The Monster Within - Book 1

Chapter 3

I walk into an old fashion room with dark wooden furniture. There are dozens of old photo frames stretching out across the walls. Photos from when Ester was a child playing with her brother, photos of my mum growing up and then photos of me. Photos of when I would come and stay with her. Memories of the games we would play where we would dress up and role play in the wood outside. Maybe that's why they never seemed so scary when I was a child. My nan was always there to protect me. But the beeping of the machines that Ester is currently hooked up to make me feel like she's the one who needs protecting now.

'Look who I found.' Justin says as he approaches the bed that ester is lying on.

The old women leans up in her bed to look at me. A smile stretches across her face as she looks at me.

'Sarah?' She says as she tries to hold a hand out to me.

'No, Nanna. I'm her daughter. It's me, Cassie.' I say, feeling a piece of my heart break for her.

'She can get a little confused sometimes.' Justin chimes in.

'Cassie?' she says, examining my face with scrutiny before she starts to believe what I've just said. 'Cassandra, it is you.' She says, finally understanding I'm not my mother.

'How long has she been like this?' I ask Justin.

'Not long. It just seemed to happen over night. My mum says that can happen sometimes with dementia.'

'Dementia? Your mum didn't say anything about that to me.'

'Maybe she didn't want to scare you off? It might seem daunting at first. But your nan is still in there. She just needs some company and for someone to cook a meal or two a day. The nurse will be here in a few hours. I've got to go now.' He says as he walks towards the door.

'But... What do I do?' I ask, flicking my gaze between him and my nan.

'Just talk to her.' And then he leaves.

I walk back into the room and try to think of anything to talk about. But after 20 years what do you say to a person?

As I walk to her bedside I spot a photo on the far wall. One of me with a few other children. I remember playing with other kids all the time. But I could never picture what they looked like or what their names were. I pull the frame off its hook on the wall and take it over to my nan.

'Do you remember who the other kids are in this photo?' I ask, not expecting anything.

'Let me have a look dear.' She says, holding her hand out for the frame.

I pass her the photo and she instantly recognises them without any hesitation.

'Why, that's you there...' She points '....and then there is Aroura and the two boys are her brothers Archer and the bigger one is Apollo. The Conri children.'

'Why don't I remember them?'

'I don't know, dear. Their parents didn't live too far from here. You used to play with them all the time.

'Did they move?'

'Oh No.' She starts before pausing. 'Shortly after you left there was a fire at their house. Only the two brothers lived. It was a sad time. The boys keep to themselves now. I haven't seen them around here in years. I think they stay close though.'

'Oh, that is sad.' I say, looking at the photo, wandering where they must live now.

It takes me a second before I can pull my eyes way from the young girl in the photo. The sister who died in a fire. What a horrible way to go.

'It seems life has a way of sneaking up on you.' Ester says. 'First them and then a few short years after, your mother was taken from us.' I hear a little fault in her voice as she finishes speaking and see a tear roll down her cheek at the mention on my mother. She still loves her. Even after we left and never came back. Not for a Christmas or birthday. Nothing.

'What happened? I mean, why did my mum and I leave town?' I ask the question I've always wanted to know the answer too. One my mother would never entertain.

She hesitates, her mouth opens and closes again as she decides what she wants to say next.

'Maybe I can tell you another day my dear, I'm feeling rather tired.' She says before a big yawn over comes her. 'I think I need to rest now. You go and get settled. Don't let an old women stop you from unpacking.' She finishes as she rolls over and closes her eyes.

I sit with her a little longer, absorbing the details of her face. The details I took for granted as a kid. Her mousy brown hair, her light blue eyes, the ones she gave to my mum and the necklace that has fallen onto her pillow. The same necklace my mum gave to me just before she died. I pull my necklace out of my top and hold it in my hand, examining it, comparing it to my nans one. They're identical. I guess I'll add that to the list of questions I have for her when she's awake again.

I stroll back into my room and start removing my old childhood clothes from the draws as I make room for clothes that will actually fit me.

After a couple of hours there's a knock at the door. I open it to a young women in a white uniform, holding a nurses bag.

'You must be one of the carers?' I say

'Trish, and you must be Cassandra?'

'Cassie'

'Well it's nice to finally meet you. I've heard a lot of stories. Mostly good' She jokes.

As we stand and chat I become very aware of how hungry I am, feeling an empty void in my stomach.

'Trish, are you going to be here a while? I haven't had a chance to go shopping yet and I am starved after my trip.'

'Yeah, I'll be about an hour or longer. You go. I'll be here with Ester' she replies, smiling.

When I emerge from the house, I look around the expanding forest. I take in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the sort of fresh air you can never find in the city. It's so quiet out here. Nothing like my apartment back home.

Then a growl of my stomach reminds me I need to eat, so off I wonder into the woods, walking towards town in search of something to eat.