Monster

* Tatiana • Two

~ 5 weeks earlier...

It was comfortable being in a hoodie that hugged my body the right way and made me feel secure. And that's all I've ever wanted. To feel as if i had protection. And that's is why I'm at the mall early in the morning. It was the best time to avoid a crowd in the store. And avoid the many popular students who came here daily for the latest products and fashion. I'm not embarrassed to say that I'm late in that department.

I held out a dark grey hoodie with a black rose on the back. How could someone not but this? The inside of it was cotton, nice and warm for me. And what was it doing in the clearance section? I would gladly full price for this thing. The silver zipper even had tiny engravings in it. I smiled and put it in the cart.

"Whoa. What time is it?" I look at my watch and frowned with disdain. I had let my obsession with hoodies blind me from the more important task at hand. I had school today and I now had less than an hour to get there. 

I grabbed all of the stuff out of the cart and walked hurriedly to an open line. The clerk gave me a hello and I smiled back, replying in a cheerful manner as if I loved the world. My mom raised me to be polite and I would honor her. Even if we were miles apart. I still kept part of my humanity. It was the only way for me to keep my sanity.

"Wow. This is a cool hoodie," the female spoke up. 

I gave her a genuine smile and started to look through my wallet for the money.

"I love them. And this design had some great appeal."

The clerk smiled and repeated the price that was on the computer. As I dug in my wallet to get twenty, the large TV screen near the entrance/exit of the store, activated. My stomach collapsed on itself as Trending Topics came on. I hated that show. The stuff the critics say about everything disgusted me.

"Welcome back to Trending Topics. And today we're getting into some really interesting subjects on the internet," the blonde woman said with a sweet smile.

I handed the clerk about forty-five dollars and thirty-right cents yet she managed to drop a few of the coins. I grimaced on the inside but on the outside my expression was plain.  I continued to endure the torture of Trending Topics.

"One of the biggest topics right now are the Black Widow and Marco. These monsters are pretty scary," the blonde woman resumed as the camera shifted to a panel of critics. In the group were  two men and two women on a round couch. A petite, middle aged woman with a chocolate bob and blood red lipstick held authority in her posture. Patricia Deflour. One of the most harsh people that the company ever decided to cast. Equally cruel with Orville Smith. His smooth, leathery fedora added a gaze to those piercing eyes of his. As if he didn't look sharp enough in his dark blue sweater vest and jeans.

"Let's discuss Black Widow first. I heard a few months ago she attacked an orphanage. What kind of heartless person attacks defenseless children?" the blonde spat.

The entire panel of people true their eyebrows into a glare. They hated the very thought of me and here I am watching there show.

"From the report. There were no causalities except for the man she was found devouring on in the basement of the orphanage. A child had come downstairs to get a drink of water when she heard a strange crunching noise. She walked downstairs and saw a feminine figure hovering over a body of a centaur. What a truly traumatic thing the girl had to witness."

No, they had it all wrong. 

I was so engrossed in the memories from last night, I had forgotten about the clerk. She was waving the money in front of my eyes and an annoyed expression.

"Oh! i'm so sorry!" My cheeks turned a light pink and I took my bags and shoved the money in my pocket. I know how had thirty minutes to get to school.