The Monsters We Are

The Monsters We Are

By Heather David

The night had reached its darkest hour. Josie's parents slept, so they did not see when they came out. The house they had moved into was filled with monsters. A dark shadow resembling the grim reaper haunted her window. A werewolf snarled with glowing green eyes in the garden. A man with limbs that looked sewn on, carried either an ax, or a buzz saw through the kitchen.

At the foot of Josie's bed appeared the girl. She looked to be eighteen years old. The girl's hair was like red rags on her head. Her heart bled from a fresh wound. Her fingers were covered with cuts and had claw-like fingernails. Three tentacles were in her mouth where her tongue should have been. Her eyes were white and showed anger mixed with grief.

When it finally spoke, the girl's voice was a shriek, "You betrayed her!"

Josie leaped out of bed. "Leave me alone!"

She ran out into the hallway. The doors to the other rooms slammed shut. The ghost girl floated out, her clawed hands raised, her heart bled on the floor, and a cry fell from her lips. Josie threw up her hands and wept, giving herself up for death when he appeared. A tall man with hair as red as blood, flashing red eyes and fangs, dressed in a Victorian outfit with a long leather cape strode down the hall. He held up his hand.

"Enough!" His voice was deep and smooth.

The ghost bowed deeply but did not disappear.

He turned and held out his hand to Josie. "Are you all right?"

With tears spilling, she accepted his hand as he helped her up. "Thank you."

"I am called Lucian," he said with a bow.

Josie nodded. "I know. You've been watching over me since we moved here. You always held the other monsters back."

Lucian gestured to the monstrous girl before them. "Do you know who she is?"

Josie shook her head. "Why does she look like me?"

"She is you," said Lucian. "Or rather a manifestation of what you've done, and the pain in your heart. Do you know why she haunts you?"

Josie hung her head. "It's because of Mia and Cyrus."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Was she not your closest friend?"

"The key word is 'was'," said Josie. "It was her fault," her voice broke, "but mine too."

"Will you tell me?" asked Lucian.

So Josie told the story. How Mia had been her best friend since they were eight. Then a year ago, Cyrus the captain of the basketball team, had asked Mia out. Thus they became a couple. Then Mia had started ignoring Josie all together. When Josie was able to get a word into her, Mia became as rude as the popular girls she hung out with. Josie had tried to reconcile, but Mia continually pushed her away, for fear Cyrus would decide she was a loser and dump her.

Then a month ago Josie had had enough. At a school dance, Josie had come alone, but prepared. Phone in hand, she cornered Cyrus at the punch table, kissed him, and snapped a picture. No sooner had it showed up on her social media post then the whole school either cheered Cyrus on, or called him disloyal, then called Josie every foul word in the book. Instead of feeling satisfied, Josie was shocked at her own actions. But when Mia confronted her, she had exploded and said words that would have made a sailor blush. Expressing her grief at Mia's betrayal and how she had no moral ground to stand on to call Josie a monster.

Lucian had listened patiently, then pointed to the ghost before them. "Do you understand the symbolism of this creature?" When Josie shook her head he went on. "The bleeding heart represents how your heart is wounded. The tentacles in her mouth are the words of anger and hurt you said to your friend. The wounds upon her hands are the wounds you dealt in return for her cruelty. Yet you are hurt as well as she."

Josie wiped her eyes. "What can I do?"

"Do you accept accountability for your actions, Josie?" asked Lucian.

Pain shot through her face, "but, Mia-"

"-this is not about her actions, this is about yours," said Lucian. His eyes became sympathetic. "Josie, I do not deny your pain, nor that she was wrong to treat you so cruelly. But are you willing to accept accountability for your revenge, and forgive her even if she never repents of her wrong?"

Josie sniffled, rubbed her arms, and nodded. "Yes, but that shouldn't invalidate my pain."

"I never said it did," said Lucian. "But are you willing to accept that you caused pain which you must make right?"

"How can I?" asked Josie. "She won't let me talk to her, and even if she did, she'll never apologize."

Lucian nodded. "Every human is responsible to take accountability and forgive. If you do so, but she refuses to do so for you in return, you will be set free in that you did your part." He gestured to the ghost girl. "No matter what choice either of these humans make, if you right the wrongs you have done, this monster will disappear."

"If I apologize to them tomorrow, will you come with me?" asked Josie.

Lucian smiled and flashed his fangs. "None shall see me, even yourself, but you will know I am near."

The next day, Josie went to school with her head held high. True to his word, she could sense Lucian close by protecting her. Just before lunch, Josie was finally able to catch Mia in a hallway. Mia had stood with her arms crossed and a death glare on her face, but she listened as Josie presented the most sincere apology she could give. When she finished, the look of hatred remained on Mia's face as she stepped around her and walked away. When Josie's tears fell, she felt a gentle hand brush her cheek, and whisper a word of encouragement. During lunch, she was able to speak with Cyrus. Like Mia, he crossed his arms, but gave her a stoic glare. When she finished, he nodded.

"I forgive you, but I still don't trust you." So saying, he walked away.

True to what she suspected, Mia never spoke to her again. Josie still grieved the loss of her best friend, but was relieved when the ghost girl was gone. Lucian on the other hand, became something more.

On a night when Josie got brave and met the werewolf who haunted her mother's garden, Lucian showed her how to pet him so he did not bite. When their hands touched, a sense of warmth shot through Josie which she could not deny. There in the moonlight, Lucian took her in his arms and kissed her. Thus later that night, Josie climbed into bed and fell asleep with Lucian's kiss warming her heart.

She was unaware when he slipped into the room like a clever shadow. She did not feel him push aside her hair, press his fangs to her throat, and drink some blood. Pressing a kiss to the wound he closed it shut.

"I thank you, my love, for how you have matured so." His eyes flashed as he smiled at Josie's sleeping form, then looked up at all the monstrous minions bowing before him. "Now we two shall guard this house forever." With one last taste of blood and a kiss, Lucian resumed his post guarding the house and the family within.

THE END