The Monster Within - Book 1

Chapter 2

I waste no time in making arrangements to leave. This flat just reminds me of Paul. How am I ever going to get over him with all these memories everywhere I look?

I call work and tell them that I'll be out of the city for a while, but I'll still be working, which they take no issue with. I'm so lucky to work for a place that is so flexible. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with the place. Working a normal 9 to 5 job just never appealed to me. As long as I'm getting the work done I can pick my hours to suit my needs.

I pack a few bags, taking most of my clothes as well as my laptop and toiletries. When I'm finally ready I lug the bags out the front door, sticking a note on it, aimed at my arsehole ex.

'Left town. Won't be back for a while. If you need your stuff then tough. You should have taken it with you when you left'

I smooth the note on the door to make sure it won't go anywhere and then I turn towards the exit of the building, getting into the first taxi I see.

'Airport, please' I tell the driver as we lurch into motion, leaving my world behind.

I'm not long at the airport before my flight starts to board. I'm seated quickly as there aren't too many people on this journey. I'm alone in my small row of seats which I'm thankful for. I don't feel the need to make awkward chit chat with someone the whole flight. I'd rather just sit here and listen to my playlist, getting lost in the music. And I do just that for the entire flight as I press play on the first song, fly away by Lenny Kravitz. How appropriate.

***

'Miss. Excuse me, miss. We're here.' An air hostess says, touching my arm as she tries to rouse me from my slumber.

'Ohh, sorry.' I say, looking around at the completely empty plane.

'We landed a moment ago. You're the last one left on the plane.'

My cheeks redden, feeling a little embarrassed.

'I'll just be going then.' I say as I get up from my seat, grabbing my bag from the over head compartment. I offer the women a small smile in thanks as I duck out of the plane.

Making my way to baggage claim, I find my bags already waiting by for me. Then I find the exit, getting into my second taxi of the day.

I look at the driver through the rear view mirror. 'Lycan creek, please.'

After about an hour of driving the bright lights of city life fade away, replaced by the dark, leafy green trees of the woods that surround my childhood town.

We come up to a sign I recognise welcoming people to Lycan creek, sending an unfamiliar feeling through me. As we pass the sign I realise how much I've missed this place, my home for the first 9 years of my life. I'm kind of excited to see the old town centre. I'm interested to see what's changed and what's still the same. But feeling drained from the days travel, I decide it's best if I go straight to Esters cabin. I need a shower and some sleep, not to mention some food as my stomach starts to growls at me, demanding attention.

We drive past some old brick buildings on the outskirts of town as we continue driving. We pass the cinema my mum used to take me as a child and a boarded up roller skate rink that looked like it had seen better days. Then as the buildings became less and less, replaced by a thick forest, I suddenly remember how far out of town my nan actually lived.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but trees and bushing, stretching out in every direction. When I used to play in these woods as a child it always seemed like such a small space. But now I'm back it seems to go on forever. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Now I'm bigger it should seem smaller, right? It's weird. I was always at home running around out here. It was like there was nothing to be afraid of. Like I'd be safe no matter what, but that wasn't how I felt now. Somehow the trees look twisted and sinister. The dense canopy of trees makes it look dark and shrouded and the lack of birds or any other animals didn't sit right with me. Maybes it's because I'm older? Maybe It seems more... ominous because I'm more aware of dangers as an adult?

Finally we pull up to a little wooden cabin, about twenty minutes outside of town. Esters home. And it hasn't changed one bit. She still has a giant vine of wisteria growing up the side of her cabin, covering the front entrance in beautiful hues of purple. The windows are lite up with light as Nan always hated the dark and the rocking chair still sits on her porch with the same hand stitched blanket draped over it. The same chair she would sit in and watch me play for hours on end with some kids that didn't live far from here.

I take a deep breath as I start to walk up the steps, leading to the front door. Before I can reach the top step and knock, the door opens with a friendly looking guy about my ages, smiling at me. He has a slim build, not too small or big. His dark, brown hair is wild and messy as he tries to push it away with his hand. The wide smile on his face automatically calms me as I continue to walk to the door.

'You must be Cassandra?' He beams.

'It's Cassie.' I tell him

'I'm Justin... Justin Grant. I live with my mum back in town. She's known Ester for years and asked me to look after her until you arrived.' He tells me, sensing my curiosity.

'Oh, okay.' I say a little thrown back from the onslaught on information he just spewed my way. 'Who's your mum?'

'Petra Grant'

It takes me a second to piece that information together with what I already know.

'Doctor Grant?'

'The one and only. Although, sometimes I feel more like an assistant the her son.' He jokes, rubbing the back of his neck.

He steps to the side of the door, making room for me to enter.

'Well come in. It must be nice for you to be back? Ester said you haven't been around in a while? She talks about you all the time'

'No, my mum and I left when I was a child. I'll be honest with you. I didn't even know she was still alive. She didn't come to my mums funeral and I just assumed...'

'Yeah, we were sorry to hear about your mum. I hear she was a nice lady. It was a bit of a shock to the town when we heard of her passing, especially after the two of you disappeared.'

What a funny word to use. We didn't disappear. Did we?

'But you're back now. Let me show you to your room and I'll see if Ester is still asleep.'

He guides me up the stairs, opening the door of the room I used to stay in when I was little. My Nan and I would have sleepovers at least once a month when we still lived here. We'd stay up and eat junk food and watch horror films. My favourite genre.

As I enter the room I look around, feeling like a child again. Nothing in this room has changed. It's been cleaned ready for my arrival, but the sheets are the same ones I used as a child. My old teddies are still scattered across the bed. The walls are even plastered with old posters of bands I used to listen to over and over again. It's like a time capsule in here. I've been teleported 20 years into the past.

I turn to Justin, but he's gone. I didn't even hear him leave.

I place my bags on the bed and open one, pulling out some clothes. I walk over to a chest of draws and open it, ready to put my clothes in, but I can't. There are already clothes in there. I put mine back down on the bed before I reach my hand into the draw and pull out a top. I hold it up, looking at three little kittens wearing crowns. This is mine.... I used to wear this all the time as a child. I pull another item out and another. She kept it all. She hadn't thrown out a single thing. I lived my life without out her while she kept everything my mum and I left behind. I feel a tear slipping down my face, realising the last of her family packed up, left and never looked back. Never visited. It's the first time I feel anger towards my mother. How could she do that to her own mum?

'She's awake.' Justin announces as he walks back into the room, causing me to drop the item of clothing I'm holding.

I turn my attention to him.

'Lead the way.' I reply as I wipe the tear from my face.