The Purple Monkey (Book 2 in SRMTHFG series)

13

I lay back in the grass, staring at the full moon. I don't change anything in here anymore; I let my voice take on its own form, morph with my personality. No more making berry bushes appear. Just letting it stay natural.

I remember the times when Markus used to be my best friend. We used to hang out like normal, okay people. Then, Hillary got a little crush on him, and treated me like trash to keep me "out of the way." Markus went along with it, the little traitor that he is.

I shake those thoughts out of my head. I came here to calm down, not to brood.

I stand and walk over to the water. Folding my legs underneath me, I sit down on it and look in the water. I see my human self; pale skin, dark green eyes, light blonde hair. I'm wearing the blue-and-purple dress, my hair braided over my shoulder.

I touch the image in the water, making it ripple. I see the purple, blue-eyes monkey for a moment before it fades away, back into me.

"Why, out of all people, why me?" I sigh. I stand and walk to the clearing under the stars.

Listening to the voices, I become calm. Suddenly, a thought hits me:

Markus is able to understand the monkeys.

Only people with the Power Primate can understand the monkeys.

"Okay, this has gone too far into weird," I say out loud. "I need to take this into my own hands."

With that, I wake up and activate the robot monkey. I'm in my pod. How they're able to fend off Skeleton King and bring me back here every time I black out, I don't know.

I open the door and step out. It's late at night again, because everyone's asleep. A blue light comes from the other side of the room, hidden by a short wall. Nobody wakes up and no alarms go off. I walk towards it.

Turning around the corner, I see the healing tube my body's in. I'm fighting to stay conscious. I'm glowing blue again- me in the tube.

"You're awake."

I look in the corner to see Markus huddled up. He's hugging his knees and looking at me.

"Yes," I say bluntly. I walk over to the wall, not close to him. I stand and lean against it.

"You know you can sit."

"Yeah, but I don't want to faint." I need something to focus on, to keep the robot's eyes open. I stare at the healing chamber, focusing on the light coming from me.

"You gonna ask me or not?" I poke.

"Ask what?"

"Why I didn't tell you my name. Why I didn't want you to recognize me. Why I lied."

Markus shifts. "Because I've been a jerk to you for the past two and a half years."

I blink. "You counted?"

"Guess so. I just know it's been two and a half years."

We sit in silence. My vision's becoming hazier and hazier by the minute. I need to know before I black out.

"Why didn't you stop her?"

Markus coughs. "Hillary's a snake. Do you know what she would've done to you if I left and rejoined you? She would kill you. She promised me if I wasn't friends with you anymore, she'd go easy on you."

"Hah," I scoff, "really?! I would've been able to deal with her! I would've been okay if I had my best friend with me through all the junk I've gone through!"

"Chelsea-" Markus starts. Suddenly, the glow from the healing chamber becomes blinding and I pass out.