Disclaimer: Not my artwork. Just used for inspiration. However, this is my edit. Also, if you want to read more of my Monster Boyfriend series, the masterlist is HERE.
Ahhhh….nature.
The sounds of birds tweeted from their place in the trees.
Leaves rustling in the light breeze.
The crackle from the fire I’d built.
The slight drip drop from a sprinkle of rain hitting the creek.
I needed this.
I needed time away.
From the city.
From work.
From everyone.
Fuck…I guess I just needed time away from my life.
My life wasn’t bad, I suppose.
I was quite lucky in a lot of ways.
I had a nice family- nice enough anyway.
We’re all the normal brand of weird and argumentative that all families are, I guess.
I actually had a decent paying job.
I can’t say that I love or anything but I don’t hate it and it pays the bills.
So really, I was quite lucky…I just got tired of it all, I guess.
But nature?
The woods.
That had always calmed me.
Made me settled in a way that I’d never be able to understand.
Growing up, I was the kid who’d get off the bus from school, do my chores and homework and then just be gone until after dark.
I remember more than once a neighbor came looking for me when I didn’t come back when the street lights came on.
I got many ass whoopins because of it as well but oh well.
I had cousins who wouldn’t dare venture into the woods and I had no issue with it.
I knew this place like the back of my hand.
And because I knew it like I did…I knew what else lurked in the woods.
The were olds legends around my hometown.
“Urban myths” they called them.
Shadow creatures.
“They’re not real.” my cousin had stressed to me one day when I came home raving that I’d seen one. “You just let your imagination get away you again. It’s just a story Aunt Lottie tells everybody so they’ll come back home before dark.”
My cousin had never spent very much time in the woods though and he didn’t know.
Shadow creatures were real and for a while after that…it had been the stuff of my nightmares.
I’d slept with the lights on, damn near drove everyone in the house insane.
Then one day, when I’d spent the night with my Aunt and Uncle while my family was away, Uncle Louis insisted that the lights be turned off.
“You’re wasting electricity, youngin’.” he had said.
You also have to understand that Uncle Louis was twenty when my father was born.
A.K.A. He was a crotchety old bastard most of the time.
Aunt Patty, bless her soul, she took pity on me and gave me a small candle when Uncle Louis went to bed.
She sat on the bed with me for a moment, “Listen, you’re not to tell him or your mother about this…but I believe you about the shadows people.”
I remember I shot up out of that bed and in her face.
“You do?!” I had asked.
She laughed quietly.
“Yes and if you’ll be quiet, once he’s asleep, I’ll introduce you to one.” she said.
Now, I reeled away from her at that.
Dived down into the covers and shook my head with fear in my eyes.
Granted…I’d only been seven at the time.
“Good lord, child.” Patty had said. "Relax. You’re more danger to yourself than they are. You damn near scared the hell out of little Gus the other day. Though he did mention how much he seemed to like you. Seems you bewitched the boy already.“
“I don’t wanna.” I had said.
She rolled her eyes with an exasperated smile, “Child, why do you think I insisted you stay with us this weekend instead of going with your family to that baseball game?”
“Cause I got in trouble at school.” I had said.
That had been true of course but not the reason Patty had insisted.
“No, dear.” she laughed. “You’ve been talking up one side of the hill and down the other about shadow people. It’s clear you’re scared to death. I wanted to show you otherwise.”
She stopped talking for a moment and listened.
Eventually, the sound of Uncle Louis’ truck started up and she rolled her eyes.
The tell tale signs that he was headed into town for the bar.
Likely, he’d stay there all night and we wouldn’t see him until noon the next day.
Patty had learned just not to care a long time ago.
She’d married a man 24 years her senior just to make ends meet and now lived a comfortable life because of it.
He was a cranky old coot but never mean.
Anyway, she had handed me my slippers and rushed me out of bed before extending a hand.
“Come on, child.” she had said and basically dragged me from the room and towards the kitchen.
I was then handed a little tray while she packaged up leftovers from supper.
I assumed she was putting them away but instead she placed them on the tray and opened the door to the basement.
Of course, my little seven year old self had no intentions of going into that basement.
It was dark and I couldn’t even see to the bottom.
What if there was something down there?
There was no way that I was goin-
“Get to stepping, child.” she said and promptly took me by the shoulder and guided my little ass into motion.
Hell, I remember I was shaking so hard that I nearly dropped the plate.
“It’s just me and the little one.” Patty said. "Come on out now. I’ve brought left overs and I’ve fixed that hold in your skirt, Georgetta.“
At that moment, wind rushed past my face and I had dropped the tray.
