Crow's Revenge

XIV

July 16, 1490

I looked at my paper that morning:

FAMILY MEMBERS TOTAL: 26

DEAD: 0 1 10 12 13 16

ALIVE: 26 25 16 14 13 10

GAVINO: ALIVE

I rejoiced, knowing that the amount of family members who were alive was lower that the amount of family members who were dead.

Suddenly, Gavino walked in and I shoved the paper under the mattress.

"Yes?" I said, nervously.

"I'm sorry. I know it's early but..." he sat on my bed and covered his eyes. "I just don't know what I can do."

I sat up. "What?"

"Haven't you seen all of those deaths? There IS no way to prevent them. Can't you see? No matter what, someone will die. Today, tomorrow, the day after, someone will die. And I'm... I'm scared!"

Wow. My murdered have made a greater impact that I imagined... That's good.

"D-don't be!" I said. "You just need to hope!"

"I can't, when I feel like I know the reason why it's all happening."

"Why is that?"

"I... I can't tell you."

"Then why are you here if you won't tell me?"

"I just felt like you'd listen."

I looked at him. I felt like I had the perfect opportunity to kill him, but I had a weird feeling like it wasn't appropriate.

"It's ok."

"Do you want to see something?" Gavino's cousin asked me. He was about 14 and I could tell he fancied me.

"Of course."

I followed him to the roof where he showed me a nest with eggs nestled into the fireplace vent and the roof. I studied them and finally answered. "Interesting."

I had a plan... "But look over there." I said to him, pointing near the edge of the roof. He walked over.

"At what?" he said searching all over. I approached him. "Hey! Don't get so close. I'm scared I'll fall."

"Don't worry." I said as I neared him. I pulled my mask over my face. Once I made it next to him, I violently seized his arms. He looked at me and screamed something like "crow!". I laughed and threw him off the edge and disappeared to my room.

Later that day, Gavino's uncle chalked it up to a suicide.