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The closest things to signs of life I see are the small creatures inhabiting the city. He steers me clear of his people or monsters, so it’s just me, the monster, and the tiger.
No Talia.
I don’t know if he is purposely leading me closer to where I escaped from or not, but I do notice we are near it. I can’t call him a liar though, because if he’s genuinely trying to help me, I wouldn’t piss off the one creature on this side of the wall that is willing to help me and not eat me alive like a three-course meal.
Instead, I stay silent, searching for signs of life everywhere, writing her name and a message in the dust and dirt where I can, and listening for any screams or shouts.
But there is only the silence of the city, no hum or life or noise from people.
Dawn grows closer. I feel it on the horizon, along with the nip in the air as the sky lightens. He must feel it too, because he stops us after searching yet another deserted house.
“Aria, it is almost sunrise. We must retire.”
“No, a little longer,” I demand even as he tugs me to a stop. I yank my hand free and turn to him, but even the tiger is yawning.
“I cannot be out when the sun is up. We are no good to your friend tired and hungry. We must rest. I promise you we’ll come back in a few hours.”
I debate it, but I know he’s right. I’m hungry and tired, and I seriously need a wee.
“Fine.” I sigh, giving in easier than he thought, if his astonished blink is anything to go by. “What does the sun do to you anyway?” I ask curiously.
“It weakens us,” is all he says. “Come on, I will take you back to my sleeping quarters. No one will disturb or hurt you, I promise. After eating and sleeping, I will come back here with you to find her.”
“Why are you helping me?” I query as we walk. I am so tired, my feet almost drag along the ground, as if mentioning rest has simply made my brain and body switch off.
“Why not?” he counters.
“Because I’m human and you’re a—” I stumble then, and he sighs.
“A monster? You can say it, Aria.”
“I was going to say a humanly challenged individual.” I grin at him. “But, Red, seriously, why? No one helps anyone for free, so what do you want from me?”
“Maybe I simply want to help you, to help anyone for once, rather than just exist,” he muses as he looks down at me. “But don’t worry about that now. Come.” He ducks inside a hole in a wall.
“Back into the dungeon I go,” I singsong, looking at the tiger. “Come on, buddy, you’ll protect me from hungry monsters who might try to eat me, right?”
He just rubs against me, so I take that as a yes.
TWELVE
ARIA
Idon’t see any of his monsters inside, but he hurries me back to his room, where the door is ripped open from when he came after me. He pulls me inside and shuts it, and when I give it a considering, almost fearful look, he sighs before picking up some discarded furniture like it weighs nothing and placing it in front of it.
“Nothing or no one will hurt you, human,” he promises, leading me over to the bed on the floor. “They would have to get through me first.” He pushes me down, and I plop to my ass. Between him and the yawning tiger prowling through the room, I feel safe enough to relax.
A little.
My stomach takes that moment to rumble loudly, even startling the tiger, who runs over to me with his snout down. I drop my eyes, my face reddening. It’s been a while since I ate, but I’m usually better at ignoring the empty feeling in my stomach, which used to be almost too painful to move.
“You are hungry,” the monster snarls, almost offended by it.
I blink and rear back. “I’m fine—”
“You are hungry. How often do humans eat? How much sustenance do they need?” he questions rapidly.
I hold up my hand, stopping him for a moment. “Seriously, I’m fine. I’m used to being hungry,” I admit, unsure why that slips out.
