MONSTER OF THE UNKNOWN

A STORY FROM THE PAST

Three days after the stalker's attack on Mathéo and Laura, Mathéo regains consciousness at last, and not too long after, so does Laura. Based on the medical examinations performed on them after waking up, they don't appear to have sustained any physiological nor psychological damage from the ordeal. Nevertheless, the doctors insist on keeping them in the hospital for a few more days in order to properly monitor and assess them before discharging them.

The days that follow are quite monotonous for the two teenagers. Since everything they need (such as food, water and change of clothes) is brought to their rooms for them, they spend everyday barely moving an inch. Due to this, Mathéo always sneaks his way out of his room to Laura's for some company whenever he gets bored, but not in a salacious way like your dirty mind is most certainly thinking.

"Hey, Laura. I'm back again," Mathéo waves at her cheerfully as he casually walks into her room. "Looks like you missed me."

"Don't you think it was a bad idea coming here? The nurse got really pissed the last time she caught you here," Laura asks him, clearly worried they might get in trouble for breaking the rules by entering each other's rooms. She isn't a 'taking risks' nor 'disobeying authority' kind of person after all.

"I'm sure it'll be just fine. It's not like we're fucking or anything like that, we're just relaxing in the same room together like normal friends do. There's nothing wrong with that," he justifies his action as he lies down beside her on the bed which isn't so big. There isn't a lot of free space on it, so Mathéo has to cuddle up very close to Laura, and the feeling of his body against her gives her a little tingle. "I hope you're okay with me staying here. I can move somewhere else if it makes you uncomfortable."

"No, it's not a problem at all," the brunette answers clumsily, still flustered by the thought of the boy's earlier word, 'fucking'. The 'sharing a bed with him' part doesn't really weird her out anymore. They've been doing it a lot for some reason ever since they both regained consciousness and she's gotten kind of used to it. It makes her feel safe.

A moment later and an awkward silence fills the room's ambiance. With absolutely nothing to discuss, the two just lie there without uttering a word.

"I saw your family the other day when they came to visit you," Laura starts in an attempt to start a conversation. The quiet has gotten too sickening for her to handle. "I didn't realize you were adopted when we first met."

"Yeah, I am. What gave it away, my smile? I didn't think it was that obvious," Mathéo jokes before letting out a little laugh.

"Have you ever met your real parents?" she asks the question a bit bashfully, not wanting to come off as rude and insensitive.

"You want me to talk about my biological family?" Mathéo's mood seems to fall a little when he says this.

"You don't have to answer it, I'm sorry. It was dumb of me to ask you such a personal question," Laura apologizes, immediately regretting bringing up the matter in the first place. What was she even thinking? "Just pretend like I didn't say anything."

"It's okay if you're curious about it, it's just not a story I like telling people. I don't think you should feel sorry for asking. You've already told me some personal stuff from your past, so it's kind of fair if you want to know some of mine," Mathéo assures her as he pulls away from her and takes a sitting position on the bed. "I guess we're close enough now for me to tell you, but I have to warn you. It's some messed up shit."

"I'm not sure if you've heard of these two Argentine musicians- Alejandro and Juliana Molfese," Mathéo starts. "They were apparently really popular in like the 90s and early 2000s for some reason. They're the ones who gave birth to me."