Page 22 of Monstrous

This is real and I’m in danger because the bad guy has found me and I’ve run out of time. Found me, hell. I opened the door and invited him inside. Right after I’d gotten a pretty big clue from my monsters about how this all works. Hadn’t Arc told me that my drawings brought them here? Gave them a toehold in this world?

Why would it be any different for Darkness?

He chuckles like this is nothing but a game to him, a tendril of pitch-black reaching out for me once again. He’s entirely unconcerned about the threat.Come, Marianna. We’re done here. It’s time to go.

I’m not sure what scares me more. That he’s here or that he wants me alive.

She’s not going anywhere with you, Arc answers for me.You truly have lost your sanity, brother.

I’m not sure how I know, but I can tell Darkness is amused. The boys aren’t content with stalling the conversation, though. Arc and Zane spring into action at the same moment Darkness moves, and the three of them collide. Vexx growls under his breath but stays in front of me, slowly herding me in the opposite direction.

Growls fill the air and someone howls in agony.

One of the shadows knocks against Vexx, pushing him off his feet, and he pivots at the last moment, lunging at the shadow with a hiss. I’m too scared to move. I’m frozen in place and shaking. Where do I look? What should I do? I have no clue, and this is how I’m going to die. I’m sure of it.

But it’s unclear who is winning in this fight. I just try to have faith in my monsters.

Claws slash and there’s a brief moment where someone’s howl of pain causes a similar sensation inside of me. As though I’ve been physically cut too. A sob catches in my chest.

“Stop!” I yell to Darkness. “Leave us alone.”

Then I’m in someone’s arms and still screeching my head off. It’s a dam bursting. It’s a lightning strike and where I’ve been still before, suddenly I’m a ball of movement. Beating my fists. Against whatever I can reach. Kicking whatever is nearest and fighting like a stuck animal to get free from Darkness.

Keep him here! Zane shouts out the command to the others. I relax as he slings me over his shoulder, taking off out the window with the tinkle of glass falling around me. His feet slam into the ground and he’s solid once again, cradling me to absorb the brunt of the landing himself.

Marianna, lower your voice, he demands.We’ve got to go.

“What are you doing?” I ask. My throat immediately sore from screaming.

I’m getting you out of there, he answers easily.

Not like he just broke through my window and literally jumped two floors down to the ground. He takes off running but I can’t hear his footsteps. Still, each breath takes us farther and farther from my apartment.

The distance does nothing to help me grapple with the consequences of what I’ve done. If any of them get hurt, it’s my fault. No doubt.

“It was three against one!” I argue, trying to use logic to feel better. “We need to go back and help.”

Worry immediately swarms me for Arc and Vexx. What if they’re hurt and we aren’t there to help them? Not like I’m any kind of help in a fight. If anything, I’m the hindrance. Zane should drop me and get back there.

Then again, Darkness would probably be following me.

I feel him shake his head.They’re staying behind to fight, to give us time to run.

“But why?”

You’re much too important for us to lose, Mari. It’s time you understand why.

ChapterSeven

Well, this is it. I’m about to die, and it’s not because there’s a supernatural blob of pure night trying to suck the life out of me. It’s because the weight of responsibility is going to crush me.

So now I’m important and the reason is big enough to warrant a conversation. Not just a comment about ‘well, everyone is special, and so you are, too.’ I really wish that would be the end of it. But the way Zane pauses, the slight dip in tone, I know it’s so much more.

But we’re separated and I hate every moment of it.

Why am I important? I don’t understand and none of this makes any sense. I’m still in my pajamas, no idea what to do, terrified. Zane keeps me in his arms, probably making better time than I would on my own. I’m not a runner. I’m not a mover in general.

But apparently I’m a worrieranda monster magnet. Exactly like my momma made me.

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