By: Kerat Kaur Jhaj
Today’s post is a short story by Kerat Kaur Jhai, author of the fantasy novel, Himagus.
Converting Monster
You know how the nights are, don’t you?
When you’re in bed and it either gets too hot or it gets too cold, but nothing you do helps? Yeah, those are the nights, and they absolutely suck. In an attempt to get comfortable, you lazily stick your arms and legs out from under the blankets, dangling them off the bed, unaware of what is to come. Unaware of what is out to get you.
Have you forgotten about the monsters that hide under your bed?
Now, this may surprise you, but you know who the monster is. I am that monster. I don’t remain a tiny thing, ready to be crushed under your feet. You see, all the female bugs need moonlight the few days we bleed. Those who are living in the outside world, not trapped in these human houses, are free and lucky. Under the moonlight they don’t become giants and can rest away the night.
However, if you humans somehow learn about us, God only knows what you’ll do in response.
So, I hide under your bed, hoping you won’t spot me. And my friend Garry, a cockroach scuttles across.
There is only one problem. I am God’s creature and therefore would never hurt his living beings, no matter how corrupted by the devil they are. But these days, cravings are bad; I crave meat…
Again, the human sticks out its leg. It’s within reach; I could snatch it right off from where I am now. Or, I could hunt my prey, stalking it until I finally got a bite. Maybe though, I should just eat the leg and leave the rest alone – why be greedy?
With a gulp, I shut my eyes. I can’t let my hunger get the best of me. I have to hold off. Taking a slow, deep breath, I open my eyes, only to see the flesh remain in front of my eyes. It continues to tempt me. Well, maybe one bite wouldn’t hurt. I go to snip at the meat, but stop myself in my tracks: No. Not yet. Not right now. I have to control myself.
The door creaks open, footsteps hurrying inside.
I watch as the feet anxiously walk around the bed, the human on top of it shifting with a small groan. Everything is quiet for a moment before a scream pierces the air, causing the human to wake with a jolt.
“Cockroach!”
“Wai- what? What are you doing in my room in the middle of the night?” the human groaned, rubbing at his eyes.
“We have to leave now, the Odoville Dam broke again, evacuation orders,” she spoke anxiously. She mostly seemed scared of Garry rather than the braking dam, a cockroach, though I’m not sure why my friend is still here.
“Ew, there’s a cockroach on your floor. Your room is so gross.” she said.
“It’s just a cockroach!” Now awake, he put on his shoes and crunched Garry. Why had I failed to notice what was to come?
I snap open my eyes, my nostrils flaring. Both the humans heard my noise from under the bed.
“You don’t hurt God’s creature!” and then I launch at them. I start to tear them apart, leaving nothing but scraps. I lick their blood off the floor as dawn approaches, the sun’s rays starting to shine through the window. As I turned back into my regular size, I took one last look at the carnage, a satisfied smirk crossing my lips before I turned and flew out the window.
About Kerat Jhai
Kerat Jhaj the author of Himagus and short story “Converting Monster” loves singing and drawing. She debuted her novel when she was 16. The story goes it was her freshman year in high school, and every day they were told to write something in their journal.
One day, their teacher gave them a fiction prompt: “As I appeared from vague fog, I saw the creature, coming towards me.” She loved whatever short story she wrote that day and wanted to turn it into a full novel.
Now, she’s 17, ready to graduate, and working on the sequel. She’s a big fan of pop music and has been a bookworm for as long as she can remember. Her goal is to get good at her craft of writing and give stories that will make a place in her readers’ heart.
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