Chapter 3
It was these memories that were fresh in Jack's mind when he woke up the next day. Memories that jolted him from half-awake drowsiness to adrenaline-fueled awareness. This jolt was so severe that logic not prevailing, he instinctively bolted upwards in some vain attempt to find his sister. Wherever she was, alive or dead. But while Jack processed these memories, he had yet to sift through the remaining events that had occurred when the werewolf had taken over. Fuzzy as they were. This is why he didn't notice the deep gash in his side until it produced a pain so sharp he buckled almost as soon as he stood up.
He would have fallen if it hadn't been for the large green hand that had caught him before his face could meet the muck. A green hand forcefully pushed Jack back to where he had been sleeping the night before. His wound throbbed with pain once more as he hit the bark of the tree he had been laying against with a dull thud.
While Jack appreciated the save, he could have done without the force which left him winded and gasping for breath. He laid there a few moments to calm down and let the pain dissipate, before he slowly opened his eyes, turning his head towards his saviour.
Jack was surprised to see two big red eyes staring down at him. Eyes that were attached to a being that appeared fairly humanoid, but was covered head to toe in various plant matter, bark, and algae. Tendrils of vines poured down its face and arms like a mop. But what Jack noticed the most was just how big the creature was. It was as large as a giant. A green giant. Jack laughed internally, which despite the situation caused a small smile to break across his face.
"So–uh…hi?" Jack tried to choke out. Coughing through his words. "I guess Florida has some monsters after all?"
The swamp creature let out a sigh. And it started to wander away.
"No wait!" Jack began to apologize. "I'm sorry if I said something wrong! I'm a monster too. Well sort of…is this a tarp?" Jack lifted the plastic covering his upper body. The creature just nodded as he-it? Glared at him.
"Okay, so you can understand me." The thing gave another nod. "Thank you, for catching me by the way. And for the tarp. My name's Jack, I'm– well I'm a werewolf."
"I know." It grumbled.
"Oh yes of course you know. I take it you found me after whatever happened that caused this?"
Jack gestured to his side. He tried not to move so much, the pain was still raw. The creature shook its head. Jack took that to mean no.
"What do you mean no? You found me didn't you?"
"I saw you before."
"Before what?"
The creature tilted its head in confusion before shaking it in an effort to clear its head. Or Jack presumed as such.
"You became a wolf. You attacked the girl. I stopped you."
"So she's okay–She is okay right?" Jack asked almost hesitantly. After a long pause, the creature gave another nod.
"She got away. Said you'd be fine in the morning."
Jack gave an audible gasp in relief. Tears almost reached his eyes.
"Gracias. Thank you. I don't know what I'd do if I'd–thank you." He had to take a couple deep breaths to come himself down again. He got so excited he almost reopened his wound. A wound he couldn't even remember getting. What did this? Jack thought back to the night before. After he had transformed, after his sister burst through the bushes, what happened? It was so hazy, all he remembered was green and red and lots of splashing.
Jack groaned as he turned to get a better look at his wound. Four or five deep cuts all across his torso, no longer bleeding, but still painful, with bruising purple and yellow all over. He looked back at the plant monster.
"Did I fight something last night?"
"Alligator."
"I see," Jack said plainly. "I guess that explains things… did you save me from that one too?"
It gave another nod.
"You make a pretty great werewolf babysitter."
Jack could have sworn he heard the creature stifle a laugh before they fell into comfortable silence once again.
It was the Man-Thing that spoke up first.
"How can you understand me?"
"I'm sorry," Jack said, confused. "What do you mean?"
"You can hear me. Understand my words. Most can't."
"Well it's a bit garbled but I can make out most of what you're saying. You're speaking English right?"
"Trying to." It grumbled.
"Is that weird? Me, understanding you?"
"I can't even understand me. It's all just… noise."
"Well, I have good ears. And I'm quite the polyglot. I can pick up a language like that." Jack snapped for effect. "Besides you're expressive enough as is, which is impressive considering I can't see most of your face. Sorry, was that rude?"
The Man-Thing just laughed.
"I don't know if you've noticed." Jack continued. "But I am a bit too talkative for my own good. By product of my lifestyle, I suppose."
The Man-Thing tilted his head once more in suspicion.
"I've had to talk myself out of a lot of situations." Jack began to explain. "I don't like to lie, but well, you've seen my mess." He gestured to himself. The creature nodded in response. He had to stop calling him that. Creature. It didn't fit the plant monster, it was obvious it was way more peaceful than it looked.
"Do you have a name?"
The creature fell silent.
"You don't have to respond if you don't want to. I've met a lot of beings who don't–"
"Ted."
"I'm sorry?"
