BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

4 : Threats and Naked Bodies

I didn't go back to the forest the next day, I was too angry and annoyed at Deacon. It was a Friday and after eating dinner with Mum and Ellie, I made up an excuse about having a lot of homework and being tired. I left Mum and Ellie to watch a movie together while I was in bed before eight-thirty.

"It's not my problem," I told myself firmly as I snuggled up in my covers. "If he goes hungry, well, that's his fault. Maybe next time he wouldn't be so ungrateful."

Soon I was falling into a deep sleep and a horribly dark nightmare...

A foul stench lingered around the forest and against my better wishes pulled me in. The trees were gnarly and droopy, snagging on my clothes and scratching at my face as they seemed to be huddling together, glaring at me. The ground was hard and scattered with tiny grey rocks that made the upwards swoop harder to walk on, I tripped and fell to my knees. My hands were grazed and my knee caps stung, "Ow!" I lifted myself up and froze.

A large, terrifying, rusty-brown bear reared up on its hind legs, its mouth open in a vicious snarl, and it's teeth glistening in the moonlight as it roared at me.

I screamed loudly, crouching in a ball to protect myself from the on swipe of its claws. As I felt the wind change from where it swiped at me, my back felt a lot lighter and I risked a glance to see it had my backpack between its teeth, ripping it side to side as everything spilled out. It sniffed at my books before taking off with my sandwich and a half eaten packet of toffees.

I blinked, slowly standing up as I stared after it cautiously; waiting for it to come running back and maul me apart. It didn't. "Christ," I breathed out heavily, holding my hand to my stomach as I felt like I was going to heave at any moment. "Goddamnit!" I shouted as I picked up the shreds of my backpack, grimacing I threw the torn books and material down to the ground. There was no point trying to repair them.

"Help!"

I froze. "Hello?"

"Help...me,"

"Where are you?"

Their low pitiful voice called out again, and I sharply turned to the side, quickly heading off.

"I need you to call again," I shouted, and then I stopped, stumbling and gasping.

"Holy shit," I was so close to retching as the sunken eyes and hallow cheeks with dry lips looked up at me. "Oh God..."

"Help me please," Deacon called out to me, his voice dying. His body was malnourished and so thin I felt like I could break it with my gaze alone. "Water...I need water,"

"Wait," I scrambled to get my backpack only to remember the bear had wrecked my things. "Shit! I haven't got any water!"

"You said you were going to...to help," his eyes rolled back and he disappeared...

I woke up gasping, sweat rolling down my forehead as I fought desperately with my covers, emerging from the bed like someone who had been about to drown.

My breathing shot out and drew in faster than a bullet as I placed my hands on my knees, trembling as moments of the dream was remembered and highlighted. "Note to self; get yourself a straight jacket if you come back alive." I said before grabbing my shoes and coat and slipping quietly out of the door.

** ** ** ** **

It was five thirty in the morning, the birds weren't even up yet and the sun was yet to make an appearance. The sky was a dark dusky blue which was the reason I was behind a steady beam of light. I flickered my torch side to side as I made my way pass the houses, being extra careful of any sudden sound.