The Monsters Inside (Formerly Extract)

Extract

Mill Creek, Pennsylvania: a nice, small town with 351 people. You don’t ever hear about it on the news, and no celebrity ever decides to come here. And I’ll guess that if it weren’t for this book, you wouldn’t have known it even existed. In fact, no one would even notice if it disappeared from the world. Which made Mill Creek the perfect place to commit a crime.

I suppose I should introduce myself, if you are reading this. My name is Violet Rossi, 16 years old.  My story starts on June 9th, 2010. Just an ordinary day, same as any other. But it changed my entire life.

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            Picture a small school, only one building, with tall bright windows and a brick façade greeting you from the outside. Inside are children, ages ranging from fourteen to nineteen, restlessly awaiting the last bell. This shrill little noise would announce the end of a school year, and the beginning of a most anticipated summer. We all sat, eyes glued to the clock, as if the force of our stare could move those thin dials. Our teacher was perched lazily on the edge of her desk, books ready, waiting for her last check to be delivered to her before she left.

            I had so many plans for that summer; plans that would take three summers to finish. My friends and I were clustered together, hands clutched, hoping freedom would come soon. We knew our summer would start as soon as the bell rang, and after dropping our books off at home, we planned to meet up together to celebrate. I can vaguely recall the feeling in my cheeks as my smile widened to fill my face.

            A quiet, long beep sounded. It was almost as if the school was sad to see us leave her for three months. Yet no one took notice to the bell’s melancholy sound; we sprang from our seats like children racing toward a candy store. Farewells were said, tears were shed for teachers we liked yet would not see till next year, and hugs were distributed to friends who wouldn’t be part of our summer. I remember the euphoria, the glee that welled up in my chest as I took my seat on the bus, waving a final goodbye to other students.

            Normally, bus rides are slow and boring without much going on that really requires any mention. But being the last day of school, and it being this specific day, the ride was important. If I had just gotten a ride home, my life would be different, and this story wouldn’t be written. But unfortunately... well, we were riding, and people were throwing anything they could get their hands on. Glue was streaked all over my sweater, so I took it off, revealing a white, school uniformed shirt. When my stop was reached, I got off; suddenly having this feeling I should put my ugly blue sweater back on. But it was such a nice day, and I was naïve. That was my first real mistake.

            Half way to my grandmother’s house –for it was my responsibility to look after her after school each day- a black car drove up next to me. “Heeey cutie!” One of the men called out to me. He looked like a normal, leering collage kid: sunglasses, dark hair cropped short and a baseball cap on backwards. I just ignored him, not caring that he was staring, and that he had slowed to a crawl in order to match my pace. Suddenly, a door opened, and a tall, blonde haired man stood in front of me. “Leave me alone.” I mumbled, fear taking away my ability to speak clearly. Behind me, I heard another car door open, felt a thud on my head, and then.... nothing.