Who's the real Monster?

~ Matt's POV

No. It can't be. Z...They can't be dead.

Ed unleashed a gut wrenching sorrowful roar. Pain gripped my heart as a saying mum would say came to mind 'In the shelter of each other, people survive'. If only I had tears to shed in this moment.

Ed dropped his head to the floor. Even though we had both barely known Z for a few days. They're the reason why I'm free. Why we're all free and now they're gone.

Why didn't they come through the door instead? Why did they stay behind? Looks like we'll never know. Plans went to shite the second all of us came outside. Everyone scattered the moment they felt the sun on their skin. Those of us who stayed close by to hear the news were all in shock.

I caught sight of someone looking a little more confused than the others. Watching them closely I noticed that they were looking at other people's mouths whenever they talked.

Waving my hands to get their attention. Once they looked my way I signed 'Are you deaf or hard of hearing?'

'Yes I am deaf. What happened just now?'

'Someone just died. They helped us get out'.

'You know them? Were they like us? What was their name?'

Taking in a shaky breathe I reply 'Yes. Their name was Z'.

Taking a moment to think they sign 'My name is Daveed. You?'

'I am Matt'.

'Is that a tiger?'

'It's ok. His name is Ed. He's like us, too.' Ed's body language changed so quickly. Ears pulled back, back arched, he even let out a low growl. "Something wrong?", I ask Eric. He put an arm in front of Shelly before replying, "Ed smells blood." Before another word could be said the sound of a helicopter's blade began whirling.

Raising my eyes to the rooftop, my vision landed on something dark.

~

Gasping for air I began panting as my heart hammered in my chest. All of my senses were hitting me at once. Each of my nerves were on fire.

Taking in my surrounds carefully. My vision cleared to only see darkness. I'm still in the Thing's shadow. Observing what I could of my body I noticed that nothing has really changed. At least on the outside. I can feel the Thing under my skin. I move It moves. I heard It talk inside my head just now. As if It's always been a part of me.

I'm alive because of It. And now It's a part of me. The memory of Papi and my promise to him came to mind. Looking through the shadows I could see the guards clear as day. An all consuming rage filled every cell in my body. This isn't just me who's angry its the Thing.

Letting the shadows fall away slowly I watched the guards reactions. Some froze while others tried to stifle a shiver. Then my eyes landed on the sadistic one who loved to torture any and all of us. I lift a hand to say, "You!"

My body moved on it's own. Leaping towards Edgar I pushed past anyone who was in my way with a ferocious force. Lifting him off the floor with one hand I seethed, "I will make you suffer." Bullets started flying in every direction. Slamming him onto the floor I diverted my attention to the others to say one word, "Run."

All of them barely took a step as black tendrils started piecing every last one of them. The white walls were soon stained with blood. Feeling the fluidity of the tendrils I saw that they were made of shadows. My shadows. The Thing used me to kill these guards.

Turning back to Edgar, "Eye for an eye. Don't you agree?" He made an attempt to flee. Grabbing him by the ankles to slam him into either side of the wall. The Thing urged me Kill him, kill him now. I'll do something better than that I reply. Bringing him within arms length the tendrils instinctively restricted any and all movement.

Taking the helmet and goggles off to see the dread in his sunken eyes. Noticing a scar on the right side of his head I felt my nails grow inhumanly sharp as a devil's grin touched my lips. Slowly digging my fingers into the scar I didn't stop until I felt his skull. Edgar began to shake in my grasp. Feeling a part of the Thing seep into him I heard It say He will feel only pain from now on.

A second barely passed before Edgar started screaming. Whatever the Thing seeped into his body it began to outline his veins in black. "From now on I own you", the Thing used my voice to whisper to him. Edgar tried to curse me in between pants. Impatiently I threw him away to join the rest of the dead guards. Leaving him there to rot.

Running for the stairs I was at the rooftop door in a flash. With a push the door hinges fell to the floor. Walking out into the sunlight I heard the whirling of helicopter blades. Surprised to feel the sun light not burn my skin or hurt my eyes to catch Aunt Patty in the process of getting into the chopper. Yelling at the top of my lungs, "Aunt Patty!" She froze in place to turn and look back at me.

All of my attention was on her that I didn't register Armstrong's words immediately. "Goddammit Anderson get in!", he yelled at her. Her body obeyed automatically. The helicopter was still grounded as I made my way to it. With the door still wide open the metallic bird started to take off.

