ANOTHER BOOK OF BS INSTEAD OF SLEEP

That Started As One Thing And Completely Exploded

"You are the child of the villain and have just gotten the news that his arch nemesis has killed him."

Asym didn't process the information.

"You said what now?"

The police officer at the door bowed his head. "Your father has passed away."

"How?" Asym exploded uncharacteristically, grabbing the tall man's arms. "He can't be dead!"

"He was... murdered."

Immediately, Asym knew the culprit and burst into tears. The officer awkwardly hugged him, and he wailed helplessly, his body going limp with defeat.

It went on for quite a few minutes until the officer asked his partner to get Asym some water.

"My father was a horrible man," Asym whispered through hiccups and sniffles, "but I love him so much. He was a good father, I swear! He just... wasn't a good person."

The officer looked him in the eye to show he was listening. He forced himself not to frown as he noticed that his reflection in the boy's eyes was upside down...?

Asym seemed to notice this, and got both angry and more upset. "It was his fault! He did it to me, but not to himself. He made me a monster! Please, I don't wanna die!"

"So you are..." the officer trailed off, searching for the word. A shape shifting mythical creature, but all he could remember about it was that one could be identified in human form if your reflection is upside down in their eyes.

"An Aswang," Asym spat. "My father married a Filipina, and she told him the myth back during their early days of knowing each other. They divorced because my father cheated on her, impregnating a prostitute. Here I am! My father a dead criminal, my mother a potentially dead prostitute. Their son is a mythical monster that feeds on unborn children and any other prey if a fetus isn't available."

The officer was taken aback by the outburst, but didn't look away from the young Aswang's eyes.

"There's a way to become an Aswang, according to mythology. Tie a fertilized chicken egg to your stomach, then the egg will pass into your body. Bury the remaining eggshell in a bamboo pole with coconut oil and chicken dung. Now you have a fucking monster!" Asym had tears leaking down his cheeks again.

"Is there a way to undo it?" the officer asked kindly.

"Kill me," Asym replied calmly, "I have nothing to live for."

"Huh?"

"Kill me. Please."

"I can't do that."

"You'd rather have a monster running loose, eating the citizens?"

The officer sighed, looking for answers from his partner. The other man shrugged, uneasy about the situation.

"Death is the only relief for me. Please, I need you to kill me!"

Finally, the officer sighed. "Fine. Any last words?"

"Shoot me."

A gun goes off, and Asym collapses, the hole in his head bleeding steadily. He cherished his last, shallow breaths.

"C'mere..." he whispered.

The officer leaned in close to hear the boy's words.

"Better an Aswang than a thief..." he managed before violently coughing up blood, then going completely limp, eyes glassy, and no longer reflecting upside down.

A chick hops out of the boy's mouth, and right into the officer's.

Eyes wide, the officer tries to cough it up, but he simply can't. How did it even fit?

His partner gasps, remembering a vital part of the legend. "A dying Aswang can pass on its powers if it wishes..."