Page 41 of Monsters in My Bed
Placing my water on the coaster situated on my coffee table, I jumped as a ball of white fluff launched itself into my lap. My heart rate spiked before I laughed, scratching Gizmo on his chin, realizing how ridiculously skittish I was right now.
“Sorry, baby,” I cooed at my Maine coon fur-child. The only child my parents would get from me, much to their displeasure. Being a mom just wasn’t for me, I had quickly realized. I’d mom the fuck out of my cat, but human babies? No.
His sparkling green eyes stared at me quizzically before he headbutted my boob and purred. I stroked his soft white hair as he settled comfortably into a big ball on my legs. “Mommy is just a bit nervous right now,” I admitted, feeling like I somehow owed him an explanation for the confused look in his eyes.
Obviously, I knew he couldn’t understand me, but it was comforting to talk out loud as if he could. It always helped me work through my shit, and he was content to have all of my attention and love as I blabbered at him.
Rubbing the spot on his nose that he loved, I rationalized, “I mean, what are the odds that another lottery drawing will happen just four days after the last? I know the demands of the monsters in The Below seem to have increased, but the closest back-to-back drawing has been a month in between.”
His furry head tilted to look up at me with all the adoration in the world before he closed his eyes and purred in satisfaction, the sound reverberating through my legs. “Exactly, Gizmo. That would be unheard of. I’m stressed for no reason, aren’t I?”
Settling my hand on his tummy, I languidly pet him as my head tilted back to rest against the couch cushions, closing my eyes and attempting to chill the fuck out.
I had this in the bag. Nothing and no one could get in the way of Gizmo and me riding off into the sunset together, alone and happy—exactly the way I wanted it.
Perhaps the women that were within the parameters for Selection wouldn’t be so damn terrified of it if our leaders opted to tell us what actually happened to those who were offered up on a silver platter to the monsters below.
We were left to the worst of our imaginations—and I had a very wild one—because no woman had ever returned from The Below. Not a single soul in the history of our treaty with them—and the treaty spanned many centuries.
Our textbooks said that the treaty was struck as both populations were nearing extinction due to war. As is, the remaining human population had settled into what was previously known as New York City in the United States, the only prevailing area of life. It was supposed to be mutually beneficial to save both sides from ruin, but I wasn’t sure what the hell we got out of the deal in return for sending them human sacrifices. It just didn’t make sense.
The deal had originally stated one batch of ten human women per year,[1] [2] to[3] uphold our end, but in my lifetime, it had increased to whenever the monsters demanded it. How the hell had our leaders let it get this bad? How could they not stand up for our lives and our rights?
What the fuck were they hiding? They had to be receiving something substantial in return for all of the lives lost down there… Right?
What could be worth a life? How did one put a quantifiable value on that?
Inhaling deeply, I held my breath a moment and focused on gathering all of my negativity and fear into one tight ball. As I exhaled, I pictured the ball leaving my body, leaving me floating on cloud nine, where nothing could permeate the level of tranquility I was left with.
Everything would b—
My TV blared, celebratory music pouring from the soundbar.
I inhaled sharply. “No.No, no, no.”
This wasn’t happening.Was this some kind of sick fucking joke from the universe?
My head lifted from the cushion as I focused on the screen that was flashing neon colors around a white font that said “Congratulations to our newest Selections! Please wait to see the list of five names who will make us proud as they uphold the safety of our world by fulfilling the sacred treaty.”
Typically I’d scoff at the ridiculous notion that this was something to be excited about. The only prize won would be forfeiting your life. But today, my heart dropped into my stomach, and I couldn’t bring any snide remarks or thoughts to the surface.
This time felt different.
My breathing became erratic as I gasped for air, unable to calm myself as I gathered Gizmo into my arms and held him to my chest, trying to focus on his beating heart as an anchor for my emotions.
Rocking back and forth on the couch, tears pooled in my eyes as fear bled into every fiber of my being, waiting for the names to be displayed.
The screen flashed to a white background with black swirling script as the names were revealed.
Serafina Adler
Hope Cassidy
Madison Cromley
Olivia Keller
Mishka Langley
