Page 15 of The Monsters Within

“Hi.” Blinking away the tears that threatened to fall, I stared at the little girl in front of me.

“Charlie, this is my sister Rose. Remember me telling you about her?” Thorne pulled the little girl into his lap. Again, I found myself staring at my brother. He told this little girl about me?

“That means she’s my sister too!” Charlie seemed excited about the idea of me being her sister. Until Sam doused her excitement.

“Remember what we talked about? Kytten gets to decide if she wants to be in our family.”

“But why wouldn’t she? I’m lots of fun,” Charlie said.

I would have smiled, but I was stuck on Sam’s words.

‘Kytten gets to decide if she wants to be in our family.’

“And we have babies coming!” Charlie added.

“Charlie, Kytten just got here yesterday. Give her some time,” Sam said. I looked up at her.

“Kytten, are you ok?”

I blinked back the tears that had begun to fall. My voice was harsh, raspy, when I finally said, “I need Cash.”

“Go get Cash, Mimic.” Sam took Charlie, and Thorne got in my face.

“Why is Kytten crying, Momma?” Charlie asked.

“Rosebud? What’s wrong?” He was frowning at me. What did I do wrong that he was frowning? Was he mad at me?

“I need Cash,” I whispered.

“Mimic, go get Cash. Now,” Sam pressed. “It’s ok, honey. Cash will be here in just a minute.”

Everyone was looking at me, but I couldn’t move. I wanted to leave. I didn’t want to be here on display while I was losing it. My fingers scratched at my legs. They were waking up.

I needed Cash.

“Kytten, stop.” Sam grabbed my hands and placed them on her belly. “Feel that.”

Her babies were moving. They rolled under my hand. Teary eyes looked back at me. Why was Sam crying? What was I doing wrong? I wanted to ask her about the baby she was naming Rose, but I couldn’t form words.

All at once, the monsters stopped as strong arms wrapped around me. “I’m here, baby. What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. I couldn’t talk in front of these people. They were strangers.

“Talk to me, Rose.” His hands cradled my face and searched my eyes. “Someone get Mellie,” he called out.

“NO!” I dipped my head. “The mountain.”

It was all I could get out. The only words that escaped from the lump that had formed in my throat.

“Ok, Rosie. Let’s go for a ride.”

He picked me up and carried me outside to his bike. With my helmet on, I settled behind him, and he roared off.

My head was pressed against his back. But I couldn’t feel him. I needed to feel him. I reached up and removed my helmet, throwing it onto the road.

“Christ, Rosie. What the fuck are you doing?”

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I pressed my forehead between his shoulders. Cash grounded me. He kept the monsters back.