or dad to drive me, but they seemed awfully busy and I already promised Joon I’d be there. I wouldn’t take long; I would just pop in, say hello to him and a few other things, and run back home before someone noticed my absence.
I reached his house, noticing the huge tree fort in the backyard. I saw a light flickering from the window and figured that was where Joon was. I grinned and in a mixture of skipping and running, I made my way to the fort.
I must have been very quiet climbing up the ladder, or maybe Joon heard me and just didn’t care I was there. After a few seconds of climbing, I poked my head up into the tree house and noticed the boy sitting, facing a corner. I heaved myself up and plopped onto the floor."Hey Joon, this is a cool tree hous–" My words stopped mid-sentence, leaving my jaw dangling. The wall I was looking at was covered in strange tools, such as one would see at a hospital. My eyes traveled down to the floor, and I let out a small gasp at the crimson stains I saw splattered around. I didn’t know if I should let my eyes wander more, but the pile in the corner drew my eyes. Carcasses. Cats, small dogs, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels. Even smaller animals like birds, rats, and chipmunks. I felt the overwhelming urge to throw up my dinner, but I somehow managed to keep it down. Joon turned to me, beaming at me a smile I had never seen from him before. I couldn’t help but notice the scalpel in his hand and the poor victim laying before him. "Look Mir, those are all the friends I’m going to make. I couldn’t tell you at school because I thought everyone would want one, sorry".
I was still speechless. I wasn’t sure if I should reply to him or take off running. But the fact that this was my friend here, my good friend Joon, compelled me to stay. "Uhm. . Oh. . that’s neat. ." I lied through my teeth, clenched together in the most fake smile I had ever given. His expression softened. "Do you not like them. . ?" He asked, looking genuinely hurt. I frowned and quickly shook my head. "No, that’s not it at all. . But. . I don’t think you’re supposed to be doing that. ." His look grew more pathetic. "I know, but how else can I make friends?! Please don’t tell anymore Mir, please don’t!" His pleads got to me; I simply sighed and nodded. He grinned at me once more and dropped the scalpel, running over to me and giving me a hug. "Thank you, you’re amazing!" I couldn’t help but think of Joon’s hands touching me right then, the hands he had been using to cut open that animal on the ground. I desperately wanted to pull away, but to my luck Joon did that for me and went right back to making his new "friend". I swallowed, though my throat was dry, and glanced at the ladder. "I uh. . need to get home before my parents wonder where I am. . see you later, Joon" I mumbled as I stood up and started down the ladder, not even bothering to wait for Joon’s response. But to my knowledge he never responded to me, just kept himself engrossed in his work. It wasn’t until I reached the ground I heard him shout at me, "See you at school tomorrow, I’ll bring some of my new friends too! We can play lots of games together!" I shuddered at the thought, and took off running to get to the safe haven that was my home.
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