Who's the real Monster?

A familiar sensation enveloped my body. I know this haunting feeling.

Opening my eyes to see the Void of my mind again. Nightmare stood in front of me.

Crossing my arms I met Nightmare's eyes to see something in them for the first time. A spark if I had to label it.

"What did you do?" I asked knowing that Nightmare left my body.

"I went to see Anderson."

"Did you kill her?"

"No."

"What did you do to her? Was it the same as what you did to Edgar?"

"No."

"Then what did you do?"

"I scared her. Then I left a mark."

Raising a questioning eyebrow Nightmare huffed before showing me memories of what just happened. Feeling a slight head rush I took a moment before giving credit to Nightmare "Good choice".

The spark in Nightmare's eyes shined brighter.

"I heard from Anderson that there are more of us out there."

Sighing heavily I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.

Nightmare was about to make a comment when I heard someone calling to me "Z, Z, I need you to wake up."

Groggily opening my eyes I turned around to ask "What? What is it?"

Ed replied "We've got a problem."

Sitting up to see Hannah in the doorframe with the radio in one hand I knew things just got worse.

Rubbing my temples I thought Fuck my life.

Rising from the bed to ask "What now?"

"My mom sent me a message. I think I heard the name 'Ripley' being mentioned" Hannah told us.

"Did you hear anything else?"

"She's been clicking the radio on and off. I think Ripley wants to see Director Anderson."

Nodding my head slightly I thought Figures.

Before either one of them could ask 'What should we do?' I started giving orders; "Hannah I want you to go get Anderson some clothes from her office. Preferably the grey pant suit. She's in one of the Solitary rooms only wearing a sheet right now. Once she's dressed bring her to the panic room. Wait, before you do that I need you to find out if Smith is still in the panic room and see if he's still distraught."

"Why?"

"If he's still in shock there's no telling what he'll do or say when he sees me again."

"Why does that matter?"

"Just do what I say" she caught the edge in my voice. Inhaling deeply I continued "Once you remove Smith I will go into the panic room, then I'll dismiss your mom."

Hannah sighed heavily relief washing over her face. I barely heard her say 'Okay' as she ran down the hall.

Looking to Ed I ordered "Get some papers and pens. I need you ask the others about making a list of demands."

"You got it. Can I ask why?"

Meeting their eyes "When I go into the panic room I'm going to talk with Ripley. She's above Anderson and Armstrong." His eyes widen slightly in surprise. "I'll pry as much as I can from Ripley before Anderson enters the room. Then I'll use Anderson as leverage to keep this island safe. As for the demands I have some in mind and would like to hear the others as well. If Ripley wants Anderson back she'll have to give us some things in return."

Nightmare stirred inside me.

Ed nodded before looking for supplies. Taking in a few deep breathes to calm my nerves. Papi's words rang in my mind "You have to keep calm under stress. That's the only way you'll survive." That was one of his many saying. He taught me how to mask my fear and anxiety in stressful times.

Inhaling deeply I looked down at my forearm. The scar is completely exposed.

Papi had some gnarly scars. When I asked how he got them he told me the craziest of true stories. Once I asked 'Did they hurt?' He said 'At the time yes'. Then Papi said with a smile 'These babies are proof that if I can survive war I can survive anything'.

He sure did for a long time before meeting his end peacefully. I felt like I could cry. Ed hooked their pinky with mine, turning around as my eyes began to dry I met theirs.

Ed looked from my face to my forearm "I can cover it again."

Gently raising their face to look at my own to say "You don't have to. I'm going to need to learn to live with these scars. I won't let Ripley see me weak."

Ed looked at me worried. I told them before they could say another word "Now is not the time for worry, if we make it out of this alive and unscathed you and I will have a long talk."

Ed took a moment before nodding his head in agreement.

Intertwining my fingers with theirs I gave a gently squeeze before leaving the room to head for the staircase. It took everything in me to keep from turning around to see Ed again. You really care for him Nightmare told me. I replied Not now.

Nightmare remained silent as I went up the stairs to the top floor. Walking down the hall I heard some voices speak. Recognizing one of them "Just stay here and watch what's on the tablet ok?" I heard a low whimper knowing that it was Smith being moved.

Staying out of sight Hannah side eyed me before running downing the hall.

Facing the panic room I entered the code to hear a click as it opened. Exhaling slowly I schooled my face before entering. The room was not what I was expecting. A big living room adjacent with a small kitchen, a narrow hall with two rooms on either side. I heard two voices speaking to one another. Searching the room with my shadows I made sure that Mrs. Armstrong was the only person here.

Sending Eric a thought 'Bring Josh into the surveillance room'. Creeping down the short hall I heard kept my body against the wall following the voices. Peaking into the room on the right to see Rita sitting at a desk talking to Ripley through the desktop.

Steeling my nerves I stayed quiet just listening.

