37 Monster - Part 1

Kear stood in a quiet room. Tears fell from her face as she slumped to the ground. She was selfish, a child. She didn't deserve anything she had. She keeps hurting those around her. She is a monster.

She just slumps on her knees staring at the ground. She focuses on a piece of cloth and rope that were used to tie up Ziv. His face was full of rage, fear and disgust with her. She had hurt Heryan just a while ago and when Ziv showed up she thought she could maybe make amends with herself by helping him. But again she failed and as a monster she didn't deserve anything.

---

She wasn't sure how long it had been, but she realized that she had been in that same position for a while. She turned her head around her slowly looking at the three people here. A male elf that would have hit Ziv in the face if she hadn't frozen time. Sparkly night sky hair, brown eyes and dressed in some easy to move in clothing for exercise. He was the grandson of Glandriel. It was nice to see a familiar face, but under the circumstances it wasn't all that great. She had to step in the first place, considering her moping around in her void space, it wasn't ideal. None of this was.

Two other teenagers were there as well. Two siblings by the look of it. They shared bright blond hair, but their eyes were different. The boy had metallic orange eyes and like the Ayanni, was in slacks. It took her a moment to remember the elf's name. The other sibling, she had dark blue eyes and was dressed in combat gear. Her leather gloves were trying to hide Ziv from Ayanni before he could be hurt. The human boy looked to be trying to stop Ayanni from that.

Either way this whole situation was her fault. It has to be. She was a monster after all. So she placed her face in front of Ayanni's fist and resumed time. A loud smack and blood filled the monster's vision. The thing crashed into the human girl almost knocking her aside.

"What have you done Ayanni! Ziv are…"

The human girl looked at the monster in the room in terror as she drew her axe from her back. She picked Ayanni off the floor by his shirt and threw him into the male human's arms as those two took in the situation. The monster watched them get into a battle stance behind the girl before moving to flank if the monster moved.

"Who are you? Where's Ziv?"

The human girl shouted at the monster for it to respond to her question. The others didn't stay quiet either.

"Answer her, where is Ziv?"

"Aren't you the one that was with him?"

The siblings stared at Ayanni for a moment, then back at the monster. The monster bled from the nose and tears streamed down its face. A creature of evil and destruction, it stayed there unmoving, only to clutch its legs close to its chest. Before the others could ask the same questions again, the monster spoke.

"I'm a monster. Just kill me."

The monster was manipulating the group of three to kill it. It stared at the floor as the blood continued to flow down its face.

The boy on the right looked towards Ayanni and his sister as he asked a question.

"What do we do? What is happening?"

"Jev go get the guard. Ayanni clean up your mess. The chair and what you used to bind Ziv, take it somewhere else. If Ziv ain't here we don't want…" She paused for a moment. "We don't know what happened here and if you don't want to get in trouble you will stay quiet."

"Wait… I need to find out about that kid who had a tech pad! I need to know!"

"Get a grip Ayanni. You tied a kid to a chair and were interrogating him. Did you plan to torture him for answers?" She stared him down before turning towards the monster. "Let's talk about this later, in private."

As Ayanni took the chair, tear soaked cloth, and the rope away, the human girl walked over towards the monster. Moving slow and open, but still clutching her weapon. The monster didn't make a move.

"I don't know what happened. I don't know who you are." She paused again. The monster moved its eyes away from the floor to look at the girl. Even though the monster tried to keep its eyes away from the group, it had taken peeks. Now eye to eye, with the human girl did she continue. "My name is Paroppe. Can you tell me your name?"

"I'm nothing more than a monster. Just leave me in this room."

The monster knew the look on Paroppe was something of concern, but it didn't need pity. It was a monster. It deserved to be alone. I deserved to be hurt.

---

"… We found this boy in the library. He hadn't had any food or water. So yesterday we took care of him. Then when we looked away he was gone. We were looking for him, only to find that woman in this store room."

Paroppe explained to the guard at the door. A guard stood at the door. The monster did recognize the guard with the sunlight shining through the windows. Heruff the guard that was at the northern gate and who had been a part of the people who helped Heryan. The hair on his face and head were light brown matching his eyes. Of course his 'beard' was nothing more than scruff attempting to be a beard.

He wasn't the only guard, but he was the one in view with Paroppe.

Heruff walked towards the monster who still hadn't moved other than its eyes.

"What is your name?"

The monster didn't answer.

"Do you know where the boy," he turned towards Paroppe and then back towards the monster, "Ziv, do you know where he is?"

"Home."

"And what are you doing here?"

"To help Ziv."

"Why did he need help?"

Before the monster could answer, Paroppe quickly interrupted.

"I just remembered that Ziv had mentioned this woman. Yes he said that she was his… ugh… older sister. He said that she has 'troubles' and he watched over her. Ziv must have just gone out to find her after recovering."

