Short Story #6

Trevor Whittemore

Baku

     It was early April in Japan and the cherry blossoms had started to bloom. A young girl named Haru looked up at the trees outside of her house, admiring the pink hues of the flowers.

     She lived with her mother Mayumi and her father Jin in the countryside of *Takayama in a very old style pit dwelling house that had been in Mayumi’s family for nearly six hundred years. It had been passed down to her by her parents and had been modernized since then, but it still had the original storage pit that ran under the house that now had a wooden hatch and stairs leading down into it where Mayumi stored food and water in case of a disaster. Mayumi always kept it locked and told Haru never to go down there. Jin never went down there either.

     Jin was a farmer and he grew herbs, vegetables, and rice. He was also a sword maker when he wasn’t farming. He had forged hundreds of *Tamahagane swords using ancient clay tempering methods and the finest materials. People would pay anywhere from $5,000-$30,000 for one of his swords. As they were practically indestructible and sharper than any edged weapon on the planet. Each sword he forged could cut down an entire bamboo forest and afterwards you could shave with it.

     In his spare time, he would train in *Bushido and cut bamboo. He was a very skilled swordsman, but he loved to drink lots of sake after a long days work.

     Mayumi was a stay at home mom and she did all the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. She also made sure all the bills were paid on time.

     Haru was eleven years old and very smart. She got straight A’s in school. She also loved to help Mayumi around the house; especially when it came time to prepare dinner. Mayumi had made Salmon and Yellowtail sashimi with rice, and miso soup for dinner and Haru helped her. Afterwards Haru cleaned up while Jin drank his Sake in the kitchen. When it was time for bed, Haru went to her bedroom while Jin continued to drink heavily as he did every night.

     Haru then drifted off to sleep and in her dream she saw a horrible *Oni with horns long gray hair and glowing orange eyes. It had a huge mouth full of teeth with long tusk like fangs protruding from the sides of it. It was big and terrifying with long sharp claws on the ends of its hands.

     The Oni picked up Haru opening it’s huge mouth ready to devour her then out of nowhere a strange creature appeared. It had glowing yellow eyes and a trunk with long tusks and huge paws with razor sharp claws on the ends of them. It was covered in fur and it had a bushy tail.

     Haru quickly awoke frightened and when she did she heard the cries of Jin’s oxen followed by a loud roar that woke Mayumi.

     “Jin!” cried Mayumi, but he was passed out drunk at the dinner table.

     The cries continued as Haru held tightly onto her mom terrified.

     “I’m scared mom,” said Haru.

     Mayumi ran into the kitchen where Jin was passed out drunk snoring loudly at the table. She then filled a glass full of water and splashed it into Jin’s face.

     “Shit! What’s going on?” said Jin.

     “Wake up you idiot! Something is attacking your oxen,” said Mayumi.

     Jin then ran into his room grabbing one of his* katanas he grabbed a flashlight and then he ran outside to the field where he kept his oxen.

     “Haru, stay in the house and no matter what happens do not come outside, okay!” said Mayumi.

     She grabbed the only other flashlight they had and she ran outside to the pen where Jin kept his oxen.

     When she arrived, Jin was standing still wearing the look of shock upon his face. As she shined her light into the pen, both Oxen were dead and their entrails were strewn about the place. They had huge chunks of flesh torn out of them by something big. Large lacerations ran deep down the sides of the dead oxen. One of them was missing its head.

     “Good god, what on earth could have done this,?” said Jin puzzled.

     “I don’t know. maybe, oh nevermind,” said Mayumi shaking her head.

     “Maybe what? Tell me!” demanded Jin.

     “It’s nothing,” said Mayumi shaking her head.

     Jin followed a blood trail that led out of the pen and into a field where he was growing turnips. He came across a huge hole in the ground and lying next to it was his Oxen’s severed head. Part of its face had been eaten away. Mayumi gasped as she put her hand over her mouth.

     “What in gods name could have made this hole?” said Jin.

     “Maybe *Higuma,” said Mayumi.

