The Monster

Untitled Part 3

The monster had given a strict schedule to follow by as he went out on his duties. Firstly, Feliciano was to start the morning by cleaning all the pots and pans for dinner the night previous. Secondly, He was to scrub and polish the floors. Then, using the cooking books provided, Feliciano was to make a delicious, vegetarian dinner for when Ludwig came home. If he had completed his tasks, he was allowed to slack off and sleep. The chain that connected him to the foot of the bed could not be sawn away, regardless of how many times Feliciano had sharped the knife in the kitchen.

While his time living with the monster was horrifying at first, Feliciano was starting to find it wasn't all that bad. He got fed and was allowed to sleep in Ludwig's old, springy bed. It beat sleeping in a college dorm at least.

Feliciano jolted in his place as the door opened and Ludwig had stepped inside. "Ah! C-caio, Ludwig, sir!" He shakily withdrew from the kitchen and curled up on the bed. To his surprise, Ludwig hauled a rabbit carcus onto the table and took down his bow.

"...Ludwig. You're a vegetarian so...why?"

Ludwig swished his tail and stretched his back muscles. "Ja, I am, but...it's been a whole week. And I felt you needed a reward for your cooperation"

A whole week? A whole week ago, Feliciano had slept in his own bedroom in his own room. Was anybody even searching for him? ...Did anybody even care?

His thoughts were distracted when Ludwig shoved something into his view. A hastily made bouquet of field flowers ripped right from the grass was thrust right under his nose, the sweet scents of spring flowed through his nasal passage. "Ludwig, what is-"

"I uh...I also felt it were necessary to bring you a gift too"

Feliciano took the flowers happily, offering a large smile. "Grazie Luddy~! These look beautiful!" He cried. He sat up from the bed and flung his arms around Ludwig cheerily. It seems he was rather surprised by the action, because his whole body seemed to tense under Feliciano's touch.

His skin was cold and littered with scars from the many life experiences he had alone in the woods.

"....F-Feliciano?"

Feliciano pulled away to see Ludwig's face, wide-eyed and scarlet red. "What's that look for? Haven't you ever had a hug before?" Feliciano joked. The silence that followed was unsettling. Had Ludwig never been hugged before in his life?

"Uh...you have...been hugged before, right?"

Ludwig looked generally concerned. He shook his head slowly. "I can't remember the last time I've had another human embrace me like you just did"

"Ve~ Well, did it feel good?"

The centaur's cheeks flushed a little. "Uh....J-ja, it did"

"I can't imagine a life without hugs! I love to cuddle up to people but if you don't want to, that's fine too" Feliciano rambled. Ludwig shuffled in his place and awkwardly bent down for another hug. Unsure as to what to do with his hands, he gently coiled them around Feliciano's waist and raised him up. "Am I doing this right? It's been so long..." "Si. You're doing just fine"

Ludwig held him in the embrace and finally lowered him down to his feet again. "...Sorry"

"No, no! You were perfectly fine! But..." Feliciano fidgeted in his place for a moment, "...You told me before about how you ended up like this but...for how long?"

He looked to his hooves, his hands and finally towards the window, unsure as to how to answer. "...I was a woodsman when it happened...it seems the witch had another curse in store for me: immortality. I haven't aged a bit. I haven't aged unlike my family" Ludwig confessed, "...My older brother died 20 years ago. I've kept the body of a 25-year-old this whole time. I can't even remember what they looked like..."

Feliciano was horrified to hear this news. He stood on his toes and hugged Ludwig again, gently stroking his cold back with his warm hands. "...Ludwig, that's so sad! Have you ever considered leaving this place? I-it can't be right staying here all alone" Feliciano whimpered softly against his coat. Ludwig soothingly ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

"I'm a monster. I can't. But I'm still searching for an answer to this curse. There needs to be a way out of this hell" Ludwig murmured seriously. Feliciano continued to hold him tightly and finally pulled away.

"I'll do whatever I can to save you, Ludwig! I won't let you stay in this place by yourself forever!"

"Danke, Feli..." For the first time in decades, the monster gave a hopeful smile.