THE MONSTER INSIDE ME (#ONC2024)

CHAPTER FIVE: THE DEMON

Friends, I am currently lying in bed, resting. Finally, the therapist departed. She's not a bad person, and she wants to help me, but it is not possible. I have come to accept that my struggles go beyond what therapy can offer.

In my darkness, a demon speaks to me. Its sinister whispers grow louder and more persuasive with each passing day, feeding on my vulnerability and despair. It knows my deepest fears and uses them against me, taunting me with the false promise of relief through destruction.

He is tall and large. He has red skin and horns. His eyes are vivid crimson and darker than his body. He says he wants to help me and encourages me to be strong. But I don't trust him or anyone. I pretend to trust, and the demon believes it. He's stupid.

He spoke to me the same day I had sex with Aiden. I let myself be carried away by his harsh comments, but deep down, I knew it was wrong and not good for me. The therapy merely reaffirmed my thoughts. Being as wicked as I am cannot be a positive thing. But how can I protect myself from the dangers of the world? I constantly grapple with the fear of falling into the wrong hands, unsure of who to confide in or seek guidance from. The world feels like a treacherous place, and I yearn for a sense of security that seems unattainable.

Enough of this bullshit. I will continue to tell you about my life so that you may get to know me better and determine whether you understand me or not.

I was still working at that terrible grocery store. One day, an elderly, regular client, who had already demonstrated his lustful intentions on previous occasions, took advantage of our aloneness and went behind the counter to touch my ass.

As you may guess, I went insane with rage as his wrinkled hand made contact with my body. The old man groped my ass with one grimy hand while attempting to unbutton his pants with the other.

I immediately recoiled, pushing him away with all the force I could muster. My heart raced a mixture of anger, fear, and disgust coursing through my veins.

The demon said, 'Finish him.'

I didn't need the demon to tell me anything because I was repulsed and nearly vomited on the old man. I kicked him in the groin, and the disgusting old man collapsed to the ground, moaning and placing his hand between his legs. But the guy must have been a masochist because he grabbed my legs and threw me on top of him with the intention of fucking me. As I landed on top of him, adrenaline flooded my body, fueling my determination to fight back. With a surge of strength, I freed myself from his grip and delivered a swift and powerful punch to his face. The sickening sound of bones cracking filled the air as he howled in agony. At that moment, the realization hit me: I was not going to let this monster have his way; I would fight tooth and nail to protect myself and escape this horrifying ordeal.

I grabbed the old man by his neck and began to squeeze when the store's elderly owner walked in unexpectedly, and she was taken aback by what she witnessed. She gasped in shock, dropping her cane in the process. Her eyes widened as she tried to comprehend the scene unfolding before her. Without wasting a second, she rushed towards me, pleading for me to let go of the old man's neck. Confusion and concern filled her voice as she frantically tried to diffuse the situation.

"But Arabella, what's this? You're a slut!" the woman exclaimed.

"This is not as it looks. He intended to rape me," I said.

"But what will Mr. Thomas do to you? He's an old man," replied Mrs. Jenkins.

"I know Mr. Thomas is old, but that doesn't change what he tried to do to me. He's a pervert, and you are stupid. Place your work where it fits."

I went into wrath and never returned. As I stormed out of the room, anger pulsed through my veins. The weight of the encounter with Mr. Thomas still lingered, but now I was faced with Mrs. Jenkins' disbelief and judgment. Her ignorance and refusal to acknowledge the truth only fueled my determination to sever ties with everyone.