     “I want you to go inside Mayumi while I  fill this giant hole,” said Jin.

     “But Jin--“ said Mayumi.

     “Go now! It’s too dangerous for you out here, ” said Jin.

     “Please be careful,” said Mayumi with worry in her eyes.

     Jin then grabbed a nearby shovel and he started to fill the huge hole in with dirt.

     When Mayumi went back inside, Haru was sitting on the floor crying.

     “What’s wrong Haru?” asked Mayumi.

     “Where’s father?” asked Haru.

     “He is outside,” said Mayumi.

     “Did the Oni hurt him?” asked Haru as she was worried about him.

     “Oni? Why do you say that?” asked Mayumi curious as to what her daughter meant by that statement.

     “I saw the Oni. It has glowing orange eyes a huge mouth full of ugly teeth and long claws and horns. Please don’t let it get me mom,” said Haru as she got up and hugged tightly onto Mayumi’s legs.

     “I won’t, but you must tell me Haru, when did you see this Oni?” asked Mayumi in a serious tone.

     “I saw it tonight,” said Haru.

     “Where? Haru you must tell me where you saw the Oni was it outside?” asked Mayumi.

     “No, it was in my dream and trying to eat me, but something saved me from it. Some strange fury creature with a long trunk and yellow eyes. It looked like it was part bear and part elephant or something,” said Haru.

     “It was *Baku,” said Mayumi.

     “What is Baku, mommy?” Haru asked.

     “Wait here,” said Mayumi and she left the room.

     When she came back, she handed Haru an ancient animal doll.

     “What’s this, mom?” asked Haru.

     “That’s Baku! He has been in this family longer than this house has. Baku is known as the dream eater, and he eats nightmares. Tonight he protected you from this Oni,” said Mayumi.

     “What exactly is it?” asked Haru curious.

     “After the gods finished creating all the animals on earth, Baku was created using the leftover parts of the animals. He has a bears body, an elephants nose, a tigers feet, and an oxen’s tail, ” said Mayumi.

     “Is it good, mommy?” asked Haru.

     “Yes, it is a guardian spirit that eats nightmares, so as long as you have this by your side you will have nothing to fear,” said Mayumi handing Haru the ancient doll.

     “Thanks mom,” said Haru as she held onto the Baku doll.

     “You’re welcome sweetie, but you must keep him safe and don’t ever leave the house with it. Keep him in your bed with you always even when you’re not at home leave him in your bed and he will always protect you,” said Mayumi.

     “I will thanks, and mom?” asked Haru.

     “What is it, Haru?” said Mayumi.

     “Is the Oni I saw in my dream real?” asked Haru.

     “No, it was just a bad dream. That’s all. Now try and get some sleep Haru. it’s late,” said Mayumi turning off the light.

     Hours later, Jin had finished digging the hole, he then went back inside and he lied down next to his wife in their bed and within a minute he fell into a deep sleep.

     The next day, Jin looked over his dead oxen carefully and he took pictures of their wounds on his phone, he then burned his dead Oxen.

     Jin went onto his computer and searched animal attacks in japan and right away he saw that numerous bear attacks had been a common occurrence in Japan.

     However, the wounds on his Oxen looked different. He felt that something was off about the wounds. He knew Mayumi was keeping something from him as he knew she was a superstitious woman.

     After they finished eating dinner, Jin pulled Mayumi aside to talk.

     “I studied the bite wounds on my Oxen and it wasn’t a bear,” said Jin.

     “What do you think it was then?” asked Mayumi.

     “Actually, that is just the question. I wanted to ask you. Now, last night when I asked you what you thought it was you said “maybe” and then you hesitated to tell me, so I would appreciate it if you would tell me now. What do you think might have killed my oxen?” asked Jin.

     “I believe it was an Oni,” said Mayumi.

     “How is that even possible Mayumi?” asked Jin.

     “When I was young, my grandmother told me about an Oni that lived underneath our house.”She told me that when she was a little girl her father my great grandfather used to bring meat into the cellar as an offering to the Oni.” said Mayumi.

