Monsters & Fairytales (5 page)

“Whoa.” I said aloud.

When I opened my eyes, everything was still blurry. I squeezed them closed again as quickly as possible. I couldn’t have slept that long. My eyes were hurting, though. It was as if I hadn’t used them in weeks. Not that I’d really know what that would feel like, but I imagined this was pretty close. What time was it anyway?
             

With another few blinks, the fuzziness went away. I sat up and got a head rush. I rubbed my temples then threw my legs in front of me. I felt funny. I was sitting on something. I reached under me and grabbed my socks. They were in my pockets. That’s strange. Why would I even have pockets in my
pajamas? The more I
looked,
I saw I was wearing jean shorts. What else was going on in this place?
             

Setting my socks down, I stood up and surveyed the room. My bandana was on the pillow. It had a teal streak on it. I touched my hair; did I really fall asleep with the bandana on? How did my hair bleed? Did I sweat in this outfit last night? That’s insane. I couldn’t have even slept in it.

I remembered picking out these clothes before I went to sleep. I remembered trying them on, but I had taken everything back off. I put on pajamas. I know I had been excited about meeting the neighbors, but I couldn’t have been that excited.
             

Picking up my glasses from the desk, the sweat pants I usually wore to bed were laying on the floor. This was seriously strange. However, I didn’t want to wear jean shorts all day after sleeping in them, so I changed into the sweat pants and stretched my legs. I noticed my hair tie and some bobby pins were lying next to where my glasses had been. I froze mid-stretch. Everything that I would have worn to bed was laid out as if I had never touched it last night. Sighing, I grabbed the hair tie and put my hair back into a messy bun. My bangs slowly fell down and tickled my nose. Using the bobby pins, I secured them off above my left ear.
             

Smoothing out the bumps, I pulled the bun tight and then turned and smiled at Spike. He was staring at me. His tail was wagging full force. He knew what my getting ready meant. I was going to let him outside. I opened my bedroom door and he dashed out. He kept circling back, hoping I was going in the correct direction. He was so adorable, my beautiful puppy. I patted his head as he passed by again. He galloped off and around the hall to the sliding glass door. I checked the clock before following him. It was just past seven-thirty. What was going on here? How was I up this early?
             

I looked at Spike waiting by the door; he kept looking at my hands then looking at the handle. He seemed not to notice things were a bit off this morning. It only made it weirder for me. Well, the day had started, no use worrying now. I unlocked the door but before it was even wide enough, Spike forced himself through. It about knocked me over. The door was completely open now at least. I don’t know how this dog wasn’t covered in broken bones and bruises. Can dogs bruise?
             

The wind hit me in the face like a brick. It was warming up. Time just kept flying by. Spring was nearing. I hated it. I wished that winter would repeat itself. Having a miserable, crappy, cold season just seemed fitting. Not this beautiful, life giving, all awakening season that was coming up.

Spike went zooming across the backyard stretching his legs. I laughed silently to myself. It was good seeing him happy, even if it were before noon. So much has happened this past month; he deserved some time to be a dog.

Suddenly, both of us stopped in a second. There was a creak from a door somewhere. Why would the neighbors ruin this beautiful moment for us? I whistled to hurry him up and remind him what he was doing out there. I would have just left him alone out here and gone back inside, but if I did that then he’d jump into the lake after the ducks.
             

Crazy dog, I was in no shape to be standing outside like this. Whoever opened their door was going to see me. Once they realized I was standing outside, they’ll do whatever it takes to strike up a conversation. It’ll all be just a part of their plan to ask about my mother, Rida, since none of them went to her funeral. Then, out of courtesy, they’ll ask about me as if I wasn’t capable of being okay. Well, I was okay. I was fine. I just didn’t want to talk about it. I was okay never talking to another human being ever again.

I whistled again and reluctantly Spike came trotting back up. He stopped when he reached the patio. I heard another creak. Where was this person? Spike’s fur started to stand up and I could hear his low growl. Goose bumps flourished up my arms and neck when I realized he was backing up from me. I started to feel sick. I was very much aware now that someone was standing behind me, inside my house.

With every fiber of my being, I threw myself out of the house and shot around to face the intruder. My arms instantly wrapped around Spike’s neck. They were ready to unleash him at any second. He moved his legs into protect mode.

“Who are you?” I hissed.

“Please, do not be afraid. I am not here to harm you.”

There was just a voice, no person.

“That didn’t answer my question. Why are you hiding?” I raised my voice.

Suddenly, having my neighbors come outside didn’t seem like such a bad idea after all. Yes, I could carry a conversation with them today. Please come out. Come see the panic I am in and help me. That would be really swell, yes.

“I do not wish to frighten you.”

“Oh that’s real convincing. Glad you didn’t just sneak up behind me in my own house, then.”

“Mirabelle, please.
You must understand that you brought me back. You seem to be incapable of forgetting me. I can’t be away from you if you can’t forget me.”

“Forget you? I don’t even know you! How do you know my name?” I asked lowering my voice; I wanted to talk to him now.

He intrigued me. I couldn’t decide if he was lying or not. I mean, how else would he know my name? Was he just trying to scare me? If I could just see his face, maybe that would help the situation. Spike was already trying to get closer so I took a step forward, only one, though. I had to plant my feet again to stop Spike from rushing forward. He wanted to kill this intruder. I hoped the sight of Spike’s eagerness made whoever it was terrified.
             

