Shattered Halo
Sequel to 'Watching over me'! Four years after Eleanor and Jeremy's little angel came into the world, everything seems like nothing can go wrong, that is until a car crash sends Randall's world into a tailspin… Please R&R!
Genre: Angst/Drama
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Disney and Pixar's Monsters Inc stuff… But if I blow up enough cities I might get it out of them!
RG: This chapter is based around a friendship that slowly forms between Skit and Randall!
I'd like to thank: Sean Fogle and Goveg for your lovely reviews!
Chapter Four
Sleepless nights…
Randall tried his best to adapt, tried to stay out of the way, stay small and insignificant. But quickly Randall learned it was virtually impossible to escape the sharp blows and verbal abuse that seemed to fly around the small building like daggers.
Slowly Randall got used to the nasty comments, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. With every putdown the young reptile felt crushed a little more, but he didn't complain, didn't speak really. Just took the harsh words and kept his head down.
But Randall wasn't the only one; he had yet to hear a word from Skit, the small monster that also held up the silent act. Skit constantly took abuse, pushes, hits, and severe insults.
Over the weeks Randall barely noticed that he was growing thinner, hardly cared that it was becoming almost painful for him to fall asleep, to wake up screaming, shaking, crying for his mother only to get a sharp yell from across the floor from a angry monster.
"Get up!" yelled a monster outside of Randall's door, each morning it was the same, a monster would walk past banging on everyone's door; the morning call. Randall lay on the bed blinking his bleary green eyes, he knew his scaly cheeks were tear streaked, but he just ignored it as he forced himself up.
Walking down the stairs down for breakfast, Randall slunk into the kitchen and headed over to the table, not even trying to grab something to eat. The older monsters didn't notice as their thoughts were mainly based on themselves.
But one noticed. Across the table watching Randall's downcast eyes, sat Skit holding onto his bread roll like it was a treasure. When another monster tried to snatch it away Skit hissed loudly making the other monster laugh and draw away to get at something else. If anyone bothered to notice, Skit had sharp fangs and most of the boys knew he would use them when it came to protecting his meal. But that didn't matter as Skit made no real mark when eating; only taking small amounts.
Soon Randall noticed the older monsters were trickling out of the room so he stood to follow but was stopped by someone holding his arm. Looking back over his shoulder Randall saw Skit watching him with unblinking yellow eyes.
When Randall opened his mouth to ask what he wanted Skit shoved the bread roll into Randall's top two hands before he scuttled out of the room. Blinking in shock at the small act of kindness from the other monster Randall brought the bread to his lips and nibbled at it, instantly his stomach growled angrily at being ignored. Randall ate some more enjoying the feeling of having food in his stomach once again.
Skit and Randall had made a silent pact; though they never spoke they watched over each other, offering support. Some nights when Randall was crying silently into his pillow his door would creak open and Skit would sneak in and climb into the bed with Randall.
Skit seemed to be the only one who noticed Randall's heart was broken. Soon Skit prompted Randall to speak some nights; first Randall told Skit small things like his room, his toys. But quickly Randall gave in and spoke of his parents' death, Skit sat by him watching Randall with sad yellow eyes.
As soon as the words left Randall he felt as if a weight had been lifted. Skit hugged Randall and motioned for Randall to lie down and sleep. For the hundredth time since Randall met Skit he wondered why the small monster never spoke, but he did not ask.
That night Randall's dreams were not disturbed by his parents' death, instead by calming darkness and a soft humming sound that Randall could not place.
"Oi! Wake up!" yelled a voice followed by a loud noise that made Randall flinch were he lay.
Blinking away sleep and yawning Randall sat up and noticed Skit had left, they both knew being caught in another's room was punishable. Randall shivered, before looking out his cracked window. Slowly Randall's face lifted at the sight of snow. Shooting up Randall pressed his hands against the window looking out into the quiet street. Snow covered the ground like a thick blanket, overpowering all plant life until spring beckoned them back.
Grinning happily Randall ran to his door, wondering if Ms. Seward would allow them outside. Opening the door Randall froze; being held against the wall to Randall's left was Skit. An older monster was holding Skit's throat frighteningly hard, the monster had dark, thick skin that pulsed with muscles. The older monster had a pair of dark blue eyes; he also had four arms and two legs.
There was also a green bat-like monster hovering behind the two, smirking at Skit's desperate attempts to free his throat from the older monsters grip.
"Why don't you talk you freak?" snapped the bat-like monster "Huh? Freak!"
Skit didn't make a noise except for his breathing that was becoming ragged and pained. The other monster didn't seem pleased and threw Skit away from him towards the stairs.
"Get down stairs, Freak," muttered the older monster angrily.
Unable to regain his footing Skit staggered backwards towards the staircase, Randall felt his heart leap and he ran forward to catch Skit's outstretched arm but missed.
"Skit!" Randall yelled out in a panic.
