--=-Chapter 5: Smash it in the Fucking Face--=-

I walked up the ramp to the hospital entrance feeling extremely conspicuous. Something about it reminded me of a rule of burglary, as learned from Hollywood, "always pretend like you're exactly where you're supposed to be." Though, I wasn't sure that sentiment could be applied to glowing blue wolf-men. I couldn't very well grab a clipboard and pass myself off as a professional monster after all.

Hey, now, that might be a thought, I thought.

I was very lifelike, probably a byproduct of being alive, but I was also impossible. If I could keep my face still or develop some set patterns to give myself an animatronic look, I could potentially fool anyone who just stumbled upon me. Of course, It wouldn't work as well if, nightmare-made-flesh that I am, I stumbled upon them instead.

I wasn't going to learn much standing around, though. I'd have to lean on my superhero cosplay plan. I knew how to ham it up in a costume; I'd even done some clown work in high school. It would either work or it wouldn't.

Stepping into the doorway, I put my paws-hands on my hips and stood as straight-backed and square-shouldered as I could. The Peter Pan pose.

I turned my head and saw an empty lobby.

Well, there'd been no way to know, but better safe than sorry, as they say.

The lobby wasn't large. It has a long front desk and a single unisex bathroom. There were a few padded chairs against the wall by the entrance, but this was clearly more of a reception area than a waiting room.

If I remembered right, Nia's mom worked in the chapel as a minister. She probably visited patient rooms all over the hospital, though, so she could be anywhere. Nia's sister, Alice, was a surgeon and should be near the operating rooms. Jon would probably let Nia take the lead, so they'd presumably go looking for Nia's Mom, Kay.

That assumed Nia had any idea how to find her mom or sister in the hospital. I hadn't ever visited my mom's office anyway. Kay still seemed like the better bet. Even if Jon also decided it would be easier to find Alice, Nia probably wanted her mom at this moment. Then again, they'd both probably evacuated the hospital. I wasn't sure what Jon would do if that was the case.

There was a map on the wall by the desk; the claws of my feet clicked on the tile like a dog's as I walked toward it. My nose twitched; a scent I couldn't quite place tickled my senses. It dawned on me as I walked past the edge of the desk. I was smelling blood.

There was a body lying there. A pool of blood expanded out from where its head should be. A cold chill started behind my jaw and worked down my spine, nausea gripping me, and I wanted to run. Instead, I froze with dread and yammering denial.

My eyes flickered around, scanning the room; my ears twitched, listening for any sound that might forewarn danger. A drop of blood fell from above me, splattering in the pool of blood. My eyes flicked up, registering a shape on the ceiling.

It looked like some unholy cross between a person and a grasshopper. It was glowing like me, but the light was green– the same shade as the vortex wall. It had no clothes, only pale skin like a corpse. It was almost human-shaped around the shoulders and hips, except its four limbs were slender and insectile—but with 3 fingered 'hands.' Its oblong body was about the size of a golden retriever and mostly featureless. It didn't have a neck or distinct head. Instead, it had a maw at one end, like a lamprey, with a pale eye flanking it on either side. Each eye took up nearly half its pseudo-head and bulged out, probably giving it 360-degree vision. Three of its four limbs were against the ceiling. Holding it to the drop ceiling in a way I would have thought impossible. Its body was tilted, one eye looking straight at me, as it stuffed a bloody globule into its circular maw with surprisingly dexterous fingers, each one clawed.

Blanching, I tried to backpedal and run. My feet slipped and skidded, and when I struck the ground, I thought I had just tripped.

Then my senses started catching up and reporting.

The thing had leaped at me. In a blink, it had smashed into my chest, teeth first, before immediately jumping away. I scrambled to get back on my feet and bring it back into my line of sight.

My chest screamed where it had hit me, and I looked down briefly to see a ragged wound the size of a baseball bitten into my flesh. I was surprised to see actual blood and muscle, not just blackness, though both were very dark in the blue light of my fur.

The creature was adjusting its feet; I backed away, holding my wound, and looked for something to use as a weapon. Its pale eyes were lidless and blended neatly with its similarly pale flesh. It almost looked eyeless. It was like a giant Slenderman version of a grasshopper.

Even though its eyes were indistinct, I could tell it was tracking me, hunting me by watching its body. Readying itself to jump, it contracted its limbs, further increasing its resemblance to a grasshopper.

I started running away at an angle to it, hefting my bag onto my shoulder. I was watching it, trying to be ready to dodge. My only idea was to get one of the chairs from near the doors; it was the closest thing to a weapon I could see.

With a snap, the giant cryptid flung itself at me.

I threw myself out of the way, but it was either a feint or bad aim; it would have missed me even if I hadn't dodged.

