The Man in the Blue Mask

Chapter Three: Monster

After some convincing, and making sure the other two -mainly Jeff- wouldn't try to kill me. We all got acquainted after a bit, Jeff still kept poking me with a knife every so often.

"Would you quit that before I rip your arm off?" Jack growled. Jeff just made some laughing sound, but left me alone. BEN had kept asking me about video games, like what my favorite one was and which games I found more enjoyable.
He was alright and we got along pretty well.
After Jeff and Jack argued about whatever it was they had been going in about, Jack went back over to me.

"I need you you stay here. I'm going out for a bit. If you hear anything unusual, ignore it."

I nodded my head. I couldn't understand why he was so serious. Something must have come up...
I watched him leave with Jeff and BEN, then sat there alone on the couch. I didn't understand why he was so overprotective of me or why he seemed so worried leaving me by myself.
"I can handle myself just fine." Getting up, I circled around the cabin again. Remembering my earlier exploration, I made my way back to the kitchen. Opening the cabinets, I gaze at the jars. Blood still pooled freshly from a few of them.

"They're all full of the same thing...." I mumbled to myself. Closing the cabinet, I moved on from the kitchen. Going back to my room, I sat on my bed.
"Well... This is home now." I lay down, closing my eyes. For a moment, all was at peace until a strange sound pulled me out of my thoughts.
It was a hushed sound, but still clear as day.
Curious, I got up and walked around, following the noise. Walking to the back door, I paused. I recalled what Jack had told me before he left.

If you hear anything unusual, ignore it.

I sighed. And seeing that whatever had made the noise seemed to be gone anyway.
"It was probably just an animal or something." Turning around, I come face to face with some kind of creature. Screaming, I fall backwards and back up against the door. The creature lumbered towards me, tilting it's head as it gazed at me.
My heart raced as I was definitely terrified. I'm gonna die, I just know it...
As the creature's face was only merely inches from mine, I heard someone speak.

"Don't worry, he won't eat you."

I look to see Jack kneeling in front of me. He helped me up, then turned to the creature. "Charlie, this is Seed Eater. He won't harm you unless you give him reason to."
I looked at Seed Eater, still a bit uncomfortable around him. The creature stepped towards me, tilting his head again. I reached out a shaking hand and placed it on his head. He made some kind of purring sound like a cat. I glanced that Jack to see him smiling. "See, nothing to be afraid of."

×××

After some time, I got use to Seed Eater being around. Jack said that he lived here too, but he wasn't sure how I would react when seeing him so that's why Jack had never mentioned Seed. He was kind of like a very large puppy in my eyes, well- a large puppy that ate people.

I sat on the couch, reading a book while Seed lay on the floor next to me. Jack was hanging out in the armchair eating one of the kidneys from the cabinet.
I had gotten use to that over time too. I was told that my parents had put up missing posters of me not long after I had left.

"You don't think anyone will find the cabin, do you?" I asked.
Jack looked at me with a grin. "This area is off grid. Nobody knows about it, let alone not even hikers dare come out this far into the woods."
I did believe him, however, I still had my doubts. Putting my book on the coffee table, I got up. Seed lifted up his head as I walked past him to my room. I grabbed my jacket and put on my boots.
"I'm gonna go out for a walk." I called out,  grabbing an old box cutter Jack had given me to use for self defense.
Jack called back out to me. "Take Seed with you. I don't want you going out alone."
I nodded as I headed for the door. Seed followed me out and we walked into the woods.

Kicking a few rocks that crossed my path, nothing of interest really happened. Seed made gruffing noises at a few squirrels that we past.
After going some way along the path, I saw some people heading my way.
"Seed...hide and stay out of sight."
He nudged my shoulder before running off. The people, three guys, stopped in front of me. Luckily none of them seem to know who I was, nor did any of them recognize me.

"Well hey there. What's a cute girl like you doing all alone out here?"

One of the guys approached me. I remained calm, not letting them catch me off guard. I kept my gaze on them, not breaking eye contact. The lead guy continued circling me, waiting for an answer. I glared at him. "I can walk where I please."
He chuckled, as if my response was a joke to him. Getting closer to me, I began backing up til my back bumped into a tree. The guy smirked.

"So, why don't we introduce ourselves. I'm Gage, and these are my friends Tom and Seth."

I didn't reply which annoyed Gage. He cornered me against the tree, getting close to my face. "Not talking eh? Well, if you won't talk, I can make you emit other sweet sounds."
Before he could touch me, I pulled out the box cutter and stabbed him in the stomach. He yelped like a dog and backed off.
"You bitch, you'll pay for that!"
He charged at me, but before he could throw a punch, Seed had tackled him to the ground. Tom and Seth screamed and ran off, while Gage just stared at Seed in horror.

"Wh-what is this monster?!"

I walked over and kneeled down to him. "The last thing you'll ever see." I turned away as Seed began eating Gage. I still found it difficult to watch, so I avoided looking.
After Seed had devoured Gage, he walked over to me, nudging my arm. I smiled.
"Let's go home."
We walked back to the cabin, Seed had went to his usual spot under a small tree by the porch. I walked inside and sat down. Jack hadn't said anything when I came in, but I could tell he was watching me.
I turned my head and met his gaze. Despite having no eyes, I knew he could still see me as clear as day.

Jack was about to say something when Seed had started making some kind of snarling bark sound. We both jumped up and rushed outside. A black mist floated in the distance. I began hearing a voice in my head repeating the words "He comes" over and over. Holding my head, begging the voice to go away, Jack had grabbed me and dragged me back inside.
Seed wrapped around me as Jack paced around.
"Jack...what's going on?"

"He knows." Was all he said.