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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Creatures & Monsters
- Published: 08/19/2021
The Demons Amongst Us.
Born 1975, M, from Norfolk, United KingdomThe Demons Amongst Us
A terrible pain was felt in his chest. He fell to the hard concrete, unsure what was going on. Luckily, he landed on his back. He noticed many people around him. He saw one man on his phone talking frantically to someone. The tightness in his chest was unbearable. Then something happened which worried him immensely. Some people in the crowd had monstrous faces. At least fifteen of them stared at him while licking their grotesque lips. Their eyes were more like snake eyes, and inside of their mouths were sharp, pointy teeth. He cried out in horror.
Was he already dead, was he going to hell?
The demons were all around him. One rushed towards him, bearing its fangs. He then lost all consciousness.
.............
The first thing he saw was a window on the left of him.
Where was he, what had happened?
Within a second, a man strolled in wearing a doctor's uniform. He smiled before saying, "You've had a heart attack, I'm afraid. Sorry to have to tell you that. For a couple of days, we must take tests and monitor you. I'm very sorry for the grave news. How do you feel?" He pushed his glasses up his big red nose.
Richard answered, "It doesn't surprise me. Summer times are the worst for all the parties. Such a shame though, as I was supposed to go on holiday in the next two weeks."
The doctor who must've been in his fifties laughed, before saying, "Cut down on them burgers and alcohol, and before you know it, you'll be right as rain."
"I don't feel right as rain."
The man came closer while holding a red folder. "Just look after yourself. The operation is simple. So no worries there. I'm afraid your holiday might have to be cancelled. I'll pop in tomorrow just to see how you are."
Richard had nothing else to say. The man seemed a friendly chap, the sort of bloke he'd meet at the parties he attended "Thanks," was all he said.
Once the doctor had left, Richard thought back to the monsters he'd seen. Dread was felt.
...........
The devilish faces were all around him. Terror filled his heart. He tried running from them, but all they wanted to do was feed off his flesh. Their claws touching his skin, cutting him, blood running down his body. He tried to scream. A demonic hand wrapped around his face. Utter fear ran through him. Sharp teeth ripped through his arm. Then he noticed an angel only a short distance away. Within a second, the nightmare had ended.
Richard awoke and was covered in sweat. Through the window the moon was observed, causing a little light. Then he had this terrible feeling the monsters knew, that he knew.
For the rest of the night, Robert didn't sleep a single wink. What he'd witnessed with his own eyes was real, and he needed to warn people.
...............
Morning had arrived. A pretty nurse walked in to check up on him. He felt safe again. Only time would tell.
..............
Around 11am his wife Samantha came in with their two children. She looked worried while she sat at the side of the bed.
"Are you okay, Richard? I'm still in shock," she said, brushing a hand through her long dark hair. "I'm so sorry I didn't come straight away, but I needed to pick the children up from school, and other things which complicated everything. Oh, what a worry."
He gave her a smile before answering. "It's a shock to me as well. One minute I'm making my way down the street, then boom, I'm on the floor with a terrible pain across my chest."
Demonic faces evaded his mind. Should he tell her, maybe it was too soon with everything that had happened?
"So, how are you holding up?" she asked.
"I've been better, love."
Samantha cried. She removed a tissue from her coat pocket and wiped her eyes.
He saw she was upset and felt bad. "There, there, my darling. Don't cry. I'm okay. No need to worry."
He put his arms around her. His children stood staring at him. Nervous looks were on their faces. Both were too young to really understand. One was a boy of 7 and his sister was 9 and a half.
Richard peered at them, then said, "You know I love you with all my heart. Please don't worry about me, as I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm only here so they can check up on me. Do you understand?"
The boy answered first, "We were terrified. Sorry, daddy. For being scared."
"Come here," Richard said.
His son did what he was told. Richard hugged him before whispering, "You're such a brave young man. I'm really proud of you. I'm okay, so no need to worry."
He kissed the top of his son's head.
The boy looked at him with his big brown eyes, then answered, "I'm happy you're okay, daddy."
"That's my boy," was all he answered.
Richard adored his family.
His wife then said, "Are you sure you're okay, Richard?"
She could tell something wasn't right. They'd been married for a long time. She knew him better than anyone else.
"I'll be okay, love. It'll take time, that's all," he said.
She smiled, seeming happy with that response.
Deep down, he was in turmoil.
...............
In the middle of the night, he awoke with a start. Inches from him was one of them. It smiled at him and tried to grab his arm. Richard did the best he could to pull himself up off the bed, away from the beast.
"Please don't," Richard begged.
A long lizard tongue appeared from its mouth. The monstrosity lifted a hand up to Richard's face. Long sharp finger nails scraped along his forehead. He screamed.
"Once I'm done with you, I'll look forward to visiting your family," said the demon. A smirk on its face.
Richard tried grabbing the monster. "Leave my family out of this," he shouted.
The demon laughed.
Everything then went black.
...............
He opened his eyes, realising he'd had another bad dream.
"This is too much," he muttered.
The ceiling light hadn't been turned off. He peered at the small grey clock which sat only a short distance away on the bedside cabinet. It was 3.38am.
He hated being stuck in here.
"Please be safe," he said, thinking back to his beloved family and how he couldn't wait to go home.
...............
Four days later and Richard left the hospital. He still didn't feel right. He kept experiencing strange headaches, and his chest would ache. Usually when this occurred, he would sit down and take some deep breaths.
Because he loved his family dearly, he tried to get what he had seen out of his mind. But every night the nightmares were terrifying. Even his wife had noticed that something was wrong. Then one day he told her.
She took a step back before saying, "What are you talking about, Richard?"
He knew this would happen. "Maybe I was hallucinating?"
She took his hand. Her eyes wide open with fear. "What you just told me isn't normal. I know you too well. I know deep down you believe this. It's scaring me, Richard. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Out of frustration he shouted at her, then swung his hand so it caught an empty cup which ended up on the kitchen floor in pieces.
Samantha left the room, swearing under her breath. A shocked look covered her face.
Richard sat down and put his face in his hands. He sobbed.
...............
