“And people pay for that?”
“Yeah…I post the first bit as a teaser, then they pay to find out what happened.Easy money.”
Easy money.
Bridges didn’t care if we posted content, though there were guidelines.The Scream stuff served as a warning about the dangers of the human world, and the Steam stuff enabled other monsters to feel as though they were the ones crossing into the human world and sneaking through houses.From what I’d read, anyway.And while I’d seen a few clips on social media, I wasn’t a member as a creator or subscriber.
For one, I didn’t want to put myself in the path of a pet that might tear me apart, nor could I come up with cool scare-pranks.Until today, I’d never considered the other side of the site.I’d seen humans fucking before.It wasn’t anything special.
We had directives on what to do if an adult was harming a child.We didn’t harm kids; we just didn’t want them in our world.They were too dangerous.Those reports sucked, and a special team then dealt with them.The Bridge Guard was moved on, as we couldn’t start caring about the kids.That rule had come about because a tender-hearted monster had let the kid escape into our world… It had not ended well.
“You should check out the site, get a feel for the content.”Crispin motioned for me to go up to the bar first.
I followed the spiral staircase up around the tree and entered the bar that stretched across several trunks.Stone and glass mixed with living wood, unlike the human houses, which are all static and dead.
“I’m not going to start posting.”I shook my head.“It was a one-off.”
Crispin laughed.“If you catch him again, record it, and I’ll show you how to post.”
“I can figure out how to post,” I snapped.
“You’ll be able to afford your house sooner.Or do you want to keep living with your brother?”
As a brother, he was fine.We got on great.As a roommate, he was a fucking nightmare.Worse than a human toddler.Santa, I might prefer to share an apartment with a human toddler.They were less messy and less inquisitive.He did not understand personal space or boundaries, and I swear if he took my clothes one more time because he needed something to wear, I was going to throw him through a portal that led to the woman who bred cats—she needed checked on because she still saw portals.There was a special team for those people who never grow out of believing in magic, but we’d all heard about her and others like her
I sighed.“I’ll consider it.And since you’re getting the easy money, you can buy the first drink.”
Chapter4
Timothy
For the nextcouple of days, I was on edge.Every time there was a bang or a scrape, I jumped, even though I didn’t know what I expected to happen.Bunny had been growling at cupboards, and Dad had been growling at everyone.He blamed me for Bunny’s behavior as if I had any control over the dog.Yeah, she was mine because I’d wanted a pet after Mom left, but I hadn’t done anything to make her act weird.
Worse, I’m sure Dad was going into my room when I took her for a walk—that or I forgot to turn the privacy lock, which was unlikely.What does he think I’m hiding?
A boyfriend?
An equally nonexistent dope stash?
I’m looking forward to regular classes resuming just so I can spend more time out of the house.At the moment, all I have is walking Bunny, filling shelves two nights a week at the supermarket, and one summer class.
I needed another job, or one that paid better, so I’d be able to move out with some friends without his help.But I also want to finish college, so I don’t become the college dropout he expects me to be.I put away Bunny’s lead, music playing in my ears, and make an evening snack of avocado and poached egg on toast.The packet of mac and cheese was damn tempting, but while I’m forced to live at home, I might as well take advantage of not buying groceries and eating better.
My new stepmother walked in and stood on the other side of the kitchen counter as if she wanted to speak with me.I pretended I hadn’t seen or heard her.I’m sure Dad bothering about me was more to do with appearing like a good parent than actual concern for my well-being.He hasn’t given a shit about me for far too many years.I joked that Bunny and I raised each other.I took her to puppy training, and she slept in my room until she ate a sock and needed surgery.Since then, she’d been banished to a dog bed in the sitting room.I was relieved nothing had happened to her, even though my briefs had vanished into the ether.Better than in her gut.
Stepmom waved to catch my attention.
I pushed one headphone back as though I had the noise canceling on and didn’t hear a word she said.
“Tim.”She smiled like we’re friends or something.
“Yeah.”My toast popped, and I smashed half an avocado onto it.From the expression on her face, she wanted to make a comment about either my cooking skills or my eating habits.
“Are you free tomorrow night?”
It felt like a trap.She knew I didn’t work Fridays, and given that most of my friends had gone home for the break, there was not a lot for me to do.The summer class is pretty easy—another one of Dad’s ideas—and it’s one less class I need to do next semester, which means I can redo the one I failed.
Yay.
