My Boyfriend is a Monster

by Coates, J. H.

  He opened the cupboard and grabbed the box with all his ingredients in it. It wasn’t her tea but it would do for the mundane task at hand. Feeling the weight he knew as soon as his fingers lifted the box from the shelf that it was too light, empty light. Slowly opening the box and revealing what he already knew he chucked it off to the side. “Shit,” he cursed.

  He looked at the clock, closing time. He hung his head in double disbelief, one, because he never replaced the ingredients and two, because the coffee shop was closed. The store he goes for his own tea ingredients (which was now subpar) was closed. This meant he would have to go all the way to a twenty four hour market just to get tea from a box. Suddenly he remembered an argument Todd had with Martin because Todd sometimes stayed open late, because you never knew.

  Nathan thought he could at least get the proper ingredients he needed for a nights worth of paperwork. Plus, he was feeling kind of hungry. A piece of Martin’s black sesame-pear tea cake would go nicely with his subpar tea. Hell, a bunch of Martin’s deserts would go nice right around now. There was no time to take the stairs, time was against him. He opened the window in his living room and quickly looked around. No one. Leaping out of the window he pushed off the ledge and rocketed across to the other side. Effortlessly grabbing onto the opposite ledge he began pulling himself up onto the window sill. Suddenly the light behind the window turned on and Nathan saw Mrs. Allio entering the room. He had bumped into her a number of times on the street and at Sips. They thought it was funny that they lived directly across from each other. What made that so funny? Nathan was not sure.

  FOUR: Inside the Window

  Mrs. Allio grabbed the last piece of her son’s laundry out of the dryer. She loved him but, as she put it - He was forty two years old for Christ sake. She would have a talk with him tomorrow after his father left for work. Whatever he did to upset his wife to the point of throwing him out he would go back on hands and knees and beg forgiveness. She folded his last pair of boxers and slung them into the basket. “At least their boxers and not man thongs,” she mused.

  Lifting the basket off the dryer she balanced it against the wall and her stomach so she could turn off the light. She walked down the hall passing the living room where her husband and son sat watching a baseball game, or was it football? Then she thought out loud, “Who cares.”

  “You gonna make some sandwiches?” a voice from the living room asked. She stopped in the middle of the hall holding her basket of son’s laundry and tilted her head back. “You just had dinner.”

  “Yeah, like two hours ago Ma,” the second voice, her son, stated.

  It was quite for a moment as they waited for a response to the sandwich question.

  “You mad Hun?” her husband asked.

  She can tell he’s leaning out of his chair towards the entrance because the voice isn’t echoing as much, so at least he’s attempting to pry himself from chair. “Si può attendere un minuto?” she asked if he could wait a minute.

  “Yeah, of course,” he answered.

  “Lo aggiungerò alla mia lista di cose da fare,” she yelled back telling them she will add it to the list.

  “Okay, I’ll make the sandwiches, forget it,” her husband said getting bent out of shape trying to get out of his chair.

  “Now you’re a victim?” she asked then started laughing.

  “No I just thought with the game on and everything you could make your husband and son a couple of sandwiches.”

  “And everything, I am doing everything, you son of a bitch.”

  “Whoa Bernice, come on,” he said a little offended with the language.

  “I’m sorry,” she said calming down.

  “Don’t be sorry. I’m sorry, can I, help you?”

  “No sit down watch your game. I’ll make some nice sandwiches once I finish the laundry, how about cappicola?”

  “You’re the best ma,” her son confirmed.

  She continued down the hall. “I’m the best, dammi la forza, dammi la forza Signore.”

  Meanwhile in the living room her husband turned to his son. “She wasn’t this moody till you moved back in.”

  “What?” the Son asked bewildered.

