Chapter 1.

Do you believe in monsters?

I do!
I never really gave it much
thought when I was younger.
Not being superstitious or having
an over excited imagination, I was
a pretty sceptical audience to any
one who wanted to convince me of
aliens, gods, ghosts and things that
go bump in the night.
I lived a pretty normal life so far,
that is, until the housing crisis hit
and rents went up, forcing many
people to move from our modest
city by the bay.
I'm 35 now, and have been in
the process of readjusting to my
new surroundings, a little town
called, Polyandrion.
I thought it was an interesting
name, but still have no idea what
it means.
The only reason I moved to this
little town of 13,000 people, is
because of the ad I answered in
a regional paper I picked up for
packing glass and breakables.
I didn't see the irony of the ad,
because, again, I don't believe in
luck and I do not entertain flukes.
I believe for every action, there is a
reaction. A cause and an effect.
Chance is for feeble minds.
We are in control.
The ad was in a paper that was
more than a month old, and part of a
thick Sunday Issue. Moreover, I had
picked up several stacks of paper.
The irony, is that, number one, it
caught my eye. Number two, it applied
to me, and number three, it was the only
ad that did out of all the papers I picked
up.
It was too perfect! I should have known
something was wrong. My skepticism
failed me. I guess I wanted it too much.
I needed it. It was like a life rope thrown
to me, when all was lost.
I mailed in my application for the
County Internal Auditor, including all
my credentials and my Bachelor's
degree in Business and Accounting.
Within a week, I received a letter from
the County Clerks office happily
accepting my application, and requesting
my expertise as soon as possible.
I mailed back my confirmation, with my
move out date, and an estimation
regarding time of arrival, with my cell
phone number.
I had a 1989 XJS Chocolate, maroon
colored Jaguar that I used as a trade
in for a Ford Explorer XLT with 36,000
Miles on it.
The Jag was in really good shape, so
I only paid the difference of about
$6,000.00 dollars, on top of the fact
that the rep at the dealership really
wanted my car.
The move went off without a hitch,
and everything I wanted to take, fit
perfectly into the little U-Haul trailer
I rented. The Ford drove smooth as
silk, with no problems and I only
had to stop four times for gas.
1800 miles later, I pulled up to the
the apartment complex that consisted
of 13 units, including the Manager's
Office, where I signed a lease for six
months just prior to my move.
There weren't many places for rent
in the same town that I'd be working,
and I felt fortunate to find this cozy
one bedroom, full kitchen, full bath,
with patio for the measly $600.00
dollars a month they were asking.
Utilities include trash and water, so
all I have to pay for is power and gas,
which shouldn't exceed another one
hundred, fifty dollars. Add cable and
phone, gas and insurance, food and
everyday living expenses, I am only
gonna be paying about $1400.00
a month, where as, in the city I paid
almost $2200.00.
On top of that, I will be making over
five dollars an hour more, than my
old job for a private accounting firm.
I saw my parking slot, Unit #6, and
parked my now dusty Ford Explorer.
Stepping out and stretching my
tense muscles, A middle aged, not
so friendly red haired woman in a
tired, dull looking red and black
plaid sweater and worn out denim
jeans, came out of her unit to greet me.
She looked sad and bored at the same
time, and I wanted to get the formalities
done with her as quick as possible.
I stepped into the dusky, dimly lit,
office and almost choked on the stale,
intrusive, lingering cigarette smoke that
permeated the air and everything around
it.
With teary eyes, I signed the rest of the
paper work, got the key code for the
laundry room and pool, got my door
key, and left with a disguised
desperation to get away as fast as I
could.
Stepping back outside was like diving
into a fresh pool of water, as the light
breeze blew the remnants of stench
off my windbreaker.
The apartment was quant, but big
enough for the little possessions I
have aquired in my life. I'm not really
a needy man. I like a few creature
comforts... My Scotch, My Cherry
tobacco with my pipe, my telescope, a
good thick steak once in a while, and my collection of Classical music that I listen
to while I'm crunching numbers.
I never was exceptional at anything...
except for math. I flew through Algebra,
Trigonometry, Geometry, Calculous, and
Advanced Algebra in school, while
achieveing B's in all my other courses.
I didn't know what I wanted to be, so
when a high school buddy told me of
the accounting firm he worked at, and
that they needed a brainiac like me,
I submitted my first application. I was
hired immediately, and since then, have
had a half a...