Chapter 30 The Boy who became a Monster (1/2)

When Jane heard in the early hours of the morning that the Monster had been caught, she was ecstatic. Finally! Finally she could venture out after the sun had set without fear. And just in time for the Summer Solstice too. She had decided that this year she would ask Rassa to dance. She had practiced all year with her mother so that she would not make a fool of herself when the time came. Falla her danced with him at the last solstice, and many had complimented them. Rassa's movements were as elegant as noble courtiers they'd proclaimed, despite the fact that very few of them had seen such men.

But this time? This time it would be her they complimented, she was determined.

Despite her relief though, there was also curiosity. What had been plaguing their town for so long? What did it look like? Was it human? Was it as intelligent as the Hunters had theorised it was? Was it true that it fed on...blood? That was just impossible. Right?

Jane dressed for the day and headed towards the Doctor's house, hoping that she'd be able to see Rassa before she went to the Orchard for the day. He hadn't been doing well these past few days, a terrible flu the Doctor said. He made sure nobody but his parents saw him, and even then they were only allowed a short window for visitation. The only thing Jane had managed to hear was that he was bedridden, which didn't bode well.

On her way, Jane spotted Phillip and Anna as they too approached the Doctor's office.

She waved to them and hurried over, ”How is Rassa today, have you seen him?”

Anna smiled and Phillip shook his head, ”We're headed over now. Hopefully he is better than yesterday”.

Jane nodded, ”Do you mind if I join you?”

”Of course,” Anna said before Phillip could protest. Jane had always seen Rassa's father as rather quiet and private. He was a nice man in general, but there were certain parts of him that Jane could sense he would never let come to light.

The three of them approached the Doctor's house together, and as they drew closer, they noticed a crowd increasing outside. The whispers reached the ears of the three of them, and they paused in their tracks.

”He was the monster? So terrible”.

”It's true! My gosh I can't believe it”.

”The Doctor is quite perceptive to have thought of that incident three years ago”.

”How could nobody have noticed the changes?”

”Surely his parents knew”.

”Oh my gosh, there they are, do you think they know yet?”

Everyone hushed as Phillip and Anna were spotted, then the crowd parted to where the Knight Captain Jameson and the Doctor stood beside an iron cage on a specially made cart. The cage itself was no bigger than that used for a wolf, but it was not the cage that shocked Jane to her core.

It was the boy inside it.

Rassa.

He had been stripped on his shirt, displaying his black lifelines completely. His black hair came down just past his shoulders and his pale skin was an immense contrast to it. His eyes were closed, and he was sitting in the cage almost comfortably, but the thing that had frightened everyone, the evidence that the Doctor and the Knight Captain were intent on using, was the trail of blood from the side of his mouth down over his chin.

It was dried, and darkened, but there was no doubt in the world that it was blood.

Jane covered her mouth in shock, ”Rassa”.

It was only whispered, but Rassa heard it. He had smelt her before that, but had wanted her to realise first. To realise what he was. The sun burned his eyes, and he raised and arm to sheild them as he looked over at her, and at his parents standing stock still behind him, a mixture of shock and anguish on their faces.

Seeing movement, those around the cage stepped back. Their heartrates increased, they were terrified of him. Horrified by the mere thought of what he was capable of, of what he had done already. After all, the Doctor and Jameson were holding up the dead rabbit as if it was a trophy.

”See! Such terrible eyesight in the day, hence why he could only hunt at night!” shouted the Doctor over the crowd.

Rassa ignored him, his eyes fixed on Jane and his parents. His gaze softened as he tried to show them his sincerity. That he was sorry it had turned out like this.

”Such a beast, his greatest camoflage is being in the body of a child! If he grows into an adult, what kind of destruction can he then cause? What kind of risk is he to our humble and safe way of living?” asked the Doctor.

”Kill him!”

”Yes!”