The monster in me

September 2023

They had already filmed their first scenes. Noah quickly established a good rapport with Daniel. There was no awkwardness between them, but he had seen his brother's expressions many times, as if he was not happy that the blond was getting along well with the gray.

If they were going to play together, then they had to have a proper relationship privately. How else did he imagine it?

Late that afternoon, Noah waited for his brother outside the university so they could go home together. Mason had to stay half an hour longer to put the finishing touches on his presentation.

The blond boy intended to find a bench where he could wait it out, but his attention was drawn to Daniel, who was sitting on the wall, drinking a can of Coke. He walked over to him and jumped in next to him, noticing his surprised look.

- Did I scare you?

- Apart from recording, can you talk to me in your spare time? - he asked, watching Noah's face.

His question surprised the boy.

- I am a free man, I can talk to whomever I want.

- I noticed that your brother likes to control you, and he doesn't really like me.

The blond boy's face turned sad, because that was the truth. Mason was his stepfather's biological son, so he always had the most to say. He was the type of leader who led their group. If he didn't like something, then everyone else had to agree, especially his brother.

It had become a nuisance lately. Maybe because Noah was getting older and wanted to have his say? He was no longer a child who needed to be protected at every turn. He might have been the son of a woman who had married her first love, Mason's father, twenty years ago, but he wasn't Miller-blooded. That made him socially weaker than his brother, but he could take care of himself.

Too bad Mason didn't understand that. Something obviously had to happen to make him see the light.

- I apologize for my brother's behavior. If someone is at odds with him from the start, it's difficult to gain his approval.

Daniel nodded.

- I'm not really concerned about getting to know him. He's behaving like a typical, pompous young master who wants to have the whole world at his feet. - The boy glanced at his friend who was sitting next to him. - I didn't bite my tongue in advance, sorry. I usually say everything that's on my mind.

- I don't blame you for what you said. Even though he's my brother, I agree with your words.

- You're entirely different from him, you're as different as fire and water, and that's fascinating. Coming from a family like that, you should be an asshole too.

Noah looked at him with amusement.

- I think it depends on the character. You can't put everyone in the same bag.

- He really hates me because I'm poor? - Daniel looked confused. - How can you treat people like that?

- How can I tell you this... it's not his fault. He is the rightful heir, so from a young age, he has had it drilled into him how he should treat people on different social levels.

Daniel looked curious, but still didn't understand something:

- So why aren't you raised the same way since you're his brother?

- We're stepbrothers, so I have more freedom, but I also have to be careful about what I do and who I hang out with - he replied, a little sourly. - That's why Mason's so protective of me, because he's afraid I'll do something wrong unintentionally and get myself into trouble.

Daniel nodded.

Noah was the type of person who opened up to others too easily and started trusting people pretty quickly, and they took advantage of that to hurt him.

This was his greatest flaw.

Betty walking towards him with Nancy accompanying her.

- See you tomorrow. I'm going now because I don't want my friend to eat you. - Noah turned to Daniel.

- Okay, she's as annoying as your brother.

The blond boy jumped down from the wall and stood in front of the redhead, who was leaning out over him, looking with curiosity in her eyes at the boy who accompanied him.

- Don't tell me you're trying to befriend that poor guy... - Betty looked at him intensely, looking as if she didn't like the idea. - After the taping, you two should go your separate ways.

- And does the fact that he comes from a poorer family make him worse? He is the same person as us - Noah replied, not being happy with her opinion.

- That's true. I think your words came out too harshly. - Nancy interjected.

- Why are you all jumping at me? I didn't mean anything by it, I'm just worried that people like him will try to take advantage of Noah. He's too kind-hearted, so people take advantage of that. - Betty made a face like a child and put her arm around the boy. - Don't be mad at me for what I said. I'm just worried about you.

- I can take care of myself. You and Mason, you don't have to treat me like a little kid - he said, offended.

- Noaaah - she said in a sweet voice, looking at him with Bambi eyes. She rested her head on his shoulder, making him feel self-conscious, especially since Nancy was with them, watching.

- I'm not angry with you, Betty, you know that I let you get away with everything.

The redhead girl smiled broadly.

- That's why I love you so much.

