Page 122 of Locke 2

Locke stood behind the man. He always wondered what this would be like. He thought of how he would look him in the eye as he tore him apart, enjoying the bloodcurdling screams—

He didn’t want to do that anymore.

In fact, nothing stirred in his chest at all.

Conor and Jem held each arm, keeping the man upright. They held him, looking at Locke, waiting for his direction.

Locke came up behind him, and the quivering man must have sensed him because he howled in fear. No, this was certainly not the man that frightened these children once, a long time ago. This was just a coward. A monster. A demon that needed to be welcomed back into the pits of hell.

Leaning close, Locke whispered, “I’m going to do to you what you’ve done to me and countless other little boys. This is the mercy you deserve.”

He nodded once at his brothers and watched as they picked the man up and dropped him inside a hole. There were no final words. No moment of reflection. It was sudden and cold, like it needed to be. His muffled screams were immediately muted as the doors slammed over top of him, covering him in darkness.

Locke looked down at the list.

He didn’t need to cross out the final name.

He no longer cared.

Locke was out of the hole and into the light, and this time the light didn’t hurt.

This time the light felt like loving arms, welcoming him home.

The End.