2. Willow: Monsters Lurking at Juggy.

Willow Reid's POV

No one prepared me for the exorbitant bills I had to pay as an adult. Adding to the fucking pressure, my Mum was extremely sick, and I was stressed out about the cost of her medical care. My rent was due in a week and my sorry ass couldn't afford it, especially since I still had school loans to pay off.

I worked at a popular bar and my pay was good, but even when I worked extra shifts, it wasn't enough to cover all my expenses. I needed a lot of money, thousands of pounds specifically, and I wasn't sure how I would get it.

My eyes darted to my watch. I had only five minutes left until I had to leave Juggy Bar where I worked. Everyone had to be gone by 10. p.m., with no exceptions. That was the rule. I rushed out of the locker room where I had stripped off my uniform, grabbing my bag as I went.

As I walked to the main bar, George approached me with a big smile on his face. "You'd better get off work now, Willow - your mother doesn't have a minute to spare", he said.

I forced a chuckle "Good joke, George. I was just about to leave."

He pulled a bundle of cash from his pocket and placed it on my palm. I suspected he had added some extra tips, in addition to my daily pay.

"Try not to make a habit of staying late. You're the only worker left. It's dangerous outside" he advised with a worried look.

"I'll stop when my mum's health improves."

"How is she?" His face was laced with concern.

"She's getting better, but the bills…" I mumbled. I didn't want to explain my problems to George, for fear of seeming like a burden. He was my boss and telling him about the bills might seem like I was asking him for more help. He has done enough for my family.

"I understand." He gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "See you at work tomorrow Willow." He walked away.

I scrambled out of the bar onto the street to look for a cab to take me home. It had been a very stressful day and as much as I longed for my cozy bed, I knew I wouldn't be able to relax when I got home. I needed to stay awake throughout the night to watch Mum since I couldn't afford the best hospital for her.

I waited for what felt like an eternity until a cab finally appeared on the horizon. The cab driver was talkative, entertaining me with stories about his daily life. After he'd finished talking, he reached for an inhaler on the dashboard and inhaled deeply.

Then it struck me!

I had forgotten Mum's drugs at work!

Holy shit!

These drugs were her only chance of survival tonight, and I needed to get them, but no one went to Juggy Bar past 10. p.m. No one!

I've worked at Juggy Bar for more than a year and George warned us every day to never stay close to the bar after 10 pm. He had fired lots of employees who questioned his decision or who lurked around during those times and whenever George got angry, it wasn't a nice sight.

My palm became sweaty and itchy at the thought of getting on George's wrong side. I was going to lose my job if he found out I went back to the bar. I needed the job, but I needed my mum more. George would understand that, right? A life was at stake, he wouldn't fire me for saving my mum's life, right?

I ordered the cab man to turn back immediately. I had the extra keys with me since I was always the first to arrive every morning, so that was a relief.

In what seemed like a long drive, I eventually arrived at Juggy Bar. My legs tightened against each other as I got out of the cab and deliberated on going in.

What was the worst thing that could happen? Yeah?

I dabbled with the keys and entered the bar. It was quiet as a graveyard, it was dark too, nothing abnormal, as George made it seem. I turned on the flashlight and headed towards the locker room. I found my locker and opened it, and I was relieved to see the drugs placed carefully in the locker. At least my mum was safe for the night. I grabbed the medication ready to get out of the bar when a voice made me stop.

Voices…

I heard roars of laughter behind the curtains of the locker room, at the very end. I froze. I switched off my flashlight, my heart pounding in my chest. Someone was here, more than one person, perhaps. I knew my ears weren't playing tricks on me.

I was tempted to go peep behind the curtains to see what was happening, but my mind told me to just go home and avoid George's wrath. What if those were security guards George had hired to protect his bar? If they got hold of me and told George, he would fire me!

The voices became louder, it appeared these people, whoever they were, were having fun. I wanna eavesdrop on their conversation, curiosity was itching my nerves and I allowed it to take over me. I walked gently to the curtains and partly opened them.

Thrills ran down my spine at what I saw. My knees almost knocked, and I held the curtains for support. Several men were in the room, including George, but that wasn't the scary thing. George and some others were ripping out the flesh of an animal with their teeth. I could see blood all over their hands, mouths, and clothes.

"Deer are now more tasty than bears," George said with his mouthful.

I could swear that my head spun for about three seconds. My grip tightened on my mum's medication. I looked around the room filled with huge horrifying men. I should be out of here…these men…they were not human… They were monsters.

The room became cold, and I felt a shiver run through my skin. The men had elongated ears, flat noses, and hairy faces. Their teeth stood out with long fangs at each corner, and their eyes were an element of different colors.

Was this the secret George was trying to hide from everyone? That he wasn't a human but a monster? That couldn't be. Monsters don't exist. George was the kindest and most understanding boss I've worked with. He didn't behave like a monster. This must be a nightmare.

I wiped my sweaty face with the curtain, my legs were suddenly heavy and I couldn't move them. I felt like screaming, but I was going to end up laying myself a prey. I shouldn't have come back to Juggy Bar.

My eyes drifted to a corner where one of the men was sitting alone, unlike George and his other friends, his table was filled with roasted meats and alcohol and I watched him eat it gently. He had the same facial features as the others, but he wasn't eating a raw dead animal. He was less scary, and I was confused. If they were all the same species, why was he different? I couldn't stop staring at him. He raised his head from his food and stared into the air.

"Someone is here." He said loudly.

No. No. No. Fuck. I cursed under my breath. My heart began to race ten times faster than before. There was no way it was me he was referring to, right?

All attention went to him, and they all stopped eating the deer.

"No one is here, Luca. I made sure all my staff went home." George said, looking around.

The man, Luca, stood up with a commanding presence and an air of superiority and walked a few steps to George. "You're well aware that no one must see us this way, right?"

There was fear in George's eyes, I'd never seen him so scared. " I swear Luca, everyone went home. No one is here."

Luca grabbed George by his collar and raised him. "What if I find someone?" He growled.

George was quiet. He kept looking around, but he couldn't see me. I bet no one could see me behind this curtain too. How come this man, Luca, could sense my presence?

"Punish me," George said confidently.

"Fair enough." Luca lowered George and dusted his hands.

I leaned tighter toward the wall and reduced the space of my peep. No one would see me if I remained this way. I saw Luca raise chairs and scatter some furniture and others stared at him with panic. He was the less scary one, yet others were afraid of him.

"I smell someone here!" He growled again, a scary, angry one.

Smell? Like with his flat nose, could he smell my presence? I needed to go, I needed to leave right now! My legs were failing me, they were stiff. Luca started moving closer towards the curtains. Tears rolled down my eyes, fear had gotten the better part of me.

He didn't stop, he walked faster toward me, his nose flickering like he was confident that I was there. I prayed inwardly for a miracle, my body trembling.

"Right here", he held the curtains and at that moment my bladder ceased to function. The urine ran down my legs as he slowly opened the curtains.

I saw him. He saw me.

Our eyes met, and my whole body weakened, I wanna fall to my knees in his commanding presence. I wanna beg for mercy at his feet.

"Is anyone there, Luca?" I heard George ask from a distance.

Luca's eyes were still fixed on me. My mouth quivered as tears rolled down my cheek seeing this monster. "No." He responded to George. "It's just a mouse."