A Monster Vs. The World
Nov 28, 2015 19:53:34 GMT -5
Post by Rider on Nov 28, 2015 19:53:34 GMT -5
There was a light knock on the door. The small figure that entered brought with it a draft from the outside, the knock more a curtesy than a request. The air that rolled in was crisp and cool, a sure sign of autumn’s arrival. The motel was rundown and dingy, but the heat provided was a step up from the usual dwellings of Elmont DuLong. The giant was used to sleeping in a small tent outside, so anything with electricity was a welcome relief. As he finished tying his massive boots his dark black eyes looked up at the figure.
“Remy.” The voice was like a distant roll of thunder, deep and powerful. It matched the monster perfectly.
Elmont DuLong had always been called a monster. From his very first breath. It was a word that had shaped his very existence. The doctor who had been present at his birth had cursed and run from the room crying, screaming that the devil himself had just been delivered. His noseless face and large mouth full of pointed teeth, as well as his massive stature and the long claws on each of his hands did much to help him look the part of a monster. It was his eyes however, that most found the most disturbing. They were pupil-less like a sharks, and seemed to somehow look through you.
“Hello Elmont. Are you ready for today’s show? I was sent to fetch you.” The young man asked. Despite the monster in front of him the boy, just a child of nine, he seemed to feel no fear. The giant nodded in response to the question and rose to his full height, towering to six foot ten inches. He grabbed three long lengths of chain from the side-table and wrapped two around his forearms, then put the other around his neck. They were the last traces of his parents, the chains they had used to bind their monster before they threw him in the river. He did not hate them for it, but kept the chains as a reminder of how the world could be.
“I am ready.”
The only choice for Elmont for a career had been to be a circus freak. Not that he really had ever been given another option. No school would accept him due to fear and his being what so many had called “a disturbing presence.” And so what little education he had was from those kind enough to teach him at the circus.
A professor in biology visiting the circus had been fascinated by the hulking creature and had taken time to study him. He had determined that Elmont had what equated to an eighth grade education. It had not affected his life in a very significant way, for as soon as the circus had found him at seventeen they had never let him go. For years he had been a marvelous draw for them, but the day of the circus seemed to be over. Even despite the allure of “The monster” ticket sales were growing fewer and fewer. His prodigious strength, lifting small cars, and pain tolerance, being pressed with hot pokers unflinchingly to the delight of the audience, could not bring the crowds they once had.
Perhaps it was the fact that so many of the crowds had left terrified of him. Fear seemed to radiate from him as though he himself was putting something in the air. They never left happy, but they always left interested. And questioning their beliefs.
Still they managed to get by.
Elmont followed the small boy from the motel room and down the stairs. The massive yellow and red circus tent was positioned not far from the motel. The giant followed the youth down the steps and into the parking lot.
That’s when he noticed the jeep baring down on them. It did not stop but plowed over the curb and directly towards them. With one hand he grabbed the child and put him on his shoulder, and then dove out of the way. The giant’s face contorted into one of rage. Who in the world would dare to try and run both he and the child over. The car smashed into one of the pillars holding the second floor of the motel up. Elmont put Remy down and stalked over to the car, both to see if the driver was alright and to give him a piece of his mind. He would not hurt the person, a talking-to from the monster would be enough to set them straight.
The driver’s head was pressed against the deployed airbag and blood was forming around it. Elmont reached down and wrenched the door open.
“Elmont… what’s going on?” Remy’s small concerned voice nearly startled the massive man.
“You don’t want to look kid.” With that he bent over and pulled the man’s head back to check if he was dead.
It lunged at him, but the seatbelt restrained the creature. Elmont stumbled backwards, confused and frightened, an unusual feeling for him. Despite the visible open wound on the creature’s head, and the chunk seemingly tore from its neck, the person appeared to be alive.
“Elmont…” The concerned voice of the child grabbed the giant’s attention and he spun. Baring down on the two was a crowd of familiar people. Circus freaks. Friends. Their manner however, was far from friendly. Gnashing teeth and outstretched hands reached for the duo.
“What the hell happened to the world? Is this a dream?”
“Uhhh Elmont.” Remy backed up and grabbed onto the giants leg for protection. The group was picking up speed as more stepped from the motel to investigate the crash. In one swift action Elmont picked up Remy and took off running.
“What’s happening?” The scared voice of the child over his shoulder called out. Elmont looked back in time to see those from the circus reach the front of the motel. The onlookers were either too stunned or too stupid to run. A massive hand covered the young boy’s eyes. People eating people was not something that he needed to see.