The sun was out of my eyes at this point. I could see into the house more clearly. With the clarity came fear. I was terrified. There was a beast staring at me. He had massive wings curled behind his shoulders, legs of a dog, and violet eyes. I knew those eyes. There was something different about them, I couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
             

I felt a flush inside my body that echoed up and out of my head. I saw
it,
those eyes had changed to a blood-like maroon
It had been in my apartment.
That meant he wasn’t lying! What was going on here? I hadn’t been to my apartment yet, had I? My head
hurt.
This thing, this beast was an intruder. He had attacked me at my apartment and now he brought me here to cut me up and eat me. I took a step back. Spike was reluctant. He didn’t want to kill him, he wanted to greet him. Spike, no, he’s evil!

“I would never eat you. That’s absurd. And I am not evil.” He mumbled the last part.

“What? Mind reader!? That’s crossing a line!” I yelled.

“Mirabelle, please, come inside. We can’t afford to have other people see us.” He held his hand out.

“Ha! For a mind reader you sure skipped over that first part.” I raised my eyebrow. “And it’s Mira, not Mirabelle.”

“Mira, forgive me. But please, I will explain everything once you are out of earshot of others. You shouldn’t feel unsafe with your guard protecting you.”

The creature had a tinge of sarcasm to his words. Was he mocking Spike? Could he tell that his temper calmed too? This was bad, this was very bad. Spike, focus!
             

I watched him step back to give Spike and me enough room to walk into the doorway. Spike was eager to fill the gap; I, myself, was not so willing. With my hands on Spike’s collar, we wiggled into the doorway. Every step was a struggle to keep Spike from attacking the beast with kisses. It was pathetic and laughable. I felt stupid. Nevertheless, I had to keep my ground.
             

I hunched back down and wrapped my arms around Spike once we made it on the carpet. I was directly in front of the glass door. I made sure part of my back was sticking out. I wanted to know at any given second that it was still open. It was my only safe exit, I couldn’t lose that. I positioned Spike in front of me then looked up to the beast. He was quite a sight.

“Explain yourself.” I whispered.

“What do you mean?” He asked, completely confused.

“Why did you attack me in my apartment yesterday?
Today?
Yesterday?”
I blurted
out.

“I didn’t attack you. I was protecting you.”

“From the big, bad, scary monster outside of my window?”

“Mira, there are far greater things in this world to fear than myself. If I wanted to harm you, don’t you think I would have? Rather I bring you home to start your day over without me in it.”

“No, not really.
Taking me back here where there aren’t close neighbors and thus more freedom to cut me up sounds better.”

“How does that sound better?” He raised his eyebrow.

“Okay, so not better, but more believable.”

“You are ridiculous. I told you I was protecting you. Do you remember when you fell in the fountain at the park? There were men in a blue truck just below the fire escape. That’s what you had been staring at right before you fell.”

“Yes, so
... ?”

He raised his eyebrow at me. It was weird seeing him give a human emotion in that aspect.

“Those men were the ones that set it all up. You really couldn’t tell how perfect it all fit into place? Why else would your protector from God be here?”

I started laughing. He couldn’t be serious. This was a joke.

“So wait, you were there to protect me from potential burglars? Oh no, I get it, you’re my guardian angel!”

I gasped to show false enthusiasm. He nodded his head.

“Seriously?
That’s what you’re trying to tell me? God thought I needed saving from potential burglars and not from almost dying in a fountain? You’re pathetic.”

I was crying and laughing. After everything I’ve been through, God, oh merciful God, sends me an angel not when I’m at the brink of death, but when I’m potentially getting robbed, because that’ll do me so much good. It was unbelievable.

“How dare you mock your God like
that!
” His voice echoed in the bulk of his chest.

“He’s no better than you. You call yourself a guardian angel, and He calls himself God? You’re both liars and cowards.” I hissed.

My tears were pouring out of my eyes so fast they were stinging. He didn’t seem to understand what to do with
himself
. He just stared at me. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or determined to prove me wrong. I didn’t really care either way, at this point.

“I am your guardian angel, and He is your God. He has done everything in his power to keep you safe and send me whenever you need me most.”

“Really?”

I was furious now. My body shivered with rage. How dare
he
! Who was he to say this to me?
I couldn’t even focus. I just wanted to rip him apart and feed his body to Spike.

“Why does that bother you so much, that I am your guardian angel? I thought you humans wanted us around? I have heard so many stories and wishes of us.”

I held back the laughter in my throat. I had to control myself. I couldn’t reach my breaking point. Breathe Mirabelle, breathe. I can handle him.

“You are no guardian angel and I never wanted you. Besides, I am safe now, oh Great One, you can leave.” I whispered so threateningly, Spike cowered back behind me.

“This is how you thank me?” He whispered it right back. He was insulted. I didn’t care.

“Yeah, very convincing.
Thanks for protecting me from the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. You sure have perfect timing.”

I was crying again. I hadn’t realized I stopped at all. My cheeks were hot and my hands were shaking. I was having a difficult time holding in my true emotions.

“Your car is at the apartment.” He mumbled hanging his head. Was this defeat?

“I’ll call a cab. Leave, now. You have done enough.”

I walked forward some and sat down on the stool to my left. I crossed my arms across my chest and watched him. The sliding glass door was wide open. He had the perfect route to just walk out of my life forever. That was the whole reason he was here in the first place anyways.

“Mira, please, you do not understand-”

He stopped his sentence short. I watched him take those steps closer to the door. Was he actually going to leave? He stopped right in front of me. There was hesitation in his eyes. Was he really going to try to say goodbye? Did he think anything could make this better? His hand reached out for mine. I just sat there and watched his black, human-like hand touch my fingers. His nails were such a black that it seemed almost dark green up close. They were long and round. When I realized he was touching me, I jumped up and pushed him away. That seemed to be my breaking point.