The Hidden Monster

Part 1 - Terrible First Impressions

I got dressed in my bedroom after raiding my closet. I found a pair of dark red cargo pants, a few jackets, some shirts, and some hats and tossed them onto my bed. As I looked through them my phone started to go off, I saw who it was and picked up. "Yeah Mrs. Shells?" I answered. "You know you don't have to call me that X." My mother Rachel Shells told me. "Sorry, force of habit." I apologized. "So, are you ready for your first day of High School?" Mrs. Shells asked me. "Yeah, I'm getting my outfit ready right now." I replied. "Well I hope you'll find the best outfit you can, your father would like to talk to you." Mrs. Shells said. I then heard my father Jason Shell's voice, "How's my new high schooler doing?" Mr. Shells asked me. "Good sir, I'm nearly ready for school." I said. "You remember where the school is?" Mr. Shells questioned. "I do, I got my bike ready to roll." I answered. "Remember to take it easy, the first day of High School is always a tough one. It'll especially be rough for you." Mr. Shells advised. "I think I can handle it." I said. Mr. Shells chuckled, "I know you can, me and your mother love you. Call us whenever you need to." Jason told me. "I love you guys too, I'm gonna' start heading out." I replied before hanging up. I picked out a black long sleeve shirt, a dark red leather jacket with dark red leather gloves, and a gray beanie with a skull on it. I looked in the mirror of my room and saw my outfit, I pulled my dark red and black hair out of my beanie to show more of it. I then looked at my completely black right eye that I had ever since I was a baby. My black eye let me see behind me and all around me, doctors called it Multi-directional vision. I could also see through anything no matter how thick it is. As I finished getting dressed I heard barking outside my door, "Right on time." I smiled. I went over and opened my door just to be tackled by my German Shepard friend Andrew. Andrew was a Shell family pet that originally belonged to Jason. Andrew used to be a military dog until he was wounded in battle, taking a bullet to the hind leg that put him out of action. Andrew barked as he licked my face, "I was gonna' say hey before I left." I chuckled. I was able to communicate with Andrew as I learned how to understand what a dog is saying. Andrew barked more as I got up and dusted myself off, "Mr. and Mrs. Shells don't have time to homeschool me. Mr. Shells has his business to run while Mrs. Shells is at the hospital being a nurse." I explained to Andrew. He barked again, "I'll be fine, you grab my bag for me? I need to grab something to eat." I told Andrew. He ran off while I went to the kitchen and opened up one of the cabinets. I grabbed some pop tarts and as I did Andrew came over with my backpack. I grabbed it and slung it over my shoulders before kneeling down in front of Andrew. "You gonna' be okay while I'm gone?" I asked him. Andrew nodded and barked, "I'll miss you too buddy." I told him as I scratched his head. I headed out of the house and over to my bike, a Switch eScrambler electric motorcycle. I got on it and took my beanie off to put on my helmet before starting my bike up and driving off. It didn't take long for me to get to the school, once I did I pulled up to the bike rack and locked my bike up with one of the chains. I took my helmet off and attached it to my backpack before putting my beanie on to cover my right eye. I looked at the large sign outside of the school, "Auburn Hoosiers High School, welcome students" the sign read. I walked up to the path leading into the school and noticed how the other students were dressed. They wore brightly colored t-shirts, blue jeans or plain leggings, plain colored jackets, in simple terms they wore the opposite of what I was wearing. Some things never change. I thought to myself. I got judgemental looks as I walked up to the school and could even hear what some of them were saying. "Who's this freak?" "Who the hell is that?" Were some of the comments. I bit my tongue as I walked to the doors, pulling them open to walk inside. As I walked inside a powerful wave of humidity hit me, I'd been used to colder air so this was a bit new. However everyone else thought it was cold, "Why's it still fucking freezing?" "They not fix the heaters yet?" "I'm freezing my ass off." Were some of the comments. I dug into my backpack and pulled out my schedule for the school day, looking at my first class which was math. I looked around and didn't see any signs to point me in the right direction so I went up to someone who seemed to be a teacher. "Hey where's Mr. Folgers class?" I asked them. "That'll be down the hall to your right, first door on the left." The teacher told me. "Thank you." I thanked before heading down the hall. I was halfway down the hall when suddenly I was pushed into the wall as a burly teen walked past me, "Out of the way freak." He barked. I clenched my fists before continuing down the hall and into the classroom. I looked around seeing the students who were messing around, reminding me of 5th graders. I sat down in the back of the class and took out what I thought I thought I'd need including my computer, a notebook, a pencil, and a calculator. I was minding my business until a girl with bright makeup and shiny blonde hair came over. "So you're the new kid huh? Or should I say new man?" The girl giggled and winked. "What do you want?" I questioned without looking at her. "Maybe I want some of you, I like how different you are. We should skip this lame ass class and have some fun." She