BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

56 : Death

I'm so sorry

Picture : Cade
Music: The Script - Flares
Inspirational quote: "Where's Carl?" - The Walking Dead

If there was ever a moment in my life when I thought I'd die than this would be the fantastic reason to start the preparation of my funeral. I stumbled back away from Maximal even as my heart ached for the loss of my phone. Maximal was intimidating as ever, and he leaned forward, ready to pounce at me like a wild animal. "What do you want?" My voice mirrored my emotions and I sounded as scared as I felt.

"Just a chat," the smile he gave me didn't ease me. "What do you say, we go for a walk?"

"I say," I started slowly, my eyes darting around: to him, behind and back to connect my gaze with his own. My backpack slowly slid down my back, hanging off my arm. "You're crazy!" I threw my bag at his face and judging by the small surprise that reflected off his expression I could see he hadn't expected it.

A terrifying growl followed me as I raced blindly up the steps to the school. I almost slammed straight into Ethel if I hadn't gained back my sight and skidded to a stop. Her eyes were wild with hunger and her mouth opened abnormally, displaying horrifically enlarged and sharpened mismatched teeth.

I felt my chest deadened; my heart had given up.

"I'm so hungry," Ethel exclaimed in distress, almost sounding as if she was sobbing with distress.

"Oh, come on, Ethel, please. I have sandwiches in my bag. I don't taste good," I swallowed my pride and begged for my life even as the odds turned against me.

"Hungry," Ethel rasped lowly as she inched towards me, her yellow coat flapping behind her.

My bag landed at my feet and I spun around to face a scorning Maximal. "Running isn't a wise idea. My darling Ethel here is ravenous. Fasting for the past couple of days has reduced her self-control. Luckily for you she is my puppet. She abides my orders. Do as I say or I'll make you her next meal."

I inhaled quietly at his threat, thinking hard for an escape route but I drew up an despairing blank. "Okay. I'll walk with you. Let's go this way, shall we?"

Maximal wrapped an arm around my neck as he pulled me to his side, his head lowering to whisper harshly in my ear. "Quit the games. Tell me, what's your name?"

"Bea," I held a hand to his arm, attempting to keep a safe gap between his strong biceps and my weak, soft throat.

"I have a question for you, Bea," Maximal bared his teeth at me, light humour dancing in his eyes. "What is so special about you?"

"I don't understand. Is this - you cornered me to ask me a question?"

"Answer my question!" Maximal barked out in ill-temper.

"Okay! Okay, I, uh, what's so special about me? I don't know. I guess, I, nothing?"

Maximal gave me a face of scorn and I almost felt embarrassed and added. "The question is unexpected. I don't know what to say, not with the starving Oliver Twist over there and your wrestling grip."

"Are you trying to insult me?"

"No, I just think that we can have a talk without you strangling me, don't you think so, Maximal?"

I never thought of myself as a great talker but shockingly, Maximal let me go, nodding in agreement. "I'm trusting you not to run away."

"Of course not," I shook my head and swallowed as I judged the distance between the school gates and where I stood now.