The Non-Human

Fiction — A supernatural thriller short story

The glint of light shone through the hallway window as a pungent sweaty odour came from a cluttered rack of coats in the corner. I stood still, taking in my surroundings. The dark walls and black floors illuminated the dread. I was transported to something unpleasant.

A stiffness left my fingers as I touched the hot radiator. The warmth entered my veins and I slid long nails along my scalp. Clasping and grabbing skin along the side of my head like I was petting a pet, alleviated my dark senses.

Seeing his rugged smirk again clouded my judgment. I saw him walk on with an air of confidence into a bright flowery walled living room. I saw the ripple of his wide broad shoulders as he moved towards the dimming sunlight coming from a square window. I glided toward him. I wanted something from him and I was hoping it would be here, in this musky chilly house. I was going to take it from him but first I had to find it.

These last few weeks, we had laughed whilst sitting in a pub or a restaurant with others. I sensed something eerie as my bony fists stiffened. Our first meeting had been unreal but our second had been a reality. My computer failed to work on my first day at work in London. Becky, my co-worker, had called Jack, the computer guy.

‘What appears to be the problem?’ The shock of seeing his bearded face had caught me off balance. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Um… yeah… sure… I’m just tired.’

‘Ah well… that’s to be expected I suppose… I’m always tired. I stay up late… most nights… What’s your name? I haven’t seen you here before.’

‘I’m… uh… Daisy… It’s my first day here.’

My breath had escalated and a rushing surge clamped my palms together. The rest of that day had been spent producing the most outrageous designs because of my nervousness. I called them ‘outrageous’ because my hazy mind had stopped thinking. My hands drew the colors together raging silently over the fabric and producing them as they moved expertly along the material. My boss said they were ‘fashionable and daring party wear.’ After that, my work was deemed successful but I could see Jack’s shady face in the mixture of colored patterns.

Now, I was here in this foul room with clutters of books in corners and newspapers thrown on the floor, I wanted the truth. But maybe, Becky had gotten in the way of my plan with her stupid jealousy.

‘Hey… come and sit down. Would you like a drink?’

‘No. I’m fine.’

I sat on a dusty armchair and I nearly jumped when I saw a bug crawling upon it.

‘Ah come on. Have a glass of wine or some tea at least.’

‘Okay… if you insist… I’ll have a glass of dry white wine if you have it.’

‘Brilliant. I’ll go fetch a bottle downstairs in the cellar… it’s where I keep my good wine these days.’

‘What’s that smell? Are you cooking something?’

‘Ah… yeah… and I think it’s burning… excuse me for a minute. I think I need to check on it. I’ll be back with some wine.’

Jack smiled awkwardly. Once he was gone, I opened all the drawers and cupboards as I frantically searched. Stopping for a moment, I touched the scar down my right cheek. It stung whenever I moved but now it was slowly fading away because my body was getting used to its changes. I worked diligently as Jack’s green eyes haunted my memories. I began to wonder if he had ruined other young eighteen-year-old girls’ lives. I coughed. The burning smell drifted around the room.

My new job as a Fashion designer had been the first day I felt like I was getting somewhere, and it was all due to the thanks of my unusual therapist. The nightmares of a vicious glaring man looking over me with scruffy, greasy, brown hair and a long beard had swallowed me up for years. Those deep-toned words still lingered.

‘I was going to take you with me but now… I must leave you here… forgive me. I have to go now… but someone is coming. They’ll help you.’

When I’d finally awoken I was confused.

‘Where am I? What’s happened?’

‘You’ve been in an accident and now you’re in the hospital… you’ve had extensive surgery… that’s why you’ve got those bandages covering your face, head, and hands. Don’t worry… you’re in the best place. We’ll help you recover.’

Later, the trauma and the many surgeries placing metal shields within the layers of my skin knocked my mental health to an unruly disposition.

A doctor had explained it to me. ‘The power from the metal will help you to do things you never thought possible. The force will make them shake for a while but gradually, they will heal. Your blood transfusion saved your life. You will be utterly powerful and… I promise… it will help you go on with your life in ways you never imagined.’

