A GOOD HOME - Prologue

 12 years old Toin crashed on the worned out velvet upholstery couch. He was tired. And the time is already 11 pm. Wayyy past his bedtime. 

He did not stay up just for nothing though. Tonight was a busy night for him. He had been working hard since after dinner. Now, he can stop and marvel at the fruit of his labor.

"Ughhh! Ughhh!"

Deon Notris, Toin's dad, had regained consciousness from his drug induced sleep. He was surprised to see his wife Liana, and his second son Moe tied up on the chairs. Even more surprised to see Toin just sat there on the couch, watching.

Toin was disappointed. He hoped to do this without any fuss. He hoped he could do it without waking his family. Unfortunately, his dad woke up ahead of schedule. He wasn't supposed to wake up at all. Still, at least he did not wake up before Toin tied him up.

Toin walked towards Deon. He pulled another chair, and sat directly in front of him. They sat so close together that their knees were touching.

"Hi dad. Sorry, did I wake you up?"

Deon's screams were stifled by the clothes gag. He kept on screaming. Kept wriggling to get free from the bonds. It was useless. He taught Toin those bonds. It should be sturdy enough to tie a grown man in place. Frustrated, he directed his muffled tirade towards Toin. Screaming something nobody could understand. 

But Toin knew what he was gonna say. What every sane person would think of. He saw it in his father's eyes. Toin raised his finger to his lips. Signalling to Deon to pipe down. Deon complied with it for some reason. 

"I know Dad. You must be wondering why I did this. And, you know what, I also am not sure yet."

Deon mumbled something. 

"Syhh dad. I know I know."

Toin took a deep breath. "I guess basically, I am not worthy of your love and affection. It pains me how you could love something as worthless and useless like me."

Deon wanted to say something back, but Toin held up his right hand. 

"And unfortunately for you, and mom, I also love all of you. I tried to leave you all behind. I tried to run away, kill myself, everything a 12 years old could do. But I just can't." 

Deon was silent. He was probably disappointed in himself for not noticing. He thought Toin was happy. He looked happy. Why can't he detect this sooner. 

"And so I have come to this conclusion. I am gonna kill you and mom. So I could be free from this weight on my chest."

Deon noticed something. He is just gonna kill him and Liana. What about Moe? But Toin had already stood up. 

Toin dragged the chair with Moe on it. Placing Moe a little bit further away from Deon and Liana. Then he disappeared. When he come back, he had two gas can in each of his hands. 

Toin poured the contents on Deon and Liana. After the content was empty, he went back to Moe. Toin woke Moe up from his sleep. 

"Hey there little bro. Good morning."

Moe was half asleep. He was tied up, but not gagged. Toin stood behind Moe.

"There Moe. Look at mommy and daddy."

As soon as Moe looked at his mom and dad, Toin threw a lit match at them. The fire caught the gasoline soaked bodies, and instantly lit them up. 

The pain woke Liana up. Both of them were in extremely excruciating pain. Moe, who did not understand anything, started crying. Only Toin was smiling. He bend down to whisper something to Moe. 

"This will be the first life lesson of your life, little brother. Never trust people. Never love people. See that," pointing towards the wriggling bodies covered in flame, "that's what love and affection does. It will destroy you. Be free from the bonds of human emotion, little brother." 

The flame was still burning. Soon it will burn the entire house down. Toin stepped outside. He took his bike from the garage. Before he rode the bike, he calles the sacred numbers. 

"911, what's your emergency?"