The Monsters Inside (Formerly Extract)

First Kill

When the darkness faded, the white room slowly filled my vision. Except, it wasn’t all white anymore. The pristine floor which had once shone with purity was besmirched with red life. Black spots clouded areas where the life had dried up and gone away, leaving the sticky residence of sin left to mar the Earth. Besides the floor, red life was spilt between my lower limbs, and a strange pain emanated from the area. Movement to the left brought my attention from the pain, and my body crouched down, ready to destroy the threat.

A boy was curled around a figure, large and burly. His blue stare pierced my hollow heart and the growls softened. What familiarity was this that swept through my being? The boy crept closer, holding bloody meat in his hands. He offered the sickly smelling meat to me; a piece offering. My jaws opened, the smell of flesh offending my senses but heightening my hunger. The cold, slick slab slid down my throat, and suddenly a ravenous urge built up inside me. Too soon the meat disappeared, and my eyes once again met the icy stare that still pierced my being. Friend.

Once again the strange aliens entered our domain. The boy and I were wary, curiously watching these creatures. This time they came with wicked weapons in their hands, sticks made to shoot fire and plunge through the heart, glistening reflective rocks sharp enough to draw blood from one’s body. The boy crouched in front of me, placing his body in front of mine, wanting nothing more than to protect what was his. The creatures watched this strange movement, one looking to a white sheet, his hand furiously sweeping across the thin material with four letters printed atop it: DATA. Boy noticed this movement as well, lips curling in disgust. Neither side moved.

One creature locked eyes with me, a feeling of dread pooling in my gut. I snarled on instinct. Evil, this is Evil! His hands held a small circular object, clutched tightly between his fingers. A sickly sweet smile crossed his face, dead eyes lighting up, promising new horrors. “Ready for round two, sweetheart?” Red, I saw red. My claws ached; I went to pounce, to maim, to kill. But I never go the chance.

The boy had jumped as soon as the words passed the creature’s lips. His claws pierced the skin, silky red flowing from the scratches. His legs locked around the creature’s waist as the others quickly blurred, trying to pry the boy off the creature. One pulled at his hair, hands grasping, pulling, thrashing. Another took the fire-stick and aimed, but seeming indecisive, didn’t create the spark. I crouched, ready to enter the fray, save my boy. But I never got the chance.

A sharp, reflective rock. A scream, fraught with pain and anguish. The boy, falling from the creature, his sweet essence flowing from a gaping hole in his side. And I saw red.

Flesh against flesh, blood mixing with blood. I washed my hands with their sticky life. My teeth tore at their flesh, ripping apart muscle and cartilage to reveal the bones beneath. Their screams echoed in my ears, the scent of rust and sweat invading my senses. I was an animal, my mind completely succumbed to the terror, my body transforming into its natural state, creating a being straight from a nightmare. I was a nightmare, and I was a machine, an experiment. But I wasn’t there. Though my hands felt their syrupy residence slip through my fingers, though my ears burned with their sweet pleas, I saw none of it. My mind was gone, up, up in the clouds. It was looking down at a creature so vile, no human would call it one of its own. I was not that creature. I wasn’t there, I wasn’t there, I wasn’t there.

Then, everything went dark.