The Monster Hero

Chapter 29 - Manu

I pause. My hand is hovering in front of the door. I push away the thoughts of her thinking I'm lying. I take a deep breath and knock.

"Who is it?" Says a voice from the other side.

"Manu. Slash's private servant," I answer.

The door opens slightly. An eye peeks out at me. The door opens wider and I go in. I close the door behind me. Holly sits before me. She looks down and fiddles with the hem of her white apron.

"Hello, Holly," I say.

She looks up at me.

"You know my name?" she asks.

I nod. I look around the cramped room. A tiny cot sits in the corner, a small dresser, a tiny closet, and a tiny trash can. The room of a lowly servant. The other servant rooms aren't much better, though.

"Did you want something?" Holly asks.

"I have something to tell you, Holly."

I sit down next to her on the cot. Holly scoots over a little.

"Do you know your family?" I ask.

Holly shakes her head, as I knew she would.

"I don't remember them. The woman who took me in said that my parents died in a fire. And all I remember is flames and screams." Holly says, looking down.

"Your parents are alive. Or at least one of them," I say.

Holly's eyes widen. She looks at me in disbelief.

"What do you mean?" Holly asks.

I sigh.

"Holly, I'm saying that I'm your father."

Holly leans away from me.

"But my parents died in a fire."

"No they didn't."

I look down and all the thoughts of her not believing me come rushing back.

"If you're my dad, then what's my middle name?" Holly asks.

"Flora," I answer without thinking.

Holly gasps.

"I've never told anyone that. That means you have to be my father!"

Holly hesitates a little but then she hugs me. I smile and hug her back, burying my face in her dirty-blonde hair. She breaks the hug.

"But if you're alive, that means Mom has to be alive!" Holly says, jumping off the cot.

I lower my head. Holly stops her happy dance.

"Doesn't it mean mom's alive too?" she asks.

I shake my head.

"I don't know if your mom is alive," I admit.

Holly sits back down.

"What is her name?" Holly asks.

"Betty. She was the sweetest girl in the world."

I smile to myself.

"You had a sister, you know."

Holly smiles.

"Her name was Alexa Ruth."

Holly looks at me in a funny way.

"You mean her first name was Alexa and her middle name was Ruth?" Holly asks.

I shake my head.

"She had two first names. She hated it, though."

I stop myself before I start thinking of when I was still with Betty.

"Why do you keep saying was?" Holly asks.

"Because I don't know if they're alive or not."

I look up at the ceiling.

"Well, at least I have you, Dad," Holly says.

I smile at the word Dad.

"We better get back to work," I say, as I stand up.

Holly nods and gives me one last hug. I walk down the hall, feeling like a new man.