smiled. I scoffed and looked at her, "I think it'd be safer to have fun with a drain pipe than with you." The girl then slapped me, "Fuck you freak." The girl snapped as she walked away. "Least I don't use makeup to cover up my insecurities." I said. I then felt someone grab my collar and pull me out of my seat, I recognized the person as the jock who pushed me. "The fuck you say about my girl dipshit?" He barked. I could see the steam billowing out of his ears and nose. "You should get better standards than a slut who just wants her holes filled to make her feel better about her life." I hissed. The jock punched me straight in my nose and I could hear a sickening crunch as he did, Fuck this. I headbutted the teen and drove my knee into his stomach to make him drop me back into my seat. As the jock was hunched over I drove my fist across his jaw to drop him to the floor. I cracked my neck and turned around in my seat as I grabbed my nose and pulled on it to put my nose back into place, wiping the blood from under it. The jock got up and held his jaw, "You're gonna' pay for that fucker, you're dead." He puffed before heading to his seat. I think it'll be the other way around. I smiled. The teacher came in with a smile on his face, "Good morning students, I hope you all had a good break." He said as he went up to the front of the class. "As most of you know I'm Mr. Folgers, not like the coffee though." He chuckled. I rolled my eyes before listening to the teacher as he continued. "Now before we get started I'd like to introduce the newest addition to AH, Xander Gerbers. Can you please come up and introduce yourself?" Mr. Folgers said. Damn it. I groaned to myself. I got up and walked through the students and up to the front of the class, adjusting my jacket as I did. "So Mr. Gerbers, are you from around here?" Mr. Folgers asked. "No, I'm from Toronto, I moved here when I got adopted." I answered. "So you're from Canada? How was it there?" Mr. Folgers questioned. "Cold, but I like it cold. That's something I'm also getting used to here." I said. "Is this your first time in High School?" "No, I went to school in Fort Wayne for a bit, but I had to come here." I replied. "Had to?" Mr. Folgers raised his brow. "I got into a bit of trouble, but that was when I was younger and didn't really know my manners." "How old are you now?" "16 years old." I answered. "You're a bit tall for 16." The teacher commented. "I get that a lot." I chuckled. Mr. Folgers chuckled as well, "Have you met any welcoming people so far?" He asked. I looked at the jock and his girlfriend, "You can say that." I said. "Well I'm happy to hear that, hopefully you can meet some more." Mr. Folgers told me. "Now what would you prefer to be called?" He asked. "I don't like people saying my name, least my first one. Just call me X or Gerbers." He then motioned me back to my seat, I walked past all the students as they all gave me scolding looks. As I sat back in my seat Mr. Folgers took his own, "Now if you'll all get onto your online textbooks that have been sent to you." Mr. Folgers told the class. I opened up my computer and followed along with what Mr. Folgers said, getting through the class then the rest of my classes until I got to homeroom. I took an empty seat in the back corner of the room as I watched the other students take their own seats. After everyone was in the female teacher came and closed the door, "Welcome to homeroom, I'm Ms. Layfield. In this class you'll work on any homework you need to get done or you can sit quietly." Layfield told us. I took out my phone and then my headset from my bag and connected it to my phone, turning on my music and listening to it as I did my homework. As I was working I saw the kid behind me with my eye, he had a spoon and what looked like chewed up gum in it. He flung it at me but I dodged it making it fly into the girl in front of me. She turned around and I moved my head so she could she the guy behind me with the spoon, "Fuck you." She told him as she pulled the gum out of her hair. I smiled as I heard the guy say, "Fuck you freak." Homeroom went on until the bell rang and once it did I packed up my stuff but waited for everyone else to leave the class. I got up and was about to walk out when the teacher stopped me, "You're our new student right? Mr. Gerbers correct?" She asked me. "Yes ma'am." I replied. "Well welcome to AH, don't let the kids get to you. We're not used to new students around here. If you ever need anything or need to talk I'll be here." Ms. Layfield told me. I nodded, "Thank you ma'am." I thanked. I went to walk out when Layfield stopped me again, "I heard what happened between you and Jacob Martin, he's head of the football team so he's a bit of a handful. Sometimes he needs to be taught a lesson." Layfield said. I smiled, "You read my mind ma'am." I said before walking out. I went outside and unlocked my motorcycle before putting my headset on, walking my bike away from the school. I headed through the backwoods which led straight to my cabin but as I walked I saw behind me two familiar figures. They hid behind a large log as I came up to my cabin, I locked my bike as I heard footsteps approaching. "Three, two, one." I said out loud before hearing ropes snap and startled screams ring out. I whistled for Andrew and he ran out with a duffle bag, "Thanks buddy." I thanked my dog friend. I dug into the duffle bag and pulled out a gray hockey mask similar to Jason Voorhees, except this mask had a voice modifier attached to it. I walked into the woods as I slipped it on until I saw a familiar girl trapped in