Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-27012445-20160425200614

"There are no such thing as monsters." That's what my mommy used to say. She would whisper these words to me mostly at night because that's when monsters like to come out.

At night when the walls would vibrate from machinery humming in the service tunnels and sub-basements, I would need her to tell me again. I needed to hear those words when the wind would scream and howl in from the unstable air currents created by hundreds of terraforming filtration turbines. The towers took in the alien atmosphere and expelled out oxygen and nitrogen rich air. Just like the rhyme my Daddy would sing with me, "bad air goes in, good air comes out."

I would need reminding one more time when the giant atmospheric processing station would release electrical discharges into the clouds. It brought the rain that would beat at the windows of my living quarters, and the lightning that would crackle and crash. She would tuck me into bed, make sure that my favorite doll, Casey was in my arms and tell me, "There is nothing to be scared of; there are no monsters, no real monsters."

Monsters killed my mommy and daddy.

Not only were the monsters real, but they were here, and still the grownups continued to lie to us with promises that they would keep us safe. They told us help was on its way, but they lied. We knew that our little settlement was so far away from anyone, it would take up to two weeks for the nearest outpost to reach us. We knew the monsters were coming. They would come with numbers and with force. We knew they would come for each and every last one of us.

The monsters were patient. When there was only a few of them, they secretly would pick off the families living in the habitat modules on the outskirts of the colony. As their numbers increased, the monsters began to hunt in packs. It wasn't long before there was enough of them and they didn't need to hide anymore. They attacked in full force.

The central air processing station was just outside the colony's perimeter. It was the primary terraformer and control center for the other automated terraforming substations that were spread across the small planet's surface. The majority of the grown-ups spent most of their waking hours here, including my mommy. They were all doing their part to make this tiny world breathable. "Building Better Worlds," like all the signs and videos say.

The monsters crashed through the ceiling and tore through the floor grating; catching everyone by surprise. Only a week ago, there was one hundred and fifty-eight of us. After the attack on the processing station, eighty-four people were missing. Those of us left, gathered together for safety. We had to move quickly. We knew what the monsters did to you if they took you. We knew that for every one of us taken, their numbers would grow. We knew we didn't have much time.

The monsters grew so fast. We learned that from my daddy. He was the first. They thought I couldn't hear. They thought I wouldn't know. But I saw it all. When my daddy started screaming in pain, they took him to see the doctor; I followed them.

The grown-ups may have ruled the corridors and hallways, but the kids owned the vents and shafts. That was our playground! The was where we would play games like Monster Maze, and I was the best! The other kids were jealous because I could fit into places the others couldn't. They also couldn't memorize the turns and corners like me. I could get anywhere in the complex and never be seen; not once. Finding my way to where they had taken my Daddy was a breeze.

I didn't have to rely on my memory of the winding and turning tunnels of the ventilation system to find the correct room. The screams echoed loud and clear. I followed the sounds to the grilled screen that would allow me to peer into the medical compartment. I made myself look, but in the end, I closed my eyes to the horror. The screams hurt my ears. He was hurt really bad. A deep snap of bone startled everyone in the room and my daddy grew quiet and still. Suddenly, I could hear his body thrashing and convulse violently as the medical personnel tried to hold him down. People gasped and screamed at the sound of a loud crunch and snap followed by what sounded like a bucket of water spilling to the ground and spraying the walls. Then I heard it! It replaced my Daddy's fading screams that were more wet gurgles now. The loud and piercing screech was let out from something angry, evil, and alien. It hissed loudly and scurried violently in the opposite direction, knocking over tools and equipment as it made its escape.

The last of us gathered in the safest place left, the Primary Operations Center. My daddy told me once; it was the very first and oldest building in the colony. The original settlers had lived in there back when they couldn't breathe the air and Operations Center's thick walls, and many pressurized doors protected them from the freezing temperatures and poisonous atmosphere.

The adults put the kids in the center of the complex on the top level. They said the Medical section was the safest place for us. We listened as the grown-ups did everything possible to block off entry ways, and weld together the blast doors, and close off every service tunnel. All access points were barricaded, and all the main entry gates were sealed shut. When all was said and done, there was nothing left to do but wait in the silence and fear the approach of night time, because everyone knows that the monsters mostly come at night, mostly.

The nights are long on this planetoid with its fifty-seven hour days. Here, when the darkness falls, it feels like it will never end. The monster didn't come the first night or the second night, but they were there. Their large bodies pressed and slid against the outer bulkheads. Powerful talons scraped against steel and drooling jaws extended and clenched. A piercing shriek would call out and echo in the distance now and then. The monster's cries would startle us, causing screams of fright and tears from most of the children. We continued to wait.

It started on the third day with a metallic "thunk", "thunk," thunk" from the North Gate. It echoed throughout the corridors. Anything not bolted down rattled and shook. I could see relief wash over some of the adult's faces. The waiting was finally over. The beating at the massive door, three levels down, grew louder in intensity. The children were gathered together and hurriedly rushed into one of the unused isolation medical bays only used for storage. I didn't like this room. Even though it housed many rows of containers and equipment, there was no vents or shaft in here; there was no way to escape.

We watched from the monitoring station that had been set up within the medical bay. The adults began readying themselves. Most had small handguns and charges used for geological excavation. There were even a few crude flame throwers. The strikes to the massive door became relentless.

