MLBH 1

“Damn it.”c2c02bbcc72df793

Snap. Thud. John cursed under 24ef904242 his breath as 3631bb5c3b the rope, which 22dbef981e had barely held 3c727f0d55 on for two 55055bbb5c minutes, snapped pathetically.bae5fe4ea8576f9f

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“Another dud today.”b2bcbf884886893b

His neck only ached for 1162fc363c no reason. He couldn’t understand why he a1b4535e4b kept failing at something as abfba59965 simple assuicide.Whenever he tried 1c73833ad5 to hang himself, 201927a0cb the rope or 7a66c506e8 cloth would always aeb0790e9c tear. One time, the ceiling d5eec6dccc even collapsed. When he tried 9d5acb4d77 shooting himself, the c6814936e3 gun conveniently jammed. And when he bba953fb2c finally threw himself 832dcca338 in front of a2a6caa4fc a train, it fd74f2eabf screeched to a 77a8635c9f halt just inches e23683ffa5 away from him.03afa0deb7c8666a

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So for the d4a69ba247 past four years, 4ec9167b51 John Cain had 88e08667f5 been stuck in d6a8372bb2 this miserable loop.a958826ae200abd2

Killing others was so 6c132345ce damn easy. So why was dyingso hard?1a58ad375dc60cde

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He shoved the d7bf56235a pistol back into b41a15aba0 his pocket and ac1d05f263 left the room, 3ad903c7e3 running a hand f269c61430 irritably through his 1f1f40fd46 hair.96cb7cd0bf7dedc7

Every town was crawling with fe43fe34c5 armed outlaws, so carrying a 8f3d2ec57d gun was a given. Sure, some sheriffs tried to 54a10e8a78 ban him, but John had 166c375e09 never seen a town where 087e09d04e that rule actually stuck.68ae9ab9e4a038a1

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Even though he wanted to 90428b9c66 die, he wasn’t about to e6ca379595 get killed by some worthless e859ad0ff4 lowlife. That would’ve been a 2c740d869a blow to his pride. Especially since the idiots after 3c88ea58c5 his head had no idea cca419fee8 just how much a bounty dd1ed32716 onJohn Cain was worth.5f213ac00861b59d

Only someone onhislevel—maybe higher—could take him down…0658d0f9ba748be6

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“……”cdc338723ffd664b

“……”4027ba0163e68d57

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His stomach growled. Even if he was trying e6facb630c to die, starving to death efb373fff9 wasn’t exactly appealing. He figured he’d grab 67a7729b84 something to eat nearby. But just as he e4167ef52c threw open the motel 916af92a74 door on the first 09ec2db74d floor, his eyes locked 951a3afa5d with someone.3f165f644e748e9c

No—somethingwas more accurate.7c020620e85473c2

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“…Oh! You’re bruised!”d5c561463e882b6f

A skinny kid crouched b6ea310bae on the ground pointed d598077b9f a thin, grubby finger dd181eeac9 at him. At the end of that 6a004e2489 finger was John’s neck—where a 91d1139009 deep bruise had formed from 5896e6ed4c his latest attempt.a43996fba24e6cf1

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“I put toothpaste on my bruises. It feels cool and nice!”0c2d4510a4dbaa04

The child grinned, despite the 8a45d8afe8 trails of drool and snot 2283f7de42 on their face. A kid like this, 40f2b9fe7e wandering around alone in a2bbaca136 a place like this… d382fce2d4 it was obvious. Either he had one parent 667c4dfdea or none at all. John recalled there was e033fab49a a fairly large orphanage 1c14b5bb77 in town and figured 1ea9c90b64 the kid was from 042f4c15c4 there.1d882142beb6fd70

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“I put some on today too! It felt good. But, um, when 715d065ca9 you get a cb1a5ad747 bruise near your 003c5a82dd eye, don’t put 86b0659917 toothpaste there! If it gets in, 2501b4f487 you’ll cry alot. Like, a lot a lot.”86479a5234dd29e1