After that night, their relationship was falling apart. The children noticed that something wasn't right.
A new neighbour had moved in. The bloke kept himself to himself. The moment Richard saw him, he suspected him of being one of them. He hadn't spoken to his wife for a little while. It drove him mad.
One day, as the sun shone pleasantly, Richard peered out of the window to see why the kids hadn't come back from school. He was getting worried, as any parent would. With utter horror, he saw the new neighbour speaking to them. He stormed out of the house and headed towards them, shouting abuse at the man. His children were shocked by this.
"Please, daddy. He was being nice to us," cried the boy.
He grabbed the neighbour around the throat.
"I know who you are. That is why you moved into the street. To check up on me. Wasn't it?"
Someone pulled at his arm and, without giving it much thought, lashed out. Next thing he was aware of was his son laying on the road. Blood ran down his face as he cried for his mummy.
Richard realised he'd done a terrible thing. His life had finally reached a new low.
...............
The next day, the house was empty. Samantha had left with the children, telling him to seek professional help. He never saw the neighbour again.
One night after he had downed a few beers, Richard noticed a car parked outside of his home.
They're after me, he thought.
The next evening, the vehicle was back. By this point, Richard had had enough of these bastards messing with his head. He grabbed a baseball bat and stumbled out onto the street, shouting obscenities at them. The car sped off into darkness. He made his way back into the quiet house. The time was 12.56am. It was late, even for him. He looked at the living room floor covered in beer cans and felt ashamed. He would never forget the bruise on the little boy's face as long as he would live. As a father he was supposed to protect his family.
"I'm so sorry."
He walked into the hallway to head upstairs when he saw a man wearing a suit. Richard tried to tackle him, but another person appeared through the open doorway and threw him to the floor.
"What do you want from me?" he screamed.
A voice in his ear then said, "You're coming with us."
Something was put over his head. He felt himself being dragged along. Richard tried to escape. A blow to his head and everything went dark.
...............
The first thing he was aware of was being tied to a chair.
What did they want from him, was it to silence him because he knew their true identity?
He was in a big warehouse, probably in the middle of nowhere, so if they wanted to get rid of him without being caught, this was ideally the best location. He shuddered at what was going to happen next. The place smelt strange, musky. A few bright lights came on, causing him to close his eyes for a second.
"Hello, Richard," said a man's voice.
Richard looked up, scared. A man wearing a posh suit came closer. The thing which freaked him out more than anything else was. The man wore a horrible mask to conceal his identity.
"So, what are you going to do to me?" he asked nervously.
The person sat down on a chair which was about four metres from him, and in a very calm manner, answered, "You can't escape, so don't even try. It's quite unbelievable, really." He laughed.
Richard was tiring of this now, and shouted, "So are you going to get rid of me, because I know who you are?"
From behind the mysterious stranger, another person appeared from the doorway holding a knife. He also wore a mask. Utter terror was felt.
The man rubbed his hands together, before saying in a more serious tone, "Since the dark ages you're the first person to see our kind. I don't understand how that's possible." He took his mask off. He was an elderly man with a bald head. He glanced up at Richard. "Through the years, they've made up terrible stories about us. Demons. Satan. The fires of hell." He wept.
Richard had had enough of this. "This is absolutely pathetic. Tomorrow morning my body is going to be found and you're feeding me bullshit. If you're going to kill me, then do it, as I'm sick of these games."
Then he regretted what he'd just said. He shook with fear. The person with the knife walked over to him. Richard expected the worst and closed his eyes. The rope around his wrists loosened. He breathed a sigh of relief. He opened his eyes.
"What's happening?" he asked.
The man sighed before replying, "We aren't here to get rid of you. We are in awe of you. It's been years and years, but you saw us in our proper form. How's that possible?"
"I don't understand. Why am I here?" His wrists still ached. "Is it okay if I stand up?"
"Of course it is. You still don't fully understand, do you?" the old man said, disappointment on his face.
"So why am I the first person in years to see you as you are?"
The man shuffled in his chair before replying, "Because you're the one."
"The one?" What the hell were they talking about?
The man stood up himself. One of his legs seemed shorter than the other. With trouble, he made his way towards Richard. "I'm so sorry. I'm very old," he said. "But the chance of meeting you at long last inspired me to make the effort, even though the pain which consumes my entire body is awful. Sometimes I wish I was dead."
"You mustn't say that," Richard replied. "How old are you, eighty four?"
The man with his wrinkled, pale face had finally reached him. "I'm over 200 years old."
"But how is that possible?" Richard asked.
"Because our species lives longer than humans. Does that scare you, me saying that?"
Richard sat back down, as his head was spinning. "I need time to take this all in."
The man held a small box in his right hand. He handed it to Richard. "In there is two pills. One is blue, and the other is purple. When you're ready to see us properly and to learn more about us, take the blue pill. Once your anxieties have gone, take the other pill, and everything will go back to normal. Do you understand?"
"What?" Richard asked. "This is insane. Why go to all this effort just for me?"
The man was out of breath, but replied, "Because you seeing us after all this time is a miracle. It's a sign that one day in the not so distant future we can live on this planet as ourselves. In complete harmony with humans. This is something we have yearned for since as long as I can remember."
Richard still didn't trust him as much as he would've liked. "So the moment I take the pill I'll be able to see you monsters everywhere I go?"
"Please don't use the word monsters. That is the problem with this world. It makes me very sad. But I have faith in humanity. I need to believe that your species can change for the better. It needs to change. Therefore you're important."
"But I'm not important," he said.
The man tutted before carrying on. "If you can see us, then others will in time. If you can accept us as we are, then others will in due course."
"When should I take it?" he asked.
Richard had nothing to lose. His wife had left him. His children hated him.
"Whenever you think it's the right time," was all the man answered.
Richard opened the box and saw two pills. He got hold of the blue one and without giving it much thought, put it into his mouth. The thing was quite small, so swallowing it shouldn't be a problem. With one gulp, it was gone. He still felt the same. Richard looked back at the man and observed something, which made him cry out in fear. His face had changed. Staring back at him was a demon he had feared since he was a child. The stories he'd been told throughout his life about these vile creatures would haunt him for evermore.
