Page 39 of Monster
Vincent
Two months ago
“Vincent!”
I peel my eyes open at the sound of my name being shouted, though the sound is muffled.What the fuck?
“Open this fucking door—now!”
Shit. That sounds like Leo. Goddamnit.
“Fucking hold on, I’m coming,” I bark out, but my voice cracks.
“You’re gonna fucking think ‘hold on’,” he spits out and I can hear the venom in his tone. He’spissedpissed. I make it to the door and flick the lock before pulling it open. Once it’s open, I blink rapidly at the bright light shining in before I bring my gaze to Leo. He glares at me, his face twisted into a sour expression. I watch as his eyes flicker down my body before shooting back up to my face.
“Fucking hell, Vincent. You’re just gonna answer the door naked? And what the fuck is that?” he snaps, pointing at my newest tattoo as he shoves me back into the room, pushing his way in. He shuts the door behind him, and I stumble back, almost falling on my ass, except the side table stops me. I grip it as I right myself and snap at Leo.
“What the fuck, dude!”
“Yeah, ‘what the fuck’ is right! What the fuck, Vincent? I haven’t seen or talked to you in a fucking month. You’ve been ignoring my fucking texts and calls. You have a new tattoo I know has something to do with her… What the hell happened?” His mention of the whole Essa situation has my blood boiling, so I stumble my way to the bed, specifically to the night stand where a bottle of bourbon sits. I swipe it up and bring it to my lips to chug it when it’s suddenly ripped from my grasp.
“Leo,” I growl. “Give it thefuckback!” I scream. I can’t fucking handle this. Ineedit. Everything hurts too fucking much without it.
“No, Vin.” He steps back and I advance on him.
“Give. Me. The fucking bottle, Leo. Now.” I’m not fucking around. If he doesn’t give me the fucking bottle, I might just fucking kill him.
“Fucking look at you, Vincent! Seriously. Get your ass in the bathroom and fuckinglook at yourself.” I stop my advancement at his words, and I annoyingly find myself moving to the bathroom. When I step over the threshold, the light flicks on automatically. The first thing my eyes are drawn too are the piles of clothes strewn about haphazardly, but what I see next has me freezing.
I catch my reflection in the mirror—at least, I think it’s my reflection.
But the person staring back at me doesn’t look like me. He appears sickly. Gaunt.Pathetic.
I stand stupefied, staring at my reflection, unable to look away. Only when Leo enters the bathroom behind me am I able to divert my eyes. Staring at myself is like staring at a fucking car crash. It’s horrendous, but Ican’tlook away.
“See what the fuck I mean, Vin. Fuckinglook at you.Look at what she did to you,” he says as he rests his hands on my shoulders from behind. The fact I’m naked should be awkward but it’s not.
“Don’t talk about her.” I try to sound stern, but I sound like a pathetic fucking excuse of a man. Weak.
“Something happened. You won’t tell me, but something did. Something bad to turn you into…this.” He gestures down my body. I follow his hand and stare at myself again—all of me. And he’s fucking right. I’m fucked up.
She fucked me up—again.
“You need to get your head out of your ass and get your shit together. But first, take a fucking shower. You fucking reek.” He nods and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
I step into the shower and turn the knob all the way to hot. My teeth chatter as the ice cold water hits me while I wait for it to warm. The heat soon seeps into me and becomes merely unbearable, but I need it. I need the fucking sting. It’s waking me up and refueling me with some much needed energy.
Energy I’m going to need for what’s coming next.
BecausenowI’m fucking pissed.
* * *
“Feel better?”Leo asks as I step out of the bathroom, the steam from the room billowing out from behind me.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Ah, so that’s a yes,” he chuckles. “Good. ‘Bout goddamn time you got your shit together.” I ignore him as I walk to my bag to grab some clothes to throw on. I don’t bother to cover myself up as I let the towel wrapped around my hips drop to the floor. I step into my boxers and then pull jeans on.