Without knowing, Becky had helped me seek Jack’s friendship.

‘Let’s all go out… you, me, and Jack. Let’s have drinks tonight.’

Becky smiled eagerly at my words.

‘Yeah. That would be great. I would love that… just the three of us.’

‘Lovely… we’ll meet after work outside then?’

‘Yeah… I want to find out more about him. He could be the one.’

‘The one?’

‘Yeah. You know the man for me… is that awful?’

‘No. Of course not, Becky.’

The door of a mahogany cabinet banged shut as I carelessly let it go. The glass on the cabinet shook. I couldn’t find it. I took out Becky’s note from my pocket and read it again.

‘I want Jack for myself, so tonight I’m going to his house to make it official. So, don’t stop me! I won’t have you getting in my way and don’t tell him I’m coming. If he finds out, then I’ll know it was you. Plus, he has something of yours, but don’t worry Daisy, I will get it for you.’

I put the note away and wondered where she was. I hadn’t seen her since.

My hands guided me as I searched underneath the carpet looking in the less obvious places. The harrowing thoughts aggravated me as I moved. I stopped suddenly as a searing iciness zapped me. Someone was coming.

‘Here we are… some wine for you and me. Sorry, I’ve taken a long time, but it took me a while to locate that perfect wine in the cellar. Plus, it took ages to sort out that bloody food which was burned… so I’ve thrown it out.’

‘Never mind. Your cellar sounds interesting. I’d love to see it.’

‘It’s cold down there but it’s perfect as a wine cellar.’

He smirked and I thought I saw something else in his wide green eyes as they squinted slightly. Was he lying?

‘I see. I’d love to see it.’

My right arm shifted with a tingle of something electric. The glasses were already filled with wine.

‘Sure. I’ll show you. Drink up first. Get some wine inside of you and then I’ll give you a tour of my home.’

‘Wonderful.’

I went to pick up my glass but as my fingers touched it, the glass shook and exploded.

‘Wow! What happened? Is your hand okay? Let me see.’

‘I’m not sure what just happened. It just broke… but my hand is fine.’

‘Really? Okay… I’ll just get another one then.’

Jack disappeared. He came back with another glass. I watched him as he poured wine from the bottle into it.

‘Thanks. I’m really sorry.’

‘It’s no problem. Now drink up and then I’ll show you around.’

‘There. All finished.’

‘You’re pretty eager aren’t you?’

‘I was thirsty and I’m curious.’

‘Are you? But why?’

‘It’s a way of me getting to know you… by seeing your home, I get to learn more about you.’

‘But… I know nothing about you. For instance, how did you get that scar on your cheek?’

I shook at the question.

‘I had an accident when I was eighteen. I don’t really talk about it.’

‘Why not? It’s good to talk about trauma… you know. Get it out of your system.’

‘I had a therapist for that and she did a pretty good job.’

‘Ah right… so… how did the accident happen?’

‘It was a road accident. I got knocked down. It ruined my face and hands. I was in quite a terrible state for a long time.’

‘You poor thing…. that’s so awful. Did the police get the driver?’

‘No. They never did because it was a hit-and-run. They searched for a long time and they’re still searching.’

‘Really… they can’t be searching very well if they still haven’t found him.’

‘How do you know it’s a ‘him’? It could be a female.’

‘Figure of speech. It didn’t mean anything. Look… let’s not talk about your trauma. I’m picking up some bad vibes from you so… I guess, it’s still raw in your mind.’

‘Oh, it is. Very much so. I will never be over it until we catch the person who did this to me.’

I hunched my shoulders and gave him a serious straight stare. I breathed in small breaths as I put my hands on my chest to stop my heart from beating erratically.

‘Right… come on… I’ll show you around.’

‘Sure.’

I got up and followed him into the hallway. He climbed the stairs.

‘Why are we going upstairs? I thought you were going to show me the cellar.’

‘All in good time. First upstairs. I want to show you my collection.’

‘Collection? Of what?’

‘You’ll see.’

