Cruel Monster

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

Thunderous roars echoed from the clouds above, rolling through the bustling town like a warning. People hurried through the streets, eager to reach their destinations before the inevitable downpour. I stood quietly on my small balcony, watching the chaos unfold below while savoring nature’s raw beauty. My balcony, overflowing with vibrant flower pots, was the perfect place to witness the sky’s theatrical performance. Within minutes, the rain came pouring down—fast, furious, and unrelenting.

The cold wind wrapped around me, carrying the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil. The rhythmic sound of droplets hitting the pavement, mixed with the chill in the air, sent a calming wave through my body. There’s something magical about rain in the evening—it clears the mind, soothes the nerves, and awakens the soul. I closed my eyes as the sweet fragrance of blooming roses and lilies filled the air, breathing in deeply. The world around me faded into a soft darkness, lit only by the glow of distant streetlights and the occasional flash of lightning.

"Talia!" My mother’s voice rang out from downstairs.

"Coming, Mom!" I called back, reluctantly stepping away from the balcony and heading down.

My mother is the perfect contradiction—strict and hot-tempered, yet deeply loving and protective. I’m told I’m her mirror image. We share the same long, dark hair that falls to the small of our backs, deep eyes, and fair, flawless skin. People often say I’m her younger self brought to life.

"Your granny finally agreed to see the doctor," Mom said with a sigh. "She’s coming tomorrow morning and asked me to book the appointment."

"That’s impressive, Mom," I chuckled.

"And I don’t want to hear a single complaint from her about you this time," she warned, though a smile tugged at her lips.

Now, my grandmother—my mom’s mother—is notoriously stubborn. She never trusted doctors, believing instead in her own ability to heal naturally. In her eyes, modern medicine is just a pile of pills making people weaker. We've had to trick and coax her into seeking medical help more than once.

She objects to nearly everything we do in the name of modern living. Every time she visits, I’m forced to wear a scarf outside and wake up at the c***k of dawn. Even my parents tiptoe around her infamous grumpiness. She disapproves of my two best friends, calling them rude and obnoxious. But despite her stern nature, her love for us runs deep—and, truthfully, I find her cranky personality a little entertaining.

"I don’t even do anything, Mom. She just always finds something to complain about."

"Don’t talk like that. She’s your grandmother. She’s just a traditional, spiritual woman who doesn’t understand this new era. Don’t disrespect her. You know she loves us more than anything."

"Yeah, I know. I’ll be careful. I’ll make sure not to upset her," I said with a nod.

"Good."

"You’re lazier than Nova’s cat, Natalia," a small voice snorted from the hallway.

Theo—my six-year-old little brother. A pint-sized whirlwind with a smart mouth and bizarre habits: like throwing objects when he’s angry, “borrowing” things from neighbors without asking (though they’ve learned to just let him), and screaming for our mom over the tiniest things.

"I’m not!" I laughed and gave his cheek a gentle pinch.

"Don’t touch me with your hands!" he barked.

"Want me to touch you with my feet instead?"

"What! Mom!"

"Natalia!" Mom scolded sharply. "Don’t rile him up."

"What? Did I say something wrong?" I grinned, innocently.

"I told Dad to bring chocolate ice cream and muffins just for me," Theo announced proudly.

"Then I’m going to steal all of them," I teased, baring my teeth in mock menace.

"Mom!" he wailed at full volume.

My dad owns a large grocery store and is quite the charmer—with hazel eyes and light brown hair. Theo definitely got his looks. A lot of women visit the store just to flirt with him, which drives my mom insane. Once, she even dragged a young woman out of the store by her hair for being too flirty. Dad and I were cracking up, but Mom was so furious she smashed a vase on the floor. We had to hide behind the shelves until the storm passed.

"If you steal my muffins again," Theo threatened with an impish smile, "I’ll tell everyone you’re a thief. Then I’ll ask Uncle Jacob to arrest you and throw you in jail."

"Oh no, not that!" I raised my hands in surrender, laughing.

