EPISODE THREE
A Monster’s Truth
“Is all she said true”?
“Is it”?, Margaret turned to me with those eyes drowned in tears.
“Yes”, I told her the blank truth whilst trying to stay calm. “You’re a beacon Margaret and the faster we solve you, the better for us.”
“I do not want to be solved”, she broke off from me heading into the crowd at the busy square.
“Margaret! Margaret!”, I yelled out. “Please come back! We can sort this.”
There was no reply, neither was there any trace of her. My continued screams and rampant search through the crowd of unnumbered children was futile.
“What have I done”?, I fell on my knees but then I tend to forget who I am. My sense of smell immediately triggered hers as well as another monster who was more or less a chameleon like person.
“I’ve got her”, it said as those brown teeth were recognizable.
“No matter who you jump into Krawler, you’ll never escape your fate”, Lauren Boogeyman showed up from behind.
I was in the crowd already which was a first hand advantage but things could get ugly pretty fast knowing that the Boogeyman was strong enough to pause everyone and take me by the air I breathe.
“You will not kill me”, I smiled amidst the apple traders who were helter skelter about their business.
“That’s boastful”, Lauren replied as the monster who had Margaret got away without an iota of fear.
“What’s it gonna be Krawler? Is it me or the girl”? she asked curious at my sudden slithering movements.
“I know you’re afraid Boogey!”, I chipped in carefully.
“I would be too, comprehending fully well that my death would only mean I jump into another unsuspecting victim.”
“And for what”?, She turned her back on me. “I’m immortal! Hunting other rebels like you would only give me a long eventful satisfaction.”
I growled as I watched her ignore me.
“Margaret”, I snapped my fingers as I hurriedly pursued what seemed to be a stout agile man with a sack behind him.
“Run! Imogen Run!”, It laughed aloud as it leaped on top of buildings with ease.
Somehow I could vividly acknowledge who this monster was just like I did others. Who was I in my former life? and why have I surfaced now?
My brief thinking got me staggering towards a passer-by. He held me firmly as those words lingered in my ears “You have no idea who we are.”
“Stop”, I screamed as I found myself in a bus filled with men.
“The more you seek, the less your sanity sticks to you”, Lauren said behind me as in a man’s form, she smirked with a newspaper in her hand.
“Margaret”, I called out.
“I need to stop here”, i beckoned to the driver but he couldn’t hear me. None of them could. It was like I wasn’t even present there.
“Make it stop”, I held Lauren by the collar but her eyes were stuck on me like a predator with an ambush plan.
“You have just three days to hand the girl over to me”, she said letting off my hands easy.
“And what if I don’t”?, I gnashed my teeth as my brain shrunk in my head gradually and painfully.
“Then you die Krawler! just like the millions of Krawlers I’ve killed before you.”
I really wouldn’t fathom that possibility as immediately air rushed in my lungs causing my entire being to restore itself.
“Painful”, she concluded as her true form took place right before my blurred eyes.
“Three days!”
************
“Would she be okay nurse”?, Margaret’s calm voice hit me like lightning.
“Of course”, the nurse patted her shoulder. “The doctor said she survived a mild concussion which I have no explanation why and how but she’ll be fine.”
“Marg…..aret”, I managed to voice out.
They both were shocked and happy to see me at the same time.
“Well hello there”, the nurse straightened the pillow for me. “You were out quite awhile.”
“How”?, I faced Margaret who I thought was kidnapped in a sack by a monster.
“You….you just collapsed at the marketplace after we escaped a tunnel filled with giant rats.”
“Rats”? I halted with perplexity. “We fought the Dromithaur together, don’t you remember”?
Margaret hissed as she rolled her eyes at me,”Don’t worry nurse, her boyfriend leaving her really messed her up.”
The nurse quickly avoided the awkwardness in the room giving a rather flimsy excuse of going to check on a patient.
“Rest well”, she faked a smile.
