‘… And with us tonight,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘we have Dr Paul Bennett, the leading world expert on the Monster.’
I was speechless. Dad was sitting in a chair, wearing a suit, adjusting his glasses. Why was he on TV? Why wasn’t he out looking for me?
One of the old ladies went to turn off the TV, but Mother waved her away furiously. On-screen, the newsreader turned to Dad.
‘I suppose the first question on everyone’s mind, Dr Bennett, is simply: what is the Monster? Where has he come from?’
Dad smoothed his tie. ‘The answer is obvious – it comes from an alien species that lays its eggs on meteors. A section of rock containing one of these eggs must have broken off during the recent meteor shower and fallen through our atmosphere, after which the egg hatched on land. There’s no other possible explanation for the timing of the Monster’s first appearance.’
The newsreader leaned forwards.
‘And this is the most incredible part of the story, isn’t it, Dr Bennett? The part where you yourself discover the Monster, on the beach of your island home!’
The words hit my stomach and stayed there.
‘It really was a once-in-a-lifetime moment,’ said Dad proudly. ‘I was out for my walk – having just dropped my daughter off at school, like I do every morning – and there he was, right in front of me!’
I couldn’t believe it – he was lying. Why would he lie about something like that?
‘Of course,’ said Dad, ‘I go into all the details in the latest edition of my book, published today.’
He held one up to the camera. On the front cover there was a picture of him stepping on the Monster’s head and crushing it to a paste.
‘Inside you’ll get the full story – how I taught the Monster to speak, how I know it better than anyone …’ He smiled to the camera. ‘But most importantly of all, how it can be destroyed.’
I sat in silence, the pain in my stomach getting sharper and sharper. I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised. It was just like Mum had said – I knew what Dad was like. He’d always put his work before everything else. Of course he would never have searched the country for me – he probably hadn’t even noticed I was gone. I couldn’t believe I’d been so …
‘Stupid,’ I said quietly.
My eyes were welling up. Fi held my hand.
‘Caitlin … are you all right?’
I nodded. ‘Yeah. I just … I can’t believe he’d give up on Perijee like that.’
Mother reached across the table and took my other hand.
‘Oh, my poor girl,’ she said. ‘I am so sorry. There is nothing worse than being failed by your own family – believe me, I know.’ She nodded to the rest of the table. ‘But look around you, child! Look who you’re with! Who needs family when you have us?’
I looked down the table. Mother was right – I had Fi sat right beside me, and a sea of warm smiling faces in front. It didn’t matter if Dad had let me down – I didn’t need him any more. Not when I had so many new friends.
Here on this boat, I was the safest I’d been in my whole …
‘BREAKING NEWS!’
The TV slammed back to the newsroom, a reporter glaring down the camera.
‘Another bloody attack by Obsidian Blade!’
The old ladies flew from their chairs to turn off the TV, but they were so panicked they crashed into each other and ripped the dial off the front. Mother threw the entire table to one side and charged forwards, but she was too late. I watched as the camera slowly panned round the smouldering remains of a burned-out building.
It was the theatre in Wanderly.
There was nothing left – only a single blackened wall where the stage had been. The scorched map hung in tatters at the back. Across it, in blood-red paint that pooled into greasy ashes, someone had drawn:
The TV turned black. Mother stood beside it, her face white, the plug hanging from her fist.
Her arms were bare where her nightgown had ripped. They were covered in tattoos from shoulder to wrist – black tentacles twisting into the symbol I’d just seen on TV.
‘… You?’ I whispered. ‘You’re Obsidian Blade?’
The old ladies stood rooted to the spot. Mother stepped forwards.
‘My child—’
I scrambled out my chair.
‘No! I know all about you!’ I pointed at her with a trembling hand. ‘You’re the ones who go around blowing up buildings and sneaking into people’s houses and … sacrificing them!’
Mother clapped a hand to her chest.
‘Sacrificing people? Is that what you think we do, child?’
She burst out laughing, a rich warm laugh that bounced off the walls like a bell.
‘Good heavens! No wonder you look so frightened!’
The other women started laughing along with her. I looked at them in confusion – I had no idea what was supposed to be so funny. I glanced over at Fi, but she looked as mystified as I did. She was pressed against the wall behind me, her sharp black eyes flicking between Mother and the exit.
‘It is true,’ said Mother. ‘We are the group known as Obsidian Blade. I am sorry we had to hide the truth from you … But of course, there is no need to hide anything now.’ She nodded to the others. ‘Ladies?’
One by one they ripped the arms off their nightgowns and showed me the skin underneath. Every single one was covered in tattoos of winding black tentacles.
‘We are an ancient organisation that is dedicated to protecting the Monster,’ Mother explained. ‘At least, that is what most people call him. They say that he is evil and that he must be destroyed – but they are wrong. They do not understand what he truly is.’
‘What do you mean?’ I said.
Mother nodded and the women instantly bowed their heads. When she spoke her voice was soft and quiet, like a prayer.
‘Thousands of years ago, a sacred prophecy was written by the first priests of Obsidian Blade,’ she said. ‘A prediction that one day a powerful creature will appear on Earth. His body will be covered in words that will answer all questions. And when the time is right, he will take us all to a better place – to paradise, my girl.’
I stared at her in amazement. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
‘… You think the creature is Perijee?’ I said.
Mother nodded. ‘That is why we must protect him, child. He is more important than anyone realises.’
I looked at the TV. All I could think about was the blood-red message scrawled across the stage wall.
‘But … you blew up the theatre,’ I said. ‘And the castle. You could have hurt someone.’
Mother leaned towards me.
‘Soldiers are being trained to blow him up in two days’ time, Caitlin. How is that any different?’
‘But … Perijee wouldn’t want anyone hurt,’ I said. ‘I taught him killing things is wrong.’
Mother looked surprised.
‘You said you would do anything for him, Caitlin.’
I shook my head. ‘Not that.’
Mother gazed at me, her face calm and expressionless. Then she nodded.
‘As you wish,’ she said. ‘We’ll stop the attacks. From now on, no one else will be hurt.’ She held out a hand. ‘I give you my word, Caitlin …’
‘Don’t touch her!’
Fi leapt forwards, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Mother.
‘She’s a maniac, Caitlin! We have to get out of here!’
I frowned. ‘But … she just said she’s not going to hurt anyone else. She promised …’
‘You can’t believe a word she says!’ said Fi. ‘She’s lied to you, and she’ll lie again!’
Suddenly Mother was on her knees in front of me, gripping my other arm.
‘I admit it, child,’ she said. ‘I lied – and it was a terrible mistake. You must stay with us. Without you, we cannot save Perijee.’
I looked between the two of them in shock. I had no idea what to do.
‘Caitlin, come on!’ cried Fi, pulling me hard. ‘We have to go …’
‘You must stay, child …’
I closed my eyes. In my mind I could see Perijee on top of the Monster’s head – frightened, lost, alone. On the ground below him were thousands of people like the ones in Wanderly, waving pitchforks and screaming for him to be killed. And in the air above him were a hundred planes, swooping down and firing their missiles at the same time …
I shook my head and pulled free from Fi and Mother. The whole room was silent, waiting for me to speak.
‘Well?’ said Fi. ‘Caitlin, what are you waiting for?’
I turned to Mother and sighed.
‘If I stay … do I have to get a tattoo?’