Hidden Monster

by Amanda Strong

I didn’t have time to think about Jaxon’s confession, that Blake was my monster, because the real monster was on top of me, knocking me to the ground with his claws.

  “Stop! Jaxon! You can fight this!” I screamed out, my hands pushing back against the dead weight climbing on top of me, squashing my body with his. I didn’t know what his intentions were—he didn’t touch my dress or my body. Maybe he’s not going to rape me first; maybe I just get to die! I hoped beyond hope. Let it be quick.

  The weight of him on me was enough to end me; I had a hard time getting air in. Then his tongue began licking my face, and I convulsed. Maybe I’d been wrong about what he would do. If only I could get some leverage, do something! But my arms were pinned to the ground underneath him. He was literally smashing me to death, smothering me.

  That’s it! I stopped thrashing. I held perfectly still, letting my eyes roll back, just in case he watched my face. I stopped breathing, willing myself to think of my own metabolism slowing down.

  He didn’t seem to notice. His tongue was on my neck, his claws sinking into my arms as he held them down. Then he stopped abruptly. His weight lifted. A sharp pain seared my face. He’d slapped me, and I did my best not to flinch, letting my head fall to the side.

  His hand fumbled with my wrist, and then his enormous head landed on my chest.

  “No!” he barked. “You don’t get to die yet!”

  Don’t breathe… don’t breathe….

  His fists pounded my chest. And then, to my horror, he tore my mouth open and his nasty lips landed on mine. It took all my willpower not to scream. He blew his foul air into my mouth. I wanted to puke. When he followed that with pounding on my chest, it dawned on me. He’s trying to resuscitate me!

  Was it Jaxon, the doctor within him, trying to save me? Did I come back to life?

  Holding my breath was painful now. He was filling my lungs with air and then pounding them free. I had no choice; he was forcing me to stay alive. Yet, I kept my lungs still as I could, letting him do all the work and forcing my mind to drift away. Picture you’re under that tub again… picture you are lying in Blake’s arms…I cringed and prayed he hadn’t noticed. But he was too busy bruising my sternum with his clumsy attempt at CPR.

  Blake changed me? Could that really be true? At the moment, the terror over that paled in comparison to the fact that a deranged monster was trying to save me or kill me, I wasn’t quite sure at the moment which. Either way, it was painful.

  What do I do? Just wait until he gives up? Then the lips landing on mine felt softer. I almost opened my eyes to see who it was out of surprise, but I heard, “Let me save her! Just leave me alone while I do this!”

  Jaxon morphed back to save me! Maybe he could be reasoned with. His hands were now on my chest, applying rhythmic compressions. This is it. Take it or leave it.

  I took it and began coughing. At first, it was for show, but it felt so good to clear my full lungs that it quickly turned genuine. I tried to roll to my side as I coughed. His hands remained on me.

  I opened my eyes, hoping to see kindness in his brown gaze. He was kneeling over me.

  “Samantha! You’re alive!” He sounded thrilled, but his eyes were already clouding over. “I shouldn’t have saved you… it would have been better—”

  “Jaxon, I know you don’t want to hurt your brother, and I know you don’t want to do this. Let me go! Let me go now!”

  I didn’t wait for an answer, shoving him back with my arms and forcing my wings into action. Surprised by my sudden movement, he fell on his back. I didn’t wait to see if he was following, I shot out the door, flying hard.

  This time, the tunnels were familiar, even in the blackness. It was like my body remembered its flight pattern from before. I didn’t hit anything, all I felt was cold air slapping my skin. I dipped and zigzagged with its twists and turns. I didn’t hear anything from behind. Maybe Jaxon was fighting himself, not allowing the bug in him to follow me.

  I could only hope.

  I didn’t slow when the terrain felt new. I was getting farther than before! I pushed my wings harder, feeling the occasional graze as the tunnels narrowed. Then the scent in the air shifted, becoming fresher and cleaner. That was when I saw the hazy light above me. A way out! I changed directions and shot straight up. The light grew brighter, and my surroundings took shape. I was definitely in some kind of old mine shaft. The old timbers supporting the solid rock around me creaked and groaned. I spied a small staircase winding along the wall, up and up. A large, wooden door was at the top.

  I made it! I zoomed toward it, my hands outreaching, desperately wanting to grab the handle. I was mere feet away from it when I heard the whoosh of wings from behind.

  My instincts took over, and I swerved to my right. I felt his body graze me as he shot past, not expecting my sudden turn. I rotated around and aimed for the door again. I heard him growling out swear words as he reoriented his wings and doubled back at me.

  He grabbed my ankles; I thrust my foot forward, kicking him hard in the head. I heard him grunt as his hands grappled for me again. The door got closer; I pushed my wings to their limit. My hands reached the handle and, to my horror, I discovered it was locked. It was the extra second he needed.

  He wrapped me up in his clutches and chortled, “Think I’d leave my front door unlocked? Now, stop fighting this! No one’s saving you. You are all mine!”