==The Art of Murder: Interval 1: The Origin==
''So that's me.''

I've told you a million times. Not that you honestly listen... you just keep asking the same fucking questions... over... and over... and over again. We're not getting anywhere. We're never going to get anywhere and you may as well just...

I got what I wanted. What I needed. It didn't bring me peace, but it brought me satisfaction. Why I didn't stop, well... something hit me. There are simple greater pleasures, greater triumphs, greater accomplishments than taking somebody's life. Snuffing the life right out them. It creates a connection with the victim as well as a sense of superiority or perhaps prestige. He was right. I feel stronger, more powerful. Greater.

==Chapter 1==
Alchemy had been institutionalized for two years. He was fifteen when they took him away from his family, from his friends, they took away his music, his games, his books, anything that could possibly influence him or drive him or anything that even interested him. They broke him down to the very bottom, just like in Military School when he was only twelve. The difference was a matter of method and level. His superiors at the academy broke him down physically and increased his challenges to the point where he was constantly struggling to achieve their goals.

It made him stronger. It made him more disciplined. More adept. It made him more respectful and respectable. And it time, he came to appreciate it, as it gave him a sense of masculine dominance over his peers in high school. He was very tall, at six feet and six inches, and any weight on him was all muscle. He was athletic. And if he hadn't been molded, he wouldn't of had such satisfaction in life. Alchemy had dreams of joining the Military to serve, as he both felt a military obligation, and needed money for college.

But this was different. This affected him on spiritual and mental levels. They broke him down, asking the same questions with the same answers, took every interest and influence in his life, and removed his spirituality by denying him his religious beliefs, and discouraging, trying to occupy his time for meditation and prayer. He didn't have any more friends, he wasn't allowed to even speak to his family, and he never was able to get in touch with God. By the time he was released, God didn't exist. Eventually, he began memorizing the answers his psychiatrists wanted to hear, and coaxed and patronized his way through. It was his only way out. Why was he here? He asked himself that question... every day.

He was there because during his freshman year in January, he laid eyes on a girl. He began approaching her, talking to her, inviting her out, and eventually the two began a steady relationship. Her name was Kristy.

Alchemy was a cutter. He started four months earlier, and usually cut his thighs or shoulders... rarely his arms or legs as they were visible. He rarely did it, but when he did, there would be hundreds of cuts. For four months he had done this without anyone's awareness. It gave him the ability to cope; by giving him a natural high, as his body's Endorphins were released and he felt adrenaline. For four months he had done this safely and secretly, without anyone knowing. Why? He only cut his thighs and torso. Nobody ever saw those, and he never told anyone. Except one time when he slashed his wrists. He began wearing workout gloves where he went, and wristbands to cover those scars.

Back to this girl, they had a steady but sure relationship until she saw those scars. But she still supposedly loved him. She promised him she wouldn't ever tell anyone, and only wanted him to stop. She wanted to help him, or so it seemed. He believed she still loved him, and didn't want to lose her. So though it took the beginning of February to stop, he finally did. Thousands of scars still remained, some nasty enough to be permanent, but he stopped, out of his love for her and the understanding that this was not good for him at all.

In late February, his best friend Taylor had told him that he had met a girl, and they had been dating for a month and he was going to take her to his JROTC ball. Alchemy was happy for his friend, until Taylor described this girl to him, even showing him a picture on his phone and telling him her name. It was the same girl, Kristy, who Alchemy had been dating since January. Alchemy was... enraged. But he remained silent, so not to make a large issue and lose his friendship. He wanted to be angry but was incapable at the time. He simply wanted more than anything else to confront her, maybe win her back. He was an idiot, as he came to realize later on.

He refused to confront her directly, instead implying often that she had something to tell him, or something she sounded strange about. She never said a word about her second relationship. it wasn't until the week before the JROTC ball that a friend of his, Kate, had told him of the girl's second relationship... and her first one. She had been dating another boyfriend the whole time Alchemy and Taylor had been dating her, and only dumped him that week.

Alchemy was depressed, disturbed, and ultimately heartbroken by this news. For a week, he didn't speak to either of them, and instead hatched a plan to catch them both. He had the testimony of the first boyfriend and of all of Taylor's friend, and would hope to confront them. He didn't count but was disclosed on the day of the date, a Saturday before Sunday, that her parents were out of town and would pick her up on the following Sunday, due to a family emergency. Before anything else, he wondered if his friend was aware of her actions... Either way, he called him and asked if he was going to make it to the service that Sunday. He was.

Alchemy realized that most likely, Taylor would bring Kristy. He would confront them that Sunday and then decide on whether he would quietly break up with her or tell everyone about this... scandal. He decided it best to keep it quiet so not to make issues for himself or for her or Taylor, and to let go of the issue quickly. The other option was only a backup in case things did not go over well.

So that Sunday Taylor and Kristy arrived the church, with Alchemy waiting for them. Kristy was shocked, unaware that Alchemy would be there. Taylor was seemingly unaware of what was going on. But nobody made a single move, nor did anyone say a word until Alchemy had asked Taylor:

"So, you gonna introduce me or what?"