     

     Jin kept silent as Mayumi continued her story.

     “I remember her saying that once every hundred years the Oni would awake from its slumber and eat anything that came into sight. When she was little, she had nightmares about an evil Oni. She told me that she thought it was just that, a bad dream. Until one night she saw my great grandfather going into the hole under our house carrying a dead goat. So curious as to why he was carrying a dead goat into the cellar she decided to follow him. And he lit two candles on the wall in the cellar and that’s when she saw the Oni. She said it cut his head clean off in one swipe with its long razor sharp claws and then it ate him as she watched from the shadows too afraid to move. After it killed her father, it came up through the hole and it ate her little brother who tried to protect her. She said after it took her brother Baku came and chased the demon back into its cave. It never returned but now I think it’s back,” said Mayumi.

     Jin started to laugh so hard he nearly wet himself as he drank his sake.

     “That’s why I didn’t tell you before you drunken fool,” said Mayumi as she started to walk away.

     “Wait Mayumi, I am sorry!” said Jin.

     “I think the same Oni that killed my great grandfather and his son is after Haru now,” said Mayumi.

     “That’s a lie. Oni’s don’t exist your grandma was always a bit wacky and you know that Mayumi?” said Jin.

     “She didn’t make this up, Jin. This Oni was real.” said Mitsu convincingly.

     “Well, if it’s real and it comes after Haru, I will cut the bastards head of with my katana,” said Jin         taking another swig from his sake bottle. Mayumi said goodnight to Jin and she went into her             room to lie down.

     “An Oni after Haru now you are starting to sound as crazy as your grandmother,” said Jin as he continued to drink his sake. He had nearly finished the entire bottle of sake when he heard a loud crash that came from the cellar. Jin grabbed one of his Katanas from off of the sword stand that was next to him and he unsheathed it.

     He carefully and quietly walked towards the locked cellar door and in one swing of his sword he chopped the lock off the trap door leading into the cellar. He then threw open the trap door and walked down some stairs leading into the cellar it was dark and smelled horrible down there and so he flicked on the light and he saw that a large shelf had been knocked over and cans of food were scattered all over the floor.

     He noticed a big tunnel behind the shelf. Jin moved the large shelf out of the way and he carefully walked back into the huge tunnel with his Katana drawn. He then heard an ungodly roar and then he saw two orange glowing eyes fast approaching him. The Oni swung its long clawed arm at Jin as he swung his sword at the Oni. He then heard the demons claws clash with his sword as it made a loud CLANG waking up Mayumi and Haru. When he looked at his sword, he saw that it had broken in two. He then felt the worse pain ever and as he looked down his intestines were hanging out as blood poured from his belly. He dropped his broken sword turned around and slowly walked back to the cellar as he started to shake from the shock of what just happened.

     “Jin!” yelled Mayumi as she saw her husband holding his entrails.

     “Mayumi,” muttered Jin as blood poured from his mouth. Then Thwack the Oni severed of his head in one swipe. Mayumi screamed out at the top of her lungs as the Oni approached her about to attack when suddenly a large animal came crashing through the frame of Haru’s room.

     It was Baku and it charged at the Oni impaling it with its long tusks. The Oni roared out in pain as it pushed itself off of Baku’s tusks. The Oni then slashed Baku’s face cutting deep into it as it howled in pain. The Oni then charged at Baku knocking it through the door frame out into the moonlit night. Baku circled the Oni as Haru and Mayumi watched.

     “Get him Baku!” yelled Haru and The Baku slashed at the Oni with its clawed foot tearing half its face off as the Oni roared out in pain. Baku then reared up and charged the Oni head on impaling it with its tusks and slamming it hard against the cherry blossom tree. Pink petals fell gently from the tree landing on the dying Oni then Baku reared up on its hind legs and it started to absorb the Oni through its trunk until it completely disappeared. Haru then approached the magnificent beast and she put her arms around it giving him a big hug.