The monster didn’t know where they were going, but he knew danger when he saw it. Life had prepared him for that.
“I don’t know kid, but I don’t think we’re going back to the circus. I don’t think there’s anything to go back to.”
“We have to!” Remy suddenly cried out in despair. Though an orphan, Remy’s family had been the circus, just like they had been Elmont’s. A dysfunctional, terrifying, close-knit family. Elmont knew what Remy really cared about though, his best friend the miniature elephant Eunice.
“Elmont… please?” Remy’s voice was filled with despair and sadness. The giant heaved a sigh and turned around. The crowd was still there, but there seemed to be an open path between them and the circus tent.
“Fine, but don’t say I never did anything for you.” The youth hugged him all the tighter as the monster took off running towards the tent. The motion drew the attention of some in the crowd, though they seemed to be busy enjoying their “feast”. It was nearly enough to bring up the contents of Elmont’s stomach, but he resisted the urge and kept his feet moving under him. Though he was not the quickest due to his massive stature and frame he still moved with surprising speed, for his size. A hard life on the road and constant lifting of heavy objects had kept him in great form.
When they arrived at the tent Elmont did not slow, but busted through the flaps. It was empty and uncharacteristically quiet. Where normally would have been cheery conversation and an overwhelming feeling of comradery was instead… silence. A very heavy silence. Elmont let Remy down, ordering him to stay near, and picked up a sledgehammer used to drive tent stakes into the ground. Whatever those things outside were, they were no longer the people he once knew. His people. His family. They were gone. In the decades he had known them, they had never once eaten people. Outside they were feasting on those in the motel.
“EUNICE!?” Remy cried out and Elmont let out a hiss, startling the young boy.
“You don’t want those things to hear you.” The monster warned. Remy’s eyes met his once again.
“What happened to everyone? What are those things… why were our friends eating people?”
“I didn’t want you to see that.”
Suddenly a low groan sounded just outside the tent flap. Elmont brought a long, clawed finger to his lips, and Remy nodded. The youth’s eyes were filled with fear. The flap rustled and Elmont readied the sledgehammer.
“Have you ever killed anything before?” Elmont was taken aback by the question. Remy had never asked, and he had never offered. His past growing up was a mystery to most in the circus, and the monster preferred it that way.
“Only in self-defense.” Somehow he didn’t think that it comforted the boy.
The tent flap finally moved to reveal the grotesque figure of Bertha, the blushing bearded bride. Dark red grime covered her beard, and chunks of her shoulders had been somehow removed, though she still stood. Her eyes were lifeless, and with an open and snapping jaw she scanned the room. Her eyes fell on them and the creature appeared confused at the sight of Elmont.
“Bertha…?” As he hesitantly asked the question her eyes fell on Remy and she lurched forwards, though the motion looked as if she was pulled backwards at the same time. Elmont did not hesitate, but smashed her head from her torso with the sledgehammer.
A distressed trumpeting sounded not far and Remy took off running. Elmont swore loudly and took off after him in the direction of the noise. He busted through the tent wall and out into the fresh air.
“ELMONT!” Remy distressed voice called out and Elmont ran to the back of the tent. Surrounding Eunice’s pen/truck was a handful of… things. Remy had somehow climbed to the top, and though they were reaching up for him.
“HEY!” The giant roared, and the things turn to shift their attention. His grip with one hand became white-knuckled tight on the sledge. They began to shuffle slowly towards him. From around his neck he pulled the thick length of chain, and held the sledgehammer in the other hand. Suddenly the chain lashed out and caught one of the creatures between the eyes. It groaned and slumped forwards, it laid on the ground and moved no longer. The others charged and Elmont roared in defiance, his fury taking over his concern for safety.
One of the creature’s surged forwards and Elmont’s fist shot out, the head of the sledge catching the creature full on in the face and filling the air with a sickening crunch. The monster brought up one of the lengths of chain just in time for another creature’s teeth to crunch uselessly against them. Another sledgehammer strike and once more they were alone. Elmont walked over and grabbed Remy from the top of the mobile cage. With one hand he opened the driver-side door to the vehicle and opened it, and with the other shoved the small child inside. He quickly followed in after him. It was a tight fit but Elmont found he could manage.
“Can you drive?”
“Uhhh… yeah.” It was a lie, but how hard could it be? The key turned and the engine mercifully roared to life. From the back Eunice let out a warning trumpet. Elmont looked in the side-view mirror and noticed more… things. His foot pressed down on the gas and the vehicle surged forwards. They ran over debris on the way forwards, but Elmont’s only though was getting the hell out of there.