"I would like to be called Ted."
Jack smiled.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Ted."
"You too." He grumbled.
And then Jack and Ted sat, talking about anything and everything they could for hours. They hardly noticed the time, however, as they were so enthralled in their conversation that they could care less about the time of day. Jack knew he should be leaving soon, to check on his sister, and prepare for the second of this month's full moons, but there was still one more thing he wanted to ask Ted before he departed.
"So Ted, tell me, your situation, is it mystical or biological?"
Ted gave a head tilt.
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well take me for example, I'm a werewolf because of a curse. My father– my blood father that is– messed around with the wrong type of dark magic and unfortunately, cursed our entire bloodline. So when I turned 19, first full moon, there it was. The wolf. All mystical and bizarre. Straight out of bedtime stories my tia used to keep me up with. But that's just one type of monster. Take the yeti, they're not cursed, they're just an animal imbued with magic. Same with the chupacabra. They're just like that. Cryptic. So where did you come from?"
Jack did a flourish with his hands for emphasis. Ted didn’t seem to appreciate the showmanship. Head hanging, deep in thought. Jack’s question was so simple but carried so much weight behind it.
"I don't know."
He finally said. Ted irradiated a wave of sadness, and Jack was instantly hit with a pang of guilt.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry, it's just, I've never met someone like you before."
"I think–I think I had a life. And I think I fell or crashed. I don't remember much."
"What do you remember?" Jack asked shyly.
Ted gave a sigh.
"Fear… I was afraid and then– and then something–someone– was afraid of me. Someone I think I loved."
"That's awful Ted. I'm so… I mean all I can say is I'm sorry."
The creature shrugged.
"I forget most days. Tomorrow I probably won't even remember you."
"What?" Jack exclaimed. "You can't forget me! Who else could back up my claim that I fought an alligator and lived?"
Ted gave a chuckle.
"It's not on purpose, it's just how I am. Every time I try to remember I feel… strange. Like I'd remember something I shouldn't."
"Shouldn't or won't?"
Ted looked away.
"Listen, Ted, I'm not an expert in these things, but I've been dealing with being a monster for a few years now. And in that time I've met a lot like us, and what I've learned is that every monster has a story. And every story has its good and its bad. And sometimes we forget for a reason. And sometimes we forget to try to avoid our mistakes. But in the end, what's important is that you try to be better, and move forward as best you can. Despite the circumstances."
"So what am I supposed to do? It's not like I can do anything. How am I supposed to be better?"
"Well– you saved me, didn't you? And my sister. I'd say that's a pretty good start."
"I suppose." The creature begrudgingly agreed.
"And you can help in lots of other ways too! I mean– What do you actually do around here anyways? Do you talk to anyone? See anything?"
Ted shrugged.
“Not really. Just sort of guard my turf. No one ever comes around.”
"Well that's your problem! Even monsters go crazy if they don't talk to anyone for a while. You just need to get out there more. Do things. Talk to people."
"Who am I supposed to talk to? No one stays for long. None who aren’t afraid. No one except you."
Jack thought for a minute.
"I could stop by to say hi every few months. As far as I can tell this place isn't so dangerous to keep out of my circuit of safe houses. Not to mention, I wasn’t lying, you made a pretty great babysitter, and could do a good job letting him roam for a bit… that is if the wolf has learned its lesson against fighting gators."
“You’d really do that?”
“Absolutely! You seem like a pretty great guy Ted, and besides, us monsters need to stick together. I’ve been trying to see if I can make a network, a support group if you will, but it's slow going.”
“Support group?”
“Yeah!” Jack said excitedly. “I’ve traveled all over North and South America the last few years. I was planning on heading to Europe one day as well, and for every blood-sucking monster who lives up to their namesake there’s usually at least one or two of us just trying to get by. I’ve got a few phone numbers, a few mailing addresses, a lot of them are secluded but I figure if we can make it work it could really help a lot of us. Especially in case of an emergency.”
“Emergency? What type of emergency?”
Ted asked innocently.
“Well…” Jack began. “You haven’t run into any hunters yet have you?”
“Hunters?”
“People who despise our kind. Overly benevolent magic users, game hunters, puritans– all united under the same goal.”
“Which is?”
“To kill as many monsters as they can. Even the ones who are trying to lay low. Who don’t mean any harm.”
“Sounds awful.”
“It is.”
An awkward silence fell between them once more.
“You want to talk about it?”
Another smile broke out on Jack’s face. He couldn’t help it. Ted just seemed so kind, so not what his form suggested him to be.
“I’ve never told anyone else… but I suppose– I should. Therapy? Right?” He took a deep breath and began to tell his tale of woe.