The Rabbit Man, page 10
The owl’s speech changed trajectory at hearing Thorton thoughts of denial. He thought mind reading was terribly inconvenient—and annoying.
“May I remind you that you are an escaped demon and you are allowed to walk the earth in this veil under a treaty. Kicked out from your home, seeking asylum under our watch, you must abide by our rules. In the last sixty years, you have violated the treaty twice—that we have record of. One more time and you will be eliminated. I believe the Order of Sybil recently sent an emissary to explain this to you. Did you honestly think after all of that you would be allowed to roam free without being watched?
“I was concerned when a report reached me that you went home with a human boy and meant to live with him as a pet. I thought surely you’d eat him and his family before the week was up. But you surprised me, you surprised all of us, Thorton.
“Not only have you lived here peacefully without incident, you seem to have imprinted upon the child.”
“What?” Thorton almost fell out of the tree from the shock of the statement. “Who do you think you are, suggesting something like that? I have no feelings for humans, especially not young ones. How dare you suggest I have grown to care for one!”
“If that were true, why did you plot to keep Timothy from going to the haunted car wash? You will not provide an answer because the answer contradicts your previous declaration. Let me be clear, it is not a bad thing that you have grown attached to the human; they can be most amusing companions. Companionship can help you, give you a purpose, and keep you from trouble. That is something you never seemed to grasp after coming to live in this plane of existence. We value our companionships because they make us better.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Thorton asked.
“Because, after my most recent report I came to check on you personally today. I heard your thoughts. You were thinking of leaving the boy; I believe this would be unwise. I am not forbidding you from leaving his side, nor am I forbidding you from staying. I am simply offering you advice as you seem to have struggled to assimilate since crossing the veil.”
“It’s not my fault all of you are too weak to exert your dominance over the humans. We demons and magic holders hold more power than any of these hairless apes, and yet they are so arrogant and cruel. It makes no sense.”
“You’re right,” Edmond said, “with that path of logic it does not make any sense. But there is more to it than that, more that you have yet to see or understand. The hairless apes, as you call them, have their own strengths. Yes, some of them are cruel and arrogant, but can you not say the same for the rest of us?
“The sun will be up soon, and I do not wish to keep you. I will take my leave now. I only ask you to consider my words.”
Thorton growled at Edmond as he flew off. The stupid bird had wasted his whole night, now he didn’t have enough time to run off like he’d planned. No matter, he’d just wait another night.
One more night with Timothy turned into two. Then three. Before he knew it Thorton was back in his old routine with the child, every day telling himself he’d leave the next night, run off to a new home where he could eat as many brains as he wanted.
Soon the children were on a break from school. The adults told Timmy he could go to both the haunted mansion and the graveyard for his birthday if he helped his little sister learn to ride her bike during the break while the adults were at work. He eagerly agreed and Timmy was outside with her every afternoon, teaching her how to balance and running alongside her as her stubby legs peddled on the contraption. Thorton left his habitat and sat on the windowsill watching them. Up and down the pavement they went. She fell often the first two days, making Thorton laugh. By day four she was getting better and, to his disappointment, didn’t fall as often.
Today was no different. Thorton sat on the windowsill watching them for an hour. The girl hadn’t fallen once, so he was about to give up and go take a nap. A large car going too fast caught his attention. His heart raced; it was going to hit Timmy!
The car swerved back and forth, ultimately missing Timothy and hitting the sister instead. He relaxed, Timmy was unhurt. But to Thorton’s surprise, the boy started to scream and cry. Why was he crying when he hadn’t gotten hurt?
Adults ran from the various houses, some on their phones, others rushing to the car. A pool of crimson was forming under the wheels. Chaos ensued. One of the adults held Timmy while the others were under the car with the sister. The driver fell out of the car and began vomiting on the pavement.
