MONSTER

Monster (THE FINAL CHAPTER)

*WARNING! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ALL THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS, I PERSONALLY RECOMMEND YOU READ THEM BEFORE READING THIS CHAPTER*

Washington D.C.

June 13

2:03AM

Even by the morning, there was still no word on the location of Derns or his group. Local cops had last reported them going to the Lincoln Memorial around six-thirty the previous night. After that, nobody had witnessed where they went.

As a result of this, every member of that group had been filed as missing, and Chief Leonard had called back at the station to organize a search around the city. All the cops that could be utilized were searching grid method. But most helpful information had been provided by security cameras. After their suspected disappearance time, a total of fifteen vehicles had drove away within the hour, all of which were large enough to carry the group.

The FBI had finally been able to wrench the investigation away from Chief Leonard as a result of the disappearances. She and her team could still assist, of course, but it would be the FBI who would make thecall from now on. As soon as that happened, FBI agents had been placed in every hotel with students just in case.

But neither the FBI nor Chief Leonard knew how long Derns and the kids had.

CliveWood

7:55AM

For Derns, the trip was like an endless twilight. The ride to the school was surprisingly smooth, but had gone unnoticed by the fact everytime he woke up in the van, the figure would shoot a tranquilizer at him and the others. His mind felt like it was dipped in ice-cold water.

One of the last things he remembered before falling unconscious was seeing Mathew Bones gagged and tied up.

But now, he was free, in a manner of speaking. He was on the stage in the school auditorium, where the doors were bolted and shut closed. The special lights were on, pointing at him like he was a star. With the stage lit up, by contrast, as the rows of seats got farther, it got darker. The place was huge, so there was definitely a lot of things he couldn't see.

What he could see from the stage, was a television camera positioned in the center of the auditorium, facing him. Behind it, was a large blonde man, who seemed to be filming him. He seemed to be wearing gray gloves for some reason.

Derns had to think a moment before he realized who it was with surprise.

"You?" Derns cried incredulously.

Berthington raised his head so that Derns could see his face. The man looked tired.

"You're Monster?" Derns said. "But...Cooper and Garfield--"

"What are talking about?" Berthington asked, rubbing his face. "You got it wrong."

"I don't think so," Derns snapped.

"Listen, you got to listen to me: I'm not Monster!"Berthington cried out. "And if you are still unconvinced....why did I duct tape myself to a television camera?"

Derns blinked. What duct tape?

That's when he noticed the gloves weren't gloves; Berthington was right.