“Don’t you ever run off on me again like that.” Elmont’s tone was deadly serious. Without him, the boy would not last long in this new world they found themselves in. Remy nodded wordlessly.
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. Someplace safe. Hopefully.”
“Remy.” The voice was like a distant roll of thunder, deep and powerful. It matched the monster perfectly.
Elmont DuLong had always been called a monster. From his very first breath. It was a word that had shaped his very existence. The doctor who had been present at his birth had cursed and run from the room crying, screaming that the devil himself had just been delivered. His noseless face and large mouth full of pointed teeth, as well as his massive stature and the long claws on each of his hands did much to help him look the part of a monster. It was his eyes however, that most found the most disturbing. They were pupil-less like a sharks, and seemed to somehow look through you.
“Hello Elmont. Are you ready for today’s show? I was sent to fetch you.” The young man asked. Despite the monster in front of him the boy, just a child of nine, he seemed to feel no fear. The giant nodded in response to the question and rose to his full height, towering to six foot ten inches. He grabbed three long lengths of chain from the side-table and wrapped two around his forearms, then put the other around his neck. They were the last traces of his parents, the chains they had used to bind their monster before they threw him in the river. He did not hate them for it, but kept the chains as a reminder of how the world could be.
“I am ready.”
The only choice for Elmont for a career had been to be a circus freak. Not that he really had ever been given another option. No school would accept him due to fear and his being what so many had called “a disturbing presence.” And so what little education he had was from those kind enough to teach him at the circus.
A professor in biology visiting the circus had been fascinated by the hulking creature and had taken time to study him. He had determined that Elmont had what equated to an eighth grade education. It had not affected his life in a very significant way, for as soon as the circus had found him at seventeen they had never let him go. For years he had been a marvelous draw for them, but the day of the circus seemed to be over. Even despite the allure of “The monster” ticket sales were growing fewer and fewer. His prodigious strength, lifting small cars, and pain tolerance, being pressed with hot pokers unflinchingly to the delight of the audience, could not bring the crowds they once had.
Perhaps it was the fact that so many of the crowds had left terrified of him. Fear seemed to radiate from him as though he himself was putting something in the air. They never left happy, but they always left interested. And questioning their beliefs.
Still they managed to get by.
Elmont followed the small boy from the motel room and down the stairs. The massive yellow and red circus tent was positioned not far from the motel. The giant followed the youth down the steps and into the parking lot.
That’s when he noticed the jeep baring down on them. It did not stop but plowed over the curb and directly towards them. With one hand he grabbed the child and put him on his shoulder, and then dove out of the way. The giant’s face contorted into one of rage. Who in the world would dare to try and run both he and the child over. The car smashed into one of the pillars holding the second floor of the motel up. Elmont put Remy down and stalked over to the car, both to see if the driver was alright and to give him a piece of his mind. He would not hurt the person, a talking-to from the monster would be enough to set them straight.
The driver’s head was pressed against the deployed airbag and blood was forming around it. Elmont reached down and wrenched the door open.
“Elmont… what’s going on?” Remy’s small concerned voice nearly startled the massive man.
“You don’t want to look kid.” With that he bent over and pulled the man’s head back to check if he was dead.
It lunged at him, but the seatbelt restrained the creature. Elmont stumbled backwards, confused and frightened, an unusual feeling for him. Despite the visible open wound on the creature’s head, and the chunk seemingly tore from its neck, the person appeared to be alive.
“Elmont…” The concerned voice of the child grabbed the giant’s attention and he spun. Baring down on the two was a crowd of familiar people. Circus freaks. Friends. Their manner however, was far from friendly. Gnashing teeth and outstretched hands reached for the duo.
“What the hell happened to the world? Is this a dream?”
“Uhhh Elmont.” Remy backed up and grabbed onto the giants leg for protection. The group was picking up speed as more stepped from the motel to investigate the crash. In one swift action Elmont picked up Remy and took off running.
“What’s happening?” The scared voice of the child over his shoulder called out. Elmont looked back in time to see those from the circus reach the front of the motel. The onlookers were either too stunned or too stupid to run. A massive hand covered the young boy’s eyes. People eating people was not something that he needed to see.
The monster didn’t know where they were going, but he knew danger when he saw it. Life had prepared him for that.
“I don’t know kid, but I don’t think we’re going back to the circus. I don’t think there’s anything to go back to.”
