Where Monsters Hide (The Monster Within 1)

I should be triumphant, but all I feel is a deep, deep exhaustion.

As I round the corner, my newfound happiness crumbles. I see a group of people, Piers and Sawyer among them, huddled around a crumpled figure on the ground. To my surprise, Cleaver stands nearby.

Erin, I think wildly, and I speed up, running down the hall toward them.

“What happened?” I gasp as I reach them. Piers, Bennett, and Sawyer glance at me before shuffling out of the way so that I can see.

It’s not Erin. It’s Owen. He’s covered in gashes, and blood covers his paisley-print shirt. He’s clawing at his own face, but two nurses are trying to wrestle his hands away to treat him.

“He was attacked by the lycanthrope,” Sawyer says in a low voice.

Bennett nods.

“He’ll either die or … become a werewolf.” Piers sounds numb and hollow.

I bite my lip.

“I’d rather die!” Owen screams from the ground as the nurses get him onto a stretcher. “Just let me die!”

“Owen!” I step forward, but a nurse blocks my path, shaking his head.

“I don’t want to become a monster!” he yells as they take him away towards the infirmary.

Without thinking, I reach out and grab Piers’ hand, squeezing it. With my other hand, I do the same for Bennett. They both squeeze back.

“I’m going with him,” Bennett says resolutely. He drops my hand and follows after the nurses.

“Me too,” Piers agrees as he drops my hand.

It’s not until they’re gone that I realize who the others are. Erin, Luiza, and Professor Helsing stand by my side. Erin’s holding a crossbow, though I don’t know where she got it. She’s also covered in blood and beaming.

“I got the lycanthrope,” she tells me, gesturing to the crossbow.

>

“You were amazing, mi cantante,” Luiza says. She plants a kiss on Erin’s cheek, and they both blush.

“You were supposed to get to safety!” I exclaim.

“I couldn’t let everyone else fight while I ran and hid,” Erin says. “I had to do something, too. Cleaver was great. He protected us.”

“He’s a good dog,” Luiza gushes, kneeling to pet him. Cleaver wags his tail.

Professor Helsing looks at Erin with a strange expression. “I’m so glad you’re safe,” he tells her softly.

She smiles, drops the crossbow, and walks up to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “I’m safe, Dad,” she mutters.

Luiza, Sawyer, and I share a shocked glance.

“Singer,” Luiza says in amazement. “Of course. Helsing.”

“I’m proud of you, kid,” Helsing says gruffly, patting Erin’s back. I look on, dumbfounded. I’m not sure they look anything alike. Though … now that I think about it, their eyes are roughly the same shape if you look at them just right.

Erin steps back with a grin. “Avery, are you okay? You should probably get to the first-aid station.”

I glance down at myself. “Yeah, probably.”

“I’ll walk with you,” Erin says brightly.