Hidden Monster

by Amanda Strong

  ***

  He shoved me down on the torn mattress. I sobbed uncontrollably, trying to fight him as he fastened my wrists and ankles together with duct tape. Then he retrieved ropes from the corner of the room and wrapped them around my torso, shoving my wings down. It was painful.

  When he’d finished, and I was completely bound, something inside me shattered. My hope had been broken like a bone snapping in half. I’d given it everything, but he’d won. No one knew about this place. I knew of abandoned mines between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado, but this was Jaxon. He lived in California. I might be in Nevada or the Dakotas for all I knew.

  Blake! My heart ached. Please find me! At this point, I didn’t care what he’d done to me in the cabin or why. I wanted out of this place. I wanted to live.

  He stood up straight, threw the tape aside, and began pacing the floor.

  “Please, Jaxon,” I begged.

  “Shut up!” he roared back at me. “I’m done with your bewitching voice!” He picked the tape back up. “I never let the other girls speak. I was a fool to let you.” He slapped the tape across my mouth. “So stop pleading. Jaxon can’t hear you. It’s time to get started. I’m dying to taste you!”

  I screamed, even though it was muffled, and thrashed, trying to wiggle free. It didn’t help. He reached out and pulled my arms forward. With one finger, he ran his sharp claw down my forearm, leaving a trail of blood and pain in its path. I gasped at the searing fire shooting up my arm and shoulder. My stomach clenched up.

  “Don’t worry, my dear. I’ve done this to enough damsels. It won’t kill you. You heal fast. You see, your blood lets me see how you work. I guess my inner doctor needs to be satisfied.” He chuckled. “I’ve been so anxious to test you. I knew you were different. Your scent was enough to tell me that.”

  I convulsed with sobs. Too bad I’m not special enough to save myself!

  Then, to my horror, he bent down and ran his tongue down my arm, licking the blood. I felt like I was going to be sick, but there was no option to throw up with my mouth taped shut.

  I shook my head at him, my eyes spilling tears.

  He sat back, my blood on his lips. “Yes, very different. You got a different serum, didn’t you? So what’s it do, I wonder? You see, I’ve developed a way to add to myself. Guess I have Jaxon to thank for that. I realized after I’d changed that I wasn’t the same as Blake. And that I’d been tricked. I needed the camo DNA. So I hunted a few dragons and damsels, finally perfected the way to extract their DNA, and now look at me.” He grimaced and disappeared before me. “I can do it too!”

  What does he want me do, clap for him?

  He reappeared and leaned in. “Your blood’s so sweet.”

  I grunted against my tape. He considered me for a moment, and then mumbled, “Still, I wonder…”

  To my relief, he stepped away and moved to the other side of the room. I hadn’t noticed the closet in the corner before now. He opened the door and disappeared. I shoved my hands up and down, trying to free them from the tape.

  I gave it all I had. This was my last few seconds. That was when I felt a tugging inside of me. Like a piece of me wanting to come out. I tried to focus, but it was incessant. My vision became hazy. Can’t pass out now! I forced my eyes to stay open. Then, to my horror, I felt like I was fighting against myself. Like invisible hands were trying to pull me to the ground, force my eyes to close. NO! I shouted back at the feeling. I’m not blacking out now! Last time I did, I ended up here!

  I gritted my teeth, letting anger wash over me, bathing me in a new strength and resolve. I’m facing this head on! I can do this!

  The inner struggle ebbed, and I felt my body shift. I glanced down at my legs, no longer bare and bloody, but wearing jeans. I’m morphing! There was no blue dress. There was no long, blonde hair. From what I could tell, I was a brunette.

  My bindings felt looser. Then realizing my whole frame was smaller, I understood why. I’m not me anymore! I didn’t have time to wonder, as I began working my hands free. I could already feel my wings shifting with the extra room.

  The bug—I couldn’t think of him as Jaxon—reemerged, grumbling about something, staring at a book in his hands. When he glanced up, it landed on the floor with a thud.

  “Who the hell are you?” He flew at me.

  My hands were free, but my wings weren’t. He landed on top of me, and I had only my fingernails to defend myself. I shoved them into his bulging eyes.

  He swatted them away like they were nothing, shouting down at me, “What’s going on here? Where did you come from? What’d you do with Samantha?”

  From the looks of his hysteria, he had no idea who I was. That makes two of us!

  His hands wrapped around my neck, easily cradling it in his massive hands. “I wanted Samantha! Not you!” He began to squeeze harder and harder.

  I took one last, deep gulp of air, and once again held my breath. Don’t think he’ll try to give me CPR this time. At least, I hoped not. It didn’t take long until he was satisfied he’d ended me. I made a show of it, thrashing around, and then suddenly holding very still. I let my body go limp when he finally released me, the mattress buffering my fall. I lay perfectly still, hoping he’d leave the room so I could escape.

  “All that work! For nothing! I had my one chance, and she’s gone! I don’t understand where you came from. Maybe you aren’t alone. I—” He stopped abruptly.

  Then I heard it, a creak from outside the door. The scent of the woods on an autumn morning filled the room. My heart leapt. Blake!