He turned and gave me a scrutinizing look as his bulging eyes widened with mystery. I cringed as a coldness surged into my shoulders whilst we went further up the stairs. There were paintings on the walls of various odd-looking women with their eyes closed. I shivered.

‘What are these paintings? Are they yours?’

‘You got me. Yeah, they’re all mine.’

‘Wow. All women too, I see.’

‘They certainly are.’

My breath was fast as we came to the first floor. I wondered who the women were. I began to fret but I knew I had to go on.

‘So, you paint?’

‘I do. Come and see.’

I followed him into a large room with bright red walls and a wooden mahogany floor. A sound from the thin-heeled boots I wore reverberated in the silence. The room was surprisingly and unexpectedly better than the downstairs. No shabbiness to it. Velvet curtains were drawn on a wide window. Paintings were scattered about. Their sheer nudity shocked me.

The first one seemed to be of a young woman. She lay spread out on a bed scattered with roses. Her eyes were closed and her long black hair spread wide on the pillows. She seemed to be asleep. I thought the painting portrayed her as a Goddess of some kind with a serene glowing white face. I stared. I could feel my rapid heartbeat pumping. I blushed as I saw her private parts covered with both of her hands. My fingers started to flitter. I shifted.

I glanced at other paintings. I saw young women laid out on beds or lounge chairs. They were painted with red streaks about their bodies. The wine regurgitated in my throat.

Each one with red-blooded lips and rosy nakedness made them seem like they were giving themselves away. Eye shadow on their eyelids glistened with blues and pinks as their bodies were made to appear wild and ugly.

In others, like mannequins, naked and frenzied with dead-like expressions. I peered at Jack and noticed his mouth slightly open with a sadistic sick smile.

‘Wow… they’re colorful. Have you got something against women?’

‘Why do you ask?’

‘Because you’ve portrayed them as dead. You paint them naked. All of them. Did they pose for you?’

‘Of course not. Imagination is my thing and I love women.’

‘Their faces do appear to be young and innocent.’

‘They’re not all young. This one here is middle-aged.’

He pointed to a painting of a naked woman sitting upright on a chair. I blushed as I tried not to gaze too long at it. The woman’s hair fell wild about her shoulders as it covered her breasts. Her legs were long and crossed, covering the intimate part of her body.

‘Mmm…’

‘Don’t you like them?’

I strolled through the room without answering. I scanned them until one caught my eye. A disturbance halted my gaze. I moved another painting out of the way. The brown eyes and bushy dark curly hair of a woman I thought I knew caught me by surprise. I held my breath.

‘Who’s this?’

‘Oh… a woman I once knew. We dated for a while but she left me in the end. She managed to break my heart too… but she was a nasty one. I thought I knew her but she turned out to be a disappointment.’

I gazed longer at the painting. I felt sure it was her because her hair was so thick and curly, and there was a reddish birthmark on her upper arm drawn into the painting. She lay on a bed almost naked except for a scarf that barely covered the area between her legs. Her long bushy hair spread wild about her shoulders as it fell about her chest covering her breasts. Jack had made her beautiful in the painting. More stunning than she’d ever been.

‘Is it Becky?’

‘I guess… you’ve caught me out.’

‘So it is her… did she come here to pose for you?’ I paused waiting for his answer but he fell silent. ‘Did she? You know she’s missing, right? You might have been the last person to see her.’

‘Not sure why you’re using that blaming tone on me, but Becky has never been here once. I painted her using my imagination… I told you… all of them are imagined. Are you accusing me of something?’

‘No. But I got a note from her. She said she was coming here.’

‘Did she? Why?’

‘Don’t you know?’

‘Know what?’

‘She was crazy about you and she thought I came between you two. She was jealous of me.’

‘I see… well… she hasn’t come here… anyway, how do you know she’s missing? Has someone declared her missing? I know she hasn’t been to work but… she’s supposed to be ill at home. Isn’t she?’

‘No. I’ve been to her home. There’s no one there.’

I began to tremble. I felt his warm palm touch my right hand.

‘Your skin is freezing.’

‘Is it?’

‘Yeah. How come?’

I snatched my hand away and as I did he flew backward, falling into a floral armchair.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘What are you? Are you one of those… non-humans?’

