Nature of the beast (book 1 of the Beasties)

Face to face

The next day my dramatic symptoms eased, Except for my hearing. I remain in my room to avoid the agony to my poor sensitive ears. Lying in bed I practice on deciphering each sound that I can latch onto. It's become a game of sorts. So far I've figured out Trudy's humming in the kitchen. Penny snoring a few rooms down. She must've been exhausted after her turn for 3rd shift at the hospital. The pounding of a hammer coming from the barn, indicates Liam working on something out there and Wes's teeny tiny voice plaguing my vent. Wait! What? I still my breath and listen carefully to the register. His words are unidentifiable, but I can recognize that voice anywhere. I had completely forgotten about that loser when my extreme symptoms arrived.

My face hardens and my senses tune in on my prey. Quietly I get up and follow the sound of his voice from air vent to air vent, stalking his muffled cries like a lion stalking an injured antelope.

I reach the basement where Liam's home gym is. Wes's voice is slightly louder, but I can't figure out where it's coming from, until I come across a metal register the size of a large dog door near the ceiling. Wes's voice is clearer in that spot. I drag the end table from it's corner over to the vent. Than search for anything that can act as a screwdriver. I find a plastic rewards card in the drawer of the end table.

I hop on top of the table, getting to work on the screws. Their is one single goal on my mind, revenge. I feel like a shark with the sent of blood. I wont stop till I've reach my prey.

The screen takes a couple hard yanks and I fall off of the table when it finally gives. Irritated, I throw the dumb thing to the side, than jump back on top of the table. It takes some heavy duty wiggling before I manage to get into the vent. I cough on a few dust bunnies before trekking on.

I must look like PAC MAN if you had a birds eye view. There was a couple times I ended up in a dead end, but that didn't deter me. My brain had a goal determined to pursue. To stomp Wes into the ground eight feet under, so I'll be sure he'll never darken another corner again.

"Why?!!!! Oh Emily!!!!!! Mmnngg, oh Emily I need you!" Wes snivels. I see light coming through a grate two feet ahead of me. I crawl up to it, than look down. I see Wes huddled in a corner of a blank grey cell. There is only a bed attached to the wall, a toilet and sink. It looks like something out of prison break. A rattling catches my attention. Leaning forwards I notice a shackle around his ankle. I smile sadisticly at the thought of him feeling a small fraction of what he put me through. Suddenly a creaking sound interrupts my happy moment and I feel the vent give out from under me. I land in a heap on the opposite side of the room from Wes. "Emily!!!! You found me!!! Quick! Help me out of here before the monsters return." He ushers.

Getting up I cough out a cloud of dust, than shake the rest off. Wes looks at me in disgust when he noticed my state. I compose myself, pinning Wes with my glare. "I'm not here to help you." I state. Wes begins to shake sensing something is different about me. "I've come to finish the job. I won't have you ruin my new life." A growl escapes my lips.

A rage like I have never felt comes over me. I start kicking, hitting, punching, anything to inflict pain. "You ruined me! You took everything from me!! Even my memories!!!" By now I'm feeling white hot. I don't even realize what I'm saying. Something pulls me away from the whimpering lump on the cement floor. What feels like two metal bars cage me from my victim. I scream out an ugly, nasty, shout of frustration. I need to finish him!!!

A stinging sensation across my face, snaps me out of my rage. "Skyler this isn't you!" Gavin's voice shouts.

"How would you know!" My nails dig into his arm.

"Because you saw past monsters and seen beings worthy of life." He soothes. I go still from his words, dumbfounded and touched that, that is how he sees me. For so long, all I've seen is a broken shell staring back at me in the mirror. Gavin puts me down, turning me to face him. "Skyler, who is he to you? We've been trying to figure it out since we came home, but all he snivels about is an Emily."

I feel my features crumble, but I refuse to cry. "I'm Emily." I state. Gavin gives me a confused look.

"Is that your real name?" He asks

"No, I'm Emily's replacement. To him I'm Emily." I must resemble an emotionless doll as Gavin's face contorts into horror from understanding. "Please don't tell Liam. I don't ever want him to find out who the source is for most of my pain." My voice wavers towards the end as I force the tears away.

"Why? He's your mate. He'll want to know. Liam will probably enjoy taking care of that scumbag."

I look deep into his eyes, unnerving him. "Men like to own their pussy. " Gavin looks at me incredulously.

"Excuse me?" He chokes out.

"It is one thing to know that terrible stuff has happened to your significant other, it's another to meet the cause of the night terrors. That can break a man. He'll never be able to sleep with out that prick invading his mind. In the end all he'll see is that thing on me." By the end of my speech I'm crying. "Please, please, please don't let Liam find out!" I'm hysterical by the time I'm done begging.

Gavin sighs "fine." My tears stop and hope buds in my chest. "But the only reason I'm agreeing is because my brother deserves to be happy. I don't want him turning back into a beast." I sigh in relief. "Just so you know, it would be better if you tell him the truth, especially now. It needs to come from you. The truth has a way of worming out eventually. I know by experience. Now let's get you back to your room. You need a shower bad." Gavin proceeds to swish his hand in front of his nose. I shove him and laughed. For all I know I probably smell like moldy old cheese.