"I'm not a religious man. Everything you've said tonight contradicts everything I've ever learnt. What should I do, because I'm petrified beyond belief?"
The demon then said, "Believe in your heart. I'll bid you farewell. Good luck with your journey. And be patient, Richard, they'll take you back to your house shortly."
Richard realised his life would never be the same. "Please, god. Give me strength," he muttered.
The lights in the building then went out. He knew it was time to go home.
.................
.................
He'd arrived home. Bewilderment overtook his brain. Richard sat down and took a few deep breaths.
"I need a drink," he said as he made his way to the fridge. He changed his mind, realising a bottle of red wine was in the cabinet next to the TV. "Sod it. Wine it is."
He pulled the cork off and poured himself a glass. After one sip, his head spun a little, which he enjoyed. Richard turned the television on as the silence was becoming unbearable. On the screen several monsters appeared as they ran about a field trying to retrieve items which were hidden. Amongst them were humans playing the same game.
"The bastards are everywhere," he cursed.
Richard switched the TV off. His eyes felt heavy. Through all the excitement, he'd forgotten about his heart attack, and how the doctor had told him to take it easy. No work for at least three weeks. Since being home, too many weird things had occurred. This couldn't be doing him any good. He needed some much needed sleep. It was late. He walked up the stairs, rubbing his eyes. When Richard got into the bedroom, he took his clothes off and headed to the bed.
For the first time since the heart attack, he didn't have a single nightmare. The only dream he had was when he was with his wife on holiday, and this made him smile.
"I love you, Samantha, " he said to her.
Her beautiful face then faded.
...............
Richard awoke the next morning, and it all seemed like a bad dream. He laughed to himself, thinking none of this could've really happened. It was too insane, even for him. Then he saw something through the bedroom window and his blood ran cold.
"Shit. It wasn't a dream."
The postman made his way up the drive. Terry was his name, and the moment he saw Richard, he waved. Inside of his mouth were small, sharp teeth. His face was unrecognisable as he looked like one of those things. The post fell through the door with a bang.
"I need a drink," he said.
He stuck on some clothes, then made his way down the stairs, knowing a strong coffee would do the trick. While Richard sipped the drink, he pondered on what to do with his day.
How many of these monsters were out there? He needed to know.
Later, he needed to ring his wife. Hopefully, she'd have forgiven him by now. He loved her so much. At this moment, Richard needed her support more than ever.
"Please, darling Samantha. I can't live without you."
He thought back to the demons, and fear ran through him. The next few days were going to be a struggle. He wasn't looking forward to it one bit.
...............
He observed many creatures in the centre of London. Some wore suits, others were dressed in fleeces while they spoke on mobile phones. He went into several shops, and some of the staff had the same grotesque faces. This was becoming unbearable.
When Richard got home late afternoon, he needed something to eat, as his stomach was making awful noises. Eating healthfully was the last thing on his mind, so he rang a takeaway and ordered the biggest pizza they had.
There was a knock at the door about 30 minutes later. Richard opened the door. In front of him was a kid with big red spots which covered the lower part of his chin. He paid the money, wishing the teenager a pleasant evening, then made his way back into the living room to stuff his face.
The food was delicious. On the coffee table was a booklet that the hospital had given him about Angina attacks. Using his foot, he pushed it off as it landed on the carpet. Richard belched loudly. It felt good.
The time was 6.43pm.
It was time to ring his wife and beg her for forgiveness. He knew she'd gone to her mum's house in the country, only a few miles from here. He walked to the phone. A feeling of dread ran through him.
Please forgive me, he thought.
Richard dialed the number, then waited patiently.
..............
He left the house in a bad mood. His mother-in-law had answered the phone, saying that Samantha had made the right choice in leaving him. Ever since they'd been married, she'd always caused problems like she was jealous of them. It made him so angry.
..............
Even though the doctor had warned him about drinking too much alcohol, tonight he didn't care. Richard headed into a bar, not surprised to see the rancid monsters all around him while they sat with his kind, chatting and laughing. He knocked back a shot of whisky. His vision became blurry.
"Are you okay?" asked the barman, who must've been in his late sixties.
Richard was happy to see a human face, and replied, "I will be after a couple more of these."
The man said, concerned, "You don't look too good, chap. Maybe you should head home?"
This made Richard angry, as he knew the vile creatures only sat a short distance away and the barman was treating him like a freak.
"Are you joking or something," he yelled.
The older man looked startled and replied, "I think you better leave these premises. If not, I'll ring the police."
It was time to go.
"Okay," Richard agreed.
Richard headed to the entrance. He'd only had one drink, but it seemed a lot more. He opened the door, relieved he had made it in one piece. Suddenly someone came through it, which caused Richard to lose his footing. Through sheer rage, he got back up and pinned this person against the wall. He realised it was one of them.
The demon snarled at him. "I could kill you in a second. Do you want it?"
He was petrified. With as much courage as he could muster, Richard answered, "I know who you are. And I'm not scared of you any more."
The creature, with its immense strength, pushed Richard to the ground. He cried out in pain. A hand grabbed his throat and threw him against the nearest wall.
The monster stared at him. Its tongue licked its pointy teeth with glee. "Tomorrow you're going to wake up in a hospital, or even better than that, dead."
Richard knew he'd screwed up. He thought back to his wife and kids. Without warning, he was released from the creature's clutches and fell clumsily to the path. Another voice was heard. Someone picked him up and ordered him to leave. A few seconds later and Richard found himself on an unfamiliar road where he observed a bridge not too faraway. He proceeded in that direction.
He made his way onto the bridge. Several thoughts ran through his mind. His family hated him. He had nothing to live for. Richard looked fearfully at the water below.
"I'm sorry, Samantha. I've failed you in so many ways. I'll never see my beautiful children grow up. I feel like there isn't a way back." Richard closed his eyes. "Please, God. I saw something I shouldn't have seen. And this has destroyed me. It's lost me my family. My heart is broken. It's time to leave."
His heart raced. He jumped. A hand grabbed his ankle.
..................
