Wicked Little Creatures

5

Lizzy thought they should go to Sister Joan's office straight away. Cherie knew better. The Sister's used their offices during free time, right up until evening meal, and then prayer service. That would be the best time to go looking, after dinner, when everyone was occupied, though she would catch trouble later for her absence. Not that it would matter if she failed to take down the monster.

Cherie knew the best time to confront the monster was at night, when the others were asleep. More dangerous, but still better than trying to dodge well meaning Sisters and confused, curious girls.

"I'll meet you here in about two hours. I just need to make an appearance at dinner so they don't come looking for me."

Lizzy fidgeted in place, looking quite anxious for a dead person. "We shouldn't wait. What if the monsters takes someone else?"

Cherie frowned. "Why would it? It just fed."

"I could come with you to the dining hall," said Lizzy, tugging on her curls.

"It's in a newer part of the building, would be harder for you to move around in," said Cherie, glancing at the girl. She could swear her little friend looked paler than before, if that was possible for a ghost. Cherie froze for a second, bowled over by the internal realization that she saw Lizzy as a friend. She smiled. "You can come if you want to."

Indecision warred on Lizzy's pale face before she crossed her arms with a sigh. "No, you're right. It would be hard for me. I'm just....nervous about all of this."

It been awhile since anyone showed concern for her other than the Sisters. Cherie nudged the girl with her shoulder, ignoring the icy pinpricks she got from the contact. "I'll be careful."

Lizzy said nothing but gave her a tight nod as she left. Cherie couldn't quite keep the smile off her face. For the first time in months, she had a shred of hope, a possible answer in sight, and a new friend. It didn't matter that she was a ghost. Cherie carried her books to the dorm and spent the remaining half hour before dinner attempting to concentrate on her studies.

When the evening bell rang, she fell in with the other girls, taking her seat to half heartedly nibble at Sister Mary's macaroni casserole. The monster generally avoided the dining hall and tonight was no exception. Not a surprise since it didn't eat everyday food. Soon she would confront the monster. All she needed was a weapon. Even if Sister Joan's antique fireplace tools weren't iron, she would grab one of the cast iron skillets if she had to. She would end this tonight.

Speaking of Sister Joan...Cherie stared at the empty space at the head table where the Sister usually sat. Where was she? It was unusual for Sister Joan to abstain from evening meal. Even deep in grief from the loss of Alice, she joined the others at mealtime. Unease took root in her gut, killing her appetite. The feeling grew as the meal came to a close. Sister Joan never appeared.

Cherie tried to convince herself the reason for the Sister's absence was incidental. Perhaps the woman wasn't feeling well. Perhaps she was bogged down in paperwork. Perhaps--

Lizzy popped in front of her, her features strained by fear. "It took her, the monster took Sister Joan."

"What!" Cherie yelped louder than she should have, drawing a few looks from the other girls as they passed. She let Lizzy drag her around the corner, sheltering them both from stray glances before she spoke again. "What do you mean it took her? Why would it do that?"

Lizzy threw up her hands. "What do you mean why? It's a monster. It doesn't need a reason," she hissed. "Come on, we need to get a weapon. The Sister's office will definitely be empty now."

Cherie stumbled after her, bothered by the turn of events. It was wrong. Something about the whole thing was off. The unease in her stomach was a roiling storm that made her nauseous with every step she took.

"This doesn't fit the pattern," said Cherie.

Lizzy sent her an exasperated look over her shoulder. "Neither did leaving Alice out in the open. Maybe the pattern is changing." They'd reached Sister Joan's office, managing to avoid notice of the other Sisters. Cherie hoped her luck would hold, with Sister Joan taken, she couldn't wait until nightfall. She didn't know the monster's feeding habits that well but she'd promised herself Alice would be the last.

The nun's office was unlocked, operating on a system of trust. One Cherie planned to uphold since she was only borrowing, if the fireplace set was iron. It certainly appeared to be iron when she laid eyes on it, an old fashioned set complete with poker, ash shovel, and tongs for moving burning logs all nestled in a fancy curlicue rack. The poker looked promising, coming to a pointed tip. She lifted it free, grinning at the heft of it in her hands. Heavy, dense, she'd bet the cross round her neck it was iron.

"Will it work?" Lizzy hovered by her shoulder, peering down at the poker with a gleam in her eye.

"I think it will," said Cherie. She held it at her side, ready as a rapier to go into battle.

Lizzy nodded. "I'll show you where the monster is," she said, darting toward the door. Cherie started to follow when she caught sight of the desk.

Dozens of files were spread out, open, as if Sister Joan were in the middle of reading them when she was taken. Cherie didn't know if it was curiosity or instinct that pulled her forward but she took a second a glance at the files, a tingle running down her spine

She recognized most of the names. Ten of them belonged to the missing girls who'd disappeared since the monster came, including Jenny, right on top of the pile. But others, dozens of others, she never heard of. The files looked older, yellowed by time. More disappearances? Did that mean this had happened before?

Did that mean Sister Joan thought there was a monster too? It could explain why she was taken. Or was it something else?

"Are you coming?" Lizzy stood in the doorway, rocking from one foot to the other.

Cherie jumped at her voice, realizing she'd been standing here, debating like an idiot while the monster had Sister Joan. The nun could already be dead. Her grip tightened around the poker. "Coming."

Cherie followed Lizzy's scurrying progress down the empty hall. The others were in prayer service now. No one would come looking until later. She hoped it was enough time.

"How did you know who the monster was?" Lizzy's quiet voice broke the tense silence between them.

Cherie took a deep breath. The poker was a heavy reassurance in her hand. "Jenny." Lizzy looked puzzled by her incomplete explanation but didn't press. They turned another corner into extremely familiar territory. "Why are we heading to the bell tower? You said you were taking me to the monster's lair."

Lizzy flinched. "I am."

Cherie stopped dead, staring at the little ghost girl. "Where is it?"

Lizzy hunched her shoulders. Her fingers were tugging on her hair again in her agitation. "In the bell tower." Her eyes briefly flickered to Cherie. "The upper floor."

All this time, all this time, it was right above her? Every time she hid up there, lying on her stolen mattress, missing her friend, the monster kept its food one floor up?

"I feel sick," said Cherie, leaning against the wall for support. No, she didn't feel like throwing up. She felt like crying. She felt violated. It hadn't just killed Jenny, the monster had desecrated their sacred space. Cold pinpricks on her shoulder signaled Lizzy's touch, offering comfort.

"I'm sorry," she said.

Cherie let the tightness seize her, muscles screaming as she drew herself up. Her fingers ached they gripped the poker so tight. "Show me."