***

May 2024

Everyone gathered in one room looked suspiciously at Daniel, who had been hiding from them until now. Only Jake sat by the window, leaning his back against the wall. He watched one point in front of him with a thoughtful gaze, wondering what he had experienced in that room.

His grandfather was one of the founders of this hotel? But what tragedy was he guilty of? What happened here? What secret did this place hide?

There were so many questions, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answers to them since it seemed that because of his family's past, he was in danger from vengeful spirits.

It was no coincidence that he found himself here...

Mason continued to glare at Daniel the entire time, looking as if he wanted to kill him for simply existing.

- Stop looking at me like that, if you want to confess your love to me, then feel free to do so. - The boy snorted under his breath, deliberately baiting him. From his experience, he knew how easy it was to provoke him. - Oh, my bad, I forgot that you're a homophobe.

Noah seeing his older brother clench his fists in anger.

- Just ignore him.

The brunette boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, following Noah's words, trying to calm down.

- Poor thing, explain to us how you got here. - Betty turned to Daniel, staring at him intensely. - You weren't invited to Mason's party, so how did you end up on this island? Did you bring us here? Are you planning revenge?

Daniel looked at her with amused eyes.

- I'm poor, so I don't have such crazy ideas as rich kids. It wouldn't occur to me to lock myself away on a desert island with you. I'm a victim too, I don't know what I'm doing here - he replied.

- So how did you end up here?

- I went to a party thrown by that asshole. He invited me - Daniel stated, nodding at Mason.

- Why don't I remember that? - Betty muttered.

- I can confirm that Mason, while high, invited him to the party under the pretense that he wanted to apologize for his behavior and talk about what happened - Nancy said. - Daniel took the bait, and you just wanted to embarrass him even more.

- Because I'll never forgive that piece of shit for what happened! It's all his fault! If you hadn't insisted on wanting him in the movie, none of this would have happened! - Mason shouted, once again giving Daniel a hostile glare.

- Stop blaming him, you know it's your fault. He didn't do anything wrong - Noah said.

- Whose side are you on? Are you still defending him?

Daniel smiled to himself.

- Oh, Mason, poor thing. You'll be eaten up by remorse - the boy replied in an amused voice.

- One more word and I swear I'll kill you - he said to him in a sharp voice, looking as if he wanted to attack him.

- Stop it! - Jennifer shouted, stepping between them. - You two arguing won't change anything here. We're all stuck on this island, and we don't know what really happened. No one remembers anything, unless you, Nancy, remember something else?

The blonde girl pushed back her hair and looked at them with a worried look.

- All I remember is that we were on the yacht and Manson was humiliating Daniel. You all laughed at it, you showed him no mercy. We were definitely high, and I wasn't taking anything. Is it possible that someone was already trying to hurt us deliberately?

Everyone looked at each other with worried eyes, wondering what had happened that night.

Will frowned, noticing that Jake looked pale and was constantly staring at one spot.

- What about you? - he asked, tugging on his arm. - Are you feeling all right?

The boy, snapped out of his strange frenzy, looked at his friend.

- What?

- You've been acting strange since you left that room. Did something happen?

At that moment, everyone was interested in Will and Jake's conversation.

- I just think I'm going crazy in this place. Don't laugh at me, because I'm serious now, but has anyone else seen apparitions here? I wouldn't call them ghosts, but bloodthirsty demons?

Mason swallowed hard and looked at him with fearful eyes.

- I saw it in the corridor. The light was flashing, there was an outline of a figure, something was moving.

- Did anyone else see anything strange besides us?

The others shook their heads.

- Stop scaring me. I'll die if I see anything in this place - Betty said in a terrified voice.

Jake fixed a worried gaze on Mason.

- Why are we the only ones who see this?

- Because you're from a family of witches? - Will tried to joke, but no one was laughing at that moment.

- Either you both have something on your conscience - Daniel stated, looking at them with hatred in his eyes. - Demons love dark souls.

There was a noise somewhere in the hallway. Betty grabbed Will's arm, since he was standing closest to her.

- Do you think something or someone is trying to kill us? - she asked in a trembling voice.

- I'm definitely not being hunted by a human, and your appearance here is no coincidence - Jake replied, sending goosebumps up their skin.

A night was coming that would remain in their memories for a long time.