Saved by Monster

Chapter 2

I almost jumped out of bed if I didn't immediately realize that the figure standing still at the end of the bed was an ordinary human. The woman continued to stare flatly even when I showed a reaction like seeing a ghost. She looked to be in her fifties. Her graying black hair was pulled back tightly.

“ Wh-who...”

“Twenty minutes to get ready before breakfast.”

I could only obey like a dog when she insisted on helping me clean up. However, I protested loudly when she insisted on giving me a two-ponytail hairdo. Finally, the decision was made to tie my hair in two low ponytails.

“Good morning,” Sierra greeted me when I reached the dining table.

I replied with a small smile. Still unfamiliar with this new “family”. Sierra told me that the flat-faced woman was Martha, who was in charge of helping out with everything in the house. She would only be home from seven to twelve noon.

“Would it be a good idea if you started school again, Presley?” Sierra asked. She handed me a stack of four pancakes spread with chocolate jam.

I nodded in agreement. “But I must have missed a lot of classes.”

The woman seemed to think for a moment. Probably about half a minute. “That can be arranged. If you agree, Easton or I will enroll you in school as soon as you're ready.”

“I what?” Easton suddenly appeared with his hands busy fiddling with a tie. “Can you help?”

“Presley will start school again,” Sierra pulled Easton's shirt until he bent over her, then adjusted the tie while grumbling about how he had never learned to wear a tie properly. They looked like a cute married couple.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Easton took the seat in front of me. “When?”

“Probably in the next week. She should be recovering soon.”

I just smiled when Easton nodded playfully. This conversation lasted until the decision for where I would go to school had been made. A public school close to home. Not only because it wasn't too far away, but also because the Zoned Schools system was more or less favorable.

The days since I woke up have been so monotonous. Watching television, reading books under a tree, and other boring things. However, after three days ago, I was able to walk normally. Well, at least there's no need to use a wheelchair to get around. By the way, Sierra and I made cookies twice already. That woman asked me to share them with the neighbors as well as to introduce myself.

“You're a very lucky little girl,” said the woman I later learned was Mrs. Liz Crumple. Some of the people I met said almost the same thing. “The Bries are good people.”

I nodded, acknowledging. After almost a week with them, the thought of how lucky I was that they adopted me was something I was constantly grateful for. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Crumple. I hope we can be good neighbors!”

The dark brown-haired woman smiled sweetly when I excused myself to leave. She also thanked me for the cookies I had brought.

Now there was one last box left. I headed for the wooden fenced house that was probably as tall as Easton's waist. The sound of rusty hinges greeted me as I opened the whitewashed fence. I closed it again, then nearly fell over when suddenly the old lady in the wheelchair was on the porch when I turned around.

“Good afternoon, ma'am,” I greeted. The woman whose hair was almost all white didn't even change her flat expression.

Her gaze seemed to pierce right through my veins. “Undead.”

I frowned. “Pardon?”

“Undead! Undead! You're undead!” The woman pointed at me sharply. She glared wide and jerked her body as if she wanted to get up from the chair.

I winced in horror, as well as worry. I was about to leave this place before a woman appeared with hurried steps. Behind her was a girl about my age who was also calming her down. The girl pushed the wheelchair into the house.

“‘Please forgive my mother, she's a bit sick,’ said the woman who had just arrived. On her forehead and the ends of her curls was a smear of flour that was almost dry. “Can I help you, dear?”

“Ah, yes.” I was a little awkward. “I'm Presley, the new neighbor here. Sierra and I just made some cookies. I was hoping you'd like to taste them.”

“Sierra Brie?” she asked confirming. I nodded and said things about the Bries adopting me. “No wonder.”

“What?”

“It's nothing. By the way, I'm Paula McCain-call me Paula for short. My daughter Maggie, she's about your age. You should play with her sometime, but she's a bit shy.”

I smiled faintly and answered simply. Paula seemed to be the type of person who wasn't awkward. She even speaks in an informal style to people she just met. That's pretty good actually, so I'll be more comfortable.

“I'm leaving first,” I excused myself.

Paula waved with a very wide smile. I was even worried if her mouth would tear with that smile. “Thank you for the cookies!”

I smiled once more after closing the fence, actually still horrified by that old lady, I hope she's okay. She pointed and said that I was the undead. Wait, undead? Zombie? Do I look like a brain-eating creature?

“Something bothering you?”

I looked up. Easton emerged from the car with a slightly tired face. “No, I'm fine.”

He led me into the house. “Are you really feeling well?”

I nodded steadily. “Very well.”

“After dinner, we'll go out,” he decided and stepped away from me.

I wanted to ask him where he was taking me, but didn't have the chance because Easton had already gone into his room. Speaking of which, I've now moved into the room upstairs. Two days ago Sierra and I decorated the room and organized it with Sierra's instructions. That woman really knew how to make a room beautiful and simple at the same time. The combination of soft purple with white made me feel so at home here.

Dinner is already over. Since I'm going out, I choose to wear a gray cowl neck sweater with a beanie and boots that reach my calves. I think it's warm enough to prevent Sierra's nagging.

As usual, Sierra would go to work after dinner and before I knew it, she was asleep in her room when I woke up the next morning. She had grumbled at Easton for asking me out again.

“I work during the day,” Easton defended as he cleared the dishes. They did fight a lot. However, I found it funny that they fought over things that weren't necessary. It was really sweet.

“Make sure Presley stays warm!” exclaimed Sierra as Easton and I left.

“I got it.” Easton pulled my hand towards his car. He also buckled my seat belt and adjusted my beanie. I don't know if it's just me or if he likes to do that.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You're going to school tomorrow, right? I'll take you to pick out the equipment you need.”

“Oh,” I said.

“Was there a problem this afternoon? You came home looking a little strange.” I was silent. The moment when the old lady had yelled at me came rushing back. “I didn't talk about it at home because I knew Sierra would be very worried.”

“Do I look like a zombie?” I asked without taking my eyes off the road ahead.

“I can't find any part of your body that looks like a zombie. What's wrong?”

“The old lady of the McCain family called me the undead.”

He looked straight at me. It was only for a split second, but I caught the shocked expression on his face---before it turned back to normal. “Oh, she's a little sick. There's no need for you to worry about it.”

Actually, it wasn't enough to calm me down. However, I could only reply with a simple smile.

“Did she say anything else?” Easton asked back.

I pursed my lips tightly and shook my head.

There was no more meaningful conversation until we got in and out of the store. Even when I was shopping, I just picked the items casually, not really caring about brands or bright colors.

My eyes narrowed when I noticed the flickering lights ahead. The closer it got, the more obvious it was a police car siren. Several men in distinctive uniforms and ordinary people-standing behind the yellow line-gathered as if they were surrounding something.

“What is it?” I asked, more to myself.

“Looks like an accident.” Easton slowed down the car as it passed the group of people. I couldn't see clearly what they were doing. And, in the little gap there was, there was someone lying in a red dress. “Want to see?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, afraid.”

“Scared of seeing someone bleed?”

After a few seconds of swallowing silence, I replied, “No. It's just that death is always everywhere. It's just that death is everywhere. It reminds me that I've been close to it too.”

Easton gave me a look of dislike. He grasped my left hand. “You're still alive, okay?”

I gave him two small nods. Easton didn't seem to like it when I brought up the subject. This was the first time the man had looked at me with an unhappy expression. After a long sigh, he finally let go of my hand and sped the car back to its original speed.

Arriving home, I carried the groceries and went straight into the room. Easton didn't even say goodnight like he did every time he went to bed.

That night, I slept a really strange dream. In the dream, Easton came and kissed me on the lips.