After some time new cars arrived with flashing lights and wailing sirens. He recognized them as police and ambulance vehicles. Humans in uniforms crawled under the car with bags and various contraptions. They emerged with the sister. A large red contraption was wrapped around her neck while one was over the crown of her head. One of her arms was twisted and backward, jagged white bone protruded bright against the red flowing over her.
Instead of fantasizing over what her blood would taste like, Thorton watched Timmy. He was wailing. The sound shook Thorton to his core and made his chest feel funny as his stomach churned. He didn’t like that Timmy was making that noise. He wished it would stop … he would have done anything to make it stop.
The driver was put in the cop car and the sister in the ambulance. As they drove off the chaos simmered to silence. The neighbors dispersed back to their homes, except one. An older female sat with Timmy on the front lawn. They were on the phone with someone. Timmy and his sister’s adults perhaps?
They got off the phone and the older female helped Timmy inside. Their footsteps sounded through the hallway and up the stairs. Thorton hurried back inside his habitat in time for them to come inside the bedroom.
“Here you go, sweetie, just sit down right here,” she said. The older female sat him down at the desk. She shuffled out and returned with a damp washcloth. She wiped down Timmy's face, clearing the dirt and tears.
Thorton approached the bars of his cage, sniffing with his small piggy nose, and squeaked.
“Are your clothes dirty?” The female looked him over. “No, I don’t see any dirt. Do you want to take a hot shower? Would that make you feel better?”
Timmy shook his head, his lip quivering.
“OK. Why don’t you just take your socks and shoes off and get into bed, hmm?”
“Franci,” he said.
“What’s that, sweetie?” she asked.
“I want—” Timmy blubbered. “I want Franci with me.”
“Oh, is that this little guy? Sure thing, darling, just be careful with him in your bed; he’s tiny.”
Timmy nodded and took off his shoes and socks while the older woman opened the habitat door. Thorton didn’t want her picking him up, but he complied. Scampering onto her hand, she cradled him gently before setting him on the bed next to Timmy.
Thorton went up to his face and rubbed his nose against his damp cheeks. He licked the tears away while Timmy stroked his ears.
How odd, this was making the funny feeling in Thorton’s chest go away.
The older lady went downstairs.
Thorton heard her clinking around in the kitchen. She returned with hot cocoa and a plate of cookies. She set them on the nightstand.
“Here you go. I’m going to set it here for you and you can have it whenever you feel up to it. I’m going to stay here until your parents call back. I’ll be right downstairs if you need anything, OK?”
Timmy nodded and snuggled closer to Thorton. He cried himself to sleep as his cocoa grew cold. Thorton stayed with him while he slept.
“Timothy, are you awake?” The older female knocked on the bedroom door and came in.
Timmy stirred awake.
“Your mother called; Marie-Anne needed to have surgery. She’s OK, but your parents are going to stay there overnight with her. Your mom called your aunt JoJo and she’s on her way, but she won’t be here until tomorrow morning or late tonight.”
“Aunt JoJo’s coming?”
“Yes, dear, but it’s a long drive, so she won’t be here for a while. Your parents said you’re old enough to stay here alone, but I can sleep over if you want me to. Do you feel safe staying here alone tonight or do you want me to stay?”
Timmy thought for a long time.
Thorton watched him screw up his face and wished he had the owl’s ability to read minds.
“You can go home, Mrs. Mason,” he said at last. “It’s OK, I won’t be alone, Francis is with me.”
“You sure, sweetie?”
“Mmm-hm. Franci will keep me safe.”
“OK, dear. Do you need me to make you anything to eat before I go?”
“We have pizza and nuggets in the freezer. I make it for Marie-Anne and me for lunch; I know how.”
“OK, dear. I’ll be right next door if you need anything, and you have a phone you can use to call me or your parents on.” She squeezed Timmy’s shoulder. “Your sister is going to be fine. She’s alive and your parents are with her. It wasn’t your fault, it was the driver’s fault for being drunk. You did nothing wrong, there was no way you could have known or stopped it, Timothy. I want you to remember that.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Mason.”