“You silly girl”, Margaret slapped my toes. “What’s up with you”?
“No! What’s up with you”? she feigned ignorance. “You’ve been acting strange today claiming you saw a Boogeyman and a vampire with hands for legs.”
“Yes I did! and she wants you…..they all do”, I wiped the slow tears trying to gain a free flow down my cheeks.
“Stop this Imogen”, she came up with tears of her own. “I know life has been rough ever since mum and dad died but seriously lose the silly names and scary deja vu.”
“I’m not lying Margaret and you’re not my sister”, I frowned a bit.
She paused with that question mark written all over her face. Was I a bad person to speak my truth?
“You have gone mad”, she attempted a slap at me. “Dahlia would kill you, I swear to God.”
“Who the hell is Dahlia”?, I tried another aim at the truth.
“Are you H on something Imogen”?, she got up from my bedside. “You’ve forgotten us all because of a bad breakup and lack of job.”
“Stop”, I screamed at her. “I saved you from that monster, I swear. Please I’m not crazy and she’ll be back for you.”
“Who”?, she calmly placed her hand on her forehead.
“Lauren Boogeyman”, I replied.
“She could be anywhere near us right now.”
“Wow, just wow!”, Margaret started to giggle. “If this is a prank Imogen, you won….like seriously you won but lose the act. This scary scenario ain’t funny anymore.”
I stared at her like I would a therapist. Was she trying to contradict what I witnessed? or were we all wired by that Krawler witch”?
“I’ve seen this stuff in movies but how can two hours of concussion cause this so much defect”? Margaret murmured to herself.
“Where’s Dahlia”?, I chose to play her game.
“Right here”, she came through the door wondering what crap I’ve been vomiting.
At the sight of her, I almost grabbed a syringe which lied close to me on the medical table.
“That’s her”, I cautioned Margaret. “Get away from the girl”, I screamed loud enough to barge nurses into my room.
“What’s wrong?”, The initial runaway nurse turned to Margaret whose red face couldn’t hold back the tears.
“I don’t know”, she watched carefully as they held me down to the bed.
“First she came home devastated that she lost another interview so to cheer her up, I suggested an ancient tunnel we could check out, we did and after that she never remained the same”, Margaret almost gushed out in pain.
“She’ll be fine”, another nurse held Dahlia.
“No she won’t”, my elder sister grabbed Margaret out of the room. “Please take this psycho to a psychiatric hospital, I’m done with all of this drama.”
“You’re a liar”, I yelled in my defense. “You just want to take Margaret and kill her.”
“Can you hear yourself talk”? Dahlia came closer to me as I still struggled to break free. “First you slit my elbow with a knife claiming you saw dolls and now this! You’re mad Imogen! and just to think you’ve gotten better…….I guess I was wrong.”
“Boogeyman” I screamed at her. “This is not the end.”
“Please nurse, don’t you have a sedative or something”, my elder sister grabbed Margaret wiping her tears with her hands.
“It’s clear she has lost it.”
“I wanna stay with her sister”, Margaret turned to me with that hopeful eyes.
“No! Margaret, I’ve had enough of the games you both are playing”, Dahlia furiously drags her outside.
“She’s the one who refused to come work for me in dad’s company. She left us to stay with that stupid boyfriend of hers and I’m damn tired of the creatures she sees at night. What in God’s name is the Krawler, Margaret? Please enlighten me”?
“She’s just depressed Dahlia, that’s all.”
“Depressed?, No….did you say depressed”?, she replied with those accusing fingers pointed at me.
“Depressed is when someone is without family or friends or money and we have those”, she shouted.
“I raised you both with the company’s money but Imogen took it too far. I knew I was the black sheep of the family but blaming it on monsters, that’s so low even for her. I’m done Margaret, do as you please.”
“The Boogeyman”, I still managed to whisper as the sedative was fast-acting.
This won’t be the end not even as the syringe fell to the floor and my eyes fade to the recompense of an annoying laughter.
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