Poison Ink

A Woman

He was curled up under a blanket on the coach with him sitting there too.

A knock made both of them look. He stood and went to the door. A woman walked in and forced him to get up and growl.

"Hey. It's okay, it's okay."

She smiled and walked over to the beast that backed away and growled.

"I'm sorry. He's really protective of me."

They sat together and he stayed in the corner.

She put her hand on his leg and the beast roared as loud as he could to get her to back off.

He climbed over her and grabbed his collar before he got to her.

"You need to stop."

He lowered his head and whimpered.

"Stop it. If you want some food I can give something."

He nodded and ran to the little table in front of her.

"What's his name?"

"Ryder. But Beast mostly."

When he came back he got all excited like a puppy. He gave her the bowl if fruit he had just gotten for him.

He lowered his head and let go of the table. Then plopped down and felt upset with him.

A fork stood in front of him and an apple sat in pain with its pricks through it.

"Come on Ryder" she had such a warm smile that he inched slowly toward the food.

He froze and looked at him.

"Go ahead."

He took the fruit and sat looking at it.

"Why does he wear a collar?"

"He won't let me take it off."

"No way."

He stood and walked over to him. He reached for his collar and he began to tremble.

"He didn't growl."

"He trembles." He touched his shoulder and he moved closer. "You gonna eat that?" He looked at the apple and stuck it in his mouth then stood and walked to the room he loved the most to be in.

"Where'd he go?"

"His favorite room."

They went in and looked at him as they walked in. He sat next to him in front of the ceiling to floor windows.

"He loves to watch the sunset. And he just gets a lovely view. So I gave him this room that was just covered in papers and junk."

He fell onto his side and watched the sun go away for the day.

"Why are you watching him?"

"Some girl made him bad and I found him about to kill someone. I thought maybe he needs a better influence."

"Bring him to the skating park tomorrow."

She was gone in seconds of saying that. He smiled and left his beast by himself.

He looked at the moon then climbed into bed and left the earth to go into his nightmares.