Monster.
That was the name her parents had called her that morning. Rachel went downstairs to greet her mom, just as she always did every morning. But everything felt different… She was a little taller than she remembered, though that wasn’t uncommon; growth spurts happened. Rachel’s first thought was that maybe being taller would finally convince her mom to let her help in the kitchen more.
As Rachel found her mom, she expected her to mark her height on the wall like always. However, when she called out to her, Rachel’s expression turned to one of pure horror.
“Monster!”
‘What did I do?’ was all Rachel could think. Why did her mom call her a monster? Was it because she had stayed up too late? Because she didn’t listen sometimes? Her dad had reacted the same way that morning. Rachel’s mom took one look at her face and screamed. Tears streamed down her eyes as she reached for a kitchen knife to defend herself.
“I’m your daughter… I’m Rachel!” she yelled, something she rarely did as it was rude. She tried to walk over to her mom. She was scared and confused why her mom was so afraid of her. Tears began to fill in her multiple eyes as her mom couldn’t bear to look at her. Rachel’s mom even tried to stab her with a knife. Rachel remembered how her mom had always said knives were dangerous, that she was too young to use one properly…
The same thing happened with her dad. He rushed over at the commotion, screaming and calling her a monster too… W-why? Why don’t they see me as their daughter? Her dad tried to shoot her with the family rifle but ended up injuring himself as the bullet ricocheted into his arm. Something similar happened with her mom. She lunged to stab her, the blade bounced off Rachel’s skin, cutting her mom’s hand and sending her to the floor. Rachel tried to help her mom, but both parents cried out in fear, calling her a monster and saying she had killed their daughter. Rachel tried to reach out to them, hoping they’d hug her and explain what was happening. No matter how much she cried, saying she was Rachel, her parents looked at her in terror. “You killed our daughter and are possessing her!”
How could I be dead when I’m right here?
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Rachel wandered through the forest near her village. She didn’t want her mom and dad to cry or hurt themselves anymore. “What happened that made them afraid of me?” As Rachel wandered, she eventually found a stream. Thirsty and having eaten nothing all day, she took a much needed break. As she walked to the stream and saw some berries, Rachel thought about how her mom usually made her lunch right about now. She imagined walking through the door to see her behind the counter. Rachel shook her head she cupped the water in her hands, she wanted to remember the good times she had with mom and dad, instead of that morning. It was then that she saw herself for the first time all day.
Rachel screamed in terror. What looked back at her wasn’t her. Her face was dark like leather, adorned with two additional, multi-colored eyes around her cheek. The eyes blinked independently and at different intervals, she had no control over them and that terrified the girl. Did something take over her?! The worst part was her mouth. It now had slits around her lips, as if her jaw could open like a hatch. Inside her mouth were ribbons of teeth cascading downward, and even her tongue no longer looked normal, residing in an endless abyss. Her skin appeared hollow and almost husk-like. She looked distorted. Like a walking corpse, or a living nightmare. Lingering in her mind was a single world: inhuman.
“W-w-w-what happened?”
Rachel looked at her hands, trembling. They were small and still looked like hers, yet the figure in the water looked nothing like her. The only thing they shared was the same blonde hair. Falling to her knees, tears flowed down her cheeks as she finally realized she would never see her parents’ smiling faces again when she came home.
Dad would no longer laugh or suggest we do something together when he had spare time. I wouldn’t have to stay up late to hang out with him when his job kept him out all day. I wouldn’t have my mom scold me when I forgot to take out the trash. I would no longer be there to say good morning when my mom woke up and made breakfast. All the times I picked fights with my mom over stupid inconveniences, chores, or not doing my schoolwork flooded my mind. All the times I complained about my mom's dinner, wishing for something else. My mom telling me to study more and to grab my laundry on time lingered in my thoughts. There was nothing I could say to them now. No way to apologize for the things I said in anger. I was unable to ask for help with dinner. Who would help me with my homework? Who was going to tuck me in? What if I had a nightmare? My final memories of them were their screams as they hurt themselves, them bleeding on the ground scared... Like a floodgate, Rachel sobbed as the cruel reality set in
I will never be able to see them again.
