"I knew you guys wouldn't believe it, as it truly sounded like something out of a fantasy. However, I have recordings to prove it all."
I spoke, unfazed by the lack of trust from my family. Logically, I understood their skepticism, but emotionally, it stung. Disappointment settled heavily in my chest.
Alex shook her head, her voice tinged with frustration. "James, it just doesn't make sense. Monsters can't exist."
I struggled to find the right words, not wanting to reveal too much. "Alex, it's true. The monster is a result of certain events triggered by my actions." I tried to explain as best as I could without giving away too much. This information just didn't feel right being spread.
"I had confided in Wednesday, who had witnessed the creature firsthand previously. Otherwise, I would have preferred to keep the secret of its existence - unkillable, able to survive by consuming human flesh, super strong and fast, with abilities to control blood and induce fear - hidden from the world."
Hayley rolled her eyes, her tone skeptical. "I think it's just a tattoo and you made up this whole story as an excuse."
I failed to understand just how she could think this was a tattoo, this scar was just too realistic to be a tattoo.
"Hayley, it's not a tattoo, this is what actually happened,"
"Sure," her tone was now really starting to annoy me, but I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of getting a reaction from me.
I kept silent, staring at her for a moment. She clenched her fist in frustration and I knew I had won this small psychological battle.
I smiled, feeling some of my annoyance dissipate as I turned to my parents. They had somehow convinced themselves that Hayley was right, that it was just a tattoo. They refused to accept the reality of the situation, in denial and afraid of the implications.
"Guys... I know you don't want to believe it, but it's true, what I have said did happen."
I reached for my pockets to grab my phone, Only to realize it was missing, I scanned the room, searching for another device I could use to show them the video. My gaze landed on Wednesday.
"Wednesday, can you give me your phone? I need to show them the video," I called out to her. She was in a corner, watching the scene unfold with a small, almost imperceptible smile. She looked slightly annoyed as she handed me her phone before returning to her corner.
I opened the phone, quickly typing out a message to Jarvis to send the video from the surveillance cameras. Within seconds, it was ready to play.
I turned the phone towards everyone and let out a sigh, unsure of their reaction. I pressed play and waited, not knowing if they would believe me or turn away.
(Third-person POV)
All eyes were glued to the screen, their expressions a mix of fear and anticipation as the video started playing.
It was a clear shot from a camera showing everything happening in the restaurant. Wednesday was sitting alone at a table in the empty restaurant, while James had just entered the doors to the washroom.
Wednesday was drinking small sips from a wine glass for a minute when a sudden crashing sound of plates breaking on the floor along with utensils crashing around came from the double-doored kitchen. It was a continuous noise that caused Wednesday, who was in her thoughts, to be distracted as she looked towards the kitchen doors in annoyance.
The sound soon died down, causing Wednesday to look annoyed. She brought the wine glass up to her mouth to continue drinking the contents inside it when, after saying something too low for the camera to pick up, suddenly the big kitchen doors broke with a punch of something big. Slowly, a big head could be seen through the camera. Everyone watching the video in the room visibly flinched when they saw the monster's face and Gloria clenched the cross in her hands tighter as she intently stared at the screen.
The monster's eyes darted around the empty restaurant as it soon landed on the lone Wednesday.
Wednesday seemed to have noticed this as the wine glass in her hands slipped and her eyes widened. The monster's lips curled back in a snarl, revealing razor-sharp teeth as it let out a deafening roar that shook the walls of the restaurant, causing shivers to pass through Manny and the kids around.
It shot its claws straight towards Wednesday. Wednesday seemed to have been frozen as she didn't make a single move and just stared at the oncoming claw.
Everyone leaned in closer to the screen, their eyes wide with fear and anticipation as they saw the monster's claws getting closer to Wednesday. So much so that they didn't notice James who had exited the washroom.
James's eyes had widened as he ran as fast as he could and pushed Wednesday out of the aim of the claw, causing it to miss.
That push caused Wednesday to shake her head sideways as to get rid of the daze she was locked in and a loud roar resounded throughout the restaurant, causing the camera to glitch slightly.
The monster angrily smashed its hands on the ground, causing the camera to shake and the ground to have cracks appear on it. It shot its hands towards James's head at high speeds.
James seemed to be stunned and didn't move, but somehow at the last second he managed to dodge the monster's attack. The monster's claw sliced through the air, narrowly missing James's head but cutting a deep gash on the side of his cheek.
Blood started flowing out of the wound, and the pain spread quickly to his brain. He could feel the sticky, warm blood flowing down his face, and he knew he needed to act fast. He couldn't let the monster get the upper hand. He clenched his teeth and gritted through the pain, summoning all of his strength and determination for a last Move of Survival purely based on instincts.