Page 67 of First Kiss with a Mothman

“Can we hurry this up?” a female voice asks. Is that…Arie’s mom?

“I’m doing all the heavy lifting,” a male voice says. I sense my wrists are bound by what feels like rope.

“Why do you even need that? Just get his blood or whatever and we can leave.”

“These things take time and finesse, Margaret.”

The room feels like it’s spinning, but if I stay still, maybe I can hear more about what they’re bickering about. With my eyes clamped shut, I try not to wince at the feel of a band going over my bicep.

“Couldn’t we just do this in the car?”

“No. I needed the space. And now I need to concentrate so I can take enough blood.”

A sting goes up my arm. I recognize that someone is using a needle to pull blood from me, and I hope it’s sterile. I also hope I can get the hell out of here.

Like something out of a movie, I realize that’s going on―I’ve been kidnapped. And somehow, Arie’s mom is complicit.

Shit, Arie. Is he safe?

“And with this, you’re sure you can craft a cure?”

“My sources have theories.” I wince as he pulls out the needle. “A fully grown insectoid shifter was the last piece of the potential puzzle.”

“I don’t appreciate doing all this labor for, what, a possible cure? Robert, you promised that this would get my son to not be a monster anymore!”

“Shut up or he’ll wake up, Margaret!” The second voice sounds so irritated, and that’s when I recognize it―it’s Arie’s uncle, the guy I met that one time.

“Let’s just chloroform him again then let him stumble back to his dorm or whatever,” Arie’s mom says.

“Won’t be necessary.” I feel the dude, Robert, place something else on my arm. “I don’t know why I’m even putting a bandage on him. It’s that damn doctor training that won’t let me stop, hehe.” He gives a soft laugh, then steps away from me.

“Good, that has to be enough,” Arie’s mom whispers. They’re slightly farther away, so I take the chance to open my eyes.

I look around at where we are. I don’t recognize this small building; it appears to be a shack of sorts. Through a tiny window, I notice the sun hasn’t completely set yet. I’m guessing I wasn’t out cold for too long. Pulling on my wrists, I know I’m stuck, so I doubt I can make a run for it. Arie’s family is psychotic, so they might do worse things to me if I stay here. What can I do…?

I spot the autumn leaves outside the window. And where there are trees, there are moths, and other insects. In a desperate decision, I flutter my wings as quietly as I can and focus on my powers.

Insects of the forest…insects of the entire county, the entire state…hear my plea…

When the pair return to me, I pretend to go back to sleep. “We’re just gonna leave him tied up?” Arie’s mom asks.

“Not quite.” I hear splashes and a very distinct smell―gasoline. Oh no.

“You’re gonna burn him?!”

“Of course,” he says with a grunt. “We’ll be long gone. And if the police ask, we were together.”

“But, but…that wasn’t part of the deal!” Arie’s mom sounds genuinely distressed. “You said if I led him here, you’d be able to heal my son, not kill some kid!”

“Oh, grow UP, MARGARET!” he shouts. “Arie is only a monster because he’s been cursed by these freaks. They continue to replace us, us pure humans!”

“But, but…” she sputters.

“And with one less monster at that school, we’ll live in a cleaner world. And you’ll be wise not to let Arie fuck any more of these abominations.” There’s a rustling sound, and my pulse pounds. They’re gonna burn me here?

“I’m…I didn’t want to murder anyone!”

“Don’t act like you wouldn’t be happy with this insect out of Arie’s life forever.”