Chapter Two: Monster?
Sometimes a monster can have a heart. They can enjoy the same things that regular people enjoy, like eating ice cream or walking in the rain. And if a monster can enjoy music like a normal human can, then surely they have no evil in them, surely they have the same rights as everyone else and surely one day they'll can enjoy the things they like without another person trying to take them away. Maybe a monster such as Ranaghoul will have the happiness he feels he deserves, what does it matter that he has the blood of hundreds on his hands, who cares that his soul is not his own and that he has the strength to crush a humans bones but not enough will to stop being the slave of another monster, one far more twisted than he'll ever be. He loves music, he sings Silent Night to himself, regardless of what time of year it is. He loves to sing this song, he finds it funny and ironic. For in his world it is always night, ever since his sight was taken from him. And now that he has found music, he will not let another monster take it away from him. The monster has made him in his image and however hideous Ranaghoul was on the outside he can feel himself become even more grotesque inside. It is like a blackness spreading throughout his body swallowing and twisting whatever sense of humanity was left in him. He doesn't hate people, he simply hates his master and anyone who takes away his music. Ranaghoul has come up with a theory, something that makes him feel very smart. He thinks to himself that not many people have their own theories. His theory is that anyone who takes away a person or monster most treasured possession is truly evil. But his theory is flawed, as Ranaghoul has taken away the lives of so many and even though he is a monster he knows that so many of those people loved their lives and so many people who knew loved that very same life. He has taken that away and therefore is just like his master, evil and powerful.
Maybe the current task will be his last and he'll be free, free to listen to music and play in the rain, away from the screams and the carnage that he has created. Maybe God will forgive, but he knows he is past forgiveness; he is past any human concept. He is a monster.
Tilder heads to Hick's Bar every Thursday night, a tradition she has kept going since she was 14 years of age. Tilder had met the proprietor, Jack Finbar Hicks at that age, he had found her crying in the alley at the back of his bar one night. How lucky was she that it was himself that went out that night and not one of his many less sociable customers, reliving themselves on the streets instead of using the fine marbled toilets he provided them with.Tilder had run away from home that night, finding the constant ranting of her parents towards their eldest child, Andrew, a pain she thought she could no longer stand. Andrew was a good boy, always looked after Tilder, always did as he was told and kept his room immaculate always.Tilder never understood why her parents would suddenly start an argument with him or why they would say the things they did.
Not until that night, the night that their resentment to their only son became clear. Andrew had come down the stairs that night, his first night back from his second year at University, to attend a special dinner their mother had made.Tilder's hope were raised, there would be no trouble tonight, no loud shouting and cries from her mother telling her to "go to bed".
As they sat down to the great feast of turkey, potatoes and ever other trimming that came along with the meal, Tilders father said grace and they ate. Andrew had looked uncomfortable all night, he kept fidgeting with his napkin. Then he suddenly cleared his throat in an obvious manner and stood up at the table, almost as if to get some ounce of courage in him.
"I've met someone and I want you..."
His father slammed his fork on the table and got out of his chair.
"Don't start this again Andrew."
"You need to accept this sometime dad, or do you want me to be miserable all my life. Daniell is a..."
"Shut up:his father yelled." I don't want to know his name, I thought after last time you'd give up this nonsense"
"Nonsense? Being gay is not something I'm doing for the fun of it. I can't help how I turned out, how can you be so hateful"
"You were raised a different way Andrew. Do you want your sister to know what you are? Do you even care at all about how your mother felt when you..."
The fighting that Tilder had become familiar with began again and she knew her own tears and shouts would do nothing to stop the anger in the room. Andrew was gay, and all she could think of that night was 'how could he not of told me'. She didn't care who he loved, she didn't want their family to be torn apart and when Andrew left that night, promising never to return and saying a last goodbye to Tilder, she realised she felt a new emotion for her parents. Hatred. hey had turned against their own son, her brother, the best friend she ever had and all because he had fallen in love with another mantled was so angry that night, she dumped the contents of her schoolbag on the floor and filled it with some clothes, a loaf of bread and a bottle of Coke. he then slipped out the back door while her father and mother were still ranting on about Andrew and started to run, not knowing where she was heading.
Jack Hicks never saw anyone cry so much. He approached the 14 year old Tilder as slow as he could, knowing that a young lady crying in an alleyway would be scared of anyone that came near her. When he came within 3 feet of her, Tilder seemed to react instinctively and bolted off the step she was sitting on and backed away.
"Hey now, you're o.K. own this bar here and I'm not going to hurt you" Jack said to her in a tender voice that he did not even know he had.
"You wouldn't get a chance too" Tilder shot back at him.
He smiled, tough girl, brave girl and yet he knew all too well, that somehow someway he'd would probably end up in a bad way if did try and hurt her. But nevertheless a young girl in a place like this had to be here for a reason, had to have run away from her family and had to be frightened no matter how tough she tried to act.
"Look you want to come inside. You'll freeze out here and it's not safe, especially at night" he asked her once again using his newly found voice and this time he added a smile.
Tilder thought back to that night and wondered what would of happened if she had not of taken his offer of refuge. Would she have left the state and led a life of adventure hopping on a bus every time she had seen the sights. Or would she have of fallen down a path where no one could save her, end up on the streets living in some skip in the back of nowhere, doing lord knows what just to get enough money to keep living. Tilder brushed those thoughts out of her head and sat down at her usual seat. Jack had taken her in and helped her. He even convinced Tilder to ring her parents and tell them she was ok. But she never went home straight away. Tilder wanted to see her brother, tell him she missed him and let Andrew know that no matter what she loved him. Once again Jack had helped her out. He had given her enough money to get the bus to his University campus. She was happy to have met Jack and was glad he had saved her.