House 214 (Monsters Inc.)
Randall shot a glare at Sullivan and entered his door with grim determination. When on the inside of the closet he heard noises on the other side of the door, about to turn and reenter the monster world without a second thought or care. What he heard next stopped him. It was the small, frightened, tear stained voice of a young child. Randall couldn't tell what had been said, but he was none the less prompted to peek out of the not fully closed door. What was on the other side was shocking. The little girl he'd been scaring for a few months now was pinned to her bed, face red and puffy with tears. A man was looming over her, babbling drunkenly into the child's face. Randall watched in horror as his massive hand suddenly rose and smacked the girl across the face.
She cried out in pain, instantly knowing her mistake as she was hit again.
Randall's fronds stood on end and he changed to blend in with the rooms paint, moving along the wall until he was in position near the bed. He watched for a few more moments, trapped in a disgusted trance before breaking free and lurching forward, knocking the man off the girl. He yelped in pain as an invisible force began wringing his fat neck. He choked as he was beaten by more unseen hands, slashing and tearing his flesh viciously.
The little girl whined and hesitantly opened her eyes, crawling to the edge of her bed and peeking over the headboard. Her crystal blue eyes widened under her frizzy bangs as she watched her father convulse on the floor. When he was still her savior materialized before her eyes, sneering in distain at the man beneath him. He glanced at her and attempted a reassuring smile. He clamored to an upright position and hauled the man toward her door. He then approached her, hands up and open as if to show he wasn't going to harm her. The girl's icy blue eyes melted and more tears streamed down her face. She threw herself at him, tiny frame shuddering as she sobbed. Randall cringed and placed a hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles.
"There there, hush." He murmured, but she only sobbed harder, grip tightening fearfully, as if he'd disappear any second. She looked up at him, face screwed up in pain and sadness. The monster sighed and knelt to her eye level, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Are you okay, honey? Did he hurt you?" he asked, forcing his dialog to be caring and tender, two things he normally wasn't. Her little head bobbed up and down, making his heart sink. "Has he hurt you before?" She whimpered and buried her face in his belly, refusing to verbally reply. Randall felt hate well up within him as he pet her hair, whispering meaningless, illegible comforts and emitting calming noises. Eventually the girl settled down and he tucked her into bed, arranging her stuffed animals around her. She smiled in her sleep and latched onto one, snuggling and holding it close. Randall smiled and caressed the side of her bruised cheek before turning to take care of the human male.
He dragged the man out onto the back lawn and locked him outside, wickedly grinning at the storm clouds above. He briefly pondered what to do, obviously he couldn't call the human police. An idea popped into his head and he rushed inside, quickly gathering the materials he required. He hurriedly scrawled a note and became invisible again, going a few houses down and placing the folded paper on their door with a piece of tape. The front simply said, Help the girl in house 214.
Randall went back to the child's room, planning on returning to his own world when a tiny voice called to him.
"Thank you," she said softly from her bed, bright eyes almost glowing in the darkness as she watched him.
"You're welcome, kid."
"I'm Lucy," she said out of the blue, placing her thumb in the side of her mouth and sucking it innocently. Randall moved slowly toward her, giving a genuine smile as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"Lucy, huh? My name's Randall."
"Randall," she pronounced the name carefully, squirming out from under the covers and crawling toward him. She plopped down on his lap and looked at him. "Are you a monstwer?" her young voice naturally slurred the words, slightly mispronouncing them. Randall swallowed and put his arms around the girl, supporting her.
"Lucy, who was that man hurting you?"
Her little face darkened and she pursed her lips.
"Please, you can tell me."
"My daddy."
"…I think you're daddy was the real monster. You see, a monster isn't what someone looks like, it's how they act and what they do. He's a monster for hurting someone so tiny like you."
"You hurt papa." Lucy pointed out, sticking her whole fist in her mouth and gnawing on it. Randall stalled, but came up with an explanation.
"He and me are both big people, right? He and I had a fairer fight than he and you. I'd never hurt someone little like you."
She blinked at him, eyelids drooping sleepily. "Why'd you scare me..?"
For once he had no answer. "I-I don't know kid, but you sure scared me tonight."
Lucy was half asleep now, the terror and exhaustion taking its toll. Her body relaxed and Randall gently picked her up, sweeping the covers back and laying her down. He once again gathered her toys and placed them by her, slipping a purple cloth lizard right into her arms. She clutched it dearly and turned onto her side, oblivious to the world.
Randall looked to the closet door, knowing he had to get back, he'd been gone to long already. But something made him pause. Sorrow tugged at his heart, worry for the girl making him want to stay with her, making sure no harm came to the child. He sighed and was possessed to kiss her cheek, covering her with her blanket before slithering to his exit.
"Bye, kid, try not to scare me so bad next time." With those last words he reentered the monster world, painfully aware that there would not be a next time.
Fungus bombarded him with anxious inquiries about why there had been such a long wait. Asking if he was okay, hurt, had the kid touched him?
Randall stared despondently into space and instructed the little monster to get him another door, that this one was busted.
