Dweller - Jeff Strand [45]
“I wasn’t going to run.” She stood there, staring at Owen. “That’s not a mask. Holy shit, that’s not a mask.”
“You’re right, it’s not. But you see that he’s not doing anything, right? He’s not trying to hurt you. He’s just staying there.” He reached into his jacket pocket. “I’m going to give you the gun, but do not point it at him unless you have to, okay? I’ll go over to him, and you’ll see that it’s completely safe, but you’ll have the gun. How does that sound?”
“I don’t want to be here,” Melissa said.
He took the gun out of his pocket, making sure the barrel remained pointed at the ground. “Here, take it.”
She shook her head.
“Okay.” He put the gun back into his pocket. “Just stay where you are. I’m going over to him, and when you feel comfortable, you can join us. If you don’t feel comfortable, we’ll go home and try again some other time.”
“Let’s try again some other time.”
He smiled and gave her a quick kiss, then slowly walked toward Owen. “How’ve you been, buddy? This is my friend that I’ve told you all about. She’s beautiful, isn’t she? She’s really wanted to meet you, and I think you two are going to get along great.”
“Toby, be careful!”
“I am, don’t worry.” He returned his attention to Owen. “See, Owen, you probably thought I was making her up, didn’t you? You thought Melissa was a fictional character. I had to drag her all the way out here through the snow to prove to you that she existed.”
He stood right in front of Owen. Owen gave him a big hug.
“Yeah, I missed you, too.”
“He’s hugging you,” said Melissa.
“Yep, he does it all the time. He’s pretty affectionate for such a horrific monster.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?”
“Positive. Owen, show Melissa how you feel about people who I care about. Care. Show her care.”
Owen balled his fists together and put them over his heart.
“That’s right. And who’s your best friend?”
“Toby.”
Melissa gasped. “He talks!”
“Kind of. Not really. That’s pretty much his whole vocabulary. But we’re working on other stuff. I tried to teach him to say Melissa, but it hasn’t worked yet. Owen, can you say Melissa? Melissa?”
Owen gave him a thumbs-down sign.
“Try it. Melissa.”
No.
“That’s okay. It’s not your fault, is it?” He looked back at Melissa. “I think he likes you.”
“How can you even tell?”
“Oh, I can read him pretty well. You like Melissa, right? Do you like Melissa?”
Yes.
“See?”
“That’s incredible,” Melissa said. “You taught him that?”
“Yeah. It’s been slow, but it helped that I didn’t have any other friends. He doesn’t learn new signs that well anymore. I think his brain is full. Is your brain full, Owen? Do you have a full brain?”
“I can’t believe it. This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
“You don’t want to miss out on your chance to pet a monster, do you?” Toby asked.
“No. Actually, I don’t.”
She slowly walked over to join them.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Don’t freak out if he hugs you,” Toby warned.
“I guarantee you I’ll freak out if that happens.”
With about ten feet separating them, she hesitated.
“It’s okay,” said Toby. “He’s totally calm, see?”
Melissa took several deep breaths, the cold air misting in front of her face, and then walked over to them.
“Melissa, this is Owen. Owen, this is Melissa.”
“Can he understand you?”
“Yeah, some of it.” He gave Owen the friend signal, and Owen did the same.
“Have you told anybody else?”
“No. You’re the first ever.”
“And when did you meet him?”
“It depends when you start keeping track. But talk to him instead of me—I think you’re confusing him.”
“Hello, Owen.” Her voice was quivering, but she didn’t look as if she were going to lose control.
Owen placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Oh, shit.”
“It’s okay. He won’t hurt you.”
“His claws are huge.”
“So are your fingernails. You’re kindred spirits.”
“We need to go now.”
Toby nodded. “That’s fine. Owen, let go.”
After a moment of apparent indecision, Owen removed his hand from Melissa’s shoulder, and then lowered his head.
“He wants you to pet him.”
“I can’t.”
“You don’t have to.”
Melissa clenched and unclenched