“You’re a good boy, Timothy. Don’t forget to eat something for dinner and call me if you need anything.” With that the female human left.
Timmy rolled onto his back and Thorton crawled atop his chest. He watched the boy closely while he rambled.
“Poor Marie-Anne. Mrs. Mason said she needed surgery. I wonder if it was because of her arm. I knew a kid in third grade who broke his arm on the playground at recess, but his bone stayed on the inside. He had to wear a cast for a few months. Everyone in the class got to doodle on it though.
“Maybe Marie-Anne will let me draw on hers, though I’m not very good. Aunt JoJo is really good at art, maybe she can draw something pretty on it for her. I’ll tell JoJo that Marie-Anne likes butterflies and unicorns, she can put those on the cast for her.
“I wonder if I’ll ever need a cast? If I do I’ll let Aunt JoJo draw on it. I wonder if she knows what ghosts look like. Have you ever seen a ghost, Francis?
“I haven’t but I read somewhere animals could see ghosts better than humans could. That’s why cats stare at the wall then freak out and run all over the place.
“I asked Mom and Dad if we could get a cat, but they said no. That’s how I ended up with you.
“I’m happy I adopted you instead of a cat.”
The boy talked and cried for a long time. All the while Thorton sat on his chest and listened intently.
When the boy’s stomach started to growl he sat up and ate his cookies, sharing them with Thorton. When he was still hungry they went down to the kitchen to make food. Thorton got to go with him, normally the adult humans didn’t like it when he was in the kitchen. But tonight he stood on the counter and watched as frozen clumps of food were put on trays in the oven. Vegetables were carefully washed and cut up then put on a plate for each of them.
They ate and watched a movie.
Timmy started crying again. Thorton wasn’t sure how to make a human stop crying, so he snuggled up close to him and nibbled gently on his face until he started to laugh. Together they ate a whole pizza, half a plate of chicken nuggets, and watched two movies, then fell asleep on the couch.
Tonight, Thorton decided to stay back from his nightly transformation in the woods. He could run around tomorrow when Timmy’s parents were back.
***
Thorton awoke to the sound of the front door being jiggled. It opened and an odd scent hit his nose. It was human, but it didn’t belong to any of the humans who lived there. Maybe it was this aunt JoJo who was coming to stay?
Male voices sounded in the darkness and Thorton’s hackles went up.
“Bro, there’s a kid on the couch. I thought you said this place would be empty,” one of them said.
“I said the little girl is in the hospital, so the parents won’t be home. You wouldn’t believe how much money you can get for kids if you know who to sell to. The sister woulda been more but beggars and choosers, you know?”
“Can I take some silver too?”
“No! You take other stuff then it looks like a robbery, take just the kid and it looks like they ran off. Don’t you listen to nothin’ I say? Now shut up and hold the kid down while I tie him up.”
The males grabbed Timothy and he started to struggle.
Thorton growled and transformed into his true form, knocking over the coffee table and tipping over the sofa. He was taller than the human males, his torso longer than the sofa couch. His six legs jutted out at right angles from his body, standing firm on three claws. Between his shoulder joints, two long tentacles of solid muscle were on either side of his back. Down his spine flange-like spikes flexed with his every breath. His bald head was shaped like an almond had two eyes on either side of his skull and a slit for a nose. His four beady eyes honed in on the adult males. The intruders who dared to lay a hand on the boy.
Standing on four legs, his other two rose like hands. The tentacles on his back seized one male around the middle and held him up, his feet kicking. Meanwhile, two of his front legs grabbed the other male as he tried to flee. His claws dug into their flesh. His vertical jaw splayed open, revealing fangs and pinchers. He brought them all down on the male’s head.
The fangs bit into the flesh of the soft neck while the pinchers pierced his skull, allowing Thorton to drink the contents. With the brain gone, he unhinged his jaw again and shoved the body down his throat. Couldn’t have any evidence left behind for the Order to pin on him.