When he'd regained consciousness, someone stood over him.
The first thing he said was, "Won't you monsters leave me alone."
The creature seemed sad and said in a slightly feminine tone, "Why do something so stupid?"
Richard ached everywhere. "Yes, you're right. What I did was stupid. But you can't blame me, can you?"
Suddenly, an awful pain covered his chest. He landed on the road. His breathing was erratic. Richard was petrified that he was going to die. He noticed the monster rubbing its hands together. In-between its palms appeared a strange yellow glow. A moment later, there was nothing.
.................
Richard awoke remembering in flashes of what had happened.
"Please, God. I've had enough. First my family and now this."
He opened his eyes and realised he was in his bed. Sat on a chair a metre from him was the creature that had saved him.
"Thank you," he said. Richard looked at the creature and for the first time in ages, he felt relaxed. "How come you aren't as aggressive as some others? I'm sorry, that was a silly thing to say."
She giggled. "I'm a female. Are you surprised?"
He needed to ask her a question. "Why did you save me? What I did tonight was foolish. I feel so ashamed." He looked away from her, still not knowing what to make of them. "I'm so confused. But to me you're an angel for what you did."
"You're a good man, Richard." A single tear ran down her cheek.
"How did you know where I lived?" he asked. "Sorry, I just need an answer, that's all."
The demon understood. "I was told to follow you. To keep you safe. But I won't lie to you, Richard. There is a lot of my kind who are angry with the way things are. At the moment they don't know about you. Please, accept us. That's all I ask. Watch us, hang around with our kind. In time you'll realise we are the same as you."
"Why am I the only person who can see you? It makes little sense," he asked.
The creature stood up and put a hand on his chest. "Your heart is all better. I healed you, some of us have that ability. If we were so evil why are you still here, answer me that?"
He couldn't think of anything to say and all he said was, "Thank you for saving me."
"That's all my pleasure, Richard." She proceeded to the door, then peered back, and said, "For the next few days study us, follow us, even make friends with our kind. But don't tell them what you know, not at this moment anyway. We are a vulnerable race. We don't like too many surprises. It was nice to meet you. I must go, but you'll be forever in my thoughts."
Richard watched her as she left the room. The front door was heard closing. He was absolutely knackered. Within seconds, he was asleep.
..............
Richard woke up the next day in a new frame of mind. He wasn't sure if it was the conversation with the female demon which had given him some comfort, or that he felt a lot better, mentally and physically. Even the slight ache in his chest had disappeared. After eating a healthy breakfast Richard got himself checked out at the local hospital.
...............
Three and a half hours later he left the hospital shocked. His heart was good as new. Even the doctor inspecting him was baffled beyond belief. While he made his way out of the congested car park, he saw the creatures everywhere. Some held hands with their loved ones, while others walked down the street listening to their CD players without a care in the world.
Richard for the first time in ages laughed. "I'm such an idiot. Hallelujah, to the biggest fool in the world," he shouted raising his arms into the air.
A creature gave him an odd look. "Drinking too early will not do you any favours, mate."
Richard then replied, "Maybe it's them blue pills I took earlier,he moment I take them people look different?"
The creature looked at him suspiciously. "You're weird," was all it said.
With that it carried on down the road carrying a bag of shopping while grunting something under its breath.
..................
Late afternoon he found himself in a quaint pub ordering a beer. At the bar sat one beast. He joined it. Both chatted about politics and other random things. Richard was very surprised by how knowledgeable this thing was. Its name was Barry.
He got up from the stool and shook Barry's clawed hand, and said a little tipsy as he'd had three pints, "It was very nice to meet you, mate."
"Hope to see you again soon," it answered.
Richard headed home to catch a nap. The sun shone. The temperature was agreeable. From somewhere deep inside a slight light glimmered amongst the shadows. Life was worth living after all. And he couldn't have been happier.
.....................
A car was observed coming up the drive. It was his family. The rain fell hard. He couldn't wait to see them. Even though the curtains were drawn, he saw three figures getting out of the vehicle which was parked beside the pretty flowerbed. While they made their way to the entrance, he heard Samantha's faint voice, "Come on, children. Daddy's really looking forward to seeing you."
Excited laughter erupted in front of the house. A key turning in the lock and the door opened. Three metres from him was Samantha and his beloved children. He cried and getting up from the sofa put his arms around them.
"Thank you for forgiving me. I swear with all my heart it'll never happen again," he said. "What I did was awful."
Behind him on the coffee table stood a little box which had been opened. Only ten minutes ago he'd taken the second pill so things would get back to normal. He knew the truth. It was now time to get on with his life. With his beautiful family all around him it was the perfect moment to do just that.
....................
The cancer had finally beaten him. He knew he had little time left. A faint noise was heard. He half opened his eyes. At the door stood someone. As they came towards him he noticed something different. Now it all made sense.
"It's you," he whispered. "My angel."
Samantha sat down on a chair a few inches from the bed. "There must be something the doctors can do. I won't take it, Richard. You're the love of my life. We've been married for as long as I can remember. Please don't leave me." she begged, putting both hands together like she was praying.
He could barely speak, but doing the best he could, he answered, "You're my shining light, Samantha. A reason to carry on, but I have got little time left." He coughed up some blood.
Samantha got a tissue out of her coat pocket and wiped the blood from his chin. Then a nervous look came over her face. "I've got a confession, Richard. I need to come clean."
He laughed, then replied with difficulty, "So, who is it?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, putting her hands on his chest softly.
"Well, when you said you needed to confess something that only means one thing." More blood ran from his mouth.
She bent down and kissed him on the forehead, before saying nervously, "I can't lie to you any longer, my dear Richard, who I've loved for as long as I can remember. And who I cherish with all my heart."
He peered up at her with a smile on his face. "Then tell?"
She brushed a hand through his hair and said while trembling, "It was me on the bridge that night. It was me who put you in your bed. I feel so ashamed for not telling you this earlier."
Richard glanced up at Samantha. "I've always known. To me you've always been beautiful."
With as much strength as he could muster he raised his head and kissed his wife tenderly on the lips for the last time.
................