But I never hit the ground.
It simply began to move back up and then a small head full of dark hair and glowing eyes appeared in front of me.
I screamed.
I’ll admit it.
I was worse than a banshee.
He disappeared and the tray clanged to the floor.
"Hush now!” Patty admonished me and picked up the tray before holding it out.
Suddenly a woman stepped forward.
She was a deep charcoal gray color with shining eyes and long thick braids that seem to whisp and flickers in the dim light of the candle.
“Sorry, Georgetta. I didn’t I brought a screaming demon with me.” she said sliding a look in my direction.
“Georgetta” laughed, a deep and smoky but pleasant sound.
“It’s alright.” she said. “I fear you scared the hair right off of Gus though. Come on, Gus! Come out and say hello.”
“I wasn’t trying to scare no body.” I managed to whispered. “I just…I just….shadow people. Aunt Lottie said shadow people got people who didn’t listen.”
“Aunt Lottie is two biscuits short the gravy.” Patty rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to Aunt Lottie or you’ll end up dumber than a sack of hammers.”
“I’m sorry, Gus.” I had said. “I didn’t mean to scream at you. Please, please come out.” I said and I even introduced myself.
I hadn’t gotten much of a response but I did see two luminous eyes peek up at me over the back of the couch and a mop of messy dark hair.
That had all been years ago and while I’d spent many more nights in that basement playing with Gus while Aunt Patty and Georgetta socialized…things had tapered off between us long ago.
Uncle Louis died and Aunt Patty spent her time going back and forth to her sister’s house who lived a couple of states away.
I grew older and had to deal with the troubles of adulthood.
The last time I went back to that house was a couple of Christmas’ ago to help Aunt Patty do a bunch of cleaning and a huge yard sale.
I remember I set in that basement forever and waited on someone but no one ever came out.
There had been a sadness in my soul after that.
I felt like I’d lost an old friend.
Perhaps, that’s why I came out to these woods.
Maybe it was some kind of long shot hoping I’d see them again.
I shook my head as I stared into the fire and roasted the marshmallow a bit more before pulling it off.
Of course, because I had no chill it was hot as the devil’s breath and burned my fingers.
I dropped it and full expected it to hit the dirt and be sacrificed to the ants….but it didn’t.
I hovered for just a second before dark, grey shadowy hand held it up to me.
Shadow people.
“Thank you.” I whispered as I took it.
It reached up and caressed my cheek for just a moment.
Thumb rubbing over the soft flesh there.
Almost asking for permission.
“Can I see you?” I said aloud.
The arm vanished into thin air and my head dropped in sadness…already convincing myself that I’d dreamt it up.
Until.
Sinewy arms wrapped around my soft waist and pulled me back into a chest.
Someone’s face pressed into the side of my neck and whisper of a kiss was placed behind my ear.
“I thought I’d never see you again.” a voice said. "You didn’t answer me last time. You looked right at me and you didn’t even seem to see me.“
"Gus?” I whispered, my heart clenching in my chest and I tried to turn in his arms. "Is that you?“
"Don’t move.” he said. “I’m afraid if I let you go, you’ll vanish.”
“Me?!” I laughed. “You’re the one who can vanish into thin air!”
“Just stay.” he said holding onto me tighter.
“Let me see you.” I insisted. "I haven’t even laid eyes on your since I was still in high school.“
He loosened his grip just enough for me to turn to look at him and I gasped.
He was still Gus.
I would recognize those wide, bright eyes from my childhood anyway.
He still looked like the lanky teen of my high school years , just older.
Still a mop of hair and that mischevious twinkle to him.
Just older and a man now.
Scruff on his face and he was just bigger in frame than he used to be.
"You basically look the same.” I told him. “A little harrier, but still Gus.”
He leaned forward and laid his forehead against mine.
“I was so worried. You didn’t recognize me before.” he said.
“When?” I asked.
“A couple years back. Christmas time. You were cleaning things out for Patty. You sat there the basement all night. It fucking killed me to see you cry like that. You kept calling out to me and Ma. I tried to answer you but you couldn’t hear me. I tried to touch you but there was this forcefield around you. You looked right at me but I knew you couldn’t see me. I was terrified that that was it. I thought I’d never be able to talk to you again. I’ve been trying to communicate with you constantly since then.” He said, a dark glimmering black tear escaping his luminous eyes and sliding down his charcoal gray cheek.
I wiped it instantly and held his face.