Taylor responded "Of course! Al, this is Kristy. Kristy, Al."

Kristy shook Alchemy's hand and Alchemy gave her a sharp glare, then smiled back to Taylor.

Kristy realized it was over, unless...

The service went over as planned, and Kristy had to talk to Taylor privately. Not to explain what was going on, he already knew that, but to explain what she was planning on doing. Taylor understood exactly what happened. Alchemy got himself a nice, very attractive girl, and Alchemy's the nice guy, but lonely type. He's a fucking outcast. He likes Rock bands, and plays video games and reads books. He wears Graphic art shirts, and...

"He cuts himself. Badly. I'm going to tell everyone, and he will be ashamed. Not just ashamed, but his credibility will be so damaged in everyone's eyes."

Taylor was shocked. He didn't realize Alchemy was that far into it. He felt a somewhat sense of pity for his friend, and a bit of shame, not knowing that this outcast with his 'pure heart' shit was that conflicted. But he knew his credibility and reputation was at stake here, and for all he knew, Alchemy had known all about his involvement.

"Not just that. We call the cops, the authorities, and his parents. He'll get put in the Psycho Ward, and knowing all the dirt he's gone, he'll be in there for awhile."

Alchemy decided he was going to call Taylor and tell him what was going on, then explain that if Taylor wanted to keep Kristy or break up with her, that was his choice, but if he were Taylor, he'd do the same thing he was going to do now. But as he reached the phone, someone else, Taylor's mother, called and asked to speak with Alchemy's mom. Alchemy handed the phone over to his mother, thinking it was about some church event.

His mother began to develop a worried look on her face, and explained she hadn't known. Then it hit Alchemy. Exactly what was happening. He was fucked. He was so fucked... and he should've seen it coming. As his mother put down the phone, he stared for a moment.

He then spoke softly: "She told everyone, didn't she?"

"Who?" his mother asked.

"That girl. Taylor's new girlfriend. She was the same one dating me. I told her..."

"You told her? And you didn't tell me!?!?!"

"I'm sorry-"

"NO! This is something you needed to tell me, before it got out of hand! Now they're coming to bring you in!"

"IT DIDN'T GET OUT OF HAND. I STOPPED IN FEBRUARY!"

He showed her his scars, before saying "It's bad that I was doing it, but I stopped! I did stop!"

"But you told her, and now it's coming down... You'll be lucky if you don't get brought in to an institution."

A knock on the door...

"Mom-" Alchemy said...

"I'm sorry. It's out of my hands... I'm so sorry..."

She opened the door, and Alchemy closed his eyes. He went willingly, and he knew he was finally fucked.

==Chapter 2==
'''Dear Dr. Arbatov,'''

'''Currently pending for release is patient Alchemy Gwen Stevens, a troubled boy who has been under my care for two years now. He had developed a self-mutilation disorder, and had inflicted great harm on his body. Luckily, some friends he told had explained his condition to police, and in the end, they succeeded in getting him the help he needed. We started by removing those possible influences that may have driven him to cut, his peer-pressure, these pressures on him to involve himself in charity, aid, and religious activities, these disgusting 'rock n roll headbanger' influences,  his violent video games, and the horror novels that occupied his time. He seems to be more relaxed and easygoing now that these are gone, and he is more free spirted now that he has left behind his restraining religious beliefs holding him back. He has shown amazing progress in accepting that what he was doing was wrong, though early on, trying to justify his methods. That his friends were truly trying to help him and he shut them out, rather than his early explanation of childish relationship troubles, and that he is now on the path to becoming a healthy human being. '''

'''I think he is, effectively... "cured".'''

'''Yours,'''

'''Dr. Amy R. Lambert.'''

==Chapter 3==
Alchemy was finally released. He felt good, that he was out and done with what he was doing. He felt happy, content, and desired nothing more than to see his old friends and family, whom he had been separated from. The images of Kristy, Taylor, and all these other friends who he later found out disowned him for his habit, remained in his mind. As he was picked up by his mother, all he could think about was these different people.

He spent a lot of time outside, walking around, exercising, enjoying the scenery. Many times he would cast a smile or nod to his neighbors, who realized who he was, but out of pity and obligation for this reborn individual, cast a smile or nod back. At school, he was teased and bullied, but he worried not, because integration back into society would be quite difficult of course. He did find that a lot of his old friends did not wish to speak to him, not even Kate, the one who always had his back. She seemed to try to avoid him. Never did she approach or mock him, not even behind his back, but she never spoke to him. As a "close friend", it was recommend by the psychiatrist that she not approach him.

He began acing his tests, and rose to the top of class. Every day, as he revisited his Facebook pages, he would read about what an amazing couple his former friends; Taylor and Kristy were, and he always wanted to type in "best wishes, I'm very happy for both of you, and good luck..." but realized his presence may cause stress or embarrassment on their part, so he did not. His parents never spoke a word of what happened, only moving on. They didn't want to trouble him, like the psychiatrist suggested. It seemed that the only person who was truly okay with the past events, the one who really made peace with himself, was Alchemy.