     “Thanks Baku for saving me and my mommy!” said Haru.

     when she opened her eyes she was hugging the same ancient doll that Mayumi gave her.

     “Thank you Baku!” said Mayumi as she held onto Haru’s hand and walked back into the house . 

     Cherry blossom petals continued to fall lit up by the light of the full moon.

End

***Footnote***

*Takayama---A city in Japan's mountainous Gifu Prefecture.

*Bushido---The code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai.

*Oni---Demon. (Wikipedia about Oni)

*Katana---Sword.

*Tamahagane---A type of steel made in Japan.

*Higuma---Brown bear

*Baku---The dream eater. (Wikipedia about Baku)

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Short Story #5

Trevor Whittemore

The Wash

     June 7th 1986, it was a hot Saturday in sunny southern California and Levi and his friends Paul and Mike had just finished swimming in the pool at Levi’s house that his parents just had put in recently.

     “Hey let’s go to the track,” said Paul who was nearly fifteen and the oldest of the three.

     “I have to ask my mom, but I am sure it will be cool if I go, you guys wait here. I’ll be right back,” said Levi drying himself off before going inside.

     “Hey mom, can I go to the track with Paul and Mike?” asked Levi.

     “Sure, but I want you to back here before five in time for supper your father is making Burgers,” said his mom.

     “Okay do you think Paul and Mike could stay over for dinner?” asked Levi.

     “I’m sorry not this time sweetie. We didn’t buy enough food,” said his mom.

     “Okay fine,” said Levi as he walked back outside.

     “So can you go or what?” asked Paul.

     “Yeah, but I need to be back before five,” said Levi.

     “Cool. let’s change and then go!” said Paul’s younger brother Mike.

     The three boys quickly changed back into their clothes and then they got onto their BMX bikes and headed for the track that was in the field right behind Levi’s house. Levi and his father built the track. It had three jumps and two large hills where they would drop in and line up for a jump at the bottom. After riding around the track for a bit Paul skidded in the dirt and looked at Levi.

     “Look what I got,” said Paul pulling a handful of cherry bombs out of his pocket.

     “We can’t light those here my mom will hear it for sure,” said Levi.

     “Let’s go to the wash. She won’t hear it from all the way over there,” said Mike.

     “Alright, let’s go!” said Levi.

     The three boys rode their bikes across the street to another large field that stretched on for nearly a mile with the wash at the end of it.

     “I will race you there,” said Paul and he took off on his Haro.

     Mike had a Mongoose and Levi road a Hutch with a light frame and slim tires. Paul was in the lead and Mike was a little ways behind him but Levi peddled hard and quickly caught up to Mike who was peddling as fast as he could. Levi then passed up Mike and gained on Paul who was peddling fast. They were nearly there when Levi gave it all he got and passed Paul winning the race.

     “Damn! You’re fast!” said Paul breathing heavily.

     “You too!” said Levi breathing harder than Paul.

     When Mike caught up the three boys walked, their bikes up a big hill that led into the large wash. They walked back a ways to a giant pool of stagnant water at the end of a storm sewer run off. Behind the large pool of stagnant water was a huge tunnel leading into the sewer.

     “Ewe, gross! It fucking stinks!” said Paul.

     “This nasty water has been here for as long as I’ve been coming here, it’s almost like it never goes away,” said Levi.

     Suddenly huge bubbles emerged from the middle of the swampy pool.

     “Did you see the size of those bubbles?What the hell lives in there Swamp Thing?” asked Paul.

     “How deep do you think it is?” asked Mike also.

     “It can’t be any deeper than Levi’s sister pussy and certainly not as smelly,” said Paul.

     “Fuck you!” said Levi punching Paul so hard in the arm that he dropped the Bic lighter he was holding in his hand.

     It slid down the concrete and Mike ran after it. Mike reached his hand into the nasty water as the lighter slid into the swampy water. He felt around the murky water for the lighter and his entire arm was submerged.

     “I got it!” yelled Mike.