‘What?’

‘I said…’

‘I know what you said… and… it’s your imagination.’

‘Maybe… but you’ve got strength… you can’t deny it and I’ve seen you do it before at work. You think you’re hiding it but you’re really not.’

‘It’s your imagination, Jack.’

‘Fine. Let’s move on. I’ll show you the cellar… like you wanted.’

His abruptness showed the side I remembered. Something brutal was lurking. I felt my mouth dry up but I followed him anyway.

I remembered my therapist’s warning. It had come as a huge surprise a few years ago when she gave it to me.

‘Never take it off.’

‘Why?’

‘It will stop the urge.’

‘What urge? Where did this come from?’

‘I know, you’ve got questions… but the urge is your downside. If you wear this it will protect you and let you live a normal life. Wearing it will stop the urge… if you take it off you’ll be down in yourself… you’ll behave as if you’ve got an addiction. So, never, never take it off. Do you understand?’

‘I guess… but… what does this mean?’

‘Remember your transfusion? It was rather unusual as your body wouldn’t take any other types of blood.’

‘Yes, I remember.’

‘So, you’ve now got unusual blood in your veins. It was the only one that worked… it’s the reason why you’ve got this downside.’

‘How do you know this?’

‘Someone left it in this box with a note explaining what it was for.’

‘But who?’ I trembled.

‘I don’t know… the note states that their non-human blood is running through your veins and… it reiterated that you should always wear it and never take it off. Non-humans exist. The note states that there is a group of them willing to help you. Here… take the note and keep it somewhere safe. Their contact details are on it.’

‘Non-human? What’s that?’

‘Someone like you.’

‘What happens if I take it off?’

‘Then you’ll have the urge… but you won’t take it off… will you, Daisy?’

‘No. I won’t. I promise.’

‘Good. Then put it on now.’

I did what she said. The group of non-humans had been helpful. They taught me things that I never knew were possible. I followed their rules. Then I broke them by taking it off. Now it was missing.

Seeing Jack regularly was a way for me to get my memories back. I had the chance to study him. One day, he began to tease me.

‘Hey… Daisy… I think we’re very alike. You have that mysterious glow about you… like you’re hiding something… I have that too.’

‘I don’t know what you mean?’

‘Sure you do… it’s always there in the back of your eyes.’

‘Really… then what are you hiding?’

‘Wouldn’t you like to know!’

‘I would actually. Come on. Tell me.’

‘It’ll keep for another time. Perhaps, when we’re alone and it’s quiet. You should come around mine one evening.’

‘Sure, Jack. I look forward to it.’

Jack’s intention was evident. He wasn’t going to tell me anything.

I saw him flinch as I followed him. I had to find it. I had to see if he had it.

‘Are we going down to the cellar?’

‘If that’s what you want… then yes.’

‘Brilliant.’

We got to the hallway and then he opened a door and flicked on a light. The staircase was steep.

At the bottom, I could see shelves, holding bottles of wine, all stacked in a row underneath each other.

I sniffed and a whiff of something sickening made my stomach ache. It reminded me of when I was a teenager. I had watched my uncle skin a rabbit on my family’s farm. Their rotting flesh had stunk of a putrid repulsiveness.

I gagged. I followed Jack further into the cellar. I walked towards the end. I saw a fridge freezer and some boxes stacked in a corner. I covered my mouth and nose with my palms and it closed my nostrils off.

‘Do you use this place to just store wine?’

‘No… not just wine. I store some of my paintings down here too. Would you like to see them?’

‘Sure. Where are they?’

‘Over here. Follow me.’

‘It’s darker here. Where’s the light?’

‘There isn’t one. Hang on… I’ll get a torch.’

‘Jack… I really can’t see.’

‘Come on… follow me. It’s over this way.’

‘I still can’t see where I’m going.’

‘We’re going around a corner so hold onto me.’

‘Is this necessary?’

Jack didn’t answer but he kept pulling my hand, leading me through the darkness.

‘Right… we’re here. Just relax. I’ve got you.’

