Page 29 of Poison Aches

“I said you and I are not the same,” I state, my voice low but serious. “You are just a little girl without a grip on reality.”

After all, why would she think I can get better?

“Is it because of the rumors?” the girl whispers.

I look at her. “What rumors?”

“You know… that you are a vicious, heartless monster!”

The girl stares at me expectantly as if she expects me to mutate or transform into whatever fantasy she’s obviously conjured up in her head because of the rumors.

“I’m a monster?”

This time an unfamiliar feeling blooms in my chest as I watch her.

The girl pauses, then she looks to the left, then to the right, before she moves back to the door she left slightly open and closes it softly.

She rushes over to the side of my bed quickly, her eyes wide with what I immediately identify as excitement.

This girl is odd.

“My brother told me there are ruthless gods that live in the estates, but the one to stay away from is the hidden monster in the shadows,” she whispers again.

“The hidden monster in the shadows?” I echo, watching her carefully.

I stare at the girl. Her eyes are lit up with life and excitement.

Gone is the confusion and sadness from just moments ago.

This girl… she’s not at all what her grandmother said about her. She’s not shy or as quiet as a mouse.

She’s mischief personified, with a dangerous, sharp gaze that’s not humble at all.

“Yes! He told me that nothing is as it seems here, and that you’re the one I need to stay away from the most. I’m actually not supposed to be here.”

Suddenly everything makes sense.

“So you coming to help with my supposed loneliness was just an excuse to take a look at the monster, huh?” I ask but already know the answer.

She looks up at me, stunned but then she nods slowly.

“And you want to be friends with the monster?”

She nods again.

Does this girl think she’s living in a fantasy? Is she that much of an idiot?

“Samuel said the monster is like a ghost. That no one can see him clearly or hear him, but he’s vicious.”

I almost scoff, but luckily, I just hold her stare, wondering if she took that as a fun fictional story or not.

“And you… do you believe this?” I ask quietly.

If I wasn’t looking at her so closely, I would’ve missed the slight tremble that racks through her small frame.

But to her credit, she doesn’t look away.

“I know it sounds silly but… I do.”

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