Oh fuck is right. I might explode into a million pieces.
RAINER
My mama always said that I shouldn’t actively engage in an act that might lead to my death. Even if everyone else is doing it, I should be smarter than they are. Inviting death to get close is a good way to let him take you.
The atmosphere between us has changed since the day at the library. I don’t necessarily feel anything that connects me to the three monsters, yet Icanfeel that something deep and profound has changed.
It’s a very strange feeling, one I can’t completely describe or understand. I feel it, yet it’s nothing that can be named. I can’t touch it, though I keep trying to.
They’d said it was like we’re four pieces of the same soul. When people talk about souls, they’re ethereal objects. Or… ethereal selves? They’re not tangible. You can’t even know that you have one outside of your own obscure baseless, factless faith. There is zero proof. None whatsoever.
What I’m feeling right now might be proof that there’s something there, somethinglikea soul, but it’s still not tangible or visible. I can’t hear it or smell it or taste it. It evades all senses, which makes me feel like a woo woo as I try to identify what it is I feel.
The only thing I’m truly convinced of is that I love it. The way it’s definitely there, echoed in the three monsters with me, tying my entire existence to theirs for the rest of my life.
It’s the weirdest thing though. As much as I didn’t want to actually be away from them a few days ago, I was ready to leave because their constant fighting was becoming far too much. It was interfering with my sleep, my mood, with every aspect of my damn life, and I was fucking over it.
I’m glad it didn’t come to that. Even before I understood why I felt something for them that didn’t make sense to me, I knew that I liked their presence in my life. I enjoyed their company when they weren’t bickering. Everything they told me challenged everything I’d grown up knowing was fact.
Their evidence was just as strong as what I could see in the world around me with my own eyes, though. I’m not saying I’m completely convinced that all monsters aren’t ready to kill or that humans are just as bad as monsters, but… it’s definitely getting more difficult to keep using “all.” Maybe that’s not the rule.
The little bit I’ve seen of other monsters and how they live says that “all” isn’t completely accurate—not in the case of humansormonsters. In fact, from what I’ve seen, monsters have their shit far more together than humans. They know how to live a peaceful life, one in which everyone within their walls prospers and lives comfortably.
Humans... They’re far, far from that realization. People within the same colony can’t even agree on something as simple as where to put the fire and who should take turns manningit. Meanwhile, monsters are living in heated houses. They have electricity. They still have access to technology. They have food!
The monsters are right, too. The door to their compound is wide open. Yes, there’s someone there to monitor who comes in and out, and I saw some people on top of the walls for security, but that makes sense, right? You don’t want the pods just walking in. You don’t want beasts sneaking in and causing havoc. You don’t want those with ill intent breaching the walls.
But they didn’t question my presence. No one treated me differently than they did the monsters who lived there. Even the monsters who’d been tortured by humans didn’t treat me poorly. I understand their distrust.
It matches my distrust for monsters since Iwatched themkill my entire family group.
“YEEOOWWWW!”
My feet become rooted to the ground as I look around, trying to locate the sound. All the little hairs on my body stand on end. That’s not a human nor beast. It can be nothing other than another monster.
“Damn,” Notto says, sighing.
My hand grips the knife that they’d insisted I take with me when we left the fall-out shelter weeks ago. My other hand grips Kaida’s fur-feathers at the back of her neck. She doesn’t appear bothered at all, though.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Teko,” Drystan says, grinning. “Wait ‘til you meet them. They’re the funnest monsters in the world.”
I give him a wary look, especially when more yowling follows. Not just one voice this time but three.
“Is that how they usually announce their presence?” I ask.
Keary snorts. “Monsters as a whole, no. These three, yes.”
That’s when the ground begins to rumble. It shudders and turns to liquid a dozen feet away. Before my eyes, a hill rises. Itgets bigger, then sinks, the ground around it rippling like waves in water.
I’m nearly knocked off my feet when a shudder runs through the ground as an enormous border comessurfingthe surface of the earth. It stops in front of us, and the ground sinks until it’s level once again.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m staring with my mouth hanging open. Keary’s arm is still around my waist, keeping me from falling on my ass as the ground heaves beneath my feet.
“Subtle,” Notto deadpans.
One of them cackles.
