Front door closed and the strain disappeared. I gasped and tasted a most delightful lungful of tangy air. That was him. His smell. Just far more noticeable. Even I could discern – incorrectly - some undertones. Because even in this state I knew the wet, rotting foulness like corpse hidden under floorboards within otherwise pristine and gleaming butcher’s venue couldn’t possibly be accurate. Monster smelled so mouth-wateringly inviting and yet harrowing.


    “Uh?” I exhaled a brilliantly designed question. It contained everything I could ask sans all the needless blabbering. My speeding heart still urged me to get away from the danger.


    “Can you stand?” a voice that wasn’t so much loud as it was deep asked way too close to my ear. Inhumanness of it made me hunch in and reach for the ears.


    “Uh-uh,” I automatically complied with whatever the enormous existence wanted of me. My brain tried to figure out how it fit into this tiny cabin and shorted out. Of course, I knew he was massive, but now the meatsuit was aware, too. That simple animal which always swam back to shore no matter how much I wanted to stop. It didn’t like this incalculable danger one bit.


    Inappropriately small monster unclasped his inexplicitly human arms – not clasper claws or anything – and I began to tumble downwards again. Arms tightened around me again but I didn’t shudder. Perhaps the mere fact he’d allow me space was enough to quell panic.


    Monster walked us to a couch and I gratefully plopped down. He joined me, looking regal as fuck with the curling, but remarkably orderly mane. The effect was doubtlessly enhanced by four kneeling subjects. I wasn’t the only one suffering from onslaught of chilling sensations.


    They looked worse than I felt. Pale, shaking, cowed. Nobody raised their heads to look. Besides standing, which I could probably pull off already if I really tried, I felt fairly normal. Of course, this wasn’t my first brush with the surreal and I was also fully aware the creature masquerading as a man couldn’t eat me.


    He wasn’t fixing their distressed state and I wondered if it was because I kept insisting he quit that or whether it was part of the show and tell. This trick totally forced everyone take a step back and give me some much needed room to sort myself out. Most importantly, got rid of unwanted interlopers. Which, in turn, raised questions…


    “Will they be back, presumably with more firepower? Or is this house about to get set on fire?”


    “No. I erased their short term memory and encouraged exhaustion. They’ll sleep.”


    “And so they… walked out? All on their own?” Now that was plainly insulting. Can’t believe these foreigners had such tough skin.


    “No,” monster did not elaborate and I dared to think it was because he thought I wouldn’t like how he’d done it. I didn’t hate this emerging mindfulness. I was just glad the nice grandma wasn’t dead. This was handled much better than I could have ever hoped.


    In any case, that disaster seemed to have moved back down to its later spot on the timetable. Others might suspect something foul afoot, but perhaps won’t act tonight. Even then, the monster can probably cause another blackout, just on wider scale. In all likelihood he could rock entire planet without breaking a sweat. Chilling thought. However, he hadn’t done that thus far and it was a cause for relief. Wait, would I even know? Whatever. What I don’t know can’t bother me.


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    I noticed one set of eyes looking up at us. Dentist was still pale and petrified, but determined to resist. Right, that situation sorted but this one remained. And it could have been executed entirely differently. Unnoticeably. That he’s chosen this approach probably meant I’ve fucked up my part and he was taking over the negotiations.


    I kept waiting for bombastic words starting along the lines of you foolish mortals, but nothing was said by anyone. My former friends calmed down, but nobody stood up. They all remained on the floor somewhat huddled in, casting stealthy glances over to the sofa every now and then.


    I guess he just lent some credibility and left the rest in my hands. My friends, my problem kind of thing. Of course, why would a noble existence address its appendages? I cleared the throat. “So, what was it you said about everyone being armed?”


    Dentist’s jaw clenched and unclenched several times with indecision, but he chose to remain difficult. “That’s just one guy.”


    Ah, ye of little faith and equivalent amount imagination. The brat still thought this was a human. Sure, it was hard to marry this form to the roiling arrangements of little sense we’d witness outside the walls.