“We have to!” Remy suddenly cried out in despair. Though an orphan, Remy’s family had been the circus, just like they had been Elmont’s. A dysfunctional, terrifying, close-knit family. Elmont knew what Remy really cared about though, his best friend the miniature elephant Eunice.
“Elmont… please?” Remy’s voice was filled with despair and sadness. The giant heaved a sigh and turned around. The crowd was still there, but there seemed to be an open path between them and the circus tent.
“Fine, but don’t say I never did anything for you.” The youth hugged him all the tighter as the monster took off running towards the tent. The motion drew the attention of some in the crowd, though they seemed to be busy enjoying their “feast”. It was nearly enough to bring up the contents of Elmont’s stomach, but he resisted the urge and kept his feet moving under him. Though he was not the quickest due to his massive stature and frame he still moved with surprising speed, for his size. A hard life on the road and constant lifting of heavy objects had kept him in great form.
When they arrived at the tent Elmont did not slow, but busted through the flaps. It was empty and uncharacteristically quiet. Where normally would have been cheery conversation and an overwhelming feeling of comradery was instead… silence. A very heavy silence. Elmont let Remy down, ordering him to stay near, and picked up a sledgehammer used to drive tent stakes into the ground. Whatever those things outside were, they were no longer the people he once knew. His people. His family. They were gone. In the decades he had known them, they had never once eaten people. Outside they were feasting on those in the motel.
“EUNICE!?” Remy cried out and Elmont let out a hiss, startling the young boy.
“You don’t want those things to hear you.” The monster warned. Remy’s eyes met his once again.
“What happened to everyone? What are those things… why were our friends eating people?”
“I didn’t want you to see that.”
Suddenly a low groan sounded just outside the tent flap. Elmont brought a long, clawed finger to his lips, and Remy nodded. The youth’s eyes were filled with fear. The flap rustled and Elmont readied the sledgehammer.
“Have you ever killed anything before?” Elmont was taken aback by the question. Remy had never asked, and he had never offered. His past growing up was a mystery to most in the circus, and the monster preferred it that way.
“Only in self-defense.” Somehow he didn’t think that it comforted the boy.
The tent flap finally moved to reveal the grotesque figure of Bertha, the blushing bearded bride. Dark red grime covered her beard, and chunks of her shoulders had been somehow removed, though she still stood. Her eyes were lifeless, and with an open and snapping jaw she scanned the room. Her eyes fell on them and the creature appeared confused at the sight of Elmont.
“Bertha…?” As he hesitantly asked the question her eyes fell on Remy and she lurched forwards, though the motion looked as if she was pulled backwards at the same time. Elmont did not hesitate, but smashed her head from her torso with the sledgehammer.
A distressed trumpeting sounded not far and Remy took off running. Elmont swore loudly and took off after him in the direction of the noise. He busted through the tent wall and out into the fresh air.
“ELMONT!” Remy distressed voice called out and Elmont ran to the back of the tent. Surrounding Eunice’s pen/truck was a handful of… things. Remy had somehow climbed to the top, and though they were reaching up for him.
“HEY!” The giant roared, and the things turn to shift their attention. His grip with one hand became white-knuckled tight on the sledge. They began to shuffle slowly towards him. From around his neck he pulled the thick length of chain, and held the sledgehammer in the other hand. Suddenly the chain lashed out and caught one of the creatures between the eyes. It groaned and slumped forwards, it laid on the ground and moved no longer. The others charged and Elmont roared in defiance, his fury taking over his concern for safety.
One of the creature’s surged forwards and Elmont’s fist shot out, the head of the sledge catching the creature full on in the face and filling the air with a sickening crunch. The monster brought up one of the lengths of chain just in time for another creature’s teeth to crunch uselessly against them. Another sledgehammer strike and once more they were alone. Elmont walked over and grabbed Remy from the top of the mobile cage. With one hand he opened the driver-side door to the vehicle and opened it, and with the other shoved the small child inside. He quickly followed in after him. It was a tight fit but Elmont found he could manage.
“Can you drive?”
“Uhhh… yeah.” It was a lie, but how hard could it be? The key turned and the engine mercifully roared to life. From the back Eunice let out a warning trumpet. Elmont looked in the side-view mirror and noticed more… things. His foot pressed down on the gas and the vehicle surged forwards. They ran over debris on the way forwards, but Elmont’s only though was getting the hell out of there.
“Don’t you ever run off on me again like that.” Elmont’s tone was deadly serious. Without him, the boy would not last long in this new world they found themselves in. Remy nodded wordlessly.
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know. Someplace safe. Hopefully.”