Monsters

Part 1

When people usually think of monsters, their first thought is usually of a big, brooding thing full of razor-sharp claws and a mouth full of fangs, dripping with blood. Something terrifying that crawls straight out of our nightmares and into our thoughts. Something vicious. Something wicked. Something deadly.

From a young age we are taught that monsters don't exist, but why do we still hide under the covers late at night from such things? In the darkness, things are warped. Changed and transformed. That pile of clothes on a chair turns into a demon watching you with hungry eyes. The strange shadow on the wall becomes a phantom ghost coming to haunt you. And God knows what's under the bed and in the closet.

But such things are nothing but childish fantasies. Right? I thought so too until I befriended the monster under my bed.

It was Thursday, January 19, and it was the worst day of my life. When my alarm went off, I couldn't be bothered to turn it off. I just lay there, listening to the same five notes repeat, over and over again, their cheerful tone mocking me. I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to go that horrid hell hole called Wilmington High School and face everyone. The stares. The hushed whispers. Their looks of pity. I wouldn't be able to handle that. What would happen if I broke down in the middle of English class? Would anyone care?

So I just lay there, my alarm mocking me, until my mother, who was dressed for work, barged in. "Cath," she said gently. "Time to get up, hun. I know this is hard, but can you try to go to school today? It'll help take your mind off of everything. You can stay home tomorrow."

I didn't respond.

"Please," she said pleadingly. "Just for today, I promise."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My mom put on a fake smile, and then left my room.

Regret instantly washed over me the second she crossed over the threshold. Why did I agree? This isn't going to help. If anything, this is going to tear me down even more.

It felt like I was mocking Mel's death by continuing on with my life like nothing had happened. Like she didn't matter. Like she wasn't a part of my life. She had been erased from the world by a careless driver who cared more about his phone than another human life, and everyone was going to pretend she didn't exist? Well I say fuck that.

No one expected Mel's best friend to show up today, but they were wrong. When they saw me, surprise donned their features. Their looks of surprise then turned into pity. I walked faster to my locker. A quick-moving dark shadow caught my eye. I snapped my head to my right. Nothing. Maybe I was going crazy. I gathered my things as quickly as possible, feeling multiple pairs of eyes watching me. Practically running to my first class, I bottled my emotions and hurled them into the hypothetical sea, hoping I would never find that bottle.

My day had been just as terrible as I had thought it would be. At least fifteen people had said, "I'm sorry for your loss," and if I had to hear those words ever again, I might just strangle someone. Pity had followed me everywhere I went, like a black storm cloud hanging over me like you would see in cartoons and stuff. I broke down during lunch and cried in the bathroom. But hey, at least I didn't start wailing in the middle of The Great Gatsby in English. Mel's picture was hung everywhere, like any of those idiots would care. I had been able to sneak one in my bag as a reminder of Mel. Her ebony hair, jade-colored eyes, and round, cheerful eyes had haunted me throughout the hallways the entire day. But, I had made it through the day and come out on the other side in pretty much one piece. And since tomorrow was Friday, and there was no way in hell I was going, I didn't have to face the world for three days.

Once I made it home, I ran upstairs, shut and locked the door, curled up on the bed, and cried. I had been holding so much in the entire day. It felt like I had been numb the entire day, and was only now beginning to feel something. No one else was in the house, so I didn't bother trying to be quiet. I wailed and sobbed, hot tears spilling sideways down my face and onto my bed. I couldn't feel anything but grief filling every pore in my body. Bits of memories with Mel flashed through my mind, only making me cry harder.

I cried for what felt like hours but what must have been only 30 minutes. Eventually, feeling exhausted, I had no more tears to shed. My head felt like it was buzzing, and my cheeks were sticky from dried tears. I rolled on my other side and stared at the wall. Why? Why her? What did she do to deserve this?

So I just lay there like I had this morning, not wanting to move or care, or to even exist anymore. Hours passed. Eventually, I noticed someone in my family had put a plate with two slices of pizza on my dresser. I hadn't seen anyone come in because of my swirling thoughts. I couldn't have eaten even if I wanted to. So the pizza was left on my dresser, growing cold.

Night fell, and I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned for hours, dreams never finding me. The frustration sent me and my fragile heart into another bout of crying. I sobbed into my pillow, so as to not wake the rest of my family. Considerate, even in the midst of misery.

Tears starting to dry on my cheeks, I flopped over onto my stomach, letting my right hand dangle off of the bed. Misery consumed every bit of my body with no hint of it ever coming to an end. Would I always feel like this? When would it end? It wouldn't end, would it? I would be confined to my bed for the rest of my life, left to die of grief. The world didn't feel right without Mel in it, and I wondered if I wanted to keep living without her. It would be so easy too. I could do it, and I knew I wouldn't regret it.

I started to retract my hand from beside the bed when something grabbed it. I stifled a scream. Looking down at my arm, I saw something completely and utterly shocking. A single clawed hand with scales the color of ink was grabbing my own.

Hey guys, this is a new short story of mine,  so I hope you liked it! I think this definitely explores some themes we all deal with. I hope you can connect to this as much as I did. The story is definitely not over, so stick around and see what I come up with! ~Kmeekwriting