Within a few months other people saw them and a new age was dawning.
The End
The Demons Amongst Us.(Stephen Pearmine)
The Demons Amongst Us
A terrible pain was felt in his chest. He fell to the hard concrete, unsure what was going on. Luckily, he landed on his back. He noticed many people around him. He saw one man on his phone talking frantically to someone. The tightness in his chest was unbearable. Then something happened which worried him immensely. Some people in the crowd had monstrous faces. At least fifteen of them stared at him while licking their grotesque lips. Their eyes were more like snake eyes, and inside of their mouths were sharp, pointy teeth. He cried out in horror.
Was he already dead, was he going to hell?
The demons were all around him. One rushed towards him, bearing its fangs. He then lost all consciousness.
.............
The first thing he saw was a window on the left of him.
Where was he, what had happened?
Within a second, a man strolled in wearing a doctor's uniform. He smiled before saying, "You've had a heart attack, I'm afraid. Sorry to have to tell you that. For a couple of days, we must take tests and monitor you. I'm very sorry for the grave news. How do you feel?" He pushed his glasses up his big red nose.
Richard answered, "It doesn't surprise me. Summer times are the worst for all the parties. Such a shame though, as I was supposed to go on holiday in the next two weeks."
The doctor who must've been in his fifties laughed, before saying, "Cut down on them burgers and alcohol, and before you know it, you'll be right as rain."
"I don't feel right as rain."
The man came closer while holding a red folder. "Just look after yourself. The operation is simple. So no worries there. I'm afraid your holiday might have to be cancelled. I'll pop in tomorrow just to see how you are."
Richard had nothing else to say. The man seemed a friendly chap, the sort of bloke he'd meet at the parties he attended "Thanks," was all he said.
Once the doctor had left, Richard thought back to the monsters he'd seen. Dread was felt.
...........
The devilish faces were all around him. Terror filled his heart. He tried running from them, but all they wanted to do was feed off his flesh. Their claws touching his skin, cutting him, blood running down his body. He tried to scream. A demonic hand wrapped around his face. Utter fear ran through him. Sharp teeth ripped through his arm. Then he noticed an angel only a short distance away. Within a second, the nightmare had ended.
Richard awoke and was covered in sweat. Through the window the moon was observed, causing a little light. Then he had this terrible feeling the monsters knew, that he knew.
For the rest of the night, Robert didn't sleep a single wink. What he'd witnessed with his own eyes was real, and he needed to warn people.
...............
Morning had arrived. A pretty nurse walked in to check up on him. He felt safe again. Only time would tell.
..............
Around 11am his wife Samantha came in with their two children. She looked worried while she sat at the side of the bed.
"Are you okay, Richard? I'm still in shock," she said, brushing a hand through her long dark hair. "I'm so sorry I didn't come straight away, but I needed to pick the children up from school, and other things which complicated everything. Oh, what a worry."
He gave her a smile before answering. "It's a shock to me as well. One minute I'm making my way down the street, then boom, I'm on the floor with a terrible pain across my chest."
Demonic faces evaded his mind. Should he tell her, maybe it was too soon with everything that had happened?
"So, how are you holding up?" she asked.
"I've been better, love."
Samantha cried. She removed a tissue from her coat pocket and wiped her eyes.
He saw she was upset and felt bad. "There, there, my darling. Don't cry. I'm okay. No need to worry."
He put his arms around her. His children stood staring at him. Nervous looks were on their faces. Both were too young to really understand. One was a boy of 7 and his sister was 9 and a half.
Richard peered at them, then said, "You know I love you with all my heart. Please don't worry about me, as I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm only here so they can check up on me. Do you understand?"
The boy answered first, "We were terrified. Sorry, daddy. For being scared."
"Come here," Richard said.
His son did what he was told. Richard hugged him before whispering, "You're such a brave young man. I'm really proud of you. I'm okay, so no need to worry."
He kissed the top of his son's head.
The boy looked at him with his big brown eyes, then answered, "I'm happy you're okay, daddy."
"That's my boy," was all he answered.
Richard adored his family.
His wife then said, "Are you sure you're okay, Richard?"
She could tell something wasn't right. They'd been married for a long time. She knew him better than anyone else.
"I'll be okay, love. It'll take time, that's all," he said.
She smiled, seeming happy with that response.
Deep down, he was in turmoil.
...............
In the middle of the night, he awoke with a start. Inches from him was one of them. It smiled at him and tried to grab his arm. Richard did the best he could to pull himself up off the bed, away from the beast.
"Please don't," Richard begged.
A long lizard tongue appeared from its mouth. The monstrosity lifted a hand up to Richard's face. Long sharp finger nails scraped along his forehead. He screamed.
"Once I'm done with you, I'll look forward to visiting your family," said the demon. A smirk on its face.
Richard tried grabbing the monster. "Leave my family out of this," he shouted.
The demon laughed.
Everything then went black.
...............
He opened his eyes, realising he'd had another bad dream.
"This is too much," he muttered.
The ceiling light hadn't been turned off. He peered at the small grey clock which sat only a short distance away on the bedside cabinet. It was 3.38am.
He hated being stuck in here.
"Please be safe," he said, thinking back to his beloved family and how he couldn't wait to go home.
...............
Four days later and Richard left the hospital. He still didn't feel right. He kept experiencing strange headaches, and his chest would ache. Usually when this occurred, he would sit down and take some deep breaths.
Because he loved his family dearly, he tried to get what he had seen out of his mind. But every night the nightmares were terrifying. Even his wife had noticed that something was wrong. Then one day he told her.
She took a step back before saying, "What are you talking about, Richard?"
He knew this would happen. "Maybe I was hallucinating?"
She took his hand. Her eyes wide open with fear. "What you just told me isn't normal. I know you too well. I know deep down you believe this. It's scaring me, Richard. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Out of frustration he shouted at her, then swung his hand so it caught an empty cup which ended up on the kitchen floor in pieces.
Samantha left the room, swearing under her breath. A shocked look covered her face.
Richard sat down and put his face in his hands. He sobbed.
...............
After that night, their relationship was falling apart. The children noticed that something wasn't right.
