Who's the real Monster?

After scarfing down a few more sandwiches followed by a bottled coke Ed found Nightmare told me Ok maybe I like Ed a little as long as he keeps feeding me. "Thanks Ed" I told them. Deciding that I should have enough energy to stand I leapt off the counter. "I'm glad you're feeling better" he said. Suppressing a belch Nightmare asked me What is this feeling and why do I like it? I replied It's called 'being full', it's what you feel when you're no longer hungry. It's a good feeling that amplifies when you're with good company.

"So what now? Are you still talking with Nightmare?" Ed asked.

Giving them a quizzical look "How would you know that?"

"It's your eyes. When you're normally talking with anyone, myself included, your eyes are black with a slit of red that shines in them. When you're talking with Nightmare your eyes go completely red." I reply "Good to know".

The kitchen seemed too quiet in that moment. I've never liked the silence. Everyone I knew would say that 'I'm a child of noise'. "Penny for your thoughts" Ed said. I tried to hold back a smile at the phrase before answering "I'll have to hold you up on the penny. I want to get out of here." Ed replied while walking beside me "I'll follow you then".

We followed the directions to get back to the first floor. The smell of bleach hit us hard as the door opened. Ed and I coughed then held our noses as we walked down the hallway. Nightmare said I hate this smell. I replied It's called 'bleach' it's used to clean blood. Nightmare continued I've always hated this smell. Every time they fed me something in that cage there would be blood. After I roamed at night when I had to go back into that cage the smell would always be there...Is he touching us?

Laying eyes on Ed my sight went down to see that they were holding my hand softly. I smiled up at them, holding their gaze I saw them smiled back with a shine in their eyes. "Are you two finally done knocking boots?" Hannah asked. Exhaling slowly I looked to her "Don't make me regret keeping you here." Ed let out a chuckle "That depends, are you done playing janitor?" She sucked in her teeth in response then gave us enough room to walk by. Ed leaned down to say "Keep up the good work." I couldn't stop myself from grinning even if I wanted to. They gave my hand a squeeze. Looking up at him I returned the gesture.

Hey! I know what you're thinking and that's not going to happen while I'm around Nightmare commented. Averting my eyes I replied This is my body and I'll do what I want when I feel like it.

Need I remind you that I can physically make your body do things?

If you do I'll make good on that threat about locking us up in that room or find a way to wear that light on me somehow.

If you do that it'll hurt you, too.

What's a little pain when you're doing something you want?

I'm really beginning to hate you.

Another thing we can agree on.

Inhaling deeply I could smell the salt water in the air. So clean and fresh. Seeing that the sun was getting low I asked myself Is the day really about to end? Taking my shoes off (if you can call them that) I finally felt the dirt under me, wiggling my toes I sighed blissfully. Ed adjusted their hand with mine to intertwine our fingers together.

We walked through the trees listening to everything around us. I mainly heard birds and other small animals scurry at our presence. By the time our feet touched sand we were out of the tree line to see some people in the water, others were lying on the beach, the reunited happy couple Eric and Shelly were dancing. I thought to myself They're probably making up for lost time. Matt caught sight of us to say "Took you two long enough." Relaxing my shoulders I said "Thanks again" while pointing to my sunglasses. A slight blush came across Matt's cheeks as he replied "Anytime."

Ed let go of my hand to embrace Matt in a tight hug. When they broke apart Matt looked to me with a silent question. Moving my arm out of the sling I handed my sunglasses to Ed. Matt barely waited a second before wrapping me in a hug. Feeling a flutter in my chest I wondered if it was Matt's heart or my own trying to beat out of it's cage. Ed smiled at us before looking to the others. When their eyes landed on Eric and Shelly I think I saw a tear roll down his face. One of them must've noticed Ed for them to wave back.

Matt whispered into my ear "I was so scarred." "I know" I replied. Ed came closer to take my hand in theirs "I need you to promise me, no us, that you'll never do something stupid like that again." Looking to both of them I tried to reply "I c-" Both demanded "Promise us!" Even though Matt didn't use his ability I still felt the urge to keep this promise. Looking deeply into both of their eyes I took one of each of their hands to place on my heart to declare "I promise."

Watching them both visibly relax my vision went straight to the sea. I hadn't seen a clean body of water in years. Taking both their hands in mine I lead the three of us into the water. "I hope you two can swim" I told them both. Neither replied so for safety reasons I stopped when it was thigh level for Matt and I. All my life I had loved a good swim. I can barely remember the last time I did so for fun.

A sudden splash of cold water from both sides shook me. Surprised at the sneak attack I used my iron grip to declare war "You two are so dead." Quickly turning around I crossed both their arms to drop all three of us into the water. Letting go immediately after Matt and I were submerged, the top half of Ed was still dry. Using my hands to splash them Matt splashed me again. We all played like little kids for what felt like hours.

One if not both of them yelled "I give." Knowing that I had won I lifted my arms in the air to yell "Woohoo!" Matt commented "You cheated." Ed added on "So unfair." I shrugged my shoulders "All's fair in love and war." Someone yell at us, probably Ashe based on the tone "Hey! If you guys are done trying to drown come back to shore!" We all gave a form of flipping him off in response then laughed as we made our way back to the beach.

