The second the sunbeam hit his face, he morphed into a repulsive creature.A huge beast, its mouth gaping and screeching, fangs dripping, red eyes bulging, perched for flight.
But it’s Ben who reacts first, because I am suspended in shock.
“Ameeliaaah!”
Like he’s triggered by the sound of Ben’s shout, Theron collapses to the floor.
I have to contain this.I might be a useless, unemployed, bad news myop, but I know this could be the end of Landslide forever.And if Theron was giving my mom CPR when Ben and I came in, I want to know how she got injured.
Pushing Ben aside as he blathers over my mom, I order him to go get help.
“You aren’t related to my mom yet.I’m her daughter.Get back into the truck and fetch the closest person you have to a doctor around here.Go!”
“B…b…but that—thatthing.What’s happening?”
I don’t know if Ben is in any condition to drive, but I don’t care.
“You’re in shock, Ben.Snap out of it.Go get help—now!”
He is still puttering around, turning circles in the kitchen.
Laying my mom’s head gently on the floor, I stand and start opening drawers looking for towels.
Finding what I need to staunch the blood, I have one last thing to do before I sit back down.Gripping Ben’s arm, I pull him to the door and push him through it.
“Hurry.”
“But that monster…” He keeps looking back as if he expects Theron to rise up like one of those zombies from the “Thriller” video.
“It’s not a monster, Ben.You’re in shock.”
Not waiting for him to start the truck, I close the door and go back to my mom.
She’s lost a lot of blood, but it’s a fresh wound.I press a towel over the deep cut really hard, trying to keep the torn pieces of her scalp together.
Would Theron bash my mom over the head when he could just as easily suck her dry?That makes no sense.That’s why I am sure he was trying to help her.He must have heard us coming but still decided to stick around.
Shifting closer to Theron’s unconscious body—which isn’t so easy with my mom’s head on my lap—I use one hand to push his helmet back on.I don’t want to see his monstrous face.
But something stops me.
Theron never lied to me.He never tried to put on airs about what he was underneath his glamourous outer shell.I am feeling something right now, but what is it?
Yes.I feel protective over him.I guess we’ve gone full circle.
That sallow face, all ragged and ancient, and the poisonous fangs dripping pale yellow poison.Under the thin skin, I can see the traces of the great hunter and warrior Theron once was.But it must have been a very long time ago.
Gently brushing back the long, shaggy hair, I push the helmet over his face and wait for the Riders to arrive.
The front door opens.The helmet-wearing Rider who enters turns his back to me so I can read that label on the back; the colors.It’s Shadow, and he’s carrying a first aid kit in his hand.That’s it.That’s all they can offer my poor mom.A fucking first aid kit.
Kneeling down, he breaks open a set of surgical equipment and spreads it out on the floor.Then he snaps on disposable gloves.
“Go around the house and make sure the drapes are closed.And lock all the doors.”
I don’t want to leave my mom with him.Not when there’s blood involved.
“Do you think Theron did this?Did Piers lie about us?About me and my mom?”