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Rachel lay on the forest floor, her stomach rumbling. She imagined coming home to her favorite meal. Something like pancakes or grilled cheese with soup sounded perfect right now. Rachel wanted to cry, but her throat was already raspy having done that for days now. Shaking her head, she decided she didn’t want to cry anymore. Instead, she would wander and hope to find some kind of fruit or something. Animals eat fruits, so she could too.
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“WHAT THE FUCK!” A hunter ran away, his bullets bouncing off her effortlessly as he scrambled from her. He left all his gear and food behind. Rachel smiled as she finally had something to eat after a few days.
She found a cave to stay in as a heavy storm thundered behind her. Her clothes were damp and her hair was knotted. While the cave was damp and not as nice as her room, it was better than sleeping outside. The roar echoing from inside the cave scared the eight-year-old girl. She had nowhere to run anymore. Sensing an intruder, a large grizzly bear approached her. It's body surveying her in a circle, as if to find a weak spot.
“I… can’t go anywhere. Please let me stay, Mr. Bear,” Rachel pleaded, her multiple eyes looking down at the floor. As the bear lunged forward it raised its claws slashing at Rachel. As it collided, the bears claws shattered. A pool of blood spurted over her now darkened gown and the cave wall behind her. The bear screamed in agony as a trail of blood followed it.
Sensing danger the bear went on the offensive again and tried to bite her In the neck. Rachel ran over to hug the bear in an effort to keep it from hurting itself more. “No, stop! PLEASE!”
CRUNCH.
The bear stopped moving. Despite being just an eight-year-old girl, Rachel snapped its spine like it was nothing. Standing over the lifeless corpse, Rachel's hands and body began to shake uncontrollably as it gradually set in what had happened. The soft hum of the rain alongside the echoing of thunder resonated the now silent cave. As Rachel stared at the dead bear, tears flowed down her cheeks. Rachel was just as her parents had called her. She was a monster.
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“Hello?”
Rachel was sleeping in her cave when the sound of a voice echoed. She sighed mentally, knowing it would be another person who would run away. Maybe they’d have some food. Rachel didn’t want to kill the animals she called her friends. Sitting off in the corner of the cave was a girl close to her age with a small sketchbook. She had short, chestnut brown hair and wide, tea-red eyes. Rachel sat silently as the girl began drawing the forest. By accident, Rachel moved, knocking over a rock and startling her unexpected guest.
“S-sorry!” Rachel said, startling the girl even more.
“Someone’s there?” she asked, not running away yet.
Stepping into the cave, a small light from the sun gave the girl some light Rachel slowly approached her. Her blonde hair was matted with webs and dirt from her time in the wilderness. “Umm, are you okay?” the girl asked, surprised to find someone living in a cave.
Rachel's eyes widened in shock. “Aren’t you going to run away?” she asked, expecting the girl to fear her and call her a monster like everyone else. Usually her voice scared them more then her face.
The girl looked at her for a moment before smiling. “Why would I? You talk and look normal enough…” Rachel realized the girl couldn’t see her well and could hear her voice was human. The girl smiled innocently. “I’m Sophie! I came here to draw; I didn’t expect to run into someone else.” Sophie laughed, amazed that someone else would be this deep in the forest.
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“...Rachel,” she said softly. It had been so long since someone viewed her as anything but a monster. Even her own parents were scared of her. Part of Rachel was terrified this moment would end if Sophie saw her for what she really was.
“Let’s be friends!” she beamed, and the girl smiled at Rachel, ignoring the monster across from her. Can something like me be allowed to have this? Rachel thought. As she calmed down, Sophie waved her goodbye. “Will you come back?” Rachel asked softly, feeling that this happiness was too good to be true.
Sophie nodded. “Yup! I’ll even bring you food so you can stop surviving off berries!” Sophie beamed as she packed her things. She left a sketchbook for Rachel to play with while she was away. “It’s a promise.”
