VANESSA dropped to the bed, whimpering and panting from her orgasm. She stared into the semi-darkness of her room, her breathing mixed with the consistent noise from the pub. She was still in disbelief but satisfied with her curiosity.
She pulled the wooden manhood between her thighs and stared at it through the lit lamp on her nightstand. With a smile, she put the toy beside her and closed her eyes, not bothering to cover her nakedness.
“Marinel, I have a question to ask you,” Vanessa said when they were walking home the following day. They came from the market. It was still very early. “Do you know someone good at carving stuff? I mean, they can carve anything just perfectly.”
“Well… there are a couple of woodcarvers that I know, but most of them were old and retired already,” Marinel said thoughtfully.
“Do you know someone who was young?”
“Why are you asking, by the way?”
Vanessa bit her lip and looked away. “Maybe I could, you know, commission them to make something for me. I think that would be awesome.”
“I know someone who was young and excellent at it… but it would be impossible to reach him.”
“Why not?”
Marinel smiled, but it did not reach her eyes.
“He already left the village. I don’t have any idea if he’s ever coming back.”
“Is that so?”
Vanessa was a little disappointed. She thought she could finally find a clue to her benefactor. Maybe he was not a well-known carver in the village, or he was keeping his talent to himself, that’s why.
“YOU’RE GOING again?” Virgil asked when Vanessa grabbed a basket from the kitchen that afternoon. He was cooking.
Vanessa nodded with a smile.
“I’ll probably find some ripe fruits on my way. I’ll be back before sunset, Father.”
“All right. Take care, Vanessa.”
“See you later, Father.”
As Vanessa trailed the familiar path to the creek, she had this uneasy feeling that she was being watched or followed. When she stopped to glance at her surrounding, she saw no one. She dismissed the feeling with a sigh and went on her way. She stopped at the papaya tree near the creek. It was already full of ripe fruits. Her father would love some papaya relish for sure.
When she had picked two ripe fruits, she felt another presence behind her. When she turned, Vanessa’s eyes widened when she saw the familiar face of the man who harassed her back at the pub. He was staring at her with malice.
Derek’s eyes roamed her body with a grin. Vanessa took a step back instinctively.
“W-what do you want?”
“Nice question.”
Vanessa gasped as Derek grabbed her arm. She asked the wrong question. There’s no way she would like his answer. Vanessa panicked.
“L-let go of me!”
“Why let you go when I can make you come?”
“Help! Help me—” Her cries were muffled when Derek put his hand over her mouth.
In an instant, Derek had lifted her feet off the ground. He walked toward the direction of the creek. Vanessa kicked and struggled, but her strength was nothing compared to him.
“Shut up, bitch. I know you wanted it,” he spat, panting.
Derek crossed the creek and brought her into the woods where no one would see them right away. Tears sprang from her eyes as she realized what was going to happen to her. Derek would rape her and kill her to hide his crime.
Derek put her on the ground. Vanessa struggled, but he pushed her back and grabbed the front of her dress, tearing the cloth apart. She screamed as her breasts were exposed before him.
Derek laughed manically.
“N-no!” Vanessa begged, wrapping her arms around her. “Help me!”
Derek pulled her hands over her head. But before he could even start, there was a loud thud behind him. A figure appeared, and it pulled Derek away from her.
As Vanessa stared in shock and fear, she saw Derek screamed in fear at the sight of the unexpected guest. He was tall and bulky and had the most gruesome face anyone had ever seen. He had two huge, twisted horns on his head, and his claws were sharp. A beastly growl escaped from his throat as he scratched Derek’s face with his claws.
Derek dropped to his knees, screaming in pain as he clutched his bloody face. Then the inhuman being turned in her direction. Vanessa froze. He was advancing toward her. Before he could touch her, Vanessa lost consciousness.
WHERE am I? Vanessa wondered as soon as she opened her eyes.
She found herself lying on a wooden bed wrapped in a clean blanket, and everything around her was unfamiliar. She was in a small hut with a few pieces of furniture.
Vanessa checked herself, and she was still wearing her torn dress. Then all of a sudden, she remembered all the horrible things that happened to her this afternoon. She could not help trembling as she recalled everything.
Except for her torn clothing, she felt normal. Did Derek succeed in raping her?
Her eyes widened. No, he did not. Someone came on time to save her from an ill fate. And she was still alive. Did that mean that her savior was not an enemy?
Vanessa jumped when someone suddenly entered. She stared, and he, too, was startled. It was him! Her savior. But he was not human, at least, in physical form.
He immediately looked away and sauntered toward her. He was holding a bowl, and he placed it on the small table beside her bed. Vanessa stared.
“It’s just tea. It’s safe. You need it to calm you down,” he said, his voice a little husky. He was still avoiding her gaze.
“T-thank you,” she whispered.
He turned to leave.
“I-I’m Vanessa,” she said, shifting on the bed.
