Volvox - Monster

The monster had Tracy in his clutches. He thought he was safely hidden, curled up there in the dark with his victim, but Lenie Clarke could see him bright as an overcast day.

She stepped softly across the cabin, leaving icewater footprints. She'd donned the rest of her diveskin to cut the chill; a cleansing fire spread through her limbs, hot blood burning its way back into frozen flesh.

She liked the feeling.

Tracy stared up from her father's embrace. Her eyes were like saucers, imploring beacons full of fear and paralysis.

It's okay, little friend. He doesn't get away with it any more.

First step...

Clarke leaned in close.

...free the hostage.

She ripped the covers away. The monster opened his eyes, blinking stupidly against a darkness that had suddenly turned against him. Tracy lay stock-still in her pajamas, still too frightened to move.

PJ's, Clarke thought wryly. Nice touch. On his best behavior when company's present.

Present company wasn't fooled.

Quick as a snake, she took Tracy by the wrist. Then the child was safe beside her, Clarke's free arm protectively around her shoulder.

Tracy howled.

"What the hell..." The monster was reaching for the lightstick beside the cot. Fine. Let him have light enough to see the tables, turning...

The cabin flared, blinding her for a moment before her eyecaps adjusted. Gordon was rising from the cot. Clarke raised the billy. "Don't you fucking move."

"Daddy!" Tracy cried.

The monster spread his hands, placating, buying time. "Lenie - listen, I don't know what you want - "

"Really?" She'd never felt so strong in her whole life. "I sure as shit know what you want."

He shook his head. "Listen, just let Tracy go, okay? Whatever it is, there's no need to involve her - "

Clarke stepped forward; Tracy bumped along at her side, whimpering. "No need to involve her? It's a little late for that, asshole. It's way too fucking late."

The monster stopped still for a second. Then, slowly, as if in dawning awareness: "What do you - do you think I - "

Clarke laughed. "Good one."

"You don't think - "

Tracy pulled. "Daddy, help!"

Clarke held on. "It's okay, Tracy. He can't hurt you."

The monster took a step forward. "It's okay, Lima-bean. She just doesn't underst - "

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up!"

He stepped back, hands up, palms front. "Okay, okay - just don't - "

"I understand, asshole. I understand way fucking better than you think."

"That's crazy, Lenie. Just look at her, why don't you? Is it me she's scared of? Is she acting like she wants to be rescued? Use your eyes! What in God's name made you think - "

"You think I don't know? You think I don't remember how it feels, when you don't know any better? You think because you've brainwashed your own daughter into thinking this is normal that I'm going to - "

"I never touched her!"

Tracy twisted free and ran. Clarke, off-balance, reached after her.

Suddenly Gordon was in the way.

"You goddamned psycho," he snarled, and hit her in the face.

Something cracked, deep at the base of her jaw. She staggered. Salty warmth flooded her mouth. In a moment there'd be pain.

But now there was only a sudden, paralyzing fear, resurrected from the dawn of time.

No, she thought. You're stronger than him. You're stronger than he ever was, you don't have to put up with his vile shit one instant longer. You're going to teach him a lesson he won't ever fucking forget just jam him in the belly and watch him expl -

"Lenie, no!" Tracy cried. Clarke glanced aside, distracted.

A mountain smashed against the side of her head. Somehow the billy wasn't in her hand any more; it was following some crazy parabola through a world spinning uncontrollably sideways. The rough wooden planking of the cabin floor drove splinters into Clarke's face. Off in some unfathomably distant part of the world, a child was screaming Daddy...

"Daddy," Clarke mumbled through pulpy lips. It had been so many years, but he was back at last. And nothing had really changed after all.

***