The Haunted Traveler Vol. 2 Issue 1

172
Monster’s hands were much larger.
Emitting a growl that grew into a deafening roar,
Monster emerged from the shadows, looking more hulking,
menacing, and grossly terrifying than Lucy had ever seen.
In an instant, he was at Lucy’s bed, digging his sharpened
talons into her father’s arms, ripping him away from his precious
little Lucy, and throwing him with monstrous strength
across the bedroom.
Lucy ran to the safety of her closet and hid, watching
from between the folds of her clothes as Monster ravaged the
horrified man on her bedroom floor, making his outsides as
disgusting as his insides. Her father screamed and struggled
as Monster tore and clawed and gnawed at every appendage
he had ever used to cause his daughter harm, all while
Monster muttered and growled and roared and screeched that
this pitiful horrible man was not fit to be Lucy’s father. Tears
sprang from Lucy’s eyes as the screams of her father quieted
and his strength shrank away until there was nothing left but
blood and stillness.
Monster stayed hunched over what was left of the
man with a sick infatuation with his only child. Without turning
to face her, Monster told her that she was safe now, that
she would never have to be scared of anything ever again.
Slowly, quietly, little Lucy crept out of the shadows and
came to rest at Monster’s side, looking at the bloody mess
of the father who had always told her that he loved her more
than anything or anyone. Lucy knew it was a lie, though, as
she held Monster’s bloodied claw with her small hand. She
knew, because there was someone who loved her far more
than her father ever did, and his corpse was proof of that.
Monster would be her father now, her protector.
She only flinched a little when Monster held her hand
so tightly that his claws penetrated her skin. He said it was
because he loved her so very dearly.
And she thanked him for it.