A weight distribution alerted me of my bandage which is now completely soaked. Good thing the wound has scabbed over I thought. Matt must've followed my eyes to say "Aye! Are you ok? Does it hurt?" Feeling Ed's eyes on me I replied "I'm ok, it doesn't hurt. The bandage was more for coverage than necessity."

A spark caught our attention as Hannah got a small fire started. A skill she probably learned from her father. Ashe had a look of concentration that started on his face and moved to the rest of his body. The fire quickly grew to be a full flame within minutes. We all watched in awe at the display.

People huddled around the fire to do what looks like cook hot dogs and eat watermelon slices. A breeze came to chill my spine. Noticing that both Ed and Matt were feeling the same I thought This is going to be an issue. Nightmare just had to say Need I remind you that I don't like the cold. Throwing my head up in frustration I replied I'll go get changed soon.

Finally out of the water all three us walked past everyone to go back into the facility to dry off and get a change of clothes. Walking into the Yellow Unit brought a nostalgic sense of fear in the pit of my stomach.

Were you really afraid of me? Nightmare asked.

In a sense.

I thought you wanted to die?

I did at first.

Then what?

Looking to Ed and Matt I was reminded of what it's like to live.

You lived on your own for years though.

That wasn't living, that was surviving.

From my point of view those two are the same?

Then you've never lived.

After the three of us dried off and got changed in our old rooms we walked back to the beach. There was barely any sunlight left, we followed the embers of the fire to the others.

Once out of the trees the three of us searched for an area to sit at. Matt's eyes landed on someone who signed to him. Matt signed in reply and said "Found us a spot". Ed and I followed behind Matt to see someone from the Solitary Unit. Matt introduced us "Ed and Z this is Daveed." Both of us signed 'Hi'.

Daveed signed 'You're Z?'

I replied 'Yes.'

'I was told that you caused the riot.'

'I did. Could not take it here.'

'Same and thank you.'

'You're welcome.'

Ed asked 'What's you ability?'

'I can amplify sound.'

All of us waited for an explanation. Daveed continued 'I have a degenerative condition that makes it hard to hear. I use my ability to feel soundwaves and make them louder. I can hear a little.'

All of us signed 'Nice'.

I asked 'Can you read lips?'

'A little' Daveed replied.

All of us talked and signed what we said so Daveed wouldn't be left out. The subject eventually changed to who we were before the night that our lives changed forever. All eyes immediately went to me first. Letting out a huff I signed 'I was practically raised by my grandparents for most of my childhood. My dad worked to support my mom in nursing school. I barely saw either one of the during the day. When my grandparents died I was barely a teen. My mom finally done with school and dad could take on less hours of work. We were on our to hospital then Nightmare came along.'

Each of them signed 'I'm sorry'.

I replied 'It's OK it was a long time ago.'

Daveed signed next 'My grandma helped raise me while my mom was in college. My dad helped with her tuition, too. They ran a restaurant in Florida. I've got an older brother and a baby sister'.

'Nice' we all signed.

'My dad died when I was young. My mum and older sisters worked hard to keep the lights on and food on the table, I helped when I was old enough. Life was hard and still good' Matt signed.

Attention averted to Ed he took a moment to think before signing 'My parents weren't around too much either. My dad was a drunk, mom left when we were young, my aunt took care of us. My brother and I moved out when we were 18, Eric met Shelly, they fell madly in love. Eric and I started a band and then all of us got attacked.'

I had to ask 'How old were each of you when it happened?'

Ed signed '23. You?'

Matt and I signed '17.'

Daveed signed '18'.

Ed joked 'Am I the only legal one here?'

'Not exactly, it's been ten years since that night. Matt and I should be 27, Daveed 28, that means you Ed and Eric are now 33.'

All of us either signed 'haha' or 'funny'.

With that fun fact I yelled "There had better be some tequila left." I signed to the guys 'Anyone want a shot?' With a form of agreeance Ashe came over to hand the bottle over. "I'm glad you were right about Anderson's taste. There was almost a whole liquor store in her office. No cups though." I said "Thanks" before taking a swing out of the bottle.

I almost hacked up a lung when my lips left the neck. Ed tried holding in a chuckle as they took the bottle from me.

He took the next swing and sucked in his teeth before saying out load "Wow it's been took long since I've had any kind of alcohol." Matt signed what Ed said to Daveed. Passing the bottle around we continued to take swings while talking about anything and everything.

After another swing of the bottle I laid back to look up at the sky. I thought It's been so long since I've seen the night sky like this. Nightmare replied I can't believe I forgot how beautiful the stars looked.

You would think nebulas are prettier.

They are although the smell is terrible.

You can smell a nebula?

Of course you can, they're big clouds of gas.

Did you just make a joke.

Yes I did.

I giggled a little at that dry joke. Feeling my eyes flutter I drifted off to sleep.