Monsters Don't Come From Under The Bed

Chapter 3

“Get out of here!” 

Genesis screamed at the sight of Andy, watching her from the side of the bed. Andy took off out of the room and crawled down the stairs on all fours. Genesis fell back down and sighed. She pulled up her cell phone and turned it on. The little clock on her screen read 10:10. She closed her eyes once again. Suddenly, Rico darted into the room. 

“You have to go meet up with David!” He howled. Genesis sprung out of the bed and ran out the door. She flew down the stairs and ran around to find Amber.

“Amber! May I please borrow a suit? I have my meeting with David!” She begged. Amber laughed.

“Way ahead of you. I picked one out for you. It’s hanging in the guest bathroom. Zita insisted on helping you style your hair, so she's waiting for you. Don't worry about Rico. Zita healed him.” Amber read Genesis’s mind about how to fix her hair, and how Rico’s wounds were fairing. Genesis ran back up the stairs to get ready. Amber turned to the exiles scattered around her living room. Zhen was giving Hilda the tightest hug, getting her stuck in his slime. The rainbow runners ran around Kali, making him spin around and getting him dizzy. The mushrooms were running in fear from Andy’s tentacles. Amber chuckled and opened her fridge. 

“Who’s hungry?”

“I swear you're doing it wrong.” Rico hissed. Zita was brushing Genesis’s hair up into a high ponytail with the fishtail braids running up the sides of her head.

“Its a FISHTAIL braid, Rico. It's supposed to look like that.

“Why are there so many types of braids?” Rico sighed. Genesis fixed her tie as Rico squatted down to her level. His pupils took the shape of slits and his nose twitched. He then let out a series of coughs and sneezes and fell backwards. 

“Rico? What are you doing?” Zita asked.

“You sprayed her with something! It smells good, sure, but it's too strong!” Rico held his nose. After Zita finished with her hair, she stuck a small daisy in her ponytail. Genesis examined Zitas fine work. The suit was stone blue, with a black dress shirt underneath. The tie was white and her shoes were a polished gray. 

“Thank you, Zita. It's beautiful.”

Zita bowed and smiled. Rico sneezed once more and followed Genesis out the door and down the stairs. 

“Hilda. I would like you to come with me. You too, Rico.” Genesis interrupted the exile's breakfast. Amber looked tired, as she cracked six eggs into the pan. 

“Amber, thank you. Why did you make so much?” Genesis asked as she was handed a plate.

“The little one, Andy? She's so skinny. She needs to eat more.” Amber said as she scraped more eggs onto Andy's plate. Andy sighed and slowly lifted her fork. She took a small bite and looked Genesis in the eyes. 

“Uhm, Amber. I don't she needs any more. Their stomachs could be different from ours.”

“Even though she ate a whole monster.” Rico muttered. He received an elbow to the hip from Genesis. 

“Alright. We’ll be back. Please be good for Amber.” Genesis sounded like a mother. She led Hilda and Rico to her car, and let them in. Rico laid down in the back, and Hilda rested in the passenger seat. Genesis started the car and pulled out of the driveway. 

“I have a plan. Rico, when we walk in I need you to cover his mouth so he doesnt yell again. Hilda, I'm going to write out questions for you to ask him. To make sure the guards don’t get suspicious, I'm going to pretend to give him a book to read out loud so it looks like I'm testing his mental health and intelligence.¨ Hilda hummed and Rico purred. His tail flicked and Genesis looked at her phone at a red light. She typed in cat language and studied his actions.

¨He acts just like a real cat. He meows, purrs, howls, and hisses. He also uses his tail and ears to communicate. I wonder how he'll act around actual cats.” she thought as she stepped on the pedal. Her small blue car slowly rolled in front of a gate, and next to a check in booth. An officer stood inside watching her dig around in her briefcase. She pulled out a card and handed it to him.

¨Thank you Miss Shall, the visiting room is located next to the lower prison area to the right. Enjoy your stay.” The guard handed back the card. 

¨Why would I enjoy staying here?¨ she thought as she drove forward.