  She stopped at her son’s old room which was now his new room. Placing the basket on the wall she once again pressed it in place with her stomach and freed her arm to open the door. Her hand searched for the light switch until she found it and turned it on. Grabbing the basket she walked into the room where she saw a man lifting himself onto the ledge outside the window. At first she wondered if he would want a sandwich too. Then the man hoisting himself up outside her son’s window looked right at her. Did she know this man? Then she realized this could be a burglar or a serial killer or a sex crazed psycho. She started to scream. But before she could eject a sound, the man outside her window was gone.

  She stood in her son’s old room now reoccupied, holding his laundry. She waited for the man to return, ready to drop the laundry and run screaming. Her eyes didn’t blink as she stared out the window. Still nothing. She went to say something but then began to wonder if she actually saw anything at all.

  FIVE: Outside the Window

  Mrs. Allio barely got a decibel started as she opened her eyes and Nathan had already hurtled himself to the next window. Then without waiting he hurtled himself to the roof top. “Poor Mrs. Allio,” he said to himself. He blurred to the edge of the building and scanned the area. “Probably thinks she’s going crazy.”

  Seeing nothing he leapt into the air and landed on the next roof. Racing along the roof top he leapt again. He quickly glanced to the streets below. It was empty like most weeknights around this time. Leaping again he looked like a ballerina doing a long jump, except he was clearing buildings, leisurely.

  Stopping on the next building he looked over at the coffee shop. The windows were darkened and the open sign was off. He thought if Todd was still there he might see it in his heart to sell him the tea he so desperately needed. Again he quickly scanned the area and saw it was empty. Stepping off the four story building he plummeted through the air like a lawn dart. Hitting the ground he started walking without missing a beat. Hoping to catch Todd coming out he was getting less optimistic the closer he got. He stood at the front door and peered in. He could not hear anything but gave a little wrap against the glass. But he knew Todd was gone. He knew as soon as he started to cross the street and could smell Todd’s Chanel Antaeus starting to wash out of the air. He figured by the fading smell of the cologne that he missed him by ten minutes. It looked like he had to go elsewhere for his tea, bags in a box.

  Then he heard it.

  “Woo Hoo baby,” the voice yelled out coming from down the street.

  Lifting his head Nathan let his nose trace the air. It was the smell of blood seeping into the air and it was coming from the same direction that Todd’s Chanel Antaeus was coming from.

  SIX: We now join our Program already in Progress

  Rick stood over top of Todd and kicked at him to see if he was dead. Todd’s eyes opened and looked up. He wished the blood wasn’t so thick in his eyes. He didn’t know why he wanted to see the pipe coming, he just did.

  Rick back at his friends behind him. “This little faggot has got some fight left in him.”

  As soon as Rick turned away Derek was yanked forcefully into the shadows. No sound was made, no punch or yell, not even a cry for help. He just vanished.

  “Finish him off brother,” Kevin said, obviously not aware his friend was sucked into the darkness.

  “Looks like it’s all over for you fairy,” Rick said spreading his legs open to get better balance. He raised the pipe intending to bring it straight down. “Any last words?” he asked.

  Reveling in the upcoming blood shed Kevin seemed lost until suddenly catching a pair of blue eyes glowing in the shadow. Turning around to inquire he noticed they were one friend short. Panic started to overcome him as he went to ask Rick what happened to…

  A blur sho
t forward and just like that the second friend was taken into the blackness without a sound.

  Standing over Todd, Rick’s eyes burned with hatred. “What do you say boys?” He gripped the pipe as hard as he could and smiled with devilish contempt. “Count to three and put this cocksucker out of his misery?”

  There was no reply.

  Rick spun around and realized he was alone. He looked everywhere but saw nothing.

  “Guys,” he yelled turning left and right. There was nothing but a deep feeling of obscurity surrounding him.

  Nathan waited until Rick turned away then sprung out of the shadows. A deep growl was all that alerted Rick of the danger as he turned back. All he saw was a large shape with glowing blue eyes bearing down on him. His body shuttered violently in fear as a mouth on the shape opened revealing giant fangs. Rick swung the pipe recklessly in hopes of defending the unexplained attacker off. Nathan ducks evading the pipe then swings quickly and connects perfectly as Rick loses consciousness and crumbles to the ground. I barely touched him, Nathan thought and chuckled smugly to himself.