Their brown hair was 0a11c807e8 messy, sticking out in b6e104b7ab all directions like an c361f2e454 old broom, and their 5afb29ab47 greenish-brown eyes were crusted 5f24b2a65c with sleep. Their skin was 55042b6021 covered in dirt 3a0012c6c9 and grime—clearly no 0020bd19f9 one was taking 3ae008fd22 care of him. No wonder he didn’t know 1afbed9dbb you weren’t supposed to talk 40423f2108 to strange men coming out ded0db43c4 of motels. If it had been f122b16dd3 anyone other than John, afab8677b7 he probably would’ve shot 3293c5fa57 the kid on sight.b66bf14fd943b4a5

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No one would’ve e5f1d01f77 pitied that corpse. he’d just spit d10746b7be on it and b586ea996c call it filthy. A kid dying in ee29392548 this part of the 64377c5a65 world wasn’t anything to c196ae0af9 write home about.f389c76f1eeb5209

“Want me to get you some toothpaste?”d9d3941c3f1302ef

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“No.”2d61c60201936b45

John pulled a red 6e16c472b9 handkerchief from his pocket, 7bb967f832 loosely wrapped it around 290434629f his neck, and rolled e88594e4f2 his head around to 8aaf18ce86 stretch it out. Talkative little brat. With both hands a6236da9df shoved in his 5be3c8715e coat pockets, he 66189eb027 walked off, footsteps 7acbc3562e heavy. Behind him—thud, thud, thud!—came light but rhythmic steps.9d7ff794a0f462fa

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“……”b42132868e50b7e9

“……”bec9261b7d096be6

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He stopped and glanced back. The kid quickly c8af6809a1 averted their eyes. So hedidhave some sense of caution…48edd3b273d9781c

“……”d00eefb03d284e75

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“I’m okay! I already put toothpaste on!”74a8578577d73c19

Their gait was odd. One ankle looked swollen. When John stared, the 3e299128eb kid shook their head 78d3b2acf4 back and forth in 0aff1d1e31 a hurry. Not that he’d asked. And putting toothpaste c0d51c0608 on something like 4fcbe7dafe that wouldn’t do 88d5bb0ba3 a damn thing. It might help cavities, 1e6f8e129b but that’s about it.cfae7f9aa6956e0d

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John wasn’t exactly known ee068606c3 for his warmth. He was an outlaw, after b2ab236abb all. But damn it, even he’d f1fe63b92a had a childhood once. That little thing reminded him c8272ca44d of himself—not the chatty part, ba071a4c1f though. He hadneverbeen that talkative.4fc32f3359d586eb

“Hey, kid.”47634cf782ffedd6

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“I’m not ‘hey’! I’m not ‘kid’ either! I have a name…”63eddac9fc6c13b6

The child pouted, 335a6f2bad looking off to cc9bde2547 the side with 5b29fc6390 their hands clasped 79eb8a16bb behind their back. John couldn’t help but 7bec1a468e scoff at how ridiculous 8040cf4070 it was, and that e266562701 made the kid cautiously 5115a7e00a meet his gaze again.d2df3a3036564287

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“Follow me.”0f40e53c07474bdd

“he said not to follow strangers… But…”936a50cf2764eba5

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When John tilted his 53bf63902b chin, the kid’s eyes a977926f2f went wide as saucers. he’d just spoken 27dc10e714 to a stranger 20e190e876 without hesitation, but ec7c7e3395 following one gave 299482985d him pause.2e9c970df548252d

Too naive and transparent 9f9d740fc4 for a world this 69ff5c8621 cruel, John thought, just 760e12f628 as the kid blinked dc591d04d7 at him and limped 6d26a7a108 forward.fccceed1e8b0833c

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“Are you… in the movies?”5a36c3340d0a431e

“Movies?”a46676413ac76f3b

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“Uh-huh! I’ve seen movies before! I snuck a peek on 2dc32d2618 the TV once at the a3900704d4 orphanage! There were lots of people 5f5155ceee like you! Tall! Handsome! Just like you!”14609703ebae9e8c

