. . . "After brutally killing 13 men on Christmas Eve for the Diablos' (a gang) money, Nikolai, an eighteen year-old from the outer colonies searches for someone to unload his thoughts on, which are driving him crazy. Nikolai plans on going to the only man he trusts with his feelings to discuss the massacre and seek counsel. The December wind chill cut through his body like those daggers he held in each hand as he staggered down the street. The sound of those metal boots echoed down the alleys of that silent city. He was covered from head to toe in the smell of fresh blood and was clutching those guilt-stained daggers for dear life. He looked down at those tools of treachery and deception that brought death to both flesh and conscience alike. Nikolai lamented, \u201CThese blades\u2026 They tricked me. That wretched steel bent my heart to its will and gave me a thirst for blood I can\u2019t quench.\u201D He looked up and stopped suddenly by an old mansion. The blood soaked teenager staggered to the door and knocked thrice. Eventually a man came to the door in a robe. Nikolai trembled and didn\u2019t quite meet the man\u2019s eyes as he said \u201CI\u2019ve nowhere else to go.\u201D A look of shock and disappointment covered the robed man\u2019s face. \u201CCome inside. Its freezing out here.\u201D Nikolai shuddered and walked up the stairs and into the warm house. He saw the familiar photo of Sergeant Avery Johnson and his father, both in their youth in the lobby. If a guest could have squinted hard enough they could have see \u201COrion\u201D tattooed on their arms. The Host got both of them coffee and they sat down across from each other in the dining room. Nikolai had stopped trembling but he still couldn\u2019t meet his host\u2019s eyes. The Host opened with \u201CIs that your blood?\u201D \u201CNo.\u201D, Nikolai said flatly. The host relaxed before he said, \u201CSo how many?\u201D Nikolai said, \u201CThirteen\u2026 Maybe more. I wasn\u2019t counting. I\u2019m sorry Alex.\u201D Alex sighed heavily before saying, \u201CYou can call me Dad. What happened?\u201D Nikolai still didn't meet his father\u2019s eyes as he explained, \u201CThey, the Diablos, sent me out after dark to kill Uncle Malcom at what was supposed to be a meeting. I didn\u2019t manage to kill Uncle but I killed his men. I killed them all.\u201D Nikolai\u2019s eyes watered and he wiped them with his bloody dagger clutching hands. \u201CI\u2019m so sorry. I\u2019ve let you down. I betrayed everything our family stands for.\u201D Alex got up and walked over to his son. \u201CWe will talk about your punishment in the morning. Let\u2019s get you cleaned up.\u201D Alex reached for Nikolai\u2019s daggers but his son tucked them into his stomach. \u201CNo.\u201D, Nikolai protested. Alex demanded, \u201CDon\u2019t be absurd. Give me the blades.\u201D Nikolai, while fighting back tears, said, \u201CI didn\u2019t come here to get cleaned up. I came here to get something off my chest.\u201D Alex countered, \u201CYes and you did. But you look like\u2014\u201C Nikolai looked directly into his father\u2019s deep, dark eyes and said, \u201CI liked it Dad. I liked every second of it\u2026 And I\u2019m ashamed that I like it.\u201D Nikolai covered his face and broke down in tears."@en . "Blood and Guilt"@en . . . . "After brutally killing 13 men on Christmas Eve for the Diablos' (a gang) money, Nikolai, an eighteen year-old from the outer colonies searches for someone to unload his thoughts on, which are driving him crazy. Nikolai plans on going to the only man he trusts with his feelings to discuss the massacre and seek counsel. Nikolai lamented, \u201CThese blades\u2026 They tricked me. That wretched steel bent my heart to its will and gave me a thirst for blood I can\u2019t quench.\u201D Nikolai trembled and didn\u2019t quite meet the man\u2019s eyes as he said \u201CI\u2019ve nowhere else to go.\u201D \u201CCome inside. Its freezing out here.\u201D"@en .