It seemed that way. Every night, he tucked himself into bed, smiled, and dreamed up how he would brutally murder each of his friends in a sadistic or malevolent manner. He counted off his list of people to kill, ''Taylor, Kristy, both their parents, Justin, Harris, Monroe, Gordon, Stephanie, Jared, Catherine, Randy... My doctors: Amy, Dimitri, Martin, Daniel...'' and he imagined just how he would kill each of them... then he stopped at Kate. He didn't know what he was going to do to her, or even if he was going to kill her, but he would certainly save her for the end, making his decision after he murdered Taylor and Kristy. it would be difficult, because he would be the prime suspect in such a spree, unless there was no evidence... or it pointed towards someone... else.

Maybe he could frame Taylor. The ultimate revenge, to see him arrested and claim vengeance for the crimes that Taylor didn't commit, rather than the ones he did. After all, according to an old classmate, that group of his old friends and enemies never left his parents alone. They guilted them. His dad was fired, and later jumped in front of a bus to provide insurance money for the family. Justin's father was the boss of Alchemy's dad. He would kill Justin, and perhaps guilt the father into committing suicide. Maybe... he would pull a scene from an old game he played, and torture the father into committing suicide. Yes... it would fall together... but he decided the best way to do this was to plan each murder separately, after each other. This would allow for the maximum creativity, freedom, and ability to clear errors if needed.

It wasn't for revenge. It wasn't for justice. It was for the satisfaction of murder. To know what it feels like.

==Chapter 4==
My first target would be Stephanie and Gordon. The two were a couple now, and deserved to die like one. I began to follow them around, learn their circles after school. I found they would always meet an hour after school in an alley outside, between the gym and cafeteria. They would make out for between 10-30 minutes, and drive around town for three hours before Gordon would drop Steph off at home, and return home himself. Except he didn't return home, he went to a gas station, where he would pay off grown men to go and buy him alcohol. I was almost tempted to sneak into his unlocked car and wait until he put the keys into the ignition... I'd probably garrote him behind his seat... but I remembered my original plan, to kill them both in the same place. So behind the school, I figured I'd knock them both out with something, or just down... and kill them both quickly. Actually, I had a better idea. Going to the garage, I gathered what tools I would need:

Table/Hacksaw, Blunt Object, Gloves, disinfecting wipes, Gasoline, bleach, matches.

I waited after school, with a gym bag full of these tools. I slowly watched as they went to their usual spot, and grabbed my Pipe and hacksaw. As it happened, my pipe was actually stolen from some piping at the school. It'd take a genius to look for such things... In the ordinary. I put on a balaclava and some black goggles with tint. I then grabbed my razor and sliced my fingerprints off my hands. It was excruciating. Blood started dripping... all over my hands, and  began wrapping them in tape. I wandered over to the corner of the alley and watched. My hands stung... like a million wasps had stung, and stung, and stung into the flesh.

As they closed their eyes and made out... or with the way they were kissing, made "in", I slowly and silently approached with the pipe. As Steph began to open her eyes, I swung hard and caught them both. I turned, and realized a bit of blood got my on goggles. I didn't wipe them, I only looked to see the two on the concrete, bleeding. I slammed the pipe into Gordon's arms and legs, and heard a snap each time. He was growling with pain. I came over to Stephanie and lined the hacksaw up with her neck.

She turned and looked at me with such wide, frightened eyes. She tried to cough out some words, and I heard her say, "Please... Don't... please..."

And I looked back at Gordon, he was watching, while grinding his teeth and grunting with pain, not able to stand up. I put my hand over her mouth, and she whimpered... then I began sawing her head off. There was a squishy sound, and blood immediately splattered across my head and clothes... and I kept sawing until the head was off. I turned to Gordon, who had quite the look of shock on his face... he was frozen. I dragged him up into a headlock, and with the pipe in hand, put it around his neck. I began readying for a twist as he started whimpering... and...

'''''SNAP.'''''

I grabbed his body, dragged it over against the wall, and placed her head in his hands, in a cradle like manner. I dragged her body, and casually laid it on top of his legs. Satisfied with the image I had set, I began dumping bleach everywhere, but just enough to clean the area. Then I went back to Gordon's body and carved into his forehead with my razor the word "Caedes". cleaned up and ready to go, I walked off and went back home, with the perfect alibi in mind.

Naturally, the body was found the next day. School was excused, and I was reading the papers. Police didn't release much, except to say it was the sickest murder that had been committed in the city for quite awhile. I read the reports on them, and frowned. I lost two very good friends, and can't imagine what kind of person would kill them like that. As I read the bottom, that they had little to go on as almost there was no evidence linking anything, I smiled. A job well done.

==Conclusion of Interval 1==
Alchemy had succeeded. he hadn't slipped up a bit. He wasn't sure the police hadn't found anything, but he knew what they would find. His calling card... Caedes. Latin, for murder.

His next plan was to murder Justin and do... something... to Justin's father.
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[[Category:Mental Illness]]
[[Category:Dismemberment]]