"Mrs. Armstrong I will only ask one more time. Where is Director Anderson?"

A devilish grin graces my face as I saunter into the room "Director Anderson is tied up at the moment, you'll be talking with me first".

A brief pause lay in the air as Mrs. Armstrong turned around in her chair to face me. Even with her jaw hanging I could see that Hannah got her looks from her mom. Giving her a quick look I averted my eyes to the screen getting my first look at Ripley.

She appeared to be a tall woman from what I could see, shoulder length dark curly hair, thin lips, dark brown eyes, and a strong jaw line. From the looks of it she's a strong woman who has clawed her way to the top and made sure to stay there. My instincts told me this is a dangerous woman. Nightmare growled in agreement.

Holding Ripley's gaze I order "Mrs. Armstrong leave us."

She stayed seated in pure shock until I got closer. When Mrs. Armstrong finally got up she fled the room quickly. Keeping gaze strongly on the screen I could feel Ripley sizing me up.

"I take it you're Inmate Zero" Ripley started.

"My name is Z, I am not and will never be an inmate."

"Again you mean?"

Feeling a twitch in my eye I didn't look away or blink.

She slightly smirked "You gave my men a run for their money. Still at the end of the day one of them finally brought you here to brand you himself."

I thought This bitch. "While you may have marked me" I said while revealing my hand. "I will remind you that I stayed hidden for over a decade and destroyed your hold on us here in less than a week."

Hearing the subtle click of the door I commanded "Come." Ripley furrowed her brow in confusion. Not only hearing I felt Anderson come into the room. Averting my eyes to Anderson "As you can see Anderson is alive and well." She was about to talk when I commanded "Silence." Her voice cracked before it stopped making any sounds at all.

Looking over to Ripley I continued "I have and will keep her gaged for now." Reaching out to Ed I urged them to hurry.

Ripley looked from me to Anderson before asking "How do I know this is actually Director Anderson."

Releasing the gag for a moment Anderson said "Black Rock."

With those two words Ripley replied "With that confirmed let's move forward."

I nodded my head in agreement.

"I have no idea of what you did to my employees, nor do I know of what you did with the guards and Project Omega. Why don't you enlighten me on those details."

Inhaling deeply I replied "I'll give you the cliff notes. I found a way to turn off the collars and disable the bombs inside all of us. Then I took care of the guards.

As for the employees, if by that you mean the scientists I don't remember seeing any of them. Mrs. Armstrong, Anderson here, and Edgar are still breathing."

"I'm surprised you kept Edgar alive."

"If you can call it that?"

"What do you mean?"

Waiting until I could see the impatience leak through her mask I answered "I infected Edgar, almost the same way I did for Colonel Armstrong and Anderson here."

Catching a twitch in her eyes I pushed "I know Captain Gonzalez first got into contact with you yesterday. Has there been any updates of the Colonel's status?"

Ripley didn't answer.

Bidding my time I had no idea when Ed would come through the door.

"You said almost? What's the difference?"

Deciding to give half truths "Edgar has a parasite that's attached to his nociceptors. From now on he will feel phantom pains until he dies. Anderson here has a mark that will never leave her body no matter what surgery or therapy she goes through. All while Colonel Armstrong is trapped inside his own body. He won't even be able to move his eyes to talk."

"That seems a bit over the top."

"Over the top?" I asked with a bite. Nightmare was about to use me to let out all the rage inside of both of us. It took every ounce of will power and more to keep that from happening. Let me go! Nightmare roared. She's baiting us you idiot. We have to be smart. So let me do the talking I countered.

"If that's what you consider 'over the top' then you're going to be sick when you find out what I did to your guards."

"I don't care about them, the only people I actually want is; Anderson, Edgar, and Mrs. Armstrong."

"Just the them?"

"Point is I want all the humans left there."

"What makes think I'll give any of them up?"

"What makes you think you have the power to negotiate?"

"You sent your guards after me I killed them. You sent Project Omega after me I survived. You sent missiles to this island the others and I disabled them. Do you really think we as a group can't handle anything else you send?"

She let out a light chuckle "While that may be the case. You're right we can send as many soldiers fully armed for you and the other inmates to counter. There are plenty of detainees who still have families that are alive and well. It would be a shame if something were to happen to them. Say for example being sent to a dentation center. Some of them may even try to fight back which who knows what'll happen then?"

Inhaling sharply I felt Nightmare take hold of my voice "If you harm one hair on any of their heads all the research will be leaked."

Ripley displayed a faint flinch before replying "You don't have the power or reach to do that."

"I may not, although there is someone here who does. All it takes is one request from me and I'll start with the files on myself. Over 60s years of research down the drain. I'll also make sure to add the interrogation videos. Your company and the USA will be in peril."

Ripley stone walled me in response.

Nightmare pulled back for me to talk "Ready to negotiate now?"