His eyes closed almost painfully and he leaned into my touch.
“Oh god, it feels so good to be able to touch you. To have you see me.” he said, tears forming thickly in his throat. "Please, for the love of god, don’t leave me like this again. I can’t…I can’t do it again.“
"Gus, I’m sorry.” I said holding him close. “I don’t know what I did. I didn’t mean to. I would never-”
“I know.” he said winding his arms around me tightly. “I know. You just did what you were suppose to do. You lived your life and I was ok with that. I knew you’d come back but then when you did….it was like…you didn’t believe in me anymore. I thought that was why you couldn’t see me anymore. That what my gran used to say. When humans stopped believing in us, they stop seeing us. And then if they forget us…forget the memory of us…we vanish from them completely. I thought…I thought maybe. ”
“Gus!” I gasped. “I’m so sorry!”
I held onto him for dear life.
“I never meant for that to happen!” I said, tears streaming down my own face. “I guess, I just got so caught up in the city that my memories took a back seat. But I promise, I would never do that on purpose! I love you and I remember everything we’ve had together! You’re my best friend!”
“I love you too.” he said. “Please, please don’t forget me again. Please.”
“I was just thinking about you.” I said. “Thinking about the first time I met you.”
Gus was almost desperate in the way he held me as if he truly believed I’d disappear if he let me go.
“I swear, I’ll leave notes. I’ll do whatever you want. Just….don’t forget me.” he said.
I laid us down on the blanket spread out on the earth and pulled him to my chest.
I carded my fingers through his hair.
“Never Gus.” I said. “I remember how you caught my tray the first time we met. I remember how you scared Sarah Williams when she tried to bully me. I remember how when Daniel McHill tried to kiss me, you took care of it. You could never vanish from my memory.”
“That guy you dated.” he said. “Whatever his name was. The one that hit you a couple of times.”
I bristled a little at the mention of the ex.
“I tried so hard to talk to you afterwards. To make it better. To step in. You just…couldn’t see me. You couldn’t hear me.” he said. “Since you can hear me now, I want you to know, that I took care of that. That’s why he left you. It’s not because you weren’t good enough, despite what he told you. I made him do it because I told him I’d make him suffer if he didn’t leave you alone.” he said.
I froze and looked down at him to find him already staring at me.
“Are you the reason he’s dead?” I asked.
“Yes.” he said without hesitation. "He got drunk and headed for your apartment. I appeared before him and he had collision with the lightpole. I don’t want you to think I’m a murderer. It was actually an accident. I didn’t mean for him to die.“ he said before sliding up and looking me dead in the eye. "But you need to know that I will do anything to protect you. Even if that means killing someone. I didn’t mean for it to turn out that way that night….but if he pressed me on it…I’d have had no issues ending him there.”
“Gus…” I breathed out, tears welling in my eyes.
He seemed to break in intensity a little.
“Please don’t be afraid of me.” he begged. “Not you. Never you. I tried to tell you so many times. Moved things around your home. Just trying to get your attention. Something to let you know that you weren’t alone. Something to let you know that I was there and I’d protect you.”
“I always thought I had some kind of a guardian angel watching over me.” I said aloud. “Maybe a ghost.”
Gus chuckled a little.
I’d always been spooked by things like that.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” he said. “I know I kinda freaked you out sometimes. I was just so desperate. It’s torture to be with the one person you know completes you…and not be able to talk with them. I’m too scared to let go of you now. What if you disappear?”
“We can’t stay attached forever.” I told him.
“Yes, we can. I can make it work.” he said.
“Gus.” I said pointedly. “I know you’re here now. If something goes wrong-” I said and he just held me tighter, “If something goes wrong, I know. And I won’t stop until I find a way to fix it.”
“On the count of three.” I said and he gave a swift nod.
“One. Two. Three.”
He finally let me go for a second.
We looked around.
“Still here?” I asked.
“You can’t see me?!” he panicked.
“No, baby.” I laughed. “I can see you. I’m just doing a check so to speak.”
His hand clutched his chest.
“Don’t. do. that.” he said and then glanced up when the rain began to pick up. “Come on. Before you get soaked.”
The rain came down in sheets and doused the fire.
I turned around, “Come on, let’s get in the car until it lets up.”
But he was no where to be seen.
“Gus?” I called out. “Gus?!”
“No!” I snapped. “Not again!”
“Ssssh, it’s ok. It’s ok.” I heard a voice say and I was wrapped in his arms again. “I’m here. I’m here.”
“I can’t see you.” I panicked and my hands jutted out to trance every invisible inch of him.