     Before he could pull his arm out of the water, something bit down onto Mikes hand with such force that it cracked through his bones and ripped his hand clean off. Mike screamed out loud in agonizing pain as he pulled his arm out of the water staring at the splintered bones where his hand was not a minutes ago.The swampy brown water turned a dark crimson. Levi took off his shirt and his belt and he wrapped the shirt over Mikes bloodied stump. And he tightened his belt around it to slow the bleeding.

     “Paul, I am going to get help. I will be back as soon as I can.” said Levi.

     “Please hurry!” cried Mike as tears of agony poured down his cheeks.

     Minutes later, Levi arrived with his father Don in his Black Ford F-250 pickup. They helped Mike into the back of the truck and drove him to the local hospital where they treated his wound.Levi and Paul explained to the cops that something in the water took his hand, but they didn’t see what it was. Shortly afterwards, the police drained the wash and found nothing but trash, debris and a few rusted empty barrels.

*****

     30 years later, June 5th 2016. Andy and his friend Dale were cruising down the street on their skateboards when suddenly Dale stopped.

     “Hey there’s a bad ass spot to skate about a mile past this field called The Wash,” said Dale.

     “My dad would kill me if he found out I went there with you,” said Andy.

     “Why dude? Come on, let’s go don't be a little bitch!” said Dale.

     The two boys threw there skateboards over the chain linked fence that led into a field that stretched on for nearly a mile. Once they reached the end, they climbed a big hill and Dale skated down the side of the wash and Andy followed him. Dale dropped in and skated through a large puddle of water nearly falling off of his skate board. After skating for awhile Dale pulled out a fat joint.

     “Let’s blaze this Girl Scout cookies fatty. I know the perfect spot at the end of the wash, ” said Dale.

     Dale walked to the back of the wash where water poured out of a huge tunnel into a large stagnant pool. He lit the joint and took a huge hit and passed it to Andy.

     “So this is the wash, huh?” asked Andy.

     “Yup, the perfect spot to hang out at isn’t it?” said Dale.

     “Not according to my dad, it isn’t.” said Andy taking a rip off the joint and then passing it back to Dale.

     “Why doesn’t he like this place?” asked Dale as he hit the joint.

     “When he was a kid around our age, he used to ride his bike here with his friends. He said they were lighting cherry bombs at this very spot and his friend dropped the lighter into the water and the guy’s younger brother reached in to grab it and something bit his hand right off,” said Andy.

     “No, get out of here! You’re just fucking with me right?” said Dale blowing out a huge smoke cloud as he spoke.

     “No, I swear to god! That’s what he told me at this very same spot too. He used to live right across the street,” said Andy.

     “Damn! now I am tripping, what ate his hand?” asked Dale and right then they heard a loud freaky noise coming from inside the tunnel.

     “What the fuck was that bro?” asked Dale laughing hard.

     “I have no fucking idea! let’s get out of here man!” said Andy getting up quickly.

     “No, I gotta see what that was,” said Dale as he clambered into the pipe that was pouring water.

     “What the fuck are you doing? Let’s go!” said Andy.

     “Not until I see what made that sound,” said Dale as he carefully walked back into the tunnel.

     “Get back here! You fucking moron,” said Andy.

     And then he heard the strange sound again followed by his friend’s high pitch screams and cracking crunching sounds. The clear water that was pouring out from the tunnel seconds ago was now red. Not seconds later Dales severed head fell from the tunnel into the pool of water. Andy screamed and ran back to his house as fast as he could . When he got home he threw open the door and it hit the wall with a loud BANG!

     “What the hell is going on?” asked Levi.

     “Dad, something killed Dale!” said Andy speaking frantically.

     “What do you mean something killed Dale?” asked Levi.

     “His head it fell his head,” said Andy scared and panicked.

     “Where is Dale?” asked Levi.

     “The Wash,” said Levi.

     “I told you never to go down there? Goddammit!” said Levi.

     Levi ran upstairs and grabbed his shotgun that was loaded with slugs. He also grabbed his 21 inch Bowie knife and put it onto his belt buckling it tight.