He stopped for a moment. He glanced at her sideways but still proceeded to leave.
Everything was really weird. Vanessa looked around her once again. But the place really looked peaceful.
For some reason, Vanessa found herself not doubting her savior. She grabbed the tea. It was still hot. She blew it and took a sip. Then she took a deep breath.
WHEN VANESSA finished her tea, she wrapped the blanket around herself and got out of bed. Though she could manage to walk, Vanessa still felt weak all over.
She sauntered to the door, and she was met by a front yard and tall trees everywhere. It was almost sunset. How long had she been unconscious?
She had no idea where exactly she was, but she knew she was not very far from the creek.
She found her savior already feeding the chicken. Honestly, she did not know what to call him. She could look past his appearance. The likes of Derek were the true monsters.
Vanessa was reminded of the beast from her imagination. This one in front of her looked less beastly, but he grabbed her interest still. He made her curious. Was he the same beast in the rumors? Did he find a woman like her interesting?
Seriously, Vanessa?
Then the beast suddenly turned in her direction. Vanessa jumped as if she was caught red-handed. She cleared her throat. And when he ignored her, she mustered up her courage and sauntered to him.
“W-what did you do to that man? Did you kill him?” she asked as she stopped behind him.
“No. But I made sure he could never lust for a woman again.”
“What’s your name? I’m sure you have one.” Vanessa gripped the blanket in her hands.
“You should be scared of me,” he said instead. “Do you have any idea what I am?”
“I don’t know what you’re implying, but you should not have saved me, then.”
He suddenly turned to her.
“L-look, I’m not trying to be ungrateful. You saved me. Isn’t that enough for me to trust you? That man who tried to rape me was the real monster. I could not imagine what had happened to me if you weren’t there. Can I just, at least, know my savior’s name?” she implored.
“What for? We’ll never see each other again, anyway.”
Vanessa pursed her lips. Well, he’s a little arrogant, she must say.
“I-I want to be friends with you.”
“Look, woman. If you really want to show your gratitude, it’s enough that you pretend we never met at all. I don’t want the village people coming here with torches in their hands.”
“I would never do that!” she said.
“Thanks,” he remarked unenthusiastically.
Vanessa sighed. She wanted to ask why he saved her when he would act hostile in the end. But that would make matters worse, so she decided to let him be.
“I-if you don’t mind, can I stay here for the night? I haven’t recovered my strength yet. But I promise to leave first thing in the morning.”
“Whatever suits you.”
Vanessa returned inside the house quietly.
EVERYTHING inside the house was normal. Vanessa wondered if he was the only one of his kind. She decided to go back to bed. Thinking about a lot of things was making her more exhausted. She could only wish it was a bad dream, but it wasn’t.
The beast was real, but he was not the villain.
Vanessa closed her eyes and thought of the beast from her imagination. She did not like where it was going.
When it was dark, he entered and lit an oil lamp and put it on the corner of his tiny house. He was cooking outside. Vanessa could smell the aroma. It was stirring her appetite. She tried to ignore it and pretended to be asleep.
“Here, put it on.”
Vanessa quickly opened her eyes. He was already standing beside her.
“It’s not glamorous, but it’s more decent.”
She stared at the folded clothes in his beastly hand. She swore she saw long, sharp nails a while ago. But now, it looked pretty normal.
“T-thank you,” she said shyly as she accepted it.
He turned his back at once. Vanessa was disappointed again. She put on his clothes quietly.
BACK AT the pub, Vanessa could barely hear the sound of the cricket unless she was outside. But this time, it felt different. She liked this kind of noise. It felt like she could peacefully sleep.
The beast returned, carrying a bowl. Vanessa caught her stomach under the blanket.
“It’s just porridge. It can help you recover your strength,” he said as he put it on the table.
Vanessa smiled shyly.
“It smells good. Thank you.”
But he did not return the gesture. Though, she would be more surprised if he would.
“Just tell me if you still need anything.”
“Aren’t you joining me?”
“No. I don’t want you to lose your appetite.”
“I won’t.”
But he did not seem to hear anything as he walked out.
THE PORRIDGE tasted good. Vanessa did not intend to finish the bowl though she was hungry. She did not want to overwhelm him.
She brought her bowl outside, and she found him fixing a pile of firewood under the cooktop.
“Thanks again,” she said. “You’re a great cook.”
He quietly took the bowl from her.
“Do you need help? I know how to wash the dishes.”
“Go back to bed. Aren’t you leaving early tomorrow?”
He sounded like he could not wait to get rid of her. Vanessa only nodded to stop herself from arguing with him. She owed him. She must remember that all the time.
You could not blame him, Vanessa. You’re human, and he’s a beast. It’s not normal to be hanging around with someone like him. Humans are dangerous to his kind.
She went back to bed and pulled the blanket around her, forcing herself to sleep. If he thought his treatment toward her would make her give up, he was wrong. Vanessa intended to gain his trust and befriend him.