  Todd looked up and saw something that resembled his new friend Nathan but much more monstrous. Then he passed out.

  SEVEN: It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane

  Todd woke feeling the air blowing in his face. He could kind of make out what looked like a building and he tried to focus, since it was coming straight at him. Suddenly he felt the bizarre sensation of weightlessness. Seeing the side of the building disappear and a rooftop drop right past him he realized it was now below him. Now it looked like it was coming back. He wondered if he was falling. Before he could wonder too much he was on the roof top. But Todd did not feel any impact, just the feeling of floating across it. Now he realized he was being carried and before he could even think of “By whom” the ledge was already in front of him. And before he could process the fear of falling he was floating in the air again. This time he was more aware of the fact and becoming quite anxious.

  A new roof top was below him and he was falling toward it. This time he believed he was going to crash and splatter all over the roof. But once again he was floating along the roof top towards the next ledge. He looked up for answers.

  “Stay with me Todd,” Nathan said noticing Todd looking up at him. Todd was losing a lot of blood but Nathan could feel and hear his heart, it was strong and wanted to keep beating.

  Todd felt the sensation of being hurtled through the air again. It reminded him of being in the car with his Dad. When he was a kid and they were in the car together his dad would speed up when a big dip in the road was coming up. Then he thought of what Nathan just said. Stay with you, your leaping from building to building, where the hell am I going to go?

  Nathan landed on the next roof top and took a hard left as he ran to the next building.

  Noticing this new building was at least eight stories higher than the one they were on Todd felt a new feeling in his stomach. He wasn’t sure how Nathan was doing what he was doing but he was sure he wasn’t going to be able to jump eighty feet.

  “Hold on,” Nathan said as he waited until his foot was on the very edge. Crouching slightly then pushing up from the building with all his might they rocketed through the air. Passing window after window on a slight angle, inching closer to the wall of window brick and steel. Todd thought this was nothing like hitting a dip in the road with his Dad. He wanted to scream or at the very least, throw up. He could feel gravity trying to grab and pull him back down to the earth where he was sure they would both die. But window after window they kept going up and up. Then they passed this building’s roof top, going even higher. All of a sudden it was as if they stopped in midair. For a second he thought Nathan stopped to pull out a map and see where to go to next. But suddenly he could feel the churning in his stomach as they plummeted. Landing on the roof Todd was pretty sure it was adrenaline because he was able to muster, “Holy shit.” At least that’s what he meant to say.

  Nathan looked down at him covered in blood. He nodded his head towards a large building. Todd followed his nod and could tell it was Northwestern Memorial on North Saint Claire Street. But he wondered why they were going to a hospital. He’d much rather spend the night leaping around from building to building.

  “We’re almost there, you’re going to be fine,” Nathan said and started to run. As he leapt towards the hospital he knew there were two twenty four hour stores close by. Then wondered which one was closer, Dominick’s or Walgreen’s.

  CHAPTER 13

  ONE: Hospital Food Sucks

  Martin came through the sliding doors in a panic. He looked around hoping to see Todd sitting up smiling and already to go. Lily came running in behind him, out of breathe. “Jesus, so fast,” she said looking around hoping to find the same thing.

  Martin walked to the front desk where a nurse was trying to put together a file that obviously fell. “Excuse me” he said politely.

  She put down the file and smiled at him as sincerely as she could. “Yes sir, how may I help you?”

  “Yes, I’m looking for someone. His name is Todd, Todd Jacobson.”

  She could tell he was concerned and worried since his eyes looked ready to burst into tears and his hand was slightly trembling. “Of course dear, let me look.” She typed on the computer and found him. “Here he is room four twenty two.”

  Lily plunked her purse on the desk still a little out of breathe. “I got his I.D. and health care info-”

  “That won’t be necessary mam,” a voice from behind them said.