The sound of a Skit's body thumping down the staircase was enough to make any monster's stomach turn. Before Skit reached the base of the stairs there was a loud crack of bone snapping. Then when Skit reached the bottom of the stairs everything become terribly quiet; almost suffocating.
Randall quickly ran down the stairs on all eight legs, his heart was pounding and blood was rushing loudly through his temples. Why wasn't Skit getting up? What was that stuff pooling around Skit's head? Randall wanted to scream when he got close enough to help, but he didn't dare get any closer.
"Help! Help! Skit fell!" Randall screamed, tears now falling down his cheeks.
Ms. Seward ran into the room, her bug like eyes narrowing on Skit's body that had yet to move.
"Daemon!" roared the woman glaring up the stairs at the green monster "Call an ambulance! I'll deal with you later!" she snapped angrily.
Ms. Seward left the room, Randall barely noticed, he was concentrating on his new friend, praying the other monster would be ok. Randall kneeled next to Skit and touched his pale arm,
"Skit, your going to be ok, an ambulance is coming," whispered Randall trembling.
Randall couldn't loose anyone else, loosing his parents had been enough, but he couldn't loose Skit.
When the ambulance arrived everything became a blur. Ambulance monsters put a neck brace on Skit, explaining to Ms. Seward that Skit's neck could be broken, and then lifting Skit onto a stretcher the monsters rolled Skit's unconscious form out.
"Do you want to come in the ambulance?" asked a monster to Ms. Seward.
The older woman shook her head, Randall ran forward,
"May I?" he asked.
Ms. Seward looked down at Randall before nodding,
"Daemon! You go with Randall in the ambulance" she said frowning.
Randall climbed into the back of the ambulance without hesitation; Daemon followed at a slower pace looking pale and shaky. The two monsters watched as the paramedic checked Skit's vitals, and then when he was positive Skit was stable the monster began to feel along Skit's arms, frowning when he found a clean break.
By the time the ambulance reached the hospital the paramedic was cussing quietly to himself, shaking his head in shock and anger. Parking the ambulance the second paramedic ran around to the back of the ambulance and opened the doors,
"How is he?" asked the second monster.
"There's a gash to his left temple, and I've found four nasty fractures, three are ribs" said the first paramedic frowning. "Come on kids," he said jumping out the back.
Daemon and Randall followed the two older monsters quietly, Daemon hadn't said a word on the trip over, the older monster was sending Skit looks that Randall couldn't decipher, but fear was one of the emotions Randall could see clearly.
In the waiting room Randall fidgeted, peering over the nurses chatting together and laughing, Randall scowled, weren't they supposed to be helping his friend. For the first time Randall felt hate growing in the pit of his stomach.
Daemon gave the nurses a nasty look also, muttering darkly. The older monster finally stood hissing at the nurses.
"Are you doing anything?" he snapped.
The group of monsters disbanded shooting guilty looks at Daemon; one brave one came over and asked if she could get them anything. Daemon shook his head but Randall asked about Skit.
"He's going to be fine," said the monster giving a strained smile "He's still unconscious though, so you can't see him just yet" she said before leaving.
It was late at night before a doctor came over and talked to Daemon, the doctor explained Skit was fine, that his head had taken a severe blow, but that Skit would be fine. This made Randall's tense body become slack, the worry and fear for his friend had been bottled inside and Randall felt exhausted.
Daemon could see Randall was tired; he nudged the smaller monster roughly,
"Get some rest small-fry" he muttered looking a little embarrassed.
Randall nodded and closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. Soon sleep took him, with sleep came nightmares, not of his parents dieing but of Skit, falling while Randall wasn't quick enough to grab the other monster's outstretched hand. But instead of falling down stairs Skit vanished into darkness.
Randall awoke in shock, gasping in the night air, trembling and whimpering. Randall wrapped his two sets of arms around himself and sniffled, unconsciously coiling his tail around a chair leg. Daemon was asleep next to him; all four of the monsters arms were lax as he snored loudly.
Unable to sleep Randall stood and padded over to the large hospital windows. Peering out into the darkness Randall could just make out the snowflakes falling. Randall wondered if Skit and himself could play in the snow, would they be able to make a snow-monster together? Randall felt tears forming in the back of his eyes.
What if Skit wasn't ok like the doctor said? What if he was wrong? Randall's eyes hardened at the memory of Dr. Shaw, the monster that had taken Randall to Enfer-Trou… the doctor who had known what awaited Randall there.
"Come on squirt," said a voice making Randall jump. Turning around Randall saw Daemon and looked up at the older monster with a questioning expression. "He'll be fine, stop worrying… Trust me," said the monster lowering his eyes, his face darkening.
Randall nodded and followed the green monster back to their seats, where they rested until morn. Though neither said much Randall was sure he had made a new friend.
A/N: Chapter Four up! Yay! This one was sad… kinda… I enjoyed writing it! I hope there are not that many errors! Thanks for reading! Please review.