Beastly Beauty

Secret Out

Chara narrowed their eyes as they watched Cross once again leave for the forest. He had once again brought food with him as well. The town had said they sometimes see him going into the forest as well, even having bought strange gifts.

The young human had enough of this and gathered some of the town's people to go with them. What if the monster had done something to Cross? What if the monster was forcing Cross to bring them food and items?

The people that went with Chara held a variety of weapons, some of them just being simply sharp tools. It didn't matter anyhow, they were angry. They wanted to save Cross like had saved them so many different times!

The walk to the castle was tense and quiet. They packed close together when they had entered the fog, following the path before them. The fog only increased their paranoia and fear. Yet, the fog gave way to a darkened manor.

The rusted metal gates were pushed open far enough for a person to easily slip through, but that wasn't what made Chara question themselves. The entire manor before the mob was cracked and mossy, darkened and clearly abandoned, yet none of the towers had fallen down. None of the windows were destroyed nor were rooms exposed. Even the grounds before the manor itself seemed to have changed!

The people watched as Chara's eyes narrowed in confusion. They knew their story and the town's people knew they never lie... That meant the manor was rebuilt in the time Chara was there last.

Silently, the mob moved across the front yard, examining how it had been picked up and the dirt had been recently plowed and watered despite there being no rain for the past several days. The stairs up to the broad doors seemed to have been filed to be less sharp and angled to be less steep. Opening the door into the foyer was silent, and the damp smell that had once been prominent for Chara's first visit was no more.

The foyer was dull, but not destroyed nor dusty. This confused the human, them narrowing their eyes as questions formed in their head. They didn't voice these questions, finding that they would be answered soon once they corner the monster that had their brother.

Walking along the quiet halls, the mob listened for any noise, looked for any shadowed that had no body, yet nothing happened. The only noise they could hear were soft murmuring down a long hallway.

Moving to the grand door, they all peered inside. They had expected to see the hideous monster coercing, twisting Cross's mind. They had expected to see some villainy happening to their beloved town hero, but this was not the case.

Instead, they saw the large, tar covered beast laying his head on top of Cross's lap, listening to Cross read him a story. The white clad monster didn't seem to be under distress or seemed to be kept there by any magical means. In truth, he seemed to have been enjoying his company.

The monochrome clothed monster glanced up from the book he was reading, not pausing, to see his sibling and some of the town's people at the library's doors. He felt his lips curl downward into a frown at the sight of them. He was hoping that they would be clueless for a little while longer. He didn't want to share Nightmare's time with them. Nor did he want Nightmare to be forced to kill them.

"C-Cross?" The shy voice of the monster laying in his lap spoke up, shifting some so he could look up at the other.

Quickly, the other smiled down at the more visually intimidating monster, a hand leaving the book to stroke the other's cheek.

"Sorry, I thought I saw something." A worried look appeared on the other's face. "But it's nothing, just some rats. Do you want me to get rid of them?" Despite his tone and voice being the usual soft and sweet, the mob knew what he meant.

Nightmare sighed softly, reaching up to rub Cross's cheek. He then relaxed into Cross's lap, closing his eye again.

"No, they're not hurting anyone... You can get rid of them later, and if you really want to... I-I don't mind them..."

The town's hero relaxed, his smile becoming gentler. He then went back to reading the book, giving the mob a glance up and a quiet glare. The mob winced at the sight before they slowly left the manor. 

Even though the glare was quiet and subtle, it gave them goosebumps, it told them that they would die if they didn't leave. They would have to talk with him when he comes home.