Chapter 16 Marie
I’ve slept enough over the last couple of days to last a lifetime.
Of course, I needed it. From fucking to fighting for our lives, my system hasn’t worked so long in probably ever.
Scully raced through the woods. Not necessarily running, but taking such quick strides that wind pinned me against his chest. Since I napped for almost the entire journey to the end of the woods, I’ve barely had time to notice, but now I take in the differences.
The trees are shorter, and there’s no source of light to be found, but the darkness lowers a hue.
The path is more defined—still riddled with fallen leaves, branches, and twisting roots, but it appears to lead somewhere.
I trust Scully knows the way, and even if the light isn’t what we hoped, it’s apparent we’ll find something at the end of this journey.
“We’re almost there,” Scully says in a joyless tone, confirming my suspicions of our proximity to the end. I want to question how he can tell, but the darkness fading reveals the answer, each step brighter.
Scully slows, perhaps out of fear of the light itself or for what it will mean for us when we reach our destination.
There’s a drop up ahead. The woods have been nothing but flat plains, so this change seems important.
I can’t see beyond the low-lying treetops, and anticipation rings around us, buzzing with speculation about what could be on the other side.
Scully approaches slowly, placing me on the ground once we meet the edge.
I straighten out my leafy garments, which are not as structured this time, since I had to craft them on the go, but at least they cover my goodies.
I don’t want to show up in a brand new place with my tits hanging out.
If anything positive can be assumed, it’s probably a desert or an uninhabitable forest with sunshine.
But on the off chance that people or other people-like creatures are involved, I’d like to be clothed.
Scully’s mother wanted to come here. There had to be rumors of something good for her to risk her own life and that of her child.
Or maybe she was like me, risking it all for hope and love.
He doesn’t move, and I can’t wait any longer.
I step forward, peering over the edge. It’s not an endless drop, but a gradual slope.
Light shines through an opening at the base, and trees curve around the cleared exit.
I take a step closer, eager to peek at what’s on the other side.
Scully grabs my hand, pulling me back, twirling me to his chest. I stare up at his golden eyes, dimmed with a muted sadness.
He doesn’t speak, just stares down at me, studying me intently.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I just want more time.”
I place my hands on his chest. “We’ll have all the time in the world once we’re on the other side.”
He shakes his head. “The light, it could burn me. I might not be able to go.”
I shrug casually. “Then we won’t go.” I look away from his eyes, unable to hold their gaze. It's a mystery that with eyes like his—bright as the sun itself— he can’t be in the light. I refuse to believe it.
He pinches my chin, turning me back to him. “Marie.”
I push him, an unmovable wall. “Stop. It will be okay. Your mother wanted to bring you here.”
“No one knows what’s beyond the woods. She was led by hope alone.”
“Maybe you’re forgetting the truth. Maybe she did know.”
He sighs, stepping away from me. “I want you to have realistic expectations. It might not be somewhere either of us can stay. You can choose to stay here in the light without me if that’s the case, or go back to your world, but living in my woods is not an option.”
I charge him, pushing against his chest with all my might. He doesn’t budge. “Don’t I get a say? You captured me, dragged me here without my consent, and now you’ll drag me back without it either?”
“I have to do what’s best for you.”
“I thought you said you loved me.” My anger is gone. I tremble, my lip wobbles, and tears stream down my cheeks.
He softens, kneeling and cupping my chin in his giant clawed paw. “I do love you.” I lock my eyes to his, still unsure if I’m imagining his words. “I love you more than myself. I can’t bear to watch you suffer just to be with me.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “But I love you. I will suffer without you, more than I would in these woods.”
He still doesn’t melt into me, rigid as if not accepting my words. “You don’t know that. You just met me, and I’ve nearly killed you numerous times, by my own hands, and simply putting you in the way of harm. You could forget all about me once you’re home and safe.”
I clench his fur. “I won’t. I’ve never felt as safe as I do with you, even with monsters surrounding us. I’ve never had a home, never had a place I belong, but with you, I’m seen, complete, not damaged.”
He doesn’t respond, his eyes darting as if unsure how to react.
I jump him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Please don’t make me go. I can’t live without you.
I don’t care what you think. I can’t.” I don’t know when I became the type of girl that could be so desperate for a man, but maybe that’s it.
He’s not a man. He’s a monster, the dark and twisted kind that lights my nerves on fire, all while dulling the jagged edges of myself, healing my ragged wounds.
I won’t find anything like him back on Earth, and even if I could, I wouldn’t want to. I want him. Only him, no matter what.
After what feels like a lifetime, he exhales, running a hand down my back. “Okay.”
“Really?” I push against him to look at him, sadness completely gone.
He gives an incredulous look, shaking his head. “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I think I’ve done enough of that for a lifetime.”
I hug him again and whisper into his ear. “I’ve always wanted everything you’ve done to me.”
He growls, low in his throat, his grasp inching lower.
I push back, already guessing where this is heading, and jump to the ground.
I grab his hand. “Alright, Kitty, let’s actually see what’s beyond these woods.
” Probably should have done that before we had a big sap-fest, but I guess it’s better this way.
