Monster

Chapter Nineteen--On Stage

"Alex," I started, sitting up in the cot without any dizziness. "Why is my leg suddenly better?"

I looked at him and he smiled mischievously.

"Your blood has faster regeneration than a normal human because of the Monster," he smiled. "Your leg was infected and the blood wasn't reproducing fast enough to keep up with it--but when I kissed you, it made your blood flow faster. So that it beat the infection and made it better. I mean, I literally KISSED your boo-boo better," he snorted at his stupid pun.

"Well, I'm flattered," I said sarcastically, and then added: "But really, thanks. You might have just saved my life."

Alex nodded from behind another pot of something--it smelled like eggs.

"Bon appetite, my love," he said with a French accent and handed over the pot of eggs. I scarfed them down in a matter of seconds--then a giant boom shook the forest.

I dropped the empty pot and fell off the cot, my ears ringing from the sudden vibrations running throughout the ground. Alex ran over to me and helped me up, but as he was opening the door to the hut another boom came, this one more powerful and throwing me through the stick and mud wall.

I skidded a bit into the forest and stopped at the base of a tree trunk. Ahead of me, through the trees, I saw a thick smoke. It was almost black--and it was accompanied by the flickering, orange flames of fire.

I hated fire. I had been badly burnt as a little girl (in my fake memories). My house had almost burnt down as well--fire and I weren't on good terms.

The wall of heat was approaching fast, and I saw Alex sprinting towards me. I stood up and looked back at the wall of fire. It was forcing us to run North--the direction of Dr. Niles jungle lab.

Before I could think anymore, Alex ripped my from my standstill and dragged me behind him, sprinting as fast as possible. The fire was about five hundred feet away; the smoke was choking me and the smell of burning leaves smelt like weed and dirt.

My legs were pumping hard as Alex and I sprinted. We were going at least thirty miles an hour--as Monsters, our stamina and overall muscle capability was much higher than any human. But even I was getting tired--it had only been about ten minutes.

I stumbled a bit, and immediately felt heat sear the back of my neck. I gasped in the smoky air that burnt my heaving lungs. Up ahead, I saw a collosal cliff, covered in vines and anything that could grow at a 90 degree angle. At the top of the ravine sat a giant, glass building.

"Dr. Niles lab is at the top! Climb!"

The fire was advancing quickly, and the smoke would suffocate us if we didn't get out of here. Following Alex's lead, I took ahold of a rock on the wall. Pulling myself up, I repeated. Grab, up. Move foot. Grab, up.

In five minutes we were nearly to the top. The flames were having a hard time reaching up the cliffside, and the air was clean and fresh up here. Hoisting myself up to the top, I sat down as my hands and legs shook from the excersize and the adrenaline. Then my heart skipped a beat.

Ahead of us on the cliff's plateau was a giant, almost invisible building. Vines and leaves covered the low roof--I then realized it was made of mirror, reflecting the neon blue sky and lush greenery.

The lab appeared to have no door, but as Alex and I walked closer a panel slid open where two men charged out at us. Since I was in Monster mode, my reflexes instantly kicked in. The men seemed to be running slow--then I realized that it was because they were just human.

Alex and I easily took both of them down and continued walking towards the now open door. As we approached the mirrored building, I grew nervous.

"Alex, what are we doing here? Why don't we run?"