He let go of me and an oil lantern suddenly flooded the area with light.

‘What is this place? Why did you bring me here?’

I looked up and there I saw a pale face staring back at me.

‘I guess you can see it on the wall over there. It’s my one true masterpiece. You see… she was very enthusiastic… she wanted to help me… she came here unannounced, so I thought I’d use her. She was nasty when she realized who I really was… what a pity.’

‘Anyway, I’ve wanted to tell you for ages, and yes… I knocked you down that night. It was me. But what you don’t know… is that I should’ve taken you in my car… Of course, that idiotic policeman turning up like he did… well… it was a shame… but then…’

I watched how he took a deep breath before continuing and smiling sadistically at me.

‘When you turned up at work… I was fully aware of who you were… you stared at me with those gratifying blue eyes, and that’s when I fell in love with you. No… actually, I fell in love with you when you were eighteen.’ Jack licked his lips. ‘I’ve been wanting to bring you here for so long. I ached to have you here. Now… it will be so endearing to have you to myself after all these years of missing out on you. I can’t tell you how delighted I am right now.’

‘What do you mean ‘have me’?’

‘Ah come on. You can’t be that stupid.’

‘So, Becky did come here. That’s her in the painting, isn’t it?’

‘She did. Like a little cute bunny, she came nibbling for me. She was so eager and then she was a challenge. She screamed and punched but… I handled her very well.’

I watched him move the lantern to another spot in the cellar and that’s when I saw the mattress in the corner on the floor.

‘What do you think you’re going to do?’

‘What indeed?’ He paused, shifting back slightly. ‘You were so clever to break that glass earlier. Did you know I had laced your wine with something? Is that why you smashed it?’

‘No. I didn’t know but I do now.’

My hands knew everything these days before I did.

‘What are you? You’re not like the others. You seem oddly managed like a non-human… wait…’ he laughed. ‘Oh wow… you’re one of them… aren’t you?’

‘How do you know about them? And it was you who made me this way… knocking me down that night and leaving me nearly dead lying on the road. I wouldn’t be this person if you hadn’t left me there.’

‘I wasn’t meant to leave you there… I was supposed to take you here and paint you… oh well, you’re here now… I watched you for days when I realized it was you at work. I discovered your group. Of course, I’m not sure what’s non-human about you. Show me where on your body. I want to see.’

‘It’s my hands and face, although… I was told… that my blood transfusion changed me.’

‘Really? In what way?’

‘Enough questions! You don’t deserve answers.’

‘Please… at least let me touch your hand.’

I held it out and he stroked it.

‘It feels normal. Like any human hand. Come nearer. I want you to lie down on the bed. I need to look at you.’

‘No! It’s time for you to stop. Give me what I came for… right now. I know you have it.’

‘You mean this?’ I saw him pick up a small box and wave it about. ‘Here. Take it.’

I snatched it away from him. I opened the lid and there it was, sitting under some tissue paper. I stroked it and then closed the box. I put it in my pocket without putting it on. I glided over to Jack’s side and wrapped my arms around his neck, locking him in position. The urge rose.

‘So… you do want me?’

‘Come closer.’

‘Make me like you.’

‘You’re a monster… you killed Becky and all those women! Admit it.’

‘Yes. It’s true! I’m a monster. I did it. I buried them in the floors of this cellar. But so what? I can still be like you… please, make me like you. I want to be a non-human.’

‘Shut up!’

I held him tightly. My saliva fell onto his skin as my hands and fingers clasped around his neck.

His skin tasted like sweet sherbet as it touched my tongue. I swallowed Jack’s blood as his eyes closed. I realized what I was doing, so I let him fall to the floor.

I took the ring from the box and placed it on my finger. The gold touched my skin making it one with my being. I could feel the power transcend. I quivered. My brain finally turned to mush as I sat for ages next to Jack’s body.

It was true. I was a non-human but not a killer. I found something to tie Jack to a chair and as I did, I saw fresh blood stains near the mattress that lay in the corner of the cellar. I retrieved my mobile from my pocket and dialed the number for the local police station.

The Non-Human Kindle book is now on Amazon.