When Lizzie's mom left the room, Max felt the heaviness return full force as the creature stood tall beside his father. His dad looked vacant to him. He was a shell of the person Max knew. Max wanted to go to his father, touch his arm and say, "Dad, I'm right here. I'm okay." But the dark creature scared him so much, he was afraid to draw attention to himself. The thing seemed to be ignoring his presence for now, and he wanted to keep it that way.
"The doctor hasn't come by yet with the MRI results," his mother said. "The nurse says he should be coming any minute, though."
"Useless doctors." His dad muttered.
The creature edged closer to his father and curled a boney, clawed hand around his shoulder. He noticed his father tense up immediately. "I can't believe you let this happen, Joyce."
His mother gasped to hear the words. "It wasn't my fault, Ted!" Max saw something move behind his mother's shoulders, and squinted. He could barely see, but there was a small creature grasping onto his mother's back. It was the shape of a small monkey, but looked more like a wingless bat because of its leathery black skin. The thing looked like it was trying to burrow into his mother's head.
"I can't believe you're blaming me," she cried. "And don't talk to me like you're the only one who's suffering here, Ted! My children are everything to me!" She gazed at her little daughter lying in the bed. "If Perry dies too, so do I. I'll have nothing left to live for!"
Max's father clenched his fists as the monster behind him held on tight. "Nothing left to live for. Okay. That's clear. I suppose that means I'm the nothing!"
"Ted – "
"No, I get it!" He wiped his brow and shook his head. "Look, I know you don't want to talk about this, but we need to start organizing Max's funeral. Your mother called and she's stepping in to help with the arrangements. She's on her way right now, and your sister's picking her up from the airport for us... You're welcome!" Max's father shook his head slowly, and gazed down at his daughter. He bent over and stroked her bandaged head.
Max noticed the monster recoil suddenly as if it had been shocked by something. A very slight glow emanated from his dad at that moment. He bent down further to kiss Perry on the head. "Bless you, our angel girl," he whispered.
The tall creature growled and grimaced, but seemed afraid to touch his father now. Max's eyes were suddenly drawn to his mother. New tears were forming in her eyes, he could see, but she was smiling now. The small creature that was clinging to her before was freaking out. It shrieked and scurried away, crawling up the wall. He could faintly see the same glow emanating from his mother as well.
"What does that glow mean?" Max allowed the words to escape his lips. "What is it?"
"It's called love," came a familiar voice behind Max.
He turned around and saw Bertha standing there, grinning.
The tall monster turned to them. It's eye holes were wide now. It gave a loud, angry shriek as its wings unfolded, nearly filling the room. Its mouth opened wide, like a creature from the deep, revealing a face filled with spiky teeth.
Bertha shook her finger at the monster. "Naughty little beast!" She scolded. "Go on, now! Shoo!"
The monster growled again in protest. It reached forward with its talons, inching closer to Max.
"Don't you touch this boy, you coward!" Bertha shoved Max behind her and stood tall between him and the beast.
The thing towered over Bertha. Saliva dripped from its teeth, mouth agape. It's wings stretched wide, creating a terrible shadow. Max saw the creature in perfect detail now. Its body was like a skeleton covered in thin, stretchy leather. He could see ribs clearly through its stretched black skin, and the face was that of a viperfish – all teeth with almost no face at all. It reached toward Bertha, looking like it would snatch her up and eat her.
"Aww," Bertha grinned. "Bless your heart!" She opened her arms wide, smiling. "Looks like somebody wants a hug!"
Bertha stepped forward with her open arms. A great white light appeared in front of her like a shield. The monster screamed. Its enormous wings flapped wildly, and as they swept the room, the creature seemed to dissipate into a cloud of dust, escaping like a whirlwind around them and out the door.
YOU ARE READING
Somewhere In-Between ~ An Adventure in the Afterlife
Paranormal"You're not dead, Max. Your body is dead." Max's guardian angel tells him as he is embraced in warm light. After a deadly car accident, fourteen-year-old Max Fletcher finds himself in the confusing afterlife, waiting for his kid sister who is in cr...