It had already been decades 13062a8805 since the once-thriving film industry f063e9318d on the continent had collapsed. With no functioning 7f522046ef government, the idea 4893edce69 of art flourishing e37ec1f90a was laughable. Watching a movie on fd439ba2dd TV—or at the rare a465a1122a theater—was a luxury for ce60273f55 the wealthy.0c5e0e1d8cc579f5

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The kid kept stealing 9da5012325 glances at him but 385ac3ec2e seemed to relax once e694d5100c he reached the diner. he giggled, grinning from ear 3d30d293dd to ear.ce563bbe7008b7b0

John stopped paying attention 5e8cddb9c9 and walked into the 1254ace06f diner. The child trailed behind, hesitating 3ffe1453c0 at the door, peeking inside 4d8f840a9d before finally creeping in. Then—hop!—he bounced on one leg to climb into the seat across from him.c8f07b7c292b97e9

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That ankle must’ve really hurt.53f250d59f536b3d

John forced himself to suppress 5d50f17462 the irritation gnawing at his 9c017cea2e nerves. As usual, he 2ee9df425e ordered most of 8e80fab7e9 the menu—around 80% 35f72c711b of it—and leaned 5effcaaf25 on his elbow, 5e359bf280 staring out the a6c6f04422 window with a 9d5db0d84f bored expression.dcb4841333f89e34

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Across from him, that high-pitched f3815dd74c little voice kept chirping away.bf1a8780c0ffefc2

“You know what? I live over there at Banks Orphanage…! Anne and Carrie live there too, and—oh! Mark too!”dc0272904e988a97

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No one was e309593c83 really listening, but 9e01fba2b8 the kid kept 4686787774 talking with an af6fb80c65 impressive amount of 9d1b759fe1 energy.Why did I bring this ea9935f4c0 brat with me again?Maybe it was b2a1ea2cc2 because I failed 56d8827c77 at dying—again—that I was feeling soft. Fine. Let’s just say I ddb2dc307b did a good deed 98c2b7df6d before I die for a9ad282a76 real tomorrow.cd8cbc6dec145175

“I thought I was twelve this year… but no! I’m thirteen! My birthday passed just recently. I don’t actually know when my real birthday is, but Anne picked one for me. April 12th! Since that’s already passed, I’m thirteen now…!”2dc128dc136175b3

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John glanced at the kid’s e9c6d88a0a reflection in the window as 3befbd5361 he rambled on. The child was so c5c807a8d1 small and skinny he ad48aa8122 wouldn’t have guessed more e6eef991c7 than ten. Thirteen, really? John wasn’t that small f27dcaddf1 when he was thirteen, dc081a8e53 and he’d practically starved 46237af75e most days.26544620ed4b9e8a

“Here’s your order: pancakes, a chocolate sundae, and…”6c6fa0ccb103a9c5

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As mediocre food began to 76c25793a3 fill the table, the kid c8511215d0 finally went quiet.9611316cc1df252c

“Whoa…!”9444eadb22576126

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The child stared, 56a6658fdc mouth hanging open, e58f033d2e at the pancakes, df92a0ef68 the sundae, the db123b1b5c burgers, sandwiches, and ef4121ff44 fries. After a loud gulp, e7b02214d8 he nervously fidgeted with 90e6aa0504 their filthy hands, stealing ddbc61ec36 glances at John.10048aa1d52a215a

“This looks… this looks really tasty! You must eat a lot, huh?”4e9d5a1d0437049e

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Despite clearly wanting to eat, 8ccb499efc the kid forced himself to c063014374 look away and started sucking 3246284dae on their thumb instead. he kept sneaking peeks bd45c0f010 at the food, then b58aff5ff9 squeezed their eyes shut e943e97b0b like it hurt to 20ebd5c42f look. Must’ve figured he were getting a709fab267 dragged here just to starve.ea83eb1cf5e725ff

“Eat.”47c3e02a27ae6f20

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“…Eat? You’re not gonna eat it all yourself?”b66a6815f0580eb3