Watching the helicopter rise higher in the air I followed its direction. At the edge of the building I reach out to the footstep. Holding the helicopter in place with an iron grip I tug down hard for Aunt Patty to tumble out.

Watching her fall I waited for the last possible second to wrap her in my shadows. Knowing she was secure I slowly reeled her in to meet my eyes. With a hard thrust I send the helicopter away from the building.

Focusing on Aunt Patty again I kept my grip firm. "Surprised to see me?", I ask.

"Surprised you're alive at all", she replied.

"Where were you and the others going?"

"What makes you think I'd tell you?"

A wicked grin traces my lips, "Whether you like it or not you will tell me."

"I have been taught by the best and have trained people how to interrogate. You won't get a word out of me."

"Answer the question or things are going to get very ugly."

"Do your worse."

"Before I do anything else I've got a promise to keep." Her eyes are hard as she listens to me "Granddaddy Sean wanted me to tell you this; 'I'm very disappointed in you for stabbing your only family in the back'." A flash of sorrow touches her face. Aunt Patty slowly blinks to keep from crying. "He also wanted me to give you this." Lifting my head I bring it down right on her nose to hear an extremely satisfying crunch.

Aunt Patty bit her lower lip to muffle her pain. Let me do something the Thing says. Unsure of It's intentions I reply Keep her alive. Feeling the Thing take control of my arm I watched It force a finger into her forehead without breaking the skin.

A swarm of memories flood my mind. Starting with Aunt Patty as a little girl hiding from her parents, the next being her all alone in a house, I see more memories with one thing in common. Fear. The most recent one being of missiles.

Pulling away to see her face scrunched in pain. "Are missiles coming here?", I ask.

She shook her head in response.

"Tell me or I'll do it again."

She inhales sharply, "Yes."

"How much time do we have?"

"2 hours."

"Since when?"

"Right after you had the restrictions taken off."

Tightening my grip on her until she lets out a little huff of air. Why stop? It asked. We need her for now. Looking down at the others I felt all their eyes on me. Keeping Aunt Patty in my grasp I lowered both of us down the side of the building slowly.

When my feet touched the concrete floor everyone took a step away. Searching their eyes all I see is fear. Catching a familiar pair to see the same cemented the fact that I really am a monster.

A low growl takes my attention away. Looking down at Ed still in his tiger form I take a step forward. The hairs on his back raise, his ears dip and pull back, he even started snapping his teeth at me. "Who are you?", Matt asked. I heard and felt the command in his words. Averting my eyes to meet his for the first time. Don't tell him, they will hurt us It said. Ignoring the warning I answered honestly, "I'm still Z." "What happened just now?", Eric asked. "The Thing that stalks the halls at night and is the reason for Code Black is labeled as 'Project Omega'. It's an alien and it merged with me just now."

Matt looked to Eric for confirmation. After a nod Matt ordered, "Explain." Exhaling sharply I reply, "I'll go into detail later. Right now is not the time for talk. We are all in danger. There are missiles coming here to destroy this island."

"Missiles? How do you know that?", Eric asked. Meeting his eyes once again I tilt my head to Aunt Patty before replying, "Director Anderson here and Colonel Armstrong made a call to have this place destroyed. We have less than two hours before they strike."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Someone said, "We're all going to die." When the statement sunk in people started screaming. Agitated I yelled, "Enough!" Everyone stopped to stare at me again. "Now is not the time to panic. Everybody who was in the Green Unit except for Hannah find the docks. There should be a port somewhere. Those of you who were in the Solitary and Yellow Unit stay here." There was a brief moment of silence as everyone thought. With a clap of my hands they dispersed.

Eric, Shelly, Ed, Matt, Hannah, and everyone else from the Solitary Unit stayed behind. Keeping their distance Eric asked, "What happened? Why can't I hear your thoughts?" Inhaling deeply I repeat, "Again, I'll go into detail later. I won't harm any of you." "How do we know we can trust you?", Matt asked. I won't hurt them either It told me. Closing my eyes tightly I asked the Thing If I open my eyes will I go blind again? I'm not sure It replied. Taking my sunglasses off to hold at the nose bridge I said, "Trust isn't something we come by easily. As a sign of good faith I will lend you something that I consider precious. I would like for Matt to hold onto these sunglasses. Consider this collateral."

Someone quickly came to snatch it out of my hand. Suspecting that it was Hannah I said, "I'll be expecting the sunglasses back."