“But you can hear me and you can feel me.” he said. “It’s ok. I’m here. I’m not leaving. Let’s get you in the car before you get sick.”
I had a death grip on him the whole time, making getting in the car harder.
I shouldn’t have been since he could vanish and reappear but I was so afraid to let go in that moment that I refused.
“I’m sorry.” I said. “It’s probably my fault. I shouldn’t have tested it. I promise I never would have-”
It was so strange, to be pulled into him and not be able to see him.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” he said. “I’m right here.”
We stayed like that for quite some time.
Invisible arms holding me against him as the rain beat against the roof of my car.
I watched one of the rocks from my fire pit slide off into the creek and then I gasped.
Shot up like a bat out of hell.
“Ow!” Gus moaned. “My nose!”
“The fire!” I said.
“Yeah, it feels like it’s on fire! Jesus christ. Why did you do that?” he asked.
“No, Gus! It’s the flame! The flame!” I said.
“What?” He asked.
“Gus, it’s the flame! I’m so stupid! The flame!” I said. “The first time I saw shadow people in the woods was when I’d been out there as a kid. I’d been dicking around with some matches.”
“Why did you have matches when you were seven?” he cut in.
“You’re missing the point!” I snapped. “Then the first time I saw you I had a candle! Patty gave it to me! Every time we played together as child, there were candles! I knew it was fucking weird that Patty agreed with Louis when he said he wouldn’t put electricity down there! That’s why! I took a fucking flashlight with me when I helped clean that day! No flame!”
“That still doesn’t explain the rest of the time.” Gus said. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for years and I know at least one place you lived in, had a fireplace.”
“Never worked.” I said. "And the land lord refused to fix it. We had central heating.“
"Surely, you’ve had a candle.” he said.
“Nope, the other two apartment complexes didn’t allow it. Fire hazards. Could only have wax warmers or oil diffusers.” I said.
“Huh.” he said before I heard a bunch of rustling and soon enough the grill lighter I took with me camping was floating in front of my face. “Test it.”
I bit my lip and felt his hand wrap over mine.
“Gently.” he said. “Remember that we are in a car right now.”
I took a breath and he grabbed my hand again.
“And also, I just want you to know that either way, it’s ok. I’m not leaving. I still love you and I’m with you whether you can see me or not.”
I nodded and gently held the trigger down.
The little flame lit up from the tip and Gus appeared.
I gasped.
Gus narrowed his eyes at the flame and then something seemed to dawn on him.
“Baby, it’s the smoke.” he said with a laugh. “And I’m a fucking idiot. I should’ve know this. They taught us this when we were children. ”
“I don’t remember.” I said.
“Not you. Me. We have schools to, you know. We were called Burning Spirits of the Mountains.” he said. "That’s where all the foggy mountain legends come from. Holy shit, I’m so stupid.“
"That doesn’t explain why I couldn’t hear or feel you before.” I pointed out.
“Well, honey, that probably was because you’d let your memories take a back seat. It probably wouldn’t have happened if I’d just remembered to tell you that. If you could see me it’s a little harder to forget. I’m so sorry.” he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
I just sat back against the seat…and then I fucking lost it.
I just laughed until I couldn’t breathe and Gus started laughing at the sight of me.
“What is wrong with you?” he asked.
“We are so stupid!” I giggled. “All this drama and it’s literally over something as simple as a fucking Glade candle!”
Gus was beside himself with laughter and soon enough we were almost silent except for the sound of our wheezing.
“Well it’ll be a nice story to tell the grandkids one day.” I said when I finally sobered up.
He snapped to attention and looked at me.
“What?”
“You heard me shadow boy.” I said. "I’ve got you now. You ain’t going no where.“
Gus took the lighter from me and I saw one final smirk before the flame went out.
"Ok, then, know it all. Let’s see how cocky you are when you don’t know where it’s coming from.” he said, feeling his lips on my neck.
“Well, generally, I’ve been known to like it from behind but whatever floats your boat.” I teased him.
However, all I heard was a growl and I then I felt hands all over my body.
I didn’t have to see him to know that it was my Gus.
That much I could feel.
In more ways than one if you know what I mean, lol.
Heeeeeeeey, smoochies! I hope you enjoyed this little Monster Boyfriend Imagine! I’ve fallen in love with my sweet Gus, my shadow creature! So sweet and precious and a little naughty as well! If you’d like to see more like this or more adventures with Gus, please let me know in the comment section! Happy Reading!!!
Toad's Cave 