     “You stay here Andy,” said Levi.

     “But dad,” said Andy.

     “Goddamnit! You listen to me boy!” yelled Levi.

     “Fine,” said Andy.

     His father got into his black full-size Dodge Ram and he drove to the field that led to the wash smashing through the chain link gate busting it open with his truck as he hauled ass to the wash.

     Andy grabbed his dad’s H&K USP .45 with a mounted laser light combo that he kept in his nightstand drawer. He checked to see if it was loaded and then he tucked it into his waist and jumped on his BMX bike and he rode it to the wash as fast as he could.

     Levi reached the stagnant pool of water where Dales severed head was floating with its eyes and mouth still open. Levi shined the light at the end of his shotgun into the dark tunnel, but he couldn’t see anything, so he gently tossed his shotgun into the tunnel and he climbed up into it.

     It was dark, damp and slippery as moss covered the walls and ground. Levi started walking deeper into the tunnel when he heard the loudest Croaking sound coming from deep within the tunnel. He cocked his shotgun and proceeded with caution his finger on the trigger. As he proceeded towards the back of he tunnel. he saw a pair of glowing eyes followed by one loud THUD and then again THUD and in front of him was a toad, so enormous it dwarfed even him.

     Levi fired a slug right into the giant toad and as it hit a huge tongue shot out from the toads mouth wrapping around Levi’s neck. He dropped the shotgun and the hideous toad started to reel him in like a fish. Levi quickly lost his balance slipping on the moss and falling to the floor. The light from his shotgun shined upon he Toads enormous mouth that had a mouth full of sharp teeth and even more on the roof of its mouth. Levi gasped for a breath of air, but could not find it. He quickly unsheathed his giant Bowie knife and he proceeded to slice through the beasts giant pink tongue. It made a very disturbing sound as it leaped towards him pinning him with its giant webbed foot just as he caught his breath.

     Levi gasped and dropped the Bowie knife onto the ground. He couldn’t move or breathe as he was trapped under the toads foot. He felt the life slowly drain from his body as the toad put an enormous amount of pressure on him breaking his ribs as it leaned its head down to devour him. Just as it did Levi heard gunfire and the toad leaped over Levi towards Andy who fired round after round into the Monstrous toad. Levi picked up his knife and sheathed it and then he grabbed his shotgun.

     “ANDY GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE TUNNEL NOW!” yelled Levi as he ran up to the back of he enormous toad firing slug after slug into its back and head until his chamber was empty.

     He then loaded six more rounds from the shot shell holder that was velcroed to the side of his shotgun. And he fired all six devastating dumbbell rounds into the frogs head killing it.

     “IS IT DEAD?” yelled Andy.

     “YES!” yelled Levi.

     Andy climbed back into the tunnel shining his light down at the enormous toad and then suddenly it kicked its feet out and Andy quickly jumped back falling on his ass.

     “Don’t worry it’s dead that was just a reflex,” said Levi laughing a bit.

     “Not funny dad! Just what the fuck was that thing anyway,” asked Andy.

     “Some kind of mutant frog that has been here since I was a kid,” said Levi.

     “I thought frogs only lived to be ten and how in the hell did it get like that?” asked Andy.

     “After it bit off Mikes hand. I heard that they drained it and found a few empty barrels of toxic waste in here it must have mutated over time,” said Levi.

     “Let’s get out of here, so we could shower,” said Andy.

     “Now that’s the best idea you’ve ever had,” said Levi and they both got into Levi’s truck and drove home never to return to the wash again.

End

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Short Story #4

Trevor Whittemore

The Thing In The Wall

     It was late October 1988 and Jordan had just moved into his new two story home that his father Randy purchased as he was a successful lawyer who just finished the biggest case in his career. It was located in the mountains and it was a two hour drive from Randy’s work but he drove a brand new Lamborghini Countach, so he was always on time. The house was very old, but completely remodeled with a modern look to it. It had large glass windows overlooking the forest below and large vaulted ceilings and thick walls. There was nine rooms total, Jordan’s room was on the opposite end of the house from his parents room just the way he wanted as he would blast his amplifier when he played his electric guitar. 

