Hidden Monster

by Amanda Strong

A whistling whine woke me. Confused, I bolted up, catapulting a pillow that must’ve been on my face.

  Seeing my bedding strewn across my bedroom floor, I moaned, “What a night.”

  I glanced over my shoulder, bracing myself for the inevitable. I gasped. My wings were gone! I exhaled, relieved and confused at the same time. The whole experience felt very much like another crazy dream. I ran my fingers through my now-short, brown hair. I wasn’t sure what I was more scared of; the fact I had no idea why I’d even had wings, or that they could sprout out whenever they wanted. What if they came in the middle of family dinner or worse, walking down the halls at school?

  No point in stressing over it now. I stood and reached toward the ceiling, stretching my stiff joints. My chest felt heavy. Was it only the wings making me feel sad or could it be because Blake was leaving today?

  My phone whistled again. Speaking of Blake. I snatched it off my nightstand, seeing I had missed four text messages. I opened them and scanned. They were all from Blake.

  Hey, you up?

  “No Blake, at seven AM, I was not awake,” I said, opening the next one.

  Want to come over? I’m not leaving until tonight.

  I grinned.

  Wake up already!

  That text woke me up. I looked at the clock, seeing it was almost ten already.

  Please don’t tell me you stayed up all night with Jeremy.

  That was his last text.

  Don’t worry, I texted back. Jeremy’s climbing out my window now.

  My phone buzzed back.

  Haha… Want to come over?

  I bit my lower lip, realizing I wanted to see him more than anything.

  I’ll be over soon. Need to talk to parents first.

  That’s good. You should tell them everything.

  ---------------------

  Forty minutes later, I was sitting across from my parents at the kitchen table, waiting for their response or for them to at least breathe again.

  My mom was the first to sputter, “Sammy, how could you keep this from us? This was important information!” The chair scraped noisily against the floor as she popped up, snatching the dishes as she went. I stared at her, surprised by the outburst.

  “Lydia,” my dad said evenly.

  “Well Darrin, she should’ve told us sooner.” Dishes crashed into the sink. “It means the guy’s still here, someone she, we, probably know!” My mom turned, hands on hips.

  For some reason, her words hurt. Anger flowed through me, and I rose from the table to face her. How dare she be mad at me?

  “What’s wrong, Mom, afraid of what people will think of you? Your crazy daughter is at it again.”

  My mom gasped. “Sammy, how dare you say that to me? That’s not fair, and you know it! How could you do this to…? We’ve only wanted to protect—”

  I was breathing hard, jaw clenched. My bottom lip trembled.

  “Lydia, wait, stop,” my dad cut in, his tone firm. Then to me, his voice turned gentle, “Samantha?”

  The knots in my stomach disappeared, and I was surprised to find my hands had been balled into fists. My shoulders slumped. What’s wrong with me? Of course my parents are upset! I lied to them. I’m hurting them all over again.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, the subsiding anger left me feeling somehow alone.

  “Oh my goodness, Samantha,” my mom gasped. “I’m so sorry.”

  My eyes widened as my mom practically bowled me over hugging me. I was at a loss for words. I patted her back awkwardly.

  “It’s okay, Mom. I shouldn’t have said that stuff.”

  She just sobbed into my shoulder. What just happened? My dad stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “Lydia, hon, we’re all in uncharted territory, come here.” My parents embraced, and my mom cast one more look over her shoulder at me.

  “I’m so sorry, Samantha. I thought… I mean, I didn’t realize…” Her words faded, and I wondered what she was trying to say.

  She glanced at my dad. “I’m the worst mom ever,” she whispered.

  “No, hon, that’s not true. Why don’t you take a hot bath? Try to relax.”

  My mom sniffed and nodded. She quietly left the room, and it was only my dad and me. He glanced at me and then ran his hands through his hair.

  “Well, that was interesting,” he said.

  I tried to give him a small smile, but it was forced.

  “Samantha, I want you to know that none of this is your fault. We all just want to keep you safe.” His gaze held steady. I nodded back at him, ready to end the conversation.

  One thing’s for sure, there’s no way I’m telling them about the wings now. I could only imagine the reaction I’d get then. Mom would be hospitalized.

  ---------------

  An hour later, I trudged along the road, hands shoved into my cotton, hooded jacket. It had taken some convincing for my dad to be okay with me walking over to Blake’s. My mom was tucked in her bathroom, and I was happy he didn’t consult with her on the decision. He had hesitated, told me to be safe, and I bolted out the front door. I needed air.