He moved the other male from his tentacles into his front claws and repeated the process.
He swallowed the second male whole and paused to breathe. Looking around he took stock of the room. Not a single drop of blood was wasted. It wasn’t the grand hunt he’d been longing for, but he felt full and content. Then his gaze fell on Timmy.
He peered over the upturned sofa, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. Thorton hurriedly transformed back into his guinea pig disguise and squeaked innocently.
“You—you,” Timmy stammered. “Francis? That was you?”
He squeaked.
“Have you always been able to do that?”
He squeaked again.
“That’s totally cool!” He scrambled to his feet. “Can you, like, transform whenever you want to?”
As confirmation, Thorton transformed back to his true form.
“That’s totally awesome!” Timmy grabbed at his hair and did a little dance. “I have the coolest pet ever! I’m so happy we didn’t get a cat. Can all guinea pigs do that? No? Just you? That—that’s awesome!” Timmy paused looking around the room. “You saved me. You gave up your secret to save me?”
Thorton nodded. He waited for Timmy to yell, be scared, tell him to leave and never return. Instead, he ran forward, wrapping his arms around his monstrous head, and started to cry.
“Thank you, Francis. You can stay with me as long as you want; I won’t tell nobody ever, I pinky promise.”
Thorton surprised himself by hugging the human child back.
Headlights came from the driveway.
“Uh-oh, Aunt JoJo’s here! Quick, we gotta put the couch back!”
Thorton used his arms to put the sofa right then transformed into a guinea pig. Timmy picked him up and carried him to the front door.
“You’re awake!” she said. “Kiddo it’s two AM, why are you awake?”
“We were watching movies and I fell asleep on the couch. I just woke up cuz my neck hurt.”
“Your neck hurt? Aren’t you a little young for that?” She pulled the boy into a hug. “Never mind, how are you doing? You didn’t get hurt, did you? No? OK. Did you eat? All right, let’s get you two off to bed, and in the morning I’ll take you to the hospital. By the way, whose car is that in your driveway?”
Thorton panicked. The humans he ate left a car behind.
“Oh, that’s been there since the accident. I don’t know whose it is,” Timmy said to Thorton’s relief.
“OK, if it’s still there in the morning I’ll call the cops about it. Now off to bed.”
“Yes, Aunt JoJo!”
Timmy let Thorton spend the rest of the night in bed next to him. After he was sound asleep, he snuck out.
Members from the Orders were outside waiting for him. He could smell them. A tabby cat, a wolf, and a hawk all sat in a line in the driveway. As Thorton approached them he wondered where Edmund was.
“You ate more humans,” the wolf said.
Thorton didn’t try to deny it.
“You were warned previously; this is the third time you have violated your treaty,” the cat said.
Thorton looked back at Timmy’s window. He was going to miss him.
Edmund the horned owl swooped down, lading next to him. “Pardon my tardiness,” he addressed them. “I have some information the Orders should consider in the case of Thorton, Deamon from veil IXIIV nine-two-five, August fifth, nineteen thirty-two.”
“Please enlighten us,” the wolf spoke.
“I have the ability to read minds and as such have been utilizing my ability to track Thorton while he has been residing in my region. Through my time observing him I have concluded that he has imprinted upon this human boy.
“This evening I witnessed two adult humans force entry into this boy, and Thorton’s, home. They vocalized a plan to kidnap the child and sell him for profit. They attacked the boy. Then and only then did Thorton transform and consume human brain and flesh. This was an act of defense in the name of his imprint. As such I petition this instance does not count as a violation of his treaty.”
Thorton stared at the owl in disbelief. He was defending him.
“This is vital information, thank you for sharing, Edmund.” The wolf looked to the other Order Members. “In light of this, The Order of Emrys agrees to withdraw this as a strike against Thorton’s treaty.”