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Over the next few weeks, Sophie began visiting Rachel every day. Since Rachel lived in the forest, Sophie snuck food from the orphanage to her. As Sophie drew the landscapes around the cave she called home, she’d leave Rachel some art supplies so she wouldn’t get bored. Rachel actually looked forward to waking up every day. She pushed aside her fear that Sophie would one day see her properly and never return. For now, she was happy, happy for the first time since she woke up like this.
One day, as they spent time in the cave Rachel called home, Sophie finally asked a question that had been on her mind. “How come you live out here all alone?” she asked, looking up at the setting sun. “You could come back with me to town. The orphanage is kind of cramped, but I’m sure they’d love to take you in if you don’t have a family…”
Rachel's body stiffened at the mention of her family. The horrified images of her parents flashed through her mind regularly. She couldn’t keep lying to Sophie; she didn’t want her to get in trouble if someone found her here.
“I’m… not normal. I don’t have my family anymore... because of how I am…” she finally admitted.
Sophie’s eyes widened at the revelation. “How come? You don’t seem different. Apart from living in a cave I guess.”
Rachel flinched but steeled her resolve. Getting close to Sophie, she revealed her face in its entirety. Her eyes began to water as she knew this was the end, but it was better this way. Silently Sophie looked her in the eyes for a solid minute before she smiled.
“You have really pretty hair!”
…
Rachels expression morphed as her cascading lips quivered, meanwhile Sophie beamed as she talked about how she should wash it more and that being in a cave must make it all matted and dirty. Like a dam breaking, Rachel began to cry. Her cry turned into a sob much to Sophie’s worried look. “Ah, Rachel, please don’t cry!” Sophie panicked as Rachel let out everything she had carried. Even if she no longer looked it, deep in her heart, she was still the same girl she had been months ago. Somehow, Sophie must’ve seen that when nobody else did…
Sophie hugged the scared girl reassuringly, her hand rubbing the back of her long blonde hair as Rachel sobbed into her. Rachel didn’t hug her back, fearing she’d break her only friend.
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“You’re so strong!” Sophie beamed as she watched Rachel uproot a tree. Over the past month, Rachel had begun to understand her newfound abilities more. Her skin seemed indestructible, and she was incredibly strong; Sophie had so much fun with it. Rachel learned to control her strength so she wouldn’t hurt her best friend.
Sophie showed Rachel her drawing, a crayon sketch of Rachel holding a tree. The girl giggled, knowing she could have drawn a better picture if she wanted. “My hair looks like straw!” she laughed. The two enjoyed the silly drawing; for the first time since the beginning of this curse, Rachel felt truly happy.
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“Why are you always going into that forest?” the head of the orphanage asked Sophie. She had noticed that the precocious girl ran to the forest every day. While not forbidden, it was strange, given the rumors of monsters lurking in the woods outside Shale Cove. Sophie had promised not to tell anyone about Rachel, fearing people might try to chase her away again. Between that and the rumors of her stealing food, the head of the orphanage found this behavior odd. Sophie was typically unproblematic, but now she had become strange over the past two months.
“I like to feed the animals!” She lied. “It’s also nice to draw in the woods…”
The head of the orphanage had a feeling there was more to it but had no evidence. “I see… Please don’t use the dinner food for the animals, Sophia; we have a limited amount as it is,” she scolded.
“Kaaaaay,” Sophie relented, knowing she would sneak food to Rachel anyway. “I’m going to go draw now.”
Sophie walked off with her sketchbook, the head of the orphanage looking at her incredulously. “Why would she bring a second sketchbook if she was just going to feed animals and draw by herself…”
“Sorry I’m late,” Sophie apologized as she arrived, dumping the contents of her backpack. She had brought Rachel some cooked eggs, toast, and fruit. “The mother was asking me about sneaking food…”
Rachel's eyes narrowed at the food. “Did you get in trouble?” She didn’t want her best friend to get in trouble for her sake. “My mom used to yell at me sometimes too… Usually, it was because I was doing something I shouldn’t have.” Rachel's voice broke as she wished she could return to those days again.
“Hmm… When I get adopted, maybe the family that takes me will let me have you come with us too!” Sophie beamed, hoping to cheer her up. “I’m sure when they see you're a normal girl like me, they’ll want you too!”
