We've all learned the rumours of the Beast that prowls through our forest. His one-inch fangs that bore through your flesh, his severed lips that slurp up your blood, his slippery tongue that slithers between your organs, and his hypnotic eyes that rob you or your sight. No one's ever caught a glimpse of him and lived to tell the tale. He shifts back to his human form during the day but under the influence of the night sky and the daunting blood moon, he's a beautiful Beast. Or so that's what we've heard...
It isn't often that he targets men as women seem to be his favoured desire. How we know it's male is plainly because of the evidence we've been left by accident in the middle of a scene, like the cuffs of men's shirts, buttons that match only those on men's trousers, and handprints larger than any of the women in town. So us women worry whether to trust anyone but ourselves-except for me. We don't know for sure that it's a man nor do we know if it's anyone in town, it could be anyone or anything.
"We cannot run about like headless chickens in fear of something we can't prove!" I proclaim before the council.
The bloodbaths have stricken the people of the town into a terror, but not like a regular terror. It's impacting the lifestyle of everyone, even those who aren't afraid. So the council have called a conference to hear their grievances so that they can take action in an effort to make everyone feel safer, it's a bunch of balls if you ask me.
"Ms Winters, please. If you're not here to make a suggestion then make your way out, we are trying to relieve the panic not turn it into a riot." The council leader replies with a fatherly tone. The room of people erupts in faffs of gossips and shifts in their seats. The council leader gives me a careful look, the uproar is obviously my fault.
I shrug innocently, "All I'm saying is, anything is possible. For all we know, it's not even human."
"Of course it isn't human!" a civilian exclamations, "It's a Beast that preys on women!"
I hold up my hand, "We're all well aware of that, I'm relating to theories." I clarify.
"Oh, not this again..." The citizens begin complaining, they all think I'm crazy to believe that nothing is as it seems. Maybe a little but there are two sides to this story; What we speculate and the truth.
"What will you say this time?" A woman asks, "That he comes in peace?" The room pauses and spins to her, "It's true that we're unaware of what is really going on but should that stop us from preparing for the worst?"
That's right, it's better safe than sorry in any circumstance. I shift to face the council, "Just don't hurt him."
One of the council members scoffs, "Ms Winters if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to protect the Beast." Typically, he looks delighted by his remark.
I sigh, "For the sake of understanding what we're bargaining with, I'll protect what can be studied."
The council ends and the flocks disperse, going back to their usual routines. I am in a fairly aggravated mood after that whole charade, people honestly need to start thinking over the impossible. Who's to say anything is or isn't possible anyway? My name is called out making me stand still in order for him to catch up, the only somebody who stands by me in this time comes scrambling my way.
"Well, that was really something, wasn't it?" He sarcastically asks though I'm sure he already knew how I'd answer.
I roll my eyes thinking back on the meeting, "I can't believe these simple folk, Taehyung, they have no imagination." I make it to my home door and fling it open, storming inside.
Taehyung pursues after me shutting the door behind him, "Not everyone has as wide a mind as you do, though I'm close behind, I can only dream of having a thought pattern as great as yours." He enthuses sweetly, only being the most validating friend ever.
I smile slightly, "Oh, Taehyung, we're both brilliant in our own ways." I stammer, lighting the lamp that illuminates my wall of drawings and memos, all to do with the raging Beast. "My strength lies within the knicks of a crime scene."
Taehyung stands beside me gazing up at the wall, doesn't matter how many times he sees it, he's always astounded. "And I'm the moral support." He sneers wickedly, he sells himself short on purpose. Though it's a tactic to gain attention and I know it, I still give it to him. By that, I mean a whack to the arm. "Otherwise I'm worthless, you can't deny it."
I roll my eyes once again and lock onto his misbehaving eyes, always looking for a game to play. "You make a mean cup of tea, how about it?" Maybe I'm using him for his brewing talents, but Taehyung makes the best tea I've ever sipped.
His plump lips spread into a thin line as he gleams cheekily, "Of course, detective." He walks off to the gas stove and begins mixing up his concoction that's I've learnt to make myself, but no matter how hard I try, I can never make it as he does.
