Chapter Four

I only briefly considered letting it out. I would have to figure out how to unlock that door and then how to get into the cages. If this voice was as strong as I felt it to be, why could it not get out on it’s own.

I shook my head. Besides, I did not know what the voice was. He could be an even scarier monster than the ones that I was already avoiding.

“We are pretty scary.” The voice taunted him and sounded amused. I scowled and glanced back in the direction of that door.

All of a sudden something blacker than the rest of the dungeon was on top of me. It was smaller than me and smelled of old abandoned rooms. The softness of its fur tickled my skin.

It bit me and I  gasped. I began to try to push it off, swinging my arms and legs around until i no longer felt it’s weight.

I closed my eyes and started kicking. I swung my arms out. But I did not hit. I heard it hiss.

Veronica stood at her bedroom mirror, looking at herself in the new dress that her dad had gotten her. He said he bought the dress because they were having guests for dinner. He wanted her to look her best. 

The dress was light blue and seemed to add extra glow to her skin. It emphasized the color of her eyes. The lace was so pretty! She loved how the dress kinda hung to her curves. It was the kind of dress that her dad had always said no to.

Her thoughts kept going back to the creature in the kitchen. That was a week ago. She had not told anyone about it. When the guards had responded to her scream, she told them that she had seen a spider.

Sometimes, she felt eyes on her. Veronica wasn’t sure if she was being paranoid but was pretty sure the creature was watching. When she first saw him in the pantry, she had found him creepy.

But she quickly reallized who or whatever it was meant her no harm. It was just as frightened as she was. So, when she felt those eyes on her, she smiled wider. If she was alone, she would put on a little dance for it. Occasionally, she spoke to it but it never responded. Oh well! 

Veronica enjoyed the fact that she had a little secret. She knew something wonderful about her home that no one else did! It was exciting.

She twisted her hair into the style she loved best. It was still in the modest style of royalty. But her spin on it accented her face and reminded her of flowers.

She applied a little pink to her cheeks. She did not wear make up often but If her father wanted her to look her best, then she would also enjoy some finer things. Smiling mischievously and humming to herself, she began to paint her face. 

She was admiring her completed handiwork, when she felt that familiar feeling of eyes on her. “In my bedroom, really?” Veronica teased and turned towards the eyes.

The creature pushed open an area of stone in the wall and crawled out. He did remind her of a crab scuttling along the beach. Or a spider? 

The light coming into her window allowed her a better view of the creature that she had encountered in the kitchen. Now, she was sure it was a boy. His eyes squinted against the bright sunlight. She wondered how much he was in the dark.

The dirt coated him pretty well but she was still able to make out how pale his skin was. Seeing sunlight like this had to be rare for him. Then, why was he out now?

Before she could ponder any further, his eyes met hers. They were green in the centers with a gold ring along the outside. She could also see brown flecks in his iris. “Danger.” He croaked in a voice that was clearly never used.

She dropped to her knees in front of him and grabbed his hands. He jumped and started to retreat. “No, stay.” She whispered tenderly. “Tell me of the danger.”

He swallowed and, in his eyes, she could see how brave he was being. She smiled warmly, allowing her gratitude to show on her face. 

***

It was weird having her touch me. I almost darted away. But she was so gentle and tender. I had to be brave or it would get her! 

I don’t know what it was that attacked me in the passage. The voice said it was their caretaker, who had escaped through the door. It was little because it was so hungry but the voice said it would grow as it found things to eat.

It must have thought it could eat me. I shudder and gather my words. Her eyes have held mine captive since she touched me. I have to focus to say words. I have not talked in so long. 

I pull away just as gently as she had touched me. She lets go but seems reluctant to. My shoulders slouch as I think. I can feel my eyebrows knit together as I focus. “Big monster let out little one.”

She looked at me confused. “There are no monsters.” She said softly, shaking her head.

I nod and meet her eyes with mine again, pleading her to believe me. “Little monster got me.” I say energetically. She has to believe me!

I hold out my arm, where I had been bit. She gets closer, examining the tooth wounds. “Oh no, my friend! A rat bit you.” She glanced at the door. “They will be here to come get me soon.”

I glance at the door with wide eyes. I cannot get caught. My heart beats fast. I shake my head rejecting the thought.

She must have seen my anxiety because she smiled and said, “before you go off, let me take care of that. You are bleeding.”

I shrug. That does not matter much to me. What is more important is that she not get hurt by that little monster and that I do not get caught by any monster.

***

Veronica gathered some supplies to clean and dress his bloody little bite. Poor thing lives in the walls. It made sense that he might get bit by rats. If it was attacking him, she could see where it looked like a monster.

But what had he said? A big monster had let out the little one that bit him. How did that make any sense?

She began cleaning his wound with a small bottle of water. He jumped at the feel of the cold liquid. “It’s ok.” Veronica soothed him.

The time that she spent cleaning, she looked at him closely. Yes, he seemed like a boy who had lived his entire life in the dark. His eyes were so dark blue that they would seem black in lesser light. 

He was so skinny that she could see his bones. He must not eat very well, she thought. Then she considered that. Of course, he didn’t eat very well. He lived in the walls! Veronica decided that she would start bringing leftovers to her room at night.

He was covered in dust and dirt so on first glance you would not see how truly pale his skin was. It was so white that it appeared to have a blue tint to it. Light blue, what an odd skin color, she mused.

His body was bent in ways that she thought was unusual. His spine poked through his back and out through the cloth he wore. “What is your name?” She wondered outloud.

“Name….” He repeated. He was silent again. Would he even tell her? It didn’t seem so.

“Yes, I am Veronica. What is your name?” He was silent still, squinting his face. 

“Ro-Roger.” He stuttered softly.

“Roger!” She exclaimed excitedly. He flinched and moved a step away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” She reached out a hand to him but he ducked out of the wya.

He grew a determined look on his face. “Watch out, you will get hurt.” She took a step back, surprised by his threat. He looked concerned by her reaction and shook his head, frustrated. Was it not a threat?

Just then there was a knock on the door. Veronica spun around to stare at it. Of course, they would interrupt her now. “I’ll be out in a minute.” She promised and turned back to Roger. But he was gone.