A new neighbour had moved in. The bloke kept himself to himself. The moment Richard saw him, he suspected him of being one of them. He hadn't spoken to his wife for a little while. It drove him mad.
One day, as the sun shone pleasantly, Richard peered out of the window to see why the kids hadn't come back from school. He was getting worried, as any parent would. With utter horror, he saw the new neighbour speaking to them. He stormed out of the house and headed towards them, shouting abuse at the man. His children were shocked by this.
"Please, daddy. He was being nice to us," cried the boy.
He grabbed the neighbour around the throat.
"I know who you are. That is why you moved into the street. To check up on me. Wasn't it?"
Someone pulled at his arm and, without giving it much thought, lashed out. Next thing he was aware of was his son laying on the road. Blood ran down his face as he cried for his mummy.
Richard realised he'd done a terrible thing. His life had finally reached a new low.
...............
The next day, the house was empty. Samantha had left with the children, telling him to seek professional help. He never saw the neighbour again.
One night after he had downed a few beers, Richard noticed a car parked outside of his home.
They're after me, he thought.
The next evening, the vehicle was back. By this point, Richard had had enough of these bastards messing with his head. He grabbed a baseball bat and stumbled out onto the street, shouting obscenities at them. The car sped off into darkness. He made his way back into the quiet house. The time was 12.56am. It was late, even for him. He looked at the living room floor covered in beer cans and felt ashamed. He would never forget the bruise on the little boy's face as long as he would live. As a father he was supposed to protect his family.
"I'm so sorry."
He walked into the hallway to head upstairs when he saw a man wearing a suit. Richard tried to tackle him, but another person appeared through the open doorway and threw him to the floor.
"What do you want from me?" he screamed.
A voice in his ear then said, "You're coming with us."
Something was put over his head. He felt himself being dragged along. Richard tried to escape. A blow to his head and everything went dark.
...............
The first thing he was aware of was being tied to a chair.
What did they want from him, was it to silence him because he knew their true identity?
He was in a big warehouse, probably in the middle of nowhere, so if they wanted to get rid of him without being caught, this was ideally the best location. He shuddered at what was going to happen next. The place smelt strange, musky. A few bright lights came on, causing him to close his eyes for a second.
"Hello, Richard," said a man's voice.
Richard looked up, scared. A man wearing a posh suit came closer. The thing which freaked him out more than anything else was. The man wore a horrible mask to conceal his identity.
"So, what are you going to do to me?" he asked nervously.
The person sat down on a chair which was about four metres from him, and in a very calm manner, answered, "You can't escape, so don't even try. It's quite unbelievable, really." He laughed.
Richard was tiring of this now, and shouted, "So are you going to get rid of me, because I know who you are?"
From behind the mysterious stranger, another person appeared from the doorway holding a knife. He also wore a mask. Utter terror was felt.
The man rubbed his hands together, before saying in a more serious tone, "Since the dark ages you're the first person to see our kind. I don't understand how that's possible." He took his mask off. He was an elderly man with a bald head. He glanced up at Richard. "Through the years, they've made up terrible stories about us. Demons. Satan. The fires of hell." He wept.
Richard had had enough of this. "This is absolutely pathetic. Tomorrow morning my body is going to be found and you're feeding me bullshit. If you're going to kill me, then do it, as I'm sick of these games."
Then he regretted what he'd just said. He shook with fear. The person with the knife walked over to him. Richard expected the worst and closed his eyes. The rope around his wrists loosened. He breathed a sigh of relief. He opened his eyes.
"What's happening?" he asked.
The man sighed before replying, "We aren't here to get rid of you. We are in awe of you. It's been years and years, but you saw us in our proper form. How's that possible?"
"I don't understand. Why am I here?" His wrists still ached. "Is it okay if I stand up?"
"Of course it is. You still don't fully understand, do you?" the old man said, disappointment on his face.
"So why am I the first person in years to see you as you are?"
The man shuffled in his chair before replying, "Because you're the one."
"The one?" What the hell were they talking about?
The man stood up himself. One of his legs seemed shorter than the other. With trouble, he made his way towards Richard. "I'm so sorry. I'm very old," he said. "But the chance of meeting you at long last inspired me to make the effort, even though the pain which consumes my entire body is awful. Sometimes I wish I was dead."
"You mustn't say that," Richard replied. "How old are you, eighty four?"
The man with his wrinkled, pale face had finally reached him. "I'm over 200 years old."
"But how is that possible?" Richard asked.
"Because our species lives longer than humans. Does that scare you, me saying that?"
Richard sat back down, as his head was spinning. "I need time to take this all in."
The man held a small box in his right hand. He handed it to Richard. "In there is two pills. One is blue, and the other is purple. When you're ready to see us properly and to learn more about us, take the blue pill. Once your anxieties have gone, take the other pill, and everything will go back to normal. Do you understand?"
"What?" Richard asked. "This is insane. Why go to all this effort just for me?"
The man was out of breath, but replied, "Because you seeing us after all this time is a miracle. It's a sign that one day in the not so distant future we can live on this planet as ourselves. In complete harmony with humans. This is something we have yearned for since as long as I can remember."
Richard still didn't trust him as much as he would've liked. "So the moment I take the pill I'll be able to see you monsters everywhere I go?"
"Please don't use the word monsters. That is the problem with this world. It makes me very sad. But I have faith in humanity. I need to believe that your species can change for the better. It needs to change. Therefore you're important."
"But I'm not important," he said.
The man tutted before carrying on. "If you can see us, then others will in time. If you can accept us as we are, then others will in due course."
"When should I take it?" he asked.
Richard had nothing to lose. His wife had left him. His children hated him.
"Whenever you think it's the right time," was all the man answered.
Richard opened the box and saw two pills. He got hold of the blue one and without giving it much thought, put it into his mouth. The thing was quite small, so swallowing it shouldn't be a problem. With one gulp, it was gone. He still felt the same. Richard looked back at the man and observed something, which made him cry out in fear. His face had changed. Staring back at him was a demon he had feared since he was a child. The stories he'd been told throughout his life about these vile creatures would haunt him for evermore.