  Plodding through the leaves, I hopped up on the sidewalk when there was one. Worn grass was more common than cement in my neighborhood. The wind picked up, and I zipped my jacket as the leaves scurried across my feet. The chilly air tickled the back of my exposed neck, and goose bumps shot across my arms. I quickened my pace. It was a lot colder than I thought when setting off. Blake’s house wasn’t far and I knew I’d be there soon, but I couldn’t shake an eerie sensation nagging at me. I glanced around, scanning the bushes and trees, but nothing but autumn colors stared back at me. A twig snapped. I whirled, my heart thudding. Nothing, probably just a squirrel. I scurried forward, my pace brisk. I knew something was off. There were no birds chirping.

  It was too quiet. I felt it. I knew someone was watching me.

  I did one last three-sixty, my eyes scouring my surroundings. My skin prickled, my ears straining to hear. Deathly silence greeted me. I sensed it, somewhere in my body, a tingling dread flooding me. Someone’s eyes were following me. Next thing I knew, I was in a full-blown sprint, my legs pumping, my lungs burning as I pummeled through the undergrowth. Dashing up the Knightley’s porch steps, I gulped in air and banged on the door. While I waited for someone to answer, I turned around and surveyed the trees.

  “Samantha?” Anna said from behind me.

  I spun back around. “Hey, Anna,” I puffed. She opened the door further. I happily left the woods and whatever was out there behind.

  “Did you run here?” she asked.

  “Uh, yeah. Is Blake around?”

  “Yep, he’s out in the barn, working on his motorcycle.”

  “He has a motorcycle?” I asked, glad we were moving farther into the house. My hands were still shaking, my knees feeling wobbly from adrenaline.

  Anna didn’t seem to notice my frayed nerves. “He got it before we moved. My mom wasn’t happy. She kept telling him he was going to wreck all the time.”

  “Did he? Wreck, I mean?”

  Anna pushed her naturally highlighted hair behind her shoulder. Her face became animated as she leaned into me. “You know how they say the biker’s the one who always loses in a wreck? Well, not with Blake. The bike lost, sure, but Blake was fine.”

  “Really? Well, that’s good.”

  “Not to my mom. Now Blake’s fixing the bike instead of junking it like she wanted him to. My dad stays out of it. And when Jaxon sided with Blake, well, my mom lost it.”

  We passed through the living room, heading to the back of the house. I felt like I could finally breathe properly. “So Jaxon thought Blake should keep it?”

  Anna grinned. “I think he thought it’d give Blake a project since we were leaving California. Probably afraid Blake would get bored here,” she glanced at me, “but he didn’t know he’d meet you.”

  I felt my face flush as I wondered if by ‘he’ sh
e meant Blake or Jaxon. I steered the conversation to what was weighing on my mind.

  “I’m sure Blake will like seeing Jaxon again and maybe some friends while he’s there.”

  “Yeah, he’ll probably see Kate too,” Anna said easily, while my heart squeezed. Who’s Kate? “That’s Blake for you, though. He takes off all the time. I wish our parents gave me half as much freedom.”

  Dying to ask who Kate was, I forced out another question. “Where does he go?”

  “Mostly camping and hunting with Jaxon. It’s so unfair because they never let me go with them.”

  “Maybe it’s a brother thing,” I said as Anna’s forehead wrinkled up.

  “Yeah, well, it’s not like he doesn’t still have school like me. Did I tell you he got to go camping for like three weeks before we moved here? Three weeks! My mom freaks when I miss like two days of school. It’s so unfair.”

  “That is a long time,” I said, realizing this was striking a nerve with the poor girl. It took all my willpower not to squeeze information out of her about Kate. “Well, tell you what, while Blake’s gone again, why don’t you and I go mountain biking?”

  She beamed back at me. “Really? You mean it? That’d be awesome. Want to see my bike? It’s in the barn too. Come on.”

  Anna pushed the back door open, and howling wind slapped our faces.

  “Geez, why’s it always so windy here? And cold,” she complained as she shoved her hands into her jeans pocket.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.” I wanted to add, Just wait 'till the snow comes, but I didn’t want to scare the California girl too bad.

  I knew the barn Anna was talking about. It was known as the Peterson’s red barn, named after the family who had originally owned the homestead. Set back about thirty yards and surrounded by wood-planked fence, it was often the backdrop to local family photos. I wondered if Mrs. Knightley knew she could end up with strangers in her backyard, as the previous owners, the Kelly’s, gave photographers a green light to help themselves. We hustled the remaining few feet, both of us ducking our chins to escape the brisk air. Anna pulled the door open, and we both slipped in.