It hit the wall behind me and immediately kicked off, flying at my back. I was still wrong-footed and couldn't get out of the way a second time. There was a sharp pain as its speed and weight hammered its maw of razors right below my shoulder blade. I opened my mouth, letting out a mental scream I couldn't voice, and my vision whited out for a moment.

I was thrown to the floor. The creature had once again leaped away immediately after striking.

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Panic was rising in me. I knew I'd be whimpering if I could make any sound.

And once again, I was scrambling to get my feet beneath me, trying desperately to make it back outside. The creature hit me again before I could do either. While I was still reeling, it hit me a fourth time. There was a sharp pain with each strike, a fire that begged for screams I couldn't make. Only my panic was keeping me from being overwhelmed by pain. I had heard that people scream because it's a natural pain reliever. I didn't know if that was true, but I wished I could have at least tried.

At this point, I was just lying in a fetal position covering myself with my arms and legs as best as I could, but dark red blood was beginning to pool around me.

"Oberon! Oberon!" I heard a voice say. And I heard footsteps as someone came running. I didn't know what they were saying—or if it was even English. I didn't know if they would understand me even if I could speak.

I couldn't help them. I couldn't warn them to run. I Couldn't even whimper or do anything except look pitiful.

The feet came skidding to a stop in front of me. They looked familiar. They were small, and they were also glowing green like the vortex.

More trouble? I wondered, feeling weakness growing in my limbs.

"Oberon," her voice was surprised, "What happened?" And now I recognized it. It was Nia. What was she doing here, and why was she calling me Oberon? Did I accidentally dress up as an actual superhero? That would be weird.

I felt weak, but I tried to get up. Nia was going to be killed standing over me.

It was impossible, futile.

I collapsed back into a heap, hardly able to move. I managed to reposition myself enough to be able to see Nia. If I could catch her eye, I could maybe warn her. But she wasn't looking at me. She was already tracking the monster grasshopper. Slowly, she leaned down to grab the backpack strap I was still holding without looking away.

"Let me borrow this," she said, taking the bag from my weak grip. Her whole body had a glowing green aura—softer than mine or the grasshopper's—but still clearly visible. She also had horns growing from her head and what looked like green bat wings curled up at her back.

Her eyes were locked on the danger, and she mumbled as though repeating something she'd been told. "Wait till it crouches, then..." I was exhausted and dreading what was about to happen. She was right by the exit; she could get out.

Run! This isn't a magic fucking school, and you aren't a fucking wizard. Children shouldn't fight monsters!

I wanted to scream my thoughts at her. I wanted to rage at her stupidity, she didn't even know me, and I was bleeding out anyway. Maybe if she were a doctor or a vet, but that was 20 years down the road. I didn't want her help.

With another effort of will, I tried to pull myself together. I should be able to do this! I screamed at myself as my body failed to listen. I just needed to get her out the door. It would leap any moment.

Its legs contracted, and I knew I had failed.

Then I saw Nia's grip on the backpack tighten, and she began to turn. Her back to the monster, it leaped, and I could only watch.

Spinning, she brought the bag whipping up and around her to collide hard with the creature in mid-air.

Her swing sent the monster grasshopper flying across the room, and I felt my mouth fall open in surprise.

Nia stumbled as she stopped her spin, but only for a moment. The next moment she dropped my bag and began sprinting across the lobby. Grabbing one of the padded chairs by the door as Nia lifted it to her shoulder and ran at the monster. She wielded her weapon as though it were a light pillow, not a heavy wooden chair with padded leather seats that it actually was.

The creature didn't manage to get its feet under it before Nia brought the chair, smashing down on top of it, crushing its head in a splatter of black gore that also glowed green.

"Then smash it in the fucking face," Nia said, completing the sentence she began at the start.

Wait till it crouches.

Nia ran to the desk that hid the body. When she got there, she squeezed her eyes shut in a complex mix of emotions. I wondered if they had been someone she knew. I supposed I'd probably never know. My limbs weren't responding at all anymore. My breathing was ragged and weak. My eyes followed Nia as she walked back toward me.

"Oh, Oberon. What happened?" She asked again as she crouched down in front of me and patted me between my ears, gently scratching the top of my head like I was a dog.

"I'm sorry; it'll be over soon. I wish I could help you. I wish Alice had lived. I hate having to do this alone. People don't listen. Please, Oberon, please save my sister next time; I need..." But she was right; my end was coming. Her words felt more distant by the moment, and now I couldn't focus enough to hear more than a murmur.

What a random existence

I had a moment to realize that's the same thought I had the last time I'd—.

—The paralyzing weight of imminent death vanished.

I was back in the car. The fever dream of a moment ago was gone. The weak limbs; the burning pain; the feelings of despair; all of it was gone. Again.

Locked in the back seat behind me, Nia began to scream.

--=-

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