The pounding grew louder from massive blows now coming from the West Gate.

The monsters were slamming into the steel door so hard and so fast, I could swear I felt the floor vibrate. They screamed with such anger from behind the barriers that blocked their way

The attack on our shelter grew even louder even more so. Taloned fists were now beating at the East Gate.

The echoes of metal being hit with massive, inhuman force now came at us from all directions when impacts fell against the main, South Gate.

The bending and tearing of metal were heard throughout the complex and battle cries of victory cried out from alien lungs and filled everyone with dread. We watched the blurry, dark shapes fill the monitor screens. Screams and hisses echoed from the lower levels as they tore down every barrier or obstacle. They filled the hallways, scurrying on the ceiling, walls, and floor. They were coming for us.

The monsters fell on the people defending our last and only defense like a wall of black water. They slammed into human bodies with such force; men flew across the room into equipment and consoles. They emerged from the ceiling, grabbing at anyone within their reach and pulled them into the darkness. Screams of terror and breaking of bone could be heard over the speakers. Images of blood and flesh filled our eyes from the small video monitors. Despite the wounds and injuries being inflicted, it was painfully obvious that none of the adults had been killed. Every last one of them was alive when they were dragged away.

It was over quickly. Soon, every last grown-up in Operations was gone. Dangling legs lifted into the air vents disappeared. Those who had struggled or capable of fending them off were cornered and subdued by groups of monsters. Their arms and leg were bitten and shredded by teeth and claws. Hand or foot was torn and severed from their body. Obviously, it was easier to manage and carry off their prey if it was crippled. Screams for help and pleas for death slowly faded into the distance.

The remaining grown-ups sealed the hatchway to the main access door for our section and stood between us and the approaching nightmares. They peeled away the hatch as if it were tin foil and were at the view ports and observation windows that lined the medical bay, hitting and scratching at the duri-glass. They shattered it in no time and began swarming into the medical bay. Gunshot rung loud and screams from adults and children came from all directions. Monsters were leaping through the air to pounce on any victims within their sight. They crawled on the walls and ceiling, plucking running children off their feet by their hair or even by their entire head from large, six-fingered claws.

I cowered under an overturned medical bed when I locked eyes with a boy who couldn't have been more than seven. His arms were locked in a death grip around a support beam. Two monsters pounced on him and began pulling and jerking him violently. Somehow he maintained his grip around the metal beam and would not let go. I screamed in horror when they broke his arms. His arms trailed loosely and limp from his small body when they dragged him away.

A woman flew across the room, smashing into a large fume hood to the right and rear of the large room. Her broken body lay over the destroyed workstation. The impact had toppled over the instrument and dislodged its upper panel revealing a narrow ventilation duct within the wall. In a flash, I remembered the school day-trip last month to see the scientists. It was the same type of instrument. The one used for dangerous chemicals. It was a duri-glass enclosure with two access openings for the hands. They would stick their hands through the access points and pour their chemicals from the inside without breathing the fumes. The scientist said the fume were then removed from the complex by the exhaust fans.

I got to my feet and dove for the tiny opening. Three monsters charged from the corner on all fours. I entered the duct only to discover it immediately went from ground level to a vent that went straight up the wall. I pressed my body as far as I could to avoid the claws that were reaching in for me. It pushed itself relentlessly into the small opening, wedging itself further into the duct. The claws that were covered with a slick coat of slime inched closer. The tips of its nails were nicking my clothes. I could feel the pull of the fabric grow firmer each time before the threads would break.

I had one chance, I stood and place one hand on each side of the vent, hopped off the ground and pressed my feet against the walls to hold me up. Carefully, but as quick as I could manage I had made it more than halfway the distance. The scraping and beating of claws filled my ears from below. When I lifted myself into the junction, I twisted myself into the opening and briefly my eyes fell on the monster below.

I had never really seen one still before. Its arm was extended under a head cocked at an angle to look up at me. Its lips were curled up in a demonic snarl that exposed fangs and large teeth. It didn't even struggle anymore, it just looked at me and hissed. It let me know that it hated me. I turned and quickly made my way into the ventilation system. It wasn't long before I knew exactly where I was. I disappeared into the network of shafts, Pipeworks, and maze I knew a so well.

I have been all by myself for two weeks now. This tiny sub-compartment cradled in an entanglement of pipe and support strut beams of the environmental control system has become my home. The ventilation fan spins above me; the monsters keep their distance from its blades. The metal beams and large pipes keep me far out the reach from any monster's claws.

I only leave my haven to scavenge for food. The monsters rule the corridors and hallways, but I own the vents and shafts. That is my playground! That was where I used to play games like Monster Maze, and I was the best! The monsters are angry because I can fit into places they can't. I have every turn and corner memorized. I can get to anywhere in this complex and never be seen; not once.

My mommy used to tell me there were no monsters, no real monsters; but there are.

Epilogue

Zzttt " Second Squad, what's your status?" zzzttt.

Zzzttt "We've completed our sweep of Level Two; the area is secure. Proceeding onto Block D." zzzttt.

zzzttt "Roger that. Proceed on a two-one-niner. I want motion trackers on the ready. Remember, we're looking for civilians here" zzzzt

zzzttt "Roger that." zzzttt

Zzzttt "Movement!" Zzzttt.

 