    At least nobody pointed fingers at us and called for branding. Was there even a brand for mass murder? Double Ms?


    “That was equivalent of him sneezing,” I batted my eyelashes portraying some confusion on my part, trying to impress that they did not want a repeat performance. Or one of greater value.


    Citrine grasped Dentist’s forearm to hush the silly child. “Are ya whut saved us? Thank you… Ya s’how manipulate memories?” Woman’s brow was furrowed as though she was trying to work it out, but was just short on information.


    “And physical health?” Tom added up. Just like that, all the jagged puzzle pieces fit. “Thank you. You’ve no idea what being able to see means to me. Thank you so much.”


    I smiled hiding my real feelings. They wouldn’t be so grateful if whole story was revealed, which I still couldn’t bring myself to do. I didn’t hate the shift in the attitude. We were a wary group, but most of these bonds formed from senseless selfless acts. We the unlucky bunch couldn’t rely on anybody, so the few who’d show kindness were precious and to be held onto at all costs. Fostered.


    It was for the wrong reasons, but for however brief a period some semblance of trustworthiness was restored. I’ll never reveal the truth. Monster still didn’t seem inclined to communicate with his toes, so I probably didn’t need to worry about him either.


    Not wanting to keep dancing in the minefield, I swerved away, “So ey, this nice lady brought us some food. Wonder what that is. I’m starving.”


    I jumped up off the couch and headed towards the door. Picked up a trampled bun, dusted it off and chewed. Meat and vegetables inside! “Hey guys, this got good stuff in it! Come look,” I turned to herd presumably reluctant gang, but these people knew value of unguarded food and were right behind me.


    They were still wary and confounded, glancing over their shoulder to the enigmatic man on the couch who completely dismissed everyone else.


    “Don’t eat,” he suddenly grouched and all of us stopped mid-bite. Well, me. The revivees had barely picked theirs up. The obvious command warred with life-long habit of consuming everything in sight as fast as possible. “You’re not even hungry,” monster insisted and I grinned wide to my dawning realisation. That’s what forced the mighty brain go talking to his misbehaving mouths! He would end up digesting it and I vaguely recalled dislike for cooked consumables. How adorable. I wanted to urge my buddies to eat and therefore force him to enjoy these delightful creations, but was sadly too tired for mayhem. Also, a little grateful for diffusing explosives at the dead-end I’ve found myself in.


    “That’s right. Sorry, I forgot. Your bodies are better off without it for now,” I said and gestured for them to hand over the goodies. They were fiercely reluctant. Obviously. “You’ll get a seizure and Isla will cry,” I lied through my teeth and pointed at the child in question.


    “Will not,” she disagreed, guarding the precious meat bun.


    “And they’ll cry when you get sick and die,” I emotionally manipulated the child, too.


    “Who’s th’guy ‘nyway?” Citrine whispered at me, ripping the food out of everyone’s claws and putting it back onto the tray. There weren’t many, but still extremely generous for two visitors intruding in the night. Exactly one for each of us now, but by the looks all were now mine. I really liked that sentimental lady and applauded the men who came along to safeguard the charitable soul.


    I was still surprised they thought of red-eyed monster as a human. But then again, I did meet him as a horned beast without a face. That definitely helped to have perspective. Shrugged a non-answer, “Oh, y’no… Just a guy.” There was really nothing more I could say. On any subject. I wish they stopped asking.


    “I know a dude like that. They’re nothing special,” Dentist interceded with a scoff. He usually wasn’t one to brag or make things up. In fact, it was hard to pry anything out of the little shit normally. Which meant he really might have known another demon. Or more likely, a mouth. Within a city! How come I never ran into those?


    Best not to spook him with overly intrigued enthusiasm. “You wouldn’t know special if it smacked you on the ass,” I dismissed the claims completely.


    “Well, that’s why I said he isn’t so! He just dripped water everywhere. It mostly just stung and only actually hurt if he got in a fight - and still got the shit beat out of him every time. Completely useless, the dork.”