  They both turned around and saw a nurse who happened to be walking by and overheard them. “You’re talking about Todd Jacobson right?”

  Martin and Lily both nodded.

  “You must be Martin and Lily. I’m Jesse. Carol will take the I.D. and we’ll get it back to you.” She turned slightly and pointed towards the elevators. “I’m actually heading up. I can show you where he is”

  They followed her to the elevator and waited. Confused Martin asked, “Why don’t you need his health care info?”

  Jesse replied, “I was here when he brought him in.”

  “Who brought him in?” Lily asked.

  “I don’t know, that would be billing,” Jesse said smiling.

  “Billing,” Martin repeated even more confused.

  The elevator chimed and the doors opened. All three of them stepped on and the nurse hit four. Jesse then turned to them. “A man came into the hospital carrying another man covered in blood. We took Mr. Jacobson and began prepping him immediately.”

  Martin’s heart started to beat faster as his throat dried out.

  The nurse continued. “He had lost a lot of blood. Facial and head trauma, a broken arm, four broken ribs, bruised lung and spinal cord trauma,” she said and paused.

  Lily covered her mouth in shock and immediately took Martin’s hand. He squeezed it tight as the chime went off and the doors opened.

  “Now he is doing fine, we have a spinal specialist coming in the morning but it’s more precautionary,” she said as Martin and Lily walked out of the elevator and followed Jesse down the hall. “Once it was determined the man carrying Mr. Jacobson didn’t actually assault him, he gave all the personal information to our front desk and left his card”

  “His card, what card?” Martin asked.

  “His credit card, we were told it didn’t matter, any tests, rehab, medicine, private room, private nurse, anything was to be charged to his card and once a credit check was done they shipped Mr. Jacobson to the VIP floor.” She stopped and invited them to get a little closer. “Between you and me, I’m sure the hospital will find plenty of things Mr. Jacobson, will need,” she said with a disappointed smile. She punched the giant “OPEN” button with the side of her fist. The doors swung open and they continued down the hall.

  “So we don’t know who saved him?” Lily asked

  “We would argue, we did,” the nurse said grabbing a clip board of papers from behind a desk.

 
; “Of course, you guys did, I mean . . .” Lily stuttered.

  “I’m just fucking around with you,” Jesse said laughing. She saw Lily looked a little shocked at her bedside manner. “Sorry for the swearing, were a little more relaxed on the midnight shift, ain’t that right Patty?”

  The only lady behind the desk they assumed was Patty didn’t even look up from her book. She just raised her arm and twirled her index finger and dryly replied, “Woo – Woo.”

  Jesse looked over the papers on her clip board and returned to her story. “In a nut shell, apparently our mystery man interrupted an assault and then brought Mr. Jacobson here. Gave us his credit card and said whatever the cost. Gave us enough personal information and said to be on the lookout for his life partner, Martin Ortiz and friend, Lily Cooper.” She stopped at door four twenty two. “He’s going to look bad. I’m not saying it wasn’t. But thankfully it’s nothing that won’t heal. What I’m trying to say is, he looks like shit, but he should make a full recovery.”

  “How’s his face?” Lily asked.

  “Horrible,” she answered honestly.

  Lily grabbed Martin by the hand. “He’s going to be so pissed,” she said and Martin started to smile.

  “A lot of bruising and swelling, he has stitches, but like I said.”

  “Looks bad, gets better,” Lily said squeezing his hand. She turned to Martin and smiled. He took a deep breath and nodded.

  Jesse opened the door and stopped Lily. “Its way after visiting hours, so you’re his sister,” she said and gave her a wink.

  Walking in the room was like walking into a VIP suite at the Waldorf. There were fresh flowers and beautiful paintings all over the room. A panoramic view of the city lit up in the dark early morning now quiet after a bustling night. One of the large windows was open and let a cool but inviting breeze into the room. The breeze lightly blew the white drapes into the air like little clouds that floated and fluttered in front of the television, which was actually bigger than the one in Martin and Todd’s living room.