He stood in front of the mirror in his room, faded and cracked the reflection he saw wasn't himself. He had become as distraught as that mirror. Loved ones gone, the purpose for existance has left him years ago when he went down the path of retribution. "You take 1 from me I take 100 from you" was a motto he was raised by and lived by. Even though he left the life the attitude still layed dormant just beneath the surface waiting for a purpose to show it's true nature. He had a family, a job, a life. Just a regular guy happy that he was at where he was till one day they stripped it from him. There was a police chase, in the chaos the cop messed up and lost control. 80 miles an hour head on into the car his family was coming home in. The fire ensued, death followed. When the news reached him he collapsed in shock. Unable to work or think anger consumed him. His focus became retribution, 100 for 1. He made his plans, prepared his tools for the death of 300 men and women to bring in the balance. Years passed before he started and he still remembered his first as he stripped the flesh from his skin with a soldering iron as the screams echoed in his ears even now. All the others after are just a blurr except for last night. The final death of the 300 cops took place. The balance is complete. Yet as he stood in front of the mirror he realized last night he also killed himself for he no longer had a purpose and the atrocity of his actions turned him into a monster. He wasn't meant to be part of civilization for he only saw death. It was quick as he stood in front of the mirror and slit his own throat watching the blood leave his body he just stared at himself void of expression. As he slowly collapsed to the floor staring at the mirror he smiled. Retribution finished, the black peaceful abyss of death is finally here. I am free

by Matthew branton