"I'm not a religious man. Everything you've said tonight contradicts everything I've ever learnt. What should I do, because I'm petrified beyond belief?"
The demon then said, "Believe in your heart. I'll bid you farewell. Good luck with your journey. And be patient, Richard, they'll take you back to your house shortly."
Richard realised his life would never be the same. "Please, god. Give me strength," he muttered.
The lights in the building then went out. He knew it was time to go home.
.................
.................
He'd arrived home. Bewilderment overtook his brain. Richard sat down and took a few deep breaths.
"I need a drink," he said as he made his way to the fridge. He changed his mind, realising a bottle of red wine was in the cabinet next to the TV. "Sod it. Wine it is."
He pulled the cork off and poured himself a glass. After one sip, his head spun a little, which he enjoyed. Richard turned the television on as the silence was becoming unbearable. On the screen several monsters appeared as they ran about a field trying to retrieve items which were hidden. Amongst them were humans playing the same game.
"The bastards are everywhere," he cursed.
Richard switched the TV off. His eyes felt heavy. Through all the excitement, he'd forgotten about his heart attack, and how the doctor had told him to take it easy. No work for at least three weeks. Since being home, too many weird things had occurred. This couldn't be doing him any good. He needed some much needed sleep. It was late. He walked up the stairs, rubbing his eyes. When Richard got into the bedroom, he took his clothes off and headed to the bed.
For the first time since the heart attack, he didn't have a single nightmare. The only dream he had was when he was with his wife on holiday, and this made him smile.
"I love you, Samantha, " he said to her.
Her beautiful face then faded.
...............
Richard awoke the next morning, and it all seemed like a bad dream. He laughed to himself, thinking none of this could've really happened. It was too insane, even for him. Then he saw something through the bedroom window and his blood ran cold.
"Shit. It wasn't a dream."
The postman made his way up the drive. Terry was his name, and the moment he saw Richard, he waved. Inside of his mouth were small, sharp teeth. His face was unrecognisable as he looked like one of those things. The post fell through the door with a bang.
"I need a drink," he said.
He stuck on some clothes, then made his way down the stairs, knowing a strong coffee would do the trick. While Richard sipped the drink, he pondered on what to do with his day.
How many of these monsters were out there? He needed to know.
Later, he needed to ring his wife. Hopefully, she'd have forgiven him by now. He loved her so much. At this moment, Richard needed her support more than ever.
"Please, darling Samantha. I can't live without you."
He thought back to the demons, and fear ran through him. The next few days were going to be a struggle. He wasn't looking forward to it one bit.
...............
He observed many creatures in the centre of London. Some wore suits, others were dressed in fleeces while they spoke on mobile phones. He went into several shops, and some of the staff had the same grotesque faces. This was becoming unbearable.
When Richard got home late afternoon, he needed something to eat, as his stomach was making awful noises. Eating healthfully was the last thing on his mind, so he rang a takeaway and ordered the biggest pizza they had.
There was a knock at the door about 30 minutes later. Richard opened the door. In front of him was a kid with big red spots which covered the lower part of his chin. He paid the money, wishing the teenager a pleasant evening, then made his way back into the living room to stuff his face.
The food was delicious. On the coffee table was a booklet that the hospital had given him about Angina attacks. Using his foot, he pushed it off as it landed on the carpet. Richard belched loudly. It felt good.
The time was 6.43pm.
It was time to ring his wife and beg her for forgiveness. He knew she'd gone to her mum's house in the country, only a few miles from here. He walked to the phone. A feeling of dread ran through him.
Please forgive me, he thought.
Richard dialed the number, then waited patiently.
..............
He left the house in a bad mood. His mother-in-law had answered the phone, saying that Samantha had made the right choice in leaving him. Ever since they'd been married, she'd always caused problems like she was jealous of them. It made him so angry.
..............
Even though the doctor had warned him about drinking too much alcohol, tonight he didn't care. Richard headed into a bar, not surprised to see the rancid monsters all around him while they sat with his kind, chatting and laughing. He knocked back a shot of whisky. His vision became blurry.
"Are you okay?" asked the barman, who must've been in his late sixties.
Richard was happy to see a human face, and replied, "I will be after a couple more of these."
The man said, concerned, "You don't look too good, chap. Maybe you should head home?"
This made Richard angry, as he knew the vile creatures only sat a short distance away and the barman was treating him like a freak.
"Are you joking or something," he yelled.
The older man looked startled and replied, "I think you better leave these premises. If not, I'll ring the police."
It was time to go.
"Okay," Richard agreed.
Richard headed to the entrance. He'd only had one drink, but it seemed a lot more. He opened the door, relieved he had made it in one piece. Suddenly someone came through it, which caused Richard to lose his footing. Through sheer rage, he got back up and pinned this person against the wall. He realised it was one of them.
The demon snarled at him. "I could kill you in a second. Do you want it?"
He was petrified. With as much courage as he could muster, Richard answered, "I know who you are. And I'm not scared of you any more."
The creature, with its immense strength, pushed Richard to the ground. He cried out in pain. A hand grabbed his throat and threw him against the nearest wall.
The monster stared at him. Its tongue licked its pointy teeth with glee. "Tomorrow you're going to wake up in a hospital, or even better than that, dead."
Richard knew he'd screwed up. He thought back to his wife and kids. Without warning, he was released from the creature's clutches and fell clumsily to the path. Another voice was heard. Someone picked him up and ordered him to leave. A few seconds later and Richard found himself on an unfamiliar road where he observed a bridge not too faraway. He proceeded in that direction.
He made his way onto the bridge. Several thoughts ran through his mind. His family hated him. He had nothing to live for. Richard looked fearfully at the water below.
"I'm sorry, Samantha. I've failed you in so many ways. I'll never see my beautiful children grow up. I feel like there isn't a way back." Richard closed his eyes. "Please, God. I saw something I shouldn't have seen. And this has destroyed me. It's lost me my family. My heart is broken. It's time to leave."
His heart raced. He jumped. A hand grabbed his ankle.
..................
When he'd regained consciousness, someone stood over him.
