Cruel Black Hearts, Tome 1 : Cruel Black Hearts

What makes a killer?

I'm not talking about a mans skin and bones, but rather what shaped them what led them down the dark and bloody path they took. We are the same, universally, technically, but no one can deny there is a stark difference between the good and the evil. The killers and the saviors.

And of course, you know me. This article isnt about crimes of passion, because were all capable of angry fits of violence, some worse than others. When I say what makes a killer, what I really mean is, what makes a serial killer. What makes someone kill multiple people in a premeditated manner on multiple separate occasions, usually in the same gruesome way?

Serial killers have always been fascinating to the public eye, and I myself would freely admit to being one of those people. The newscasts, the court hearingsIm obsessed just as much as the next American. Like an addict, I cant get enough, which I suppose is why I always submit articles like these for the Wednesday issue of the Local Tribune.

But it doesnt matter much, because here you are, still reading. That means you are just as much a slave to this as I am. Its good for you, really, because Im going to tell you something the psychologists wont, something the media would never dare to air on their news stations. It is a truth that might rock your imaginative foundation of serial killers, though if you're like me, you'll find it not so surprising.

Here is the truth most dont want to hear: serial killers are just like you and me. They are us, and we are them. You could not pick a serial killer out of a lineup, couldnt sense a serial killer stalking you on the street. They tend to blend, which is what we, as humans, are so good at. Avoiding the public eye, pretending not to be interesting. Serial killers are masters of disguise, masters of their bloody craft. Its why some of their sprees last decades.

Sure, some of them may have had bad childhoods. Some of them may have been abused physically, mentally, sexually. Some of them are outcasts, the weird one in the class as you were growing up. But I bring to you this pointnot all bad childhoods shape children into would-be serial killers, and not every quiet, weird kid in your class turned out to be someone like Jeffrey Dahmer or Ed Gein. It is, almost scarily, hard to point and predict who will grow up to become the next BTK.

And if youre somehow able to, head on over to the FBI. Im sure theyd love to have you.

Psychologists would say theres an imbalance in their brains, that theyre missing a key component to human life, to human emotionempathy. And logically, we all agree because it makes sense. Who could end someone elses lifewho could peel skin from bone and make lampshades out of the dried leather? Surely not someone who feels empathy for their victims.

Again, Im going to play the devils advocate and say that we, as a society, lack empathy. We shame each other, we blame the victims of violent crime, tell our homeless its their fault theyre living on the streets. We do not take responsibility for anyone else, and I would go so far as to say we dont care about anyone else besides ourselves.

Am I wrong?

Can you prove it?

What makes a killer? Research and the news stations would have you believe its all figured out, but Im here to tell you it's not that simple. Im here to tell you the answer to the question.

We dont know.