Rachel cried into her hands, unsure if it was sadness or happiness at the thought that she might no longer live in this damp cave, part of her deep down still hoped that she might one day get to be normal again.
“Sophia?” a voice called. Sophie gasped as the head of the orphanage, who had questioned her, was now in the forest looking for her.
“Sophi—AHHHHH!” The woman screamed at the sight of Sophie with her arms around something… distorted, inhuman. “Sophia, back away now!” she panicked. Rachel felt a shiver run down her spine. She sat there, paralyzed as her worst fear consumed her.
“No! She is my friend!” Sophie said, stepping between them.
“Dear Lord in heaven… This poor child is already lost,” the head of the orphanage pleaded, tears in her eyes. She hugged her necklace, praying someone would save that girl. As Sophie stood between them, the woman rushed over to take Sophie away. Dodging the attempt to ‘save’ her, Sophie grabbed Rachel's hand and began to flee into the forest
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“It’s true! The rumors of the monster are true!” The distraught head of the orphanage cried as the town guards and mayor listened. They listened to her tale, their mouths agape. The rumors of a monster outside Shale Cove had existed for months. Hunters had gone missing and been found dead, horrific expressions on their faces. Now, the respectable head of the orphanage confirmed it.
“Sir… we can’t ignore it, especially since it’s taken a child into its clutches,” the head guard said.
The mayor, an elderly man with a bushy mustache, sighed deeply. “No, we don’t know what we’re dealing with… I will phone the military. I pray that the poor child escapes its clutches. Hopefully, they will arrive by nightfall.” The mayor knew the child was likely lost but hoped she’d escape.
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“Just a little longer, Rachel…” Sophie said encouragingly. It was nightfall as they wandered through the forest. Sophie had explored much of the woods during her drawing outings, so she led the way.
“Why…” Rachel asked softly, unable to believe that Sophie had chosen to protect her instead of siding with the orphanage.
“Hmm? Because we’re friends!” Sophie laughed. “Oh! We’re here.”
In front of them stood an abandoned Chroma mine. Wooden boards and cart tracks lined the entrance, attempting to deter trespassers. “We can hide out here, at least until the town gets bored and stops following us.”
Rachel was at a loss for words; maybe it was an unspoken flicker of hope. She wanted to believe it would work, that they might be allowed to return to normal. Sophie bringing her snacks, plays with her, laughing, and smiling.
That a monster like me could be allowed to be happy again…
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9:30 p.m
“Thank you for arriving on such short notice,” the mayor said, bowing slightly as a group of two men and a woman stood before him. They were dressed in black military uniforms, gold trim with matching epaulettes on their shoulders.
“Of course. A child being abducted by an Eldritch is… unheard of. But rest assured, we will slay it and bring the little girl back,” James Blackthorn smiled reassuringly. His muscular body was riddled with scars, and his blonde hair had wisps of black along the sides, his bangs draped his forehead. A black eyepatch covered his right eye. Hanging over his black uniform was a lime-green overcoat.
“Thank you… Yes, thank you so much,” the head of the orphanage said, tears forming in her eyes. As she clutched her necklace, James took the opportunity to eye the woman’s body, a shallow smirk spreading across his face. Maybe I’ll get another reward when this is over.
Charles was a younger man with spiky black-purple hair that jutted to the sides, he was wearing a white-blue respiratory mask that covered his bottom face. The younger soldier sighed at their leader for not-so-subtly ogling the nun-clad woman.
“He’s the same as ever…” Eliza rolled her eyes.
Eliza was a young woman in her early twenties with dark green hair tied into a bun and a military cap, wore a black double breasted dress-styled uniform with red leggings and stiletto boots. Strapped to her waist was a small pistol, along with a dark brown high-caliber rifle whose leather strap wrapped around her chest.
Watching their leader leer at the woman, Charles shrugged casually. “Women love a man in uniform.”
Wrapping his coat around himself, James was ready to begin. The three soldiers faced the town gate, heading toward the forest; they were guided by a couple town guards. Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Rachel and Sophie began to walk through the mine shaft. James had a wicked grin on his face as his team set out. “By the end of the night, we’ll rid you of that monster!”