Aunt Hannah Hernandez, our next-door neighbor, is kind and warm-hearted. Her husband, Uncle Jacob, is a police officer. They have a ten-year-old daughter, Nova, who’s adorable and exceptionally smart.

I followed Mom to the kitchen to help set the table. Not long after, Dad came home carrying Theo’s beloved ice cream and chocolate muffins.

"Thanks, Dad!" Theo’s excited voice echoed as Dad laughed in response.

"And there’s my princess," Dad said, greeting me with a warm smile. "How was your day?"

"It was good. Yours?"

"Busy as always. I heard your granny’s finally coming?"

"Yep. She agreed to see the doctor," I replied, relieved.

"That’s a relief. But if she keeps ignoring her health like this, things could get serious," he said, shaking his head.

"She just refuses to understand," Mom added with a sigh.

After dinner, I went upstairs to my room. I’m in high school now, but I’ve already started preparing for college applications. I’m hoping to get into a good one in the city next year, so I’ve been working hard.

By the time I finished my assignments, it was already 11:40 p.m. I spent a few more minutes scrolling through social media, then finally closed my laptop and walked into the bathroom. After finishing my night routine, I turned off the lights and slid into bed.

Our town is a hidden gem, blessed with lush forests to the southeast and the ocean flowing along the western border, behind the deep green of the woods. The northern side connects to other cities via a main road and railway station. Even though it’s tucked at the edge of the country, surrounded by wilderness, it’s surprisingly modern. Tourists come from far and wide to visit our beach—a quiet paradise tucked away from the world.

Outside, the rain had stopped. The sky was clear, dotted with stars and bathed in the gentle glow of a full moon. Moonlight spilled into my room through the open window, and the scent of roses wafted in from the balcony. The thin curtains swayed gently in the breeze.

I smiled to myself and sat up, gazing through the window at the quiet night. A cool wind, laced with the sweet perfume of lilies and roses, filled my lungs as I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply.

It felt like I was in heaven.

I wanted to walk under the moonlight on the quiet midnight streets. I wanted to shiver as the cold breeze brushed against my skin. I wanted to stand beneath a streetlamp, bathed in its soft yellow glow. I wanted to lie back and count the stars scattered across the dark velvet sky.

More than anything, I wanted to spend countless moonlit nights alone, while the rest of the world lay fast asleep.

Lying down, I smiled as silver beams of moonlight poured through my window, wrapping around me like a lullaby. A few minutes later, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.

"What if our parents find out we’re going to a nightclub?" I leaned against the hallway wall and looked over at my best friend, Acacia McCarthy.

"They won’t," she replied with a mischievous smirk. "We’ll just tell them we’re going out for dinner."

"A restaurant, huh? So we’re sneaking into a club and telling our parents we’re having dinner like good little girls. This is insane—we're insane," Zoe Morales, my other best friend, laughed, shaking her head.

"Shhh! Someone might hear us," I whispered, glancing around.

"What about our outfits? We can’t exactly walk out dressed like that," I frowned.

"Leave that to me, baby." Acacia winked confidently.

The three of us had been inseparable since childhood—our families were close, and so were we. Acacia was the laid-back charmer with chestnut-brown hair and striking hazel eyes. Zoe, loud and sharp-tongued, sported short jet-black hair and matching eyes. We were planning to hit a nightclub for the first time ever—well, first time for Zoe and me. Acacia had already snuck into one a couple of times with her cousins.

Our families were traditionally strict, like most in Greece. Bars and nightclubs were strictly off-limits. Alcohol? Completely banned. If we came home even smelling like it, our parents would flip. We were risking everything.

"I heard some kids from school go there every night. What if they see us and snitch?" Zoe whispered nervously.

"I doubt it. If they’re going too, they won’t want to be exposed either," I reasoned.

"Exactly," Acacia nodded. "Be ready by 7 p.m. sharp. I’ll pick you both up."

"Well, well, well... what are we missing?"

