The Perfect Monster

Chapter 7 - A Normal Kid

Exhausted from the adrenaline rush, I felt drained, and without uttering a goodnight to my parents, I fell into a deep sleep. 

During the school break, as I walked through the hustling hallways, Leslie sought me out. There was a flicker of remorse in his eyes as he approached me. 

"Bobby, I'm sorry for dragging you into that. I never thought it would lead to a police chase. We've been smoking almost every day, but we never got caught before," he confessed, his voice tinged with regret.

I paused for a moment "No, Leslie, thank you. It actually led to a change in me," I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Anyway, let's hang out again today, huh?" 

A look of surprise mixed with relief crossed his face. "Sure, man. I'll give you a call, alright?" 

"Sure," I replied with a nod 

After arriving home, I anxiously awaited Leslie's call. Finally, after an hour, my phone rang, and it was him. He informed me that he was at a shop near my house, so I hastily grabbed my jacket and headed there. Upon reaching the shop, I spotted Leslie smoking a cigarette outside. I approached him and gave him a dap. 

"Where are the others?" I asked. 

"It's just the two of us today. Let's go to my house," he replied, beginning to walk away. 

I caught up to him and said, "Sure, why not." 

We walked for a while until we reached his house. He opened the door, and we entered. Nobody was home, which brought me a sense of relief. He led me to the living room, where we both settled down on the couch. He turned on the PlayStation 3 and loaded up FIFA 15. 

We played for hours, and I started growing bored. Nothing particularly interesting was happening, until I heard the doorbell ring. Leslie rushed to open the door, and to my surprise, Arden entered along with him. Instantly, my spirits lifted, knowing that something intriguing was about to unfold. 

Both of them made their way to the living room, settling down on the couch. With a flick of his hand, Arden tossed a roll of tin foil onto the table and asked, "Hey, bro, do you have the money?" 

"Yeah," Leslie replied, rising from his seat and darting to the kitchen to retrieve the money. He returned swiftly, handing Arden $50 before he promptly departed. 

I immediately grasped the situation—Arden had sold weed to Leslie. 

During this brief exchange, my eyes widened, and my mind brimmed with an idea. 

Leslie unwrapped the tin foil, proceeding to roll a joint. After completing the task, he lit it up while continuing to play FIFA with me. The overpowering smell prompted me to inform Leslie that I was heading home, and so I left.

As I arrived home, I made a beeline for my room, sinking into my chair. My breathing grew heavy, and my hands sweated, for I had discovered the potential to inject excitement into my life forever. 

A single thought dominated my mind—I needed to cultivate a closer relationship with Leslie. This involved immersing myself in his interests and passions for a considerable period of time. Over the course of the next two weeks, we spent every day together, during which I discovered Leslie's deep fascination with the idea of being a gangster. This revelation proved to be a fortunate development for my plan. As time passed, I gradually gained his trust, laying the foundation for the execution of my scheme. 

One day, after school, Leslie extended an invitation for me to hang out at his house, an offer I readily accepted. Upon arriving at his place, we settled onto the couch, our customary spot. However, before he could power on the game console, I adopted a serious tone and spoke up. 

"Leslie, let's talk for a moment, if you don't mind." 

Leslie immediately sensed the gravity of the situation and took a seat, his curiosity piqued. "Um, sure. What's up?" 

"I've been thinking of something for quite some time now, an idea that has consumed my thoughts." 

"Oh, really? And what's that?" 

"To conquer this city."

A fleeting moment of silence enveloped us, Leslie half-expecting me to reveal it as a mere jest. However, I remained resolute, my words laden with conviction.

"You're joking, right?" he interjected, skepticism evident in his voice. 

"No, I'm not joking. I know that I can't achieve it alone, which is why I'm here, so Leslie," I stood up from the couch and looked down on him "Work for me, and I will grant you everything you desire. Money, women, power, status—I can give you all of these if you choose to follow me from this point forward."

"Pff, hahahaha! Dude, you're out of your mind," he replied, dismissing my proposition as nothing more than folly. 

He didn't take me seriously, but I remained unfazed and simply advised him to ponder over it. Then, without saying a word I left his house. 

About an hour later, while I was studying for my next exam, Leslie sent me a message that said: 

"Bobby, I'm not sure if you were serious, but I do want money. You only live once, they say, so why not give it a shot?" 

A surge of excitement filled my heart as I read his message. 

Lying in bed that night, thoughts raced through my mind, a rush of adrenaline fueling my imagination. "Fuck yeah! Finally, my heart is beating! I'm about to take control of the entire drug business in Huntsville and nobody will fucking stop me!" I thought triumphantly, raising my hands and clenching my fists in anticipation.

The following day, after school, I made my way to Leslie's house, feeling a mix of anticipation and seriousness settle upon me as I settled down on the couch beside him. 

"Leslie, are you truly ready?" I asked, my gaze fixed on him, conveying the weight of the decision we were about to make. 

"Yes! To be honest, I've always fantasized about being a gangster, you know? And now that you're offering me the chance to live my dream, I wholeheartedly accept." 

"Yeah, but we need to be prepared for the harsh reality. This isn't some fairy tale we're stepping into; it's more likely to become a living nightmare," I warned, my tone serious and cautionary.

"Well, I don't care. Let's get on with it. Let's go sell drugs or whatever," he responded, with a lingering sense of eagerness. 

"No, for now you'll just be living like right now, there will be no change to your daily life until i have a throughout plan." I explained, leaning back in the couch and turning on the TV. 

"What? that's disappointing." 

Afterward, Leslie headed to the kitchen to prepare a sandwich for me while I remained engrossed on the TV. I consumed it hastily and promptly took my leave. Upon reaching home, I exchanged greetings with my parents and before I went into my room I grabbed a few Red Bull cans. Perplexed, my parents inquired, "Why are you bringing so much Red Bull into your room?" 

"I'm going to study for a while." I said, before closing my door and locking it. 

Sitting down at my desk, I arranged a stack of papers, grabbed an ink pen, and slipped on my headphones, immersing myself in a carefully curated playlist. The music provided a captivating backdrop as I delved into planning my entire journey. Hours flew by, with the moon bidding its farewell and the sun gracefully rising to take its place. From dawn till dusk, and through the night once again, I meticulously strategized my every move, ensuring a flawless start and minimizing the risk of getting caught. I couldn't help but feel grateful to my past self for the hours spent devouring books that had now equipped me with the knowledge needed to craft an almost perfect plan.

As the sun bathed the room in its morning glow, I found myself teetering on the edge of sleep, exhaustion seeping into every fiber of my being. Empty Redbull cans littered the floor, intermingled with the countless sheets of paper scattered around the room. It resembled a chaotic maze of thoughts and ideas, evidence of the intense effort and dedication poured into the planning process. Without the aid of those energy drinks, sleep would have claimed me long ago. But at last, at 7 AM in the morning, I completed the plan, an arduous 16 hours of uninterrupted planning, a testament to my unwavering discipline. 

on the first month, I focused on building a genuine bond with Leslie, withholding specific tasks or assignments. We spent quality time together, sharing interests and creating lasting memories. Over time, Leslie opened up to me, revealing his dreams and fears. I responded by sharing glimpses of my own ambitious plans, captivating his imagination. To deepen our relationship even further, I surprised him with a generous gesture at month's end, giving all of my $100 allowance. Of course $100 isn't a lot, but it still made him feel like he owed me something. 

With Leslie fully committed and displaying unwavering loyalty, I entrusted him with his first mission. This carefully chosen task would test his loyalty and profoundly impact his perspective, defining his role within my ambitious project.