We all fear them at some time in our lives.
We feel their eyes watching us and fear their actions once the lights go out, and while you can't always see them when you peer in to the gloom, you always fear their presence.
For no matter what adults say, children always fear the monsters under their beds.
But what children do not yet understand is that the true monsters, the true evils of the universe do not hide under beds, but rather great you on the street every day and sell you your groceries. Monsters live amongst us, not hidden away like we wish they were.
But who is to say who is the monster and who is an innocent child?
Apparently the entire human population.
Jacey Matthews lay sprawled on the hot concrete, whimpering softly as the sound of screams and punches made it past his ears. His teary eyes caught sight of his sister snarling as she took on a man three times her size, desperation in her bright yellow eyes.
" Kill them! Kill the vermin!"
He curled in a ball, desperately trying to escape the violent crowd surrounding him and hide himself away from the world, his ears flat against his head caused sound to be muffled, but he could still make out their panicked breathing of his older sister as she fought in vain for their survival.
" Monsters! They'll infect our children with their hideous disease!" One woman yelled close to him, causing him to wince at the high decibels.
" They'll wreak havoc on our town!"
"We should have done this when they were born!"
"Monsters! Vermin! Filth!" The crowd chanted, a swelling mass of voices and fists and townspeople swarmed to join the throng around the two terrified siblings.
This happened regularly, especially in a country town like theirs where city police and other law enforcement took at least an hour to reach them and deal with threats. The people themselves tended to just beat hybrids to death, it was quicker that way.
The chanting of the crowd was deafening, but not loud enough to stifle the screaming of his sister as he scratched and raked at any flesh she could reach.
"Stop! Just listen to us, we are not monsters! You have to believe me, we weren't going to harm anyone!" She cried desperately, attempting to speak over the crowd.
Jacey felt tears slip down his cheeks as a harsh punch brought his sister to the pavement with a loud CRACK! She lay silent after that, the pale cream pavement slowly turning red with her life force. "God save me!" he sobbed quietly as the men moved to advance on him next now that his sister was silent.
The deafening chant was back, renewed with a vigor that almost left them breathless, making his world swirl with terror and hopelessness, before a sudden silence settled over the crowd.
Carefully peeling open his yellowed eyes to stare owlishly at the crowd, he caught sight of what made them finally cease the horrid chanting.
They were angels, five of them.
With huge wings that splayed out against the wind majestically, the sun causing their unique feathers to glow with inner fire. They landed swiftly, handsome and yet young faces turning to stony expressions as they caught sight of the situation.
No one moved or spoke as the crowd stared with wide eyes at the new arrivals whose blue suits showed off their beautiful bodies and wings.
The angels had saved him, the heavens had received his desperate prayers and sent warriors to free him!
A camera flash startled the youngest angel, who nudged the oldest and gestured to the swarm of media and currently filming news reporters covering the disturbance.
The eldest cleared his throat, sky blue eyes flashing with fury as he gently bent and picked up his sister's body, the flowing red blood covering his perfect suit and silvery wings dipping in to the gore to shine grimly.
"We are the Thunderbirds, avian hybrids determined to make a difference in this world by saving lives, both human and hybrid. What has happened here today is a disgusting example of the behavior shown towards an innocent people. What could this little girl have done to deserve to be beaten to death?" The silver winged angel state confidently, the crowd silenced to listen to his every word as cameras flashed in his eyes.
He swallowed, gaze filled with grief at the sight of the child's bloodied body in his arms. The black winged angel put a supportive hand on his brother's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly before he too addressed the crowd.
"This is a message for all peoples, hybrid or human. The Thunderbirds are here to help, but we do not condone this senseless violence or those who would permit it. We will work for peace, and fight anyone who dares stand in the way of it".
Jacey's mouth dropped open in awe at the angel's words, they were going to save people? For the first time, the angels would finally answer the cries of his people when they were in need.
The youngest angel crouched in front of him, sky blue eyes gently examining his bruises and cuts.
"I'm Alan, my brothers and I are going to help you find a safe place to live. Do you have parents?" He asked, his rich voice breaking through the fog of Jacey's mind.
Meeting his eyes timidly, Jacey managed to sit up and face him properly, his dark tail wrapping around his body for comfort.
"My sister Margo always says our parents got taken away and we've gotta be extra careful that we don't go away too. Can I see her now? Are you gonna make her okay again?" Jacey inquired, desperate hope laced in his young voice.
Alan's gaze clouded slightly and he moved closer to draw Jacey in to gentle hug.
"Margo will be going somewhere else, somewhere without nasty humans where she can see your parents again," He murmured softly.
Jacey's confused expression cleared and he smiled brightly, yellowed eyes flashing with joy.
"You mean you can take her back to heaven with you? Can I come?" Jacey asked eagerly.
Alan drew him closer, squeezing him tight to his chest so the child wouldn't see the sudden tears welling in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Jacey, you'll have to stay here with us, we'll find you a nice place to stay with a kind family and lots of friends. You'll be safe there," Alan murmured softly.
Jacey's tears streaked down his cheeks, falling on slayed flight feathers that wrapped around them both.
"No humans will hurt us?"
"No humans".
It was all over the media the next day, broadcasted across the globe in hundreds of languages and tongues. News of the Thunderbirds and Scott's message to the world was causing divided emotions amongst the listeners.
The boys sat in the living room of their island home, watching yet another replay of the events that had unfolded, seeing the bloodied body yet again.
It had taken hours to wash away those physical stains.
Seeing the downcast mood of his adopted children, Jeff reached across to switch the report on to mute, causing five weary sets of eyes to focus on his own.
"I'm proud of how your first mission went," Jeff announced calmly.
Immediately Gordon's eyes narrowed and his neutral look deepened in to a frown.
"It wasn't a success, Margo Matthews died. An innocent girl is dead and her brother is with complete strangers," he muttered.
Jeff's great white wings reached over to wrap around Gordon's shoulder, drawing him closer.
"The way I see it, yes, an innocent girl is dead, but her brother is safe with a family who will love and support him for the rest of his days. You sent a message, all of you, to every hybrid and human alike. You metered between two warring peoples, and no one thus far in our history has been able to do that as well as you all did yesterday," Jeff commented reassuringly, seeing the hope light up in his beloved boys eyes once again.
"I guess we don't get to save everyone every time," John murmured resignedly.
"No, we don't. But as long as we do our best and stand by our principles we will save as many as we can".
It is in these days of turmoil that children learn the facts of life early. That monsters are not always ugly creatures with long claws and fangs, but rather people with skin and bone who look like everyone else.
Hybrid children know that the best.
They understand from birth that they are different, that the world calls them monsters. More often than not monsters are on both sides of the argument.
But what they know the best out of anyone in the world, is that monsters do not live under beds. They live in hearts.
Okay so after that slightly more depressing ficlet, I am yet again appealing for prompts and criticism/comments abound. Prompts or continuation would be handy but I already have a prompt for the next chapter.