my snare traps. I saw that the second snare trap was empty, but soon I saw the one who escaped it. I ducked as Jacob swung at me with a large branch then I swung my fist into his stomach to make him double over. I grabbed his head and drove my knee into his face before pushing him to the ground. I opened up my duffle bag and took out a Louisville Slugger Solo metal baseball bat, I swung it in my hand as I approached the two grounded trouble makers. "Jacob Martin and his girlfriend Mary Wells, I looked you two up on my way home. Jacob's head of the football team while Mary is one of the football team's lead cheerleaders. You both seem perfect for each other. Both idiotic and full of yourselves." I said as I got up to them. Jacob got up again but before he could do anything I swung my bat into his stomach then as he doubled over I swung it down onto his back to drop him again. "You just don't learn do you." I growled. Jacob took out a pocket knife and stabbed it into my leg but I simply kicked him in the face, pulling the knife out and tossing it away. I grabbed Jacob's head and pulled up my pant sleeve to show the healing wound, "You can't hurt me, but I can hurt you." I smiled. I held his head down on the ground with my foot as I swung my bat down into his leg and heard it snap along with his screams. I grabbed Jacob and dragged him over to his girlfriend, "Please, we'll leave you alone you don't have to do this!" Mary begged. I looked over to her and walked up to her, grabbing and pushing her against a tree. I pulled up my mask and smiled as I kneeled down to her, "You've seen my face, now you're not going anywhere." I growled as I put my mask back down over my face. Mary grabbed a rock and smashed it against the side of my head, making my head bleed. She went to do it again but I grabbed her wrist and stood up, putting my foot against her shoulder before pulling on her arm to pull it out of the socket. "Stop! Just kill me instead, leave her alone!" Jacob shouted. I turned my attention to Jacob and walked over to him as I stepped on his broken leg, "I'm not gonna' kill you, I want you and everyone else who thinks and treats people like me as a freak and make them feel the pain that we feel. And that pain isn't quick and easy." I snapped. "Fuck you freak!" Mary shouted. That made me turn my attention to her, "Speaking of fucking," I chuckled. I went and grabbed my duffle bag to pull out a Gut Hook Hunting Knife, "I wonder how good of a whore you'll be without a tongue." I smiled as I went back to Mary. She tried to get away but I grabbed her hair and threw her head back into the tree. I pried open her mouth and grabbed her tongue before starting to saw through it with my knife, blood spraying onto my mask. I made it through her tongue and watched Mary squirm in pain and as she did I pulled my mask up enough to drop her tongue into my mouth. I chewed it up and swallowed it, "Mmm, not too bad." I chuckled. "You're fucking insane!" Jacob shouted. I stood up and pocketed my knife as I swung my bat and walked to Jacob, "That's why I love being me." I said before stepping on Jacob's leg. "This next part you're not gonna' need working legs." I smiled. I swung my bat down into Jacob's other leg and continued to do so until his leg nearly split apart. I went and grabbed my duffle bag and put it over my shoulder as I put my bat inside it, "Let's get you two moving." I said. I grabbed both Mary and Jacob and dragged them to the back of the cabin where I had a meat locker installed. I dragged them inside and put Jacob against the wall, "See back in the land of the red maple leaf, my adoptive father had a business. He'd turn people who mistreated or hurt others into something useful, food." I began as I hooked Mary onto one of the meat hooks. "Once he told me about it he had me help, I'd go with him to find "supplies" for the business." I went on. "So you freaks could eat people?" Jacob spat. "No no no, he didn't eat it. My father was a vegetarian, but he knew meat was in high demand. Me on the other hand, I think people taste like chicken and vice versa." I chuckled. I opened up the duffle bag and took out a Mueller 7 Inch meat cleaver and a Condor Wastlander machete, "These were my father's tools, he gave them to me so I can continue his business." I said as I looked at the blades. "Your whole family's a freakshow!" Jacob spat. "No, my mom is actually pretty normal." I leaned down to Jacob and pointed the machete to my black eye, "This came from my father, it's the best gift an adopted son could ask for." I smiled. I put both blades in one hand and grabbed Jacob, "You're about to be useful for the first time in your pathetic life." I growled. With one hand I lifted the over 200 pound bully up and stuck him on one of the meat hooks making him scream in pain. "You're just jealous we're better than you." Jacob grunted. I clenched my teeth and put my machete to Jacob's throat, "Better than me?" I drove my machete through Jacob's stomach, "NOBODY'S BETTER THAN ME!" I shouted as I carved open the jock's stomach. His intestines spilled out and hung from the wound, "I'm faster, stronger, and smarter than any of you. You couldn't do what I can do in your wildest dreams." I spat. "People will be looking for me. You won't get away with this." Jacob groaned. I pulled up my mask and smiled, "2,512, that's how many people I've killed. I've got no fingerprints, no identifiable blood, nobody knows who I even am. I've got ways of hiding things." I laughed. "Who even are you?" Jacob questioned. I chuckled, "I'm this town's worst nightmare, and I'm here to stay."