"Interesting. Do you know how his 'sister' got that nose bleed then?"

"She must have…" Paroppe looked at the monster for a moment, before continuing. "I hit her. At first I thought she broke in, it was my fault and I'm sorry!" She looked at the monster when she apologized.

"I see and miss?" He looked back towards the monster as he knelt down. "Is that what happened? How is your nose doing?"

The monster didn't answer, just sat there.

"Well since that is cleared up, then we will leave. We can take that woman with us and ask her some questions there. I'm sure once she gets cleaned up we can get more out of her. Oh I forgot could you remind me what that boy looked like? After all I want to make sure her brother made it home safely."

As Paroppe described Ziv, the monster did nothing other than listen.

"Heruff…Sir, could I help her out? It's my fault and I want to repay my debt."

"That isn't up to me." He looks back towards the monster again. "Miss, do you want to stay here or come with me?"

The monster just stayed silent again. It wanted to be punished and staying with the group of three, was the best chance to be the selfish child it is.

"It's morning and crazy stuff is happening. I really need to get that admin job."

Heruff mumbled before standing up.

"Alright. It looks like she wants to stay here with you. Take care and we will keep an eye out for the boy, just in case something happens. Take care." Then he takes a louder, commanding voice. "Finish your statements. Everything is settled here. Meet me out front."

As he walked out of the room, Paroppe turned towards the monster and stared.

"Are you ok? I can help you clean up."

The same as before, the monster didn't answer. Just stayed there, on the floor in its own blood and tears. It was a mess and Paroppe acknowledged that fact.

"You're a mess and I want answers. I won't hurt you. Let me help you clean up and I'll get you something to eat."

The monster didn't react to the word food, but it did speak up.

"I'm a monster, so why would you help me?"

"Yes, you have said that. Give me answers and then I can decide what to do with you."

The monster gave a small nod, so Paroppe closed the door to the room.

"First can you tell me your name? Then I will tell you mine."

"Something like me doesn't have a name."

"Really!? Stop it already. My name is Paroppe. Can you at least tell me where Ziv is?"

"He's back home."

"You said that, but how did he get there?"

It took a moment for the monster to answer.

"Teleportation."

"Are you telling me that you teleported him home?" The monster nodded. "In turn you took his place?" The monster was confused. "You appeared where he was." The monster nodded at that. It took a few moments for Paroppe to search for another question, but she found it. "Is he safe?" The monster answered.

"He is safe. I made sure of it."

The door opened to Jev and Ayanni coming into the room. Ayanni was the first one to question why Paroppe was kneeling in front of the monster.

"What did you find out?"

"Ayanni, what I found out is that this mess is your fault. I had to say that I hit her, so things wouldn't get more complicated." She covered her face with her hands and rubbed the stress. It didn't help that much, as a headache was starting. "Ziv is safe at least."

"Where does he live?"

Jev spoke up this time. "Seriously man. Chill out."

"Ayanni! I know that you get obsessive about these things and you cannot control it, but try. Please try. Because you need to understand what you did. You followed a kid and when he passed out you brought him here. That was good! He was dehydrated and hungry, barely awake, but you took him today and tied him to a chair. Were you going to torture him if he didn't answer? He. Was. A. Kid. A child. What was your plan?"

"I have to know where he got the tech pad from. It's important!"

"Seriously, Stop. Right now I'm going to help her get cleaned up. So both of you get some clean clothes and then I will ask the questions." She glared at Ayanni. "I will ask the questions!" She repeats that last bit before sending them on their way.

---

Night time and the monster has just been following orders. The monster doesn't want anything for itself. It followed its owner to get cleaned up. It wouldn't act on its own. It wouldn't be selfish. It was no child, just a monster wearing skin.

Sitting at the table was the monster's owner Paroppe, the owner's brother Jev, and Ayanni. It was a square table and sitting across the monster was Ayanni. He stared at the monster, but the monster didn't focus on him. It ate its food as it was told.

"Tell me…"

Ayanni was cut off by the glares from the siblings.

"So he can shut up, can you answer him? Where did Ziv get that 'tech pad'?"

"His home."

"Where is that?"

"Far away."

"There you have your answer. Now chill out."

The monster scooped warm soup into its mouth. It made little noise other than the quiet chewing of meat and vegetables. The rest of the meal was quiet otherwise as each member at the table ate their food.

As night came, the two boys went to the living room next to the fire place. They sat on the floor to lie down. Each had a pillow under their heads. Paroppe was heading to her room, but before she entered she turned towards the monster.

"I'll make sure Ayanni leaves you alone. You can go, do whatever you want. The front door is over there."

She went into her room and closed the door. The monster just stood there with a blank stare at the door: unmoving.