I want him to know that I’d choose him, even if my options were grim.
We stand at the edge again, hand in hand this time. “Do you want me to go first?” I ask.
“Of course not.” He seems offended by the question and swoops me into his arms.
“But what if it burns?”
“I’m not putting you in harm's way, even if my fur turns to dust.”
There’s no sense arguing. I nod, staring straight ahead, holding onto him as he carefully makes his way down the steep hill. We’re at the edge, the line of sunshine just a reach away. “I’ll always love you,” he says, and I look up to catch his searing gaze.
I pat his arm. “Good. And I love you. Now, let’s go. I’m hoping there are cheeseburgers on the other side.”
“What’s a cheeseburger?”
“Way better than human screams, I can guarantee that.”
“Nothing’s better than your screams.”
“Cheeseburgers first, and then you can make that call.”
He chuckles, taking the first step forward.
I hold my breath, hardly believing that this is the moment.
I shut my eyes, a chicken shit thing to do since Scully should be more worried than I am, and he’s the one carrying us out.
Warmth coats my skin, and I gasp. I open my eyes to find sunshine all around me.
We’re still in woods, but there is grass and trees with green leaves.
“Scully!” I shout, sitting up and turning to him.
His eyes are clamped shut, and I laugh, studying him. “Are you burning?”
“No, but it’s warm.” He pops one eye open, the other quickly following. “What is this?”
“It’s sunshine. Your mother was right. We’re in a place with sunshine.” I struggle out of his arms, an easy task since he’s too in awe. My bare feet hit a paved road. “There must be a civilized species here. We should follow this path.”
I step forward, but he yanks me back. “What if they’re dangerous? Whoever lives here lives too close to the woods, too close to monsters.”
“Monsters that can’t get out because they’ll burn from the sunlight. Maybe it’s other monsters like you, monsters that found their humanity.”
He sighs, shaking his head. “That’s assuming a lot.”
“I just really fucking want a cheeseburger and hope they have enough humanity to make me one.”
“Fine. We came all this way. We might as well see what’s at the end of this journey. But if they look at you like you’re a cheeseburger, I’m slitting everyone’s throat and carrying you out of here.”
I pat his arm. “I don’t doubt you will.”
He grabs my hand and we walk, climbing over winding hills.
It probably would be faster if he carried me, but I don’t want to look defenseless to whoever we discover.
I shouldn’t be as excited as I am. Scully’s right to have some reserve of what we might find.
There’s been nothing but terror in this realm.
What makes me think there’s anything rosier here?
But so far, the blue sky, dotted with clouds, something like birds tweeting in the distance, can’t make me think anything different.
The more we walk and the longer the hope rolls around in my stomach, the more I start to worry.
I’m already anticipating too much. I don’t know if I can bear the heartbreak if this new place isn’t anything but wonderful.
“Look,” Scully says as we come over a hill.
He’s nearly two feet taller than me so he can see what’s up ahead much quicker than I can.
I scramble to catch up. In the distance sits a quaint town.
Stone buildings surround cobbled roads, chimneys belch smoke, and laughter and voices bounce over the hilltops.
“I knew I smelled cheeseburgers.” I can’t take it anymore, I sprint ahead.
“Wait!” Scully calls, but there’s no holding me back.
The town looks even more human-like the closer I get.
Perhaps this is the edge of the realm and we’re back in some version of Earth.
I slow, realization dawning over me. What would happen to Scully if humans lived here?
Surely, they wouldn’t welcome him with open arms?
By the time this very logical conclusion comes to mind, it’s too late.
I’m too close. A small building faces away, and the door opens with a ring from a bell above.
I strain my eyes to catch what’s leaving.
A short, green circular figure walking on two legs, emerges, carrying a brown box in front of his large, singular eye.
It’s a monster, not like one I’ve seen in the forest, but they all seem to vary in appearance.
Scully catches up beside me, a low growl in his throat as we stare down the tiny green figure.
The creature stops in his tracks, looking up and catching us in the distance.
His eye appears to grow in size. Will he yell and run after us with razor-sharp teeth?
I don’t move, hoping Scully does the same so we can gauge his intentions.
The stillness breaks as the green beast raises a skinny arm and waves at us with a grin that takes up his whole face. “Hello!” he shouts. “Welcome to the light.”
The words warm the last part of my heart, the part holding all my nerves. I breathe out, smiling, looking up to Scully.
He sighs, still staring at the stranger in the distance, growing closer, calling back to people coming out from their shops and homes.
“Well looks like you might get your cheeseburger after all,” Scully says with a sigh.
I laugh, throwing my arms around him. He picks me up and I grab his face. “We’re home.”
“You’re my home.”
I kiss his mouth. It’s the first time, and difficult around his fangs, but not any less amazing.
“Well, let’s hope they don’t try to eat us,” Scully says, taking a step toward the village and townsfolk, seeming eager to greet us.
I shrug. “Hey, having people who want to eat you is not so bad.”
“Only I get to eat you,” he replies.
“I’ll let them know.”
“Good.” He smiles.
I squint my eyes against the sun, my cheeks hurting from the happiness etched across my face and follow my monster to our new home.