Who's the real Monster?

Seeing everyone through their shadows with closed eye lids I heard the Thing say We don't have a lot of time.

"To everyone who doesn't know me, my name is Z. I can control and become shadows. I know everyone who was a detainee and what your abilities are", I told them.

The tension only intensified. "How the hell do you know any of that?", a male voice asked.

Moving my head to their direction "In the few days that I was here I looked into everyone's files during lights out."

A moment of silence passed for everyone to process the information.

Matt spoke up, "It's true, I saw them in my own room after lights out. They were astral projecting?" All eyes came back to me.

Eric asked, "What do we do now? Do you have a plan?"

"I always have a plan. I'll need Ashe, Mark, and Josh to come with me. The rest of you stay here and interrogate the Director. Hannah if you have any more epi pens keep one and give me the others."

"Why just us?", someone asked with a deep male voice that had a southern accent which reminded me of home.

Keeping my voice leveled to respond, "One of you controls the weather, the other magnetism, and the last electricity. All of those powers are essential right now."

All of them hesitated before taking a step forward. Hannah came to my side to give me 3 epi pens in my already open hand.

When Eric and the others came within arms reach I told them, "Keep Anderson alive at all costs. We need to know everything she knows. Once we do we'll come up with a suitable punishment for her." Before I could release her from my shadow's grip I gave her one final squeeze. "Just so you all know the Director here is my aunt."

A few of them gasped at the statement. Taking one last look at her I added, "Long story short she was adopted by my grandparents and was raised with my mom. There's no blood or love loss between the both of us."

Letting her go she immediately turned to me. I could feel the daggers in her eyes. Ed let out a growl as he came to my side I looked down at him to say, "If she runs go for her heels."

A weird tingle went up my spine. I knew she was putting up a good front to look as controllably angry as possible. Inhaling deeply I felt that same feeling followed by a sweet taste on my tongue. Thinking to myself What the hell is going on? The Thing replied It's her fear you can smell it.

We'll talk about this later, I told the Thing. Walking back to the door Ashe, Mark, and Josh kept their distance while following my steps.

A foot away one of them asked, "What now Boss?" A memory of my dad playing one of his favorite games came to mind. Squeezing my eyes tighter I felt my jaw clench hard enough to hurt my teeth. "I'm guessing you're Josh, huh?", I replied. He inhaled sharply before asking with an edge in his tone, "What if I am?" Knowing that I struck a nerve I kept my tone calm, "In your file the guards here call you 'smartass' or 'the mouth'." I also read that he was the son of a convicted serial killer. Until that fun fact is needed I'm keeping a lid on it.

Changing the subject "To answer your question I'm going to open the door, lead you to the control room, I left someone in there alive and unarmed. He may know of a way to disarm the missiles before they land here. If that doesn't work Ashe, Mark, and myself will find a way to stop those things."

Before any one of them could protest I slammed my foot against the door. It fell to the floor with a loud thud. The smell of blood hit the four of us hard. Josh took it the worst. "Cover your noses it's going to get worse", I told them.

Finally turning my back to them I lead us down the halls. The smell of iron intensified the farther we walked. All three either held back a gag or some form of disgust as we stepped over the bodies littering the floors. Knowing that Edgar was among the deceased passed out from the pain almost made me smile.

Reaching the surveillance room to see Smith still on the floor where I left him. Using the same brute force as before I pushed the door to hear another satisfying thud. Smith woke up startled and gawked at each of us in terror. "Get on your feet", I told him. He scurried to get off the floor. With a quick check to his belt he found his gun missing. Hearing Josh break the awkwardness by saying "Really man?"

Every step I took he took one back until his back hit the wall "This island and all of us here are doomed if you don't help us. So unless you want to die unlock the computer and help Josh with whatever he says."

"I can't, no matter I do I'll die", Smith replied with a quivering tone.

"Would you rather die by your employer's hands or mine?"

"It doesn't matter".

"If that's the case, what death do you dread the most?" Inhaling deeply to smell that sweet scent from before again.

In a flash I had both my hands on Smith's skull. My fingers seeped into his brain without issue. The first memory I saw was of him being locked in a closet while someone yelled at him from the other side. Other memories filled with fear were always in tight enclosed spaces; school lockers, haunted houses with walls closing in, and overstuffed elevators that he was in. Digging to the recent memories I found the code needed to unlock the computer screen. Slowly pulling away Smith's eyes had rolled behind his head. Whimpering he fell to the floor in the fetal position.

Walking over him I reached the keyboard to unlocked the screen. "All yours Josh" I call over my shoulder. Feeling each of them stare at me in terror the scent and taste only intensified on my tongue. Moving away from the keyboard to make room for Josh. He crossed the distance with a few careful steps.

The other two took a step back as I got closer. Smith began to weep on the floor still curled up in a tight ball. "If you get up or try to stop us in anyway I'll make what's left of your worthless life a living hell" the edge in my voice could cut steel. "Yes ma'am", Smith replied with a slight stammer. Quickly kicking him I said "Call me 'ma'am' again and I'll make you dig your own grave so deep nobody will every be able to find you." My tone went deadly deep. It wasn't just me speaking, the Thing spoke through and with me.

Watching Smith shudder in response I turn to see both Ashe and Mark do the same while taking a step father away. Josh said, "I'm in the main database. From here I see an order for a thermal missiles sent 30 minutes ago. It's currently on the way and will be landing in...20 minutes exactly."

Smith said under his breathe, "Scorched Earth procedure...we're all dead."

"Find a way to disarm the missiles. Smith stay here and don't move. If he gets out of your sight or tries do anything funny break his kneecaps Josh. Ashe and Mark follow me" I ordered them.

Leaving the room Josh called over his shoulder "You got it boss." This time my teeth did grind with that word. When this is all over I'll need to have a talk with Josh and everyone else about calling me 'boss'.

Leading Ashe and Mark back outside the first thing we all see is everyone surrounding Anderson.