Page 33 of Monstrous

“Walker.” His name tears from my throat as I stare at him.

He’s wearing his glasses. The little detail sticks out to me in an almost fantastically funny way.

“I’m so sorry,” I say, the apology gushing out before I think about keeping it contained. “I’m sorry for everything that happened to you. I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

The Walker I know would have told me not to apologize. He never accepted them because he always thought actions spoke louder than words. This Walker stares at me for a long moment before his eyes narrow and a vulpine smile slashes across his features.

“Do you know what kind of power I have now? When the shell of my mortal body burned, it freed me. I have more power in my pinky than I had in my entire life before,” he says with a short bark of laughter. “You didn’t hurt me, you helped me become this.”

He gestures down at himself, and for a brief moment I wonder why no one is saying anything. How it seems like the two of us have this moment to talk, to explain. To help me see that if I get hung up on seeing Walker as the person he used to be, then we’re going to lose this fight.

Because this isn’t the person I love, and the longer I look at him, the clearer it becomes. My fiancé really did die all those years ago, because there’s no warmth in this man’s smile. There’s no hint of a heart beating in his chest, or any sort of compassion. What he did to my mother should have proven it to me.

I square my shoulders, like it will somehow help give me the last little bit of courage I need to end this. The shadows tighten around my ankles in answer.

“I knew coming here would get your attention. Although I honestly didn’t think you’d bring your entourage with you. What’s the matter, honey? You can’t be alone anymore?” His smile widens until I catch a glimpse of fangs. “Did losing me do some damage to you?”

It’s a merciless blow and the final lash to help snap me back to myself.

I say nothing, taking the first step toward him with a vision of beating him bloody in my head. The shadows lock down further on my ankles in response and I whine at the tug of them, how they latch onto my skin, sapping me of energy.

Probably sending it all to feed their foul master.

“Looks like I know you better than you think,” Walker hisses out, and as he steps forward to grab me. His hateful gaze locks on to me and for a moment, I’m at his mercy.

I want to break away and run to Mom. Get her out of here. A glance at her and the fierce determination in her gaze drives me toward action instead. I give her a nod, my heart swelling with emotion as I think of everything we’ve been through. Wondering how we’ll start to piece things together after this.

If we make it out.

I finally lift my face to Walker and scream out my rage, frustration, and grief—finally letting it explode from me at once.

The rest of the guys spring into action as well. Zane heads for Mom while Arc bends and slices through the shadows keeping me hostage.

Vexx chases Darkness—no, Walker—away from me and for once I can almost taste the blood on my tongue. A hunger to end this in my gut, and I’m determined to see it through to the end.

Walker pivots on his heel and heads straight toward me as he sends his shadow tendrils out. One forms a wall between Zane and Mom while the other knocks Vexx to the side. Walker has his attention focused on me and I hope to keep it that way. Because Arc darts out of nowhere and slashes his nails across the other monster’s chest, halting his movement.

Walker roars, the long wound dripping blood down his side.

I tear after him instead of away. Never in my life would I think myself capable of doing anything to hurt Walker. Except I have to remind myself this isn’t Walker. Not anymore. He might look the same and say the same things, but the person I knew died seven years ago.

Sadly, he’s still pretty damn fast.

I’m faster.

I manage to catch him and lunge toward his back, knocking him off his stride and giving Zane a chance to bear down. The monster has superior size and strength, colliding with Darkness until the three of us became a tangle of limbs, tumbling to the floor in a clash of teeth and claws.

I somehow end up on top and pin Walker beneath me, sending a punch snapping against his jaw. My hit does little and he kicks me off and knocks me backward. I hit the hard ground and roll away automatically before he can retaliate.

Walker moves to chase after me with his jaws wide as Zane and Arc intercept.

I’ve got to find something to use to draw. That’s my focus, not revenge. Somehow I have to banish him from this plane of existence.

My chest tightens as I take in the sight of my monsters rallying to beat the crap out of Walker. Bite and claw marks have punctured Vexx in various places, and a black claw mark slashes across the line of tattoos on Arc’s back.

If I can find a way to lean into my creativity, find a way to open whatever door I accidentally opened to bring Darkness here, then I’ll be able to send him back. Then I’ll end this terror for good.

There’s nothing in the living room. Then my gaze snags on Mom’s desk and the printer there. She’s got paper. And if I can reach it then I should be able to—

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