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“I think it’s the one thing Julie has, that is in short supply here.”
And even I’m running low. Every day it becomes a little harder to believe that I will get home. What if I’ve run out of hope by the time we reach the center?
I can’t tell them that. I’m supposed to be the one reminding them to stay human and figuring out how to undo the changes. It seemed so easy at first. Make a deal and ask to be taken home. Make another deal and start the trek. Michael and Tail readily agreed because they saw something in me.
See my ex and lose my voice. And then my toe as payment for my failure. I glance at my foot, wondering if it will grow back when I figure out these changes. Will Michael’s eye grow back when he becomes human?
Tail grew an extra pair, so why not?
Michael grunts. “True.”
How can he say that after the climb? I stare at him, but all I can see is the ruined side of his face. He always puts me on the sightless side.
I want to ask Talon more about the center and what it looks like. How big are the monsters there? Was he big once and is now shrinking down to nothing?
“Where the fuck is Tail?” Michael grumbles. “He was supposed to be in front of us.”
I haven’t seen Tail since he slithered off in a huff after I added Talon to our group. I purse my lips and whistle. I’m glad I can still do that.
Both monsters startle, like I’ve had a sudden and unfortunate change.
Hopefully Tail will know that’s us.
“You shouldn’t make loud and odd noises as it attracts attention. And we do not want attention,” Talon says.
I wince. I hadn’t thought about that. Does that mean we need to keep moving instead of resting? I don’t think I can travel all night. I’m human, mostly, and I need to eat and drink and sleep more than these guys.
Michael tilts his head. “I heard a rattle.”
And a rattle doesn’t count as a loud noise that will attract attention? Perhaps I should have howled. But even though this place is filled with people on the way to being monsters, the night is eerily silent.
There are no barks or growls, or even groans or sobbing.
The only sounds are when there is a fight, and that is snarling and screaming depending on where the fighters are on the scale of monster to human.
Michael leads us down the slope a little more. I skid and slide and my feet sting with each step. I hadn’t noticed before—probably because I was distracted by the possibility of falling. Now I am feeling every cut and scrape and bruise.
I start to hobble and Michael scoops me up without breaking step.
Talon stays behind us, like he is still doing his job of making sure that nothing is following. I hope nothing is. I don’t want them to have to fight again. Not so soon.
But it will happen, and I need to be ready.
I need my voice back.
8
Julie
Tail found a nice cave that only has the bony remains of about three different monsters piled up against the back wall. Did he do that, or was it already clean and ready for use?
Was one of them the last occupant, or will someone return home later tonight?
I glance away, but there isn’t really anywhere to look. With the four of us standing around—and Michael is in the entrance because he’s too tall to stand in here—it’s crowded.
Talon is pressed against the wall, like he’ll be able to disappear if he tries harder.
And Tail still seems to be pissy.
