The Monster Within

When Its Eyes Fix Mine

Screams—unrelenting, piercing, full of utter horror and pain. They rattled in Oberon's ears, rousing him from his deep slumber, his eyes finding a grey dawn, cold and dewy, a thick mist rolling off the lake and blanketing their camp as the embers in the fire glowed in their final moments before extinguishing. Rolling out of instinct, he clapped a hand over Hollis' mouth, staring in bewilderment down at her. She thrashed in her sleep, and horrific images filled his mind, making him hiss at the pain she was experiencing. Eyes. Red eyes. Black, shaggy hair. A pale face with a long, aquiline nose. His heart cinched in terror.

"Hollis," he urged gently, giving her a shake, but her muffled screams turned to sobs beneath his palm. He pressed himself on top of her, chest to chest, hip to hip, blanketing her, shielding her with his body. She thrashed her head from side to side, flailing her legs as he tried to pin her down.

"Get off her, you bloody monster!" the young man raged, still tied to the tree, straining with all his mite against the rope. Oberon's eyes blazed to meet his, and he realized how this situation must appear from his angle. Cole hollered, kicking dirt and rocks in their direction as Hollis tightened and screamed again beneath his grasp.

"Enough!" Oberon bellowed at the man, who only strained harder. Ignoring his angry words, Oberon turned his attention back to Hollis.

He shook her again, harder, and her bright, tear filled eyes fluttered open, wide with fear, her chest heaving. He cupped her face with both his hands, releasing her mouth, feeling the coolness of the tears that stained her red cheeks.

"Shh, shh," he soothed. She lay beneath him, hands surrendered by her head and trembling, her ashy hair loose and wild, her face pale in the predawn light. He frowned, for this nightmare had been far worse than her others, and he had an inkling as to why. He just hoped he wasn't correct in his assumption.

He reached for one of her hands, grasping her frigid fingers, pressing them to his lips to help warm them. She was cold all over, and his worry deepened.

"Come here," he said, pulling her close, wrapping her in his arms, pressing her cheek tight to his sweltering chest as he chaffed her arm.

"You're freezing," he said, but she could only shake in his grasp, the adrenaline pulsing through her ebbing.

"Here is Teddy," he said, snuggling the bear between them. "You're safe, mel."

He trailed his fingers up and down her back as they lay facing one another, hoping to warm her quicker, his own heart racing at the direction of her nightmare. Her cries quieted after a time as the sun began to rise, golden but not yet warm. Oberon's heart raced, and he needed the clarification—needed to know if her dream had been a fictitious rendering due to her overworked mind, or if it was rooted in something much more sinister.

He pulled her away, frowning at the red that rimmed her eyes, and she sniffled before rasping:

"I'm sorry."

"What did you see?" he asked, eyes probing her psyche. She stilled, blue eyes so earnest and trusting and frightened. He held her face, lest she attempt to dissuade him from his line of questioning. A fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks as she shook her head.

"Tell me," he commanded, heart racing. Terror, dread—these weren't normal emotions for Oberon, not unless he was dealing with something beyond his own capabilities, which was very rare. Trepidation settled heavy upon his shoulders, like carrying a load of granite.

"You know," she whispered, realization sparking in her gaze. Lips twisting further into a frown, he could only stare back.

"What did he say?"