Page 3 of Monster

Chapter One

Fifty some-odd years later…

Drake knelt at the edge of the woods and cast a glance around the darkened landscape, drawing in some of the cool night air. Before him was a small, ramshackle home that appeared to have seen better days.A junkyard of used metal sprawled out around it, some of it still clean enough to glitter in the light of the moon above. Seeing the material brought a memory to mind, one that had him clenching his fists in anger.

There was no time for anger. Not now.

He scanned the human dwelling, not hearing a sound besides the rhythmic snoring of someone inside.Crickets and bullfrogs sounded in the distance, lulling him. Eyeing the old pickup that appeared to still be in use, Drake wondered if he could remember how to hotwire the thing. Freedom was at hand, so close he could almost taste it. He had to remember.

They had to put distance between here and there… wherever there was.

Drake crossed the littered yard, avoiding the pieces of rusting steel and iron as he moved.Inattention got the better of him. His foot glanced along the side of a pile, toppling it over.Reaching out, he steadied the pieces, trying to minimize the noise.He paused once they were steadied.

Crouching, he awaited a door to swing open. A rifle to be leveled.A scream for him to get off the man’s land.

The snoring had stopped… any minute now…

His heart thundered in his chest.Sweat sprouted over his flesh. His back ached from all the running they’d done.

Drake didn’t wish for violence in that moment. He knew he was in the wrong. He was no thief.

But they desperately needed that truck. If he’d had gold in his empty pockets, he would’ve left it for the humans.

All he had was the clothes on his back.

And the metal melted onto my flesh.

Minutes ticked by. The sweat cooled on his skin and his heart slowed to a steady thrum in his chest. The snoring resumed soon after.

Creeping along—this time paying better attention to the minefield surrounding him—he finally made it to the side of the truck.Carefully, he tested the handle to see if it was locked. It wasn’t. He took a deep breath and gradually opened the door. The door creaked slightly and he winced, growing fearful again.

The snoring never stopped.

Drake slipped into the driver’s seat and threw the truck into neutral and slipped back out.One hand on the wheel and the other on the open door, he used his body to steer the truck down the dirt tracks that thousands of passes of the tires had cut into the grass. Soon he was turning the vehicle out onto the asphalt country road, clearing the home without incident.

The house was the only one for miles, so he had no neighbors to contend with. It was him and him alone there, and he quite felt that solitude in that moment. Here, it was quiet… not like it had been in the prison he’d been a captive within.The constant screams and roars of pain… he hadn’t realized how accustomed to the sound he’d become until now… now that it was gone.

A breeze crossed over the field of hay opposite the human home, the rustling sound causing a shiver to race up his spine. Not that he had much feeling along his back anymore.

He pushed on. The others were only a few miles up the road, hiding in the forest and awaiting him. He wasn’t alone.He had co-conspirators in this mad dash to freedom.

They had far to travel and little time to get to their destination.

After he’d pushed the truck far enough, he climbed behind the wheel and checked for keys, just in case.Drake pulled down the visor and a set fell into his lap.He grabbed them while sending up a prayer to the dragon gods above. One flick of the wrist and the truck’s engine came to life. A smile crossed his lips.The old junker seemed to be in perfect working order.Drake tossed it into gear and hit the gas, not bothering to turn on the lights. He had perfect vision, whether it was night or day, and they needed to stay out of sight. Best to keep them off.

Once he’d returned to where he’d left Deacon, Jaeger, and the monster, he pulled off onto the soft shoulder. Drake opened the door and stepped out, scanning the narrow path of wood amid the wide fields.

Deacon emerged from the trees, a weary expression on his face. The moon lit him in a silvery glow, making him look more ghost than man.“Thankfully, you’re as resourceful as you claimed.”

“You doubted me?” he asked, lifting a brow.

Deacon didn’t answer. There was no point.They could argue the finer points once they were miles from there… and safe.

Was there such a thing as safe anymore?

Drake walked across the road, the tiny bits of gravel crunching under his booted feet. “Let’s load that thing into the back of the truck and get the fuck out of here.”

“Agreed,” Deacon said before leading Drake into the wood.

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