The first thing he said was, "Won't you monsters leave me alone."
The creature seemed sad and said in a slightly feminine tone, "Why do something so stupid?"
Richard ached everywhere. "Yes, you're right. What I did was stupid. But you can't blame me, can you?"
Suddenly, an awful pain covered his chest. He landed on the road. His breathing was erratic. Richard was petrified that he was going to die. He noticed the monster rubbing its hands together. In-between its palms appeared a strange yellow glow. A moment later, there was nothing.
.................
Richard awoke remembering in flashes of what had happened.
"Please, God. I've had enough. First my family and now this."
He opened his eyes and realised he was in his bed. Sat on a chair a metre from him was the creature that had saved him.
"Thank you," he said. Richard looked at the creature and for the first time in ages, he felt relaxed. "How come you aren't as aggressive as some others? I'm sorry, that was a silly thing to say."
She giggled. "I'm a female. Are you surprised?"
He needed to ask her a question. "Why did you save me? What I did tonight was foolish. I feel so ashamed." He looked away from her, still not knowing what to make of them. "I'm so confused. But to me you're an angel for what you did."
"You're a good man, Richard." A single tear ran down her cheek.
"How did you know where I lived?" he asked. "Sorry, I just need an answer, that's all."
The demon understood. "I was told to follow you. To keep you safe. But I won't lie to you, Richard. There is a lot of my kind who are angry with the way things are. At the moment they don't know about you. Please, accept us. That's all I ask. Watch us, hang around with our kind. In time you'll realise we are the same as you."
"Why am I the only person who can see you? It makes little sense," he asked.
The creature stood up and put a hand on his chest. "Your heart is all better. I healed you, some of us have that ability. If we were so evil why are you still here, answer me that?"
He couldn't think of anything to say and all he said was, "Thank you for saving me."
"That's all my pleasure, Richard." She proceeded to the door, then peered back, and said, "For the next few days study us, follow us, even make friends with our kind. But don't tell them what you know, not at this moment anyway. We are a vulnerable race. We don't like too many surprises. It was nice to meet you. I must go, but you'll be forever in my thoughts."
Richard watched her as she left the room. The front door was heard closing. He was absolutely knackered. Within seconds, he was asleep.
..............
Richard woke up the next day in a new frame of mind. He wasn't sure if it was the conversation with the female demon which had given him some comfort, or that he felt a lot better, mentally and physically. Even the slight ache in his chest had disappeared. After eating a healthy breakfast Richard got himself checked out at the local hospital.
...............
Three and a half hours later he left the hospital shocked. His heart was good as new. Even the doctor inspecting him was baffled beyond belief. While he made his way out of the congested car park, he saw the creatures everywhere. Some held hands with their loved ones, while others walked down the street listening to their CD players without a care in the world.
Richard for the first time in ages laughed. "I'm such an idiot. Hallelujah, to the biggest fool in the world," he shouted raising his arms into the air.
A creature gave him an odd look. "Drinking too early will not do you any favours, mate."
Richard then replied, "Maybe it's them blue pills I took earlier,he moment I take them people look different?"
The creature looked at him suspiciously. "You're weird," was all it said.
With that it carried on down the road carrying a bag of shopping while grunting something under its breath.
..................
Late afternoon he found himself in a quaint pub ordering a beer. At the bar sat one beast. He joined it. Both chatted about politics and other random things. Richard was very surprised by how knowledgeable this thing was. Its name was Barry.
He got up from the stool and shook Barry's clawed hand, and said a little tipsy as he'd had three pints, "It was very nice to meet you, mate."
"Hope to see you again soon," it answered.
Richard headed home to catch a nap. The sun shone. The temperature was agreeable. From somewhere deep inside a slight light glimmered amongst the shadows. Life was worth living after all. And he couldn't have been happier.
.....................
A car was observed coming up the drive. It was his family. The rain fell hard. He couldn't wait to see them. Even though the curtains were drawn, he saw three figures getting out of the vehicle which was parked beside the pretty flowerbed. While they made their way to the entrance, he heard Samantha's faint voice, "Come on, children. Daddy's really looking forward to seeing you."
Excited laughter erupted in front of the house. A key turning in the lock and the door opened. Three metres from him was Samantha and his beloved children. He cried and getting up from the sofa put his arms around them.
"Thank you for forgiving me. I swear with all my heart it'll never happen again," he said. "What I did was awful."
Behind him on the coffee table stood a little box which had been opened. Only ten minutes ago he'd taken the second pill so things would get back to normal. He knew the truth. It was now time to get on with his life. With his beautiful family all around him it was the perfect moment to do just that.
....................
The cancer had finally beaten him. He knew he had little time left. A faint noise was heard. He half opened his eyes. At the door stood someone. As they came towards him he noticed something different. Now it all made sense.
"It's you," he whispered. "My angel."
Samantha sat down on a chair a few inches from the bed. "There must be something the doctors can do. I won't take it, Richard. You're the love of my life. We've been married for as long as I can remember. Please don't leave me." she begged, putting both hands together like she was praying.
He could barely speak, but doing the best he could, he answered, "You're my shining light, Samantha. A reason to carry on, but I have got little time left." He coughed up some blood.
Samantha got a tissue out of her coat pocket and wiped the blood from his chin. Then a nervous look came over her face. "I've got a confession, Richard. I need to come clean."
He laughed, then replied with difficulty, "So, who is it?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, putting her hands on his chest softly.
"Well, when you said you needed to confess something that only means one thing." More blood ran from his mouth.
She bent down and kissed him on the forehead, before saying nervously, "I can't lie to you any longer, my dear Richard, who I've loved for as long as I can remember. And who I cherish with all my heart."
He peered up at her with a smile on his face. "Then tell?"
She brushed a hand through his hair and said while trembling, "It was me on the bridge that night. It was me who put you in your bed. I feel so ashamed for not telling you this earlier."
Richard glanced up at Samantha. "I've always known. To me you've always been beautiful."
With as much strength as he could muster he raised his head and kissed his wife tenderly on the lips for the last time.
................
Within a few months other people saw them and a new age was dawning.
The End
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