The Lost

Chapter 3: The Monsters

"So, Argus, what exactly did you and Leoplod do with my hair?"

"Oh, you know, I knew a guy,"

"You 'knew' a guy? You mean you know a guy. But seriously, what did you guys do?"

"I 'know' a guy... That doesn't sound right. All I know is that Leoplod gave your hair to some guy that owes him. And that guy just throws your hair all over the entire house. The Wolf won't be able to find you by your scent, so if your scent is in places where you aren't."

"Does that mean there's someone else trapped in the house?" Alina starts to feel the dread creeping back in. She begins chewing on her hair again.

Argus digs in his sackie, producing a little book that he gives to Alina, "That's my monster encyclopsia! It has everything I've ever seen while looking for lost people," Argus gloated.

"Wow! Your penmanship is a lot better than I expected." Alina complimented.

"Yeah, Leoplod did that stuff. I gave him the book a told him everything to do. Like how they look and how to hurt them. He's my editor" it explained. Alina flipped through the rustic pages and carefully consumed each and every ounce of information. Each page detailed a wholly unique type of creature, ranging from odd to downright repulsive. Jestrit, Sencmal, Mushroom Children. Whole species. More than Alina could keep track of. It seemed like the house had a proper ecosystem. She could hardly wrap her mind around the extent of life in the house.

"Argus, you're a Sencemal, right?" Alina asks curiously, reluctantly handing back the little book.

"Indead, indeild, indeed. Yes, I'm a Sencemal," Argus stammered, struggling to find the right phonemes.

They continued forward, discussing the various creatures described in the journal. Until they encountered a small, stuffed doll that looked almost exactly like Argus's.

"Awww! How cute! Look at him, isn't he cute?" Alina stooped to pick up the toy. "You look kind of scruffy, but I can fix you right up! How does that sound, little guy?"

"Alina, who are you talking to?" Argus asked with a tone of concern. She lifted the stuffie and proudly presented it to Argus. "Isn't he the cutest?" she exclaimed, "He's like yours but kind of a little bear thing!"

Without hesitation, Argus slapped the thing to the ground and stomped it viciously beneath his tiny foot. "Don't trust those weirdos!" Argus whispered authoritatively, as he smothered Alina with a hug like he was protecting her. "They're called Stuffmals and they're weird. Weird weird. Like super weird weird weird."

"What the hell!" shouted the Stuffmal, its voice alarmingly deep. He got up, flapping his arms around in anger. "I was about to score gold! Four eyes? Five maybe? However many eyes you got, freakwad!"

"Alina, that booger said a bad word. Kick him." Argus tattled, feigning innocence in his eyes. Alina glared at Argus, then the Stuffmal.

"What do you mean, score gold?" Alina demanded, glaring down at it like it was fresh dog crap that she had stepped in.

The stuffmal stuttered lamely, "Uh.. you know, be-because you ar-are a rea-lly cute girl." The stuffmal gazed up at Alina, connecting with her dark purple eyes. Eyes of soulless darkness, and full of death and sorrow.

"Oh! I see you're just admiring my beauty." scoffed Alina, "I'm so flattered. Really, I would be if you weren't a prev." As she said those words, she picked up the little creep and punted him like a serious game of kickball.

"WOWZA! You're crazy pants! You really kick like a girlboss" praised Argus, amazed. He ran over to Alina, smothering her with his tiny, stumpy arms. "You're the best friend ever!" Its many eyes sparkled at Alina.