The child’s eyes flew open, c2b7cb55d3 so wide their brown irises 2ba1da53d3 looked like he might fall 13a32aa667 out.d3a22646430ed612

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“But wash your hands first. You’re filthy, and it’s 5a1593b50e killing my appetite.”7268118213c6b28d

John wasn’t exactly 6809cab088 a clean freak, 50fae9e766 but he appreciated bf62ac081a cleanliness. The kid’s grimy fingernails and 8d6bec2fc9 dirty hands were irritating. He’d been starving earlier, but 56fd5a3645 now his appetite was quickly 2ec1c62c8b fading.8e5790b68cc86416

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“Really? Really really? You’re not lying?”5e2cd6e04129d6ba

“If you come back with dirt still on you, I’ll throw you out.”6ce4885d66b97608

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John ignored the limping kid 941ccc0a5d making their way off the 132546d872 chair and bit into a c92396a9ec burger. It wasn’t good. But the way 82861e9941 the juices dripped 503d9895be from the patty af29eae99e must’ve made it 23d89cedab look delicious—he could 92fc00f15d hear the child c7c681aead gulping again.64e5a89113505847

“And wash your face. I can’t even look ba91a17ff7 at you.”98148e2d5f30d99d

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As John devoured 1ee3ae6227 half the burger, 9f127b903f the kid rushed 8654c1cefa off to the 68d36cab0a restroom, limping all f20a5fc805 the way.4929983a1a36edc5

The child returned c0a64c7fbe just as John 987aac71e7 finished the burger 9199397751 and cleared the 4e58a359e8 sandwich plate.610b70bd66798df0

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“I-I tried to wash… but, um…”4da1ab3057265386

The kid’s shirt was bbd7b1b569 soaked through, water and 188e92f6d6 grime dripping from their e81c23f496 face and hands.d50e7b1710d8bcdf

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“How… how do you wash off dirt that won’t come off…?”2f64b9d80f45268b

“…”264803fe10ef9913

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Despite using that ae8a7860b5 much water, the 6af4e81974 dirt under their e299bee85a nails was still 5b318bbadc there. The only clean a796967814 part of the 5ad631e394 child was the 7c25a6d9de whites of their feb910d33f eyes as he 35a93f402a looked up at a5639149de him.This is the most ce1a45b59a ridiculous thing I’ve experienced efa155b501 in my 27 years,John thought bitterly.This is why I b6d15e4d84 shouldn’t give in to 46a3b0d9b0 stupid pity.But then again,what does it matter? I’m really going 7aace08d2b to die tomorrow 849fbe72e2 anyway.66ef11058613dca3

“Just sit down.”2c999192ab5c2d3f

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John tossed a pile of 09755c51a0 napkins at the kid’s face 14b5b29719 and started eating fries. The plate was already halfway 4072b8a36d empty. The kid let out a ad6bc271f9 startled squeak, then hurried into 0086544ad1 the chair and started shoveling a9aab36eec food into their mouth. he didn’t even care if dfcac6468d it was leftover lettuce or 8138653efd tomato that had fallen out f8a511df02 of John’s burger.77faa5f8e41631fc

Still, he kept 69e33078a1 sneaking glances at f07dc186a1 the melting chocolate bc86ed86f5 sundae.1fa6a74dfeb992ef

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What a pathetic sight.e8e545fd413d9fab

John had eaten 06c725bba1 enough, but his 8294def778 appetite was gone. He pushed the 73bf53323d now-liquefied sundae toward cb4928663d the kid. he beamed.f51fd446f2e543b0

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“I-I’ve had ice cream before!”d3e9fb2972ef69bc

Despite that, he tried 00ad1d1c11 to eat it with b8d03e205e their hands until John 3c2197721c quickly shoved a spoon 7ed045fa1b into their fingers. He wasn’t about to eef5d1b1e5 watch melted ice cream 9a938ae81f drip down those filthy 7742079520 hands.a0b9e3d5a42304b1

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