We froze as the clack of high heels echoed down the hallway. Delilah Lawrence strutted toward us, her two sidekicks—Amrin Knowles and Sima Vanderwood—trailing behind her like shadows. Their heavily caked makeup and flashy outfits practically screamed for attention.

"And why do you care, Grandma?" I shot back without missing a beat.

"Watch your filthy mouth, b***h, or you won’t like what happens next," Delilah hissed, glaring at me.

"Oh, no! Grandma’s brought her cane!" Acacia mocked with a laugh.

"You three stay the hell away from my boyfriend. Especially you, Natalia," Delilah sneered, stepping close and pressing her finger to my forehead. "If I catch you even looking at him again, I’ll pluck your eyes out and swallow them with a pinch of salt."

"I’m not even interested in your ball-less boyfriend. We’re not as pathetic as you," I said, knocking her hand away from my face.

"You’ll learn how to talk properly when I break your jaw," she snapped.

"Why don’t you go back to him and suck his three-inch d**k instead of lecturing us on etiquette?" Zoe quipped, crossing her arms with a grin.

Acacia and I burst into laughter. Zoe always knew exactly how to shut Delilah down.

"You b***h!" Delilah screeched, lunging at Zoe, hand raised.

But Acacia was faster. She caught Delilah’s wrist mid-air and shoved her back. Delilah nearly hit the floor, saved only by Amrin and Sima grabbing her arms.

"You’ll regret this!" Sima growled.

"And look who’s threatening us—Little Miss Maid." I snorted.

"Ooooh, we’re so scared!" Zoe widened her eyes in mock fear, then laughed again.

"You'll see," Amrin snapped, pointing at us before storming off with the others.

Delilah’s dad was the mayor of our town. She walked around like royalty—spoiled, arrogant, and scandalous. Rumors said she slept with rich men and took drugs behind the scenes. Her little entourage—Amrin and Sima—were daughters of prominent businessmen and just as obnoxious.

Her boyfriend, Fardinn Matthews, was the school's golden boy. Son of the town’s police commissioner, captain of the football team, and dripping with arrogance. We’d been friends for a while after I helped him with some study material, but Delilah ruined it. She spread rumors that he used drugs and blamed me. Fardinn stopped talking to me completely after that, refusing to even hear my side.

That day at school went by smoothly, though we kept expecting Delilah to pull something. Strangely, she didn’t—just sent us her usual ghost-like glares. Honestly, she looked more like a circus clown than a threat with all that makeup.

Back home, I took a quick shower and went downstairs to help Mom with dinner. Dad arrived soon after, and we ate together as a family.

Later, I flopped onto the couch in the living room and turned on the TV.

“A few fishermen discovered a dead body on the seashore behind the mangrove forest of Monpura town this afternoon. Monpura police arrived on scene and sent the body for forensic analysis,” the anchor read in a solemn tone.

“Talia! Give me the remote! I wanna watch Oggy!” Theo whined from beside me.

“Shut up, Ell! Let me hear the news!”

“MOM!” he started wailing at full volume.

"What now?" Mom stormed into the room, already exasperated.

"Please, Mom, just listen to this." I turned the volume up. Dad walked in and sat down beside me.

"According to senior officer Jacob Hernandez," the anchor continued, "the killer mutilated the victim’s body—cut off his hands and severely disfigured his face."

"The body is nearly unrecognizable. Police are currently investigating to identify the victim. Forensic reports are pending."

I swallowed hard, my stomach knotting. I’d watched enough Korean psycho-thrillers to know how brutal humans could be. But I never imagined something like this could happen in our peaceful town. It was horrifying.

"This is awful," Dad muttered, shaking his head. "This used to be one of the safest towns. I never thought I’d see the day."

"Please be careful when you’re outside," Mom said, glancing at Dad with fear in her eyes.

"Yes, we all need to be careful," Dad agreed. "Natalia, don’t go out unless it’s absolutely necessary, alright?"

"Okay, Dad," I murmured, still shaken."