  The barn smelled musty, yet clean. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the dimness. I spied a cherry-red hot rod and whistled as we passed it. Everything from the paint to the chrome hubcaps sparkled back at me. Most of the barn was full of boxes and bins. Knowing the Knightley’s had moved in not too long ago, it made sense. The back wall had the makings of a workshop with saws, sanders, and power tools on it. My eyes scanned the area and then discovered Blake lying on his back beneath his motorbike. Without looking up, his hand reached over and grabbed a ratchet.

  “Blake, Samantha’s here,” Anna announced. She grinned at me. “I’m going to go grab my bike to show you. Be right back.”

  I nodded and glanced over to see Blake was sitting up now. “Hey, looks like fun.”

  “More than you know.” He ran the palm of his hand across his forehead, leaving a long, black streak behind.

  I giggled. “Nice.”

  “What?” He glanced at his blackened hands. “Oh.”

  “It looks like the bike’s winning to me.” I hated the fact I found him attractive even with his jeans and T-shirt covered in oil.

  He tossed the ratchet aside. Standing up, he rubbed his hands on a rag. I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like it helped.

  “I like to let her think she’s winning.” He winked, patting the seat.

  “Anna said you wrecked it.” The bike appeared fine to me, but what did I know?

  “Yep. Mangled her pretty good.”

  “Does it run?”

  “Not yet, but close. I want to make sure she’s all better before I take her out again.”

  “You talk like she’s your girlfriend. Better be careful, Jen might get jealous.”

  “Jen and I have an understanding now.”

  I glanced at him. “Oh really. So what is that understanding?”

  “Well, after an unfortunate mishap last night,” he began, and I cringed. Did he mean throwing that kid against the wall? But instead, he said, “I let Jen know that although I was flattered she kissed me, it wasn’t going to fly between us.”

  I gaped at him. “Wait, Jen kissed you? When?” Why didn’t she call me? Oh yeah, I realized, because he said he ended it. Poor Jen. I did feel sorry for her, while slightly elated at the same time.

  “Last night, when I drove her home, so now that it’s over, it’s just you and me, babe.” I would’ve been thrilled if his words were directed at me, but he was stroking his bike’s handlebars. Clearly not meaning me.

  “You do make a cute couple. Should I leave you alone?” I asked.

  “Naw, she’s not the jealous type.”

  I wanted to come up with a witty comeback, but Anna was rolling her bike towards us. “What do you think?”

  I recognized the brand, taking in the size of the rims and the suspension. “Nice.” I squatted down by the gears.

  Anna dropped down next to me. “You think it’ll work? I want to get really good at it.”

  “It will more than work. I know just the trail, not too hard, pretty level, nothing too technical, but it has awesome views.” I stood up, catching Blake’s eye. His expression was hard to read.

  “How about Monday, after school?” I asked her.

  “Yes! Perfect!”

  “You guys going riding?” Blake asked.

  Anna practically bounced off the ground. “Yes. Samantha’s going to show me how to mountain bike. I’m so excited!”

  “I figured she should get to do something fun while you’re gone. She told me how you always camp without her.” I meant it in jest, but Blake’s face flushed. He glanced at his sister and for a split second, I could’ve sworn he looked nervous.

  He cleared his throat. “You would’ve attracted the bears.”

  “What? No, I wouldn’t,” Anna retorted.

  “Anna, what’s in your pocket right now?”

  “I…” She stopped.

  “Yes?” he asked.

  Anna turned to me and said sheepishly, “I have a sweet tooth.”

  Blake’s eyebrows rose.

  “Okay fine, Blake. Licorice bites, but bears don’t like candy.”

  Blake chuckled, and I stifled a giggle. Anna rolled her eyes at her brother, and he tossed a clean rag at her. It was fun to watch them banter. Under it all, it wasn’t mean spirited. As Blake cleaned up his tools, Anna filled me in with all the freshman gossip she could think of. I tried to be polite, putting in the occasional, Yeah, really, and Oh my gosh. Blake’s lips twitched into a grin, clearly amused by his sister or that I had to listen to her.

  “Hey,” he interrupted, and I turned my undivided attention to him. “I’m almost done out here. Why don’t you go inside?”

  Well, that’s not exactly what I hoped for.

  Anna whooped. “Okay, come on, Samantha. Let’s go in my room.”

  I shot a glance at Blake. “There’s nothing I’d like more, Anna.”

  He snorted back at me.