Monsters Don't Come From Under The Bed

Chapter 2

Genesis pulled into Amber’s driveway, and quickly exited the car. She opened the door to the back seat and helped Zita and Zhen out of the car. Amber ran to her front door and unlocked it. Genesis led Zita, Zhen, Rico, and the rainbow runners inside. They unzipped the duffle bag and let Nova, Valentine, and the remaining rabbit out. Genesis grabbed the rabbit in her sweatshirt and let it out.
“Darling, we should take two cars so we can pick up more of them.” Amber searched for her keys in her hand bag.
“Sounds good. Rico can you come with us? Or do you need to rest?” Genesis patted his shoulder, receiving a purr from the hybrid.
“Yes, I can come. I used to be a royal guard after all.” He mewed. Zita rolled her eyes, but laughed.
“Alright, the heaters on. I’ll meet you two at the cemetery, yeah?” Amber asked.
Genesis nodded and walked out with Rico to her car. As Genesis started the car, Rico squished himself in the back seat. Genesis pulled out of the driveway, and onto the street. A moment of silence filled the car, and then finally,
“Rico, why did Hilda fly away?” Genesis asked, eyes on the road. Rico looked down, out the window, and all around the car.
“I,uhm.” He swallowed hard.
“She flew away because… because I was being quite rude. I made her feel like she was a disappointment. I-I didn't mean too.”
Genesis sighed and continued the silence. Guilt grew and built up inside of him. He studied Genesis, her posture, her facial expression, how many times she sighed during the ride. Before he could look out the window again, they arrived back at the cemetery.  Amber’s car pulled up next to them, and they ran back inside. Genesis ran towards a clump of bushes and looked under. Rico looked up into a tree, and Amber searched the grounds. As Rico looked between the branches and leaves, he heard the gasp and heavy breathing beside him. He turned his head towards the noise, and found Genesis, staring at the bush in front of her. Her body was as still as a pole. She turned pale and her breathing stopped. Rico trotted over and glanced at the bush. He swished his tail as a sour odor escaped from underneath the plant. He looked for what was causing the smell, and the mystery was solved. There, under the bush, was a grey furry arm. It was cleanly torn off from a shoulder, and blue liquid poured out of the wound. Rico gagged; Genesis threw up. The sound of crunching came from behind the bush. Rico and Genesis stood up to see what was behind the sound. Genesis gasped and stepped back.
“Rico. Oh my God. What is that?” She whispered.
The little girl was munching on the grey furry monster's horns, and blood slowly dripped off her chin. Her cute little outfit was now stained with blue colored fluid. She was sitting next to the remains of the furry monster, and she looked up. Her eyes met with Rico’s, and she squealed in delight.
“Yummy. You look so yummy. Please, please let me have a bite. You're a buffet.” The small girl opened her mouth, and 4 small purple tentacles wriggled out. Rico hissed, and the tentacles shot forward. Two of them came for Genesis, and two came for Rico. Rico gasped and tossed himself over Genesis. The four tentacles pierced his legs and his side and he yowled in pain.
“Rico! Are you alright?” She screamed.
Rico yanked at one of the tentacles, and the small girl wailed. She growled as three more tentacles appeared from her mouth. She lunged them forward and back over and over again, giving Rico little time to dodge. Amber came running over to Genesis’s side and stood her up.
“No! We have to help him! Let me go!” She screamed.
“No, darling. You will get hurt. We can't do anything about it.” Amber pulled her away from the battle. The seven tentacles grabbed Rico by the arms and smashed him against a gravestone. As he placed his paws on the ground to find his balance, the tentacles wrapped around his waist, raised him up from the ground, and slammed him back down.
¨Stop fighting me. Can't you see i'm doing you a favor?¨ The little girl thought. She let Rico stand up again, and then swiped at his feet. She sent two tentacles after him once again, only for them to be scratched by Rico’s sword-like claws. Her two tentacles bled out as she whined and stomped her feet. Distracted by her pain, Rico lunged forward in an attempt to grab her. The little girl lashed her arm out and grabbed his left arm. Her last five tentacles wrapped around his throat, breaking his silver collar. Rico, with his free right hand, grabbed her throat in return. Now it was a battle of endurance. The cold wind came once again to test their limits, and it played with Rico’s fur, and the little girl's hair. They both began to shiver, and then they fell. The little girl fell on her back, and Rico on top of her. The little girl tightened her grip on Rico’s throat and he tightened his. The little girl let one of her tentacles go and wrapped it around his waist. She pulled him off with ease and she flipped over so she was on top of him. Rico let go of her throat and her arm, showing that he gave up.
“He’s tired. Don't look at me like that. I'm trying to survive too. I haven't eaten in months.'' She thought. Rico felt his eyelids grow heavy and his breathing slowed down. Blood escaped his wounds and he grew weak. He coughed and said,
“You're a monster, like me. We are of the same species. We bleed the same, so tell me why we are divided.” Her little grey eyes wandered from his head to her tentacles around his neck. She examined the blood that was shed from an innocent monster splattered on her skirt. The world grew black as Rico’s eyes slowly closed. She released her grip and allowed him air. The cat felt a wet, warm drop fall onto his cheek. He opened his eyes and regained his sight. The little girl retracted her tentacles and let her tears fall.
“I'm just… so hungry. I'm sorry. I ate that monster. I'm sorry, I hurt you. I'm so hungry.” she sobbed. Rico sat up and looked her in the eye.
“Come with us. You see that human right there? She’ll help you. How old are you?” He mewed.
“Why? Why are you willing to forgive me so easily? Even after I hurt you? Why?” She choked on her tears.
“Because I know how you feel. And it’s ok. To make it up to me and the other monsters, you must promise to never eat another one of us again, alright?” The little monster nodded. Genesis came running over and kicked her in the head, and knocked her over.
“What the hell do you think you're doing, you bastard?” she yelled. Rico grabbed her leg and held her back.
“Genesis, no! Don't hurt her!” Rico yowled. He got up and wrapped his arms around her.
“What? No, she hurt you, Rico! She ate that monster, too!” Genesis squirmed.
“I was hungry. Please, forgive me. I haven't eaten in 9 months. I'm sorry for attacking you. You just looked so good. But, I promise I won't eat anyone else.” she pleaded. Genesis thought for a minute.
“What is your name then?”
“I dont have one.”
“Think of one.”
“Genesis.”
“No, that's my name.
“But it sounds pretty.”
“And it's mine.”
“Rico.”
“No, that's his name. Choose your own.”
“Can you help me?”
“Andy.”
The little monster nodded. She walked towards Genesis and opened her arms, wanting a hug. Rico and Genesis looked at each other, and Genesis spotted his wounds.