     Jordan’s mom Pamela was a high school teacher. Jordan would be attending the same school in a year as he had just started eighth grade. Everyone had just finished dinner and Jordan went up to his room with his pet Doberman pinscher Roxy to unpack his things. He hung up his clothes in his new closet and then he started hanging up his heavy metal posters. As he was hanging Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son poster he heard a horrifying noise coming from within the wall and Roxy started to bark. He backed away from the wall a tad frightened.

     “What in the hell was that noise. It wasn’t you was it Eddie” said Jordan looking at his poster.

     He then put his ear up to the wall to listen carefully but there was pure silence. 

     “It must be the pipes” he said and he grabbed a horror comic and started to read it.

     Meanwhile Randy and Pamela had just finished having sex in their new home. 

     “God I love it here! How about you honey, are you happy?” Randy asked.

     “I couldn’t be more happy”said Pamela.

     “Good, because I wouldn’t want you to be unhappy here.” Randy said.

     “I love the house it’s perfect!” said Pamela as she leaned over and kissed Randy.

     “It sure is and I am glad you’re happy here, I love you!” Randy said.

     “I love you too,” Pamela said.

     “Well, I need to get to sleep. I gotta get up early for work to make those big bucks,” said Randy.

     “I hear you, goodnight honey,” said Pamela turning off the light.

     Jordan waited for his parents to fall asleep and he quietly crept downstairs and opened the large sliding glass door leading to the balcony. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of Marlboro reds and a Bic lighter. He lit the end of the cigarette taking a big drag inhaling the smoke into his lungs. 

     “Nothing like a good smoke after a meal and before bed,” said Jordan taking another big drag.

     After he finished his cigarette, he put it out on the wooden deck and flicked the butt over the deck into the forest. He then gently opened the slider door so nobody would hear him and he closed it locking it shut behind him. Then he went back into his room. When he entered his room, Roxy was snarling at the wall with exposed teeth.

     “What is it girl” said Jordan.

     Suddenly a long freakish arm burst through the wall grabbing Jordan by the throat. The only thing he could think to do was grab his lighter so he quickly grabbed it from out of his pocket and held it right up against the long freakish arm and he flicked it and it did not light but the arm quickly pulled away and disappeared back into the wall as Roxy jumped up at the hole it had made barking profusely at it. Jordan ran as fast as he could to his parents room beating hard on the door.

Randy sprung out of bed.

     “What’s going on?" said Pamela as Randy opened the door. 

     “What the hell is the matter with you? Why are you shaking like that?” asked Randy.

     “There is something in the wall it just attacked me!” yelled Jordan.

     “You need to stop reading those damn horror comics before bed,” said Randy.

    “No, you need to come with me now so I can show you the hole it just made,” said Jordan grabbing his dads arm. 

     “Have you been smoking?” asked Randy.

     “No now come on!” said Jordan pulling Randy towards his room.

     “Liar! You reek of cigarettes, damn it Jordan your grounded,” said Randy pulling his arm away.

    “Listen dad! Some crazy clawed arm just grabbed me and I am not making this up. I swear it Roxy was barking at it!” said Jordan leading Randy into his room where there was now a much bigger hole in the wall than before.

     Randy slapped Jordan hard across the face.
     

     “You did this you little shit you are grounded for the rest of the god damned year you hear me and you are going to fix this hole tomorrow, and I don’t care if it takes you all day you will fix this is that understood?” Randy said.

     “But da-“ said Jordan.

     “IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?” yelled Randy.

     “What is going? Oh my god, Did you do this to the wall?” said Pamela.

     “No, I swear I didn’t something in the wall attacked me! Mom you’ve got to believe me!” said Jordan terrified with tears pouring down his face.

     “Roxy where are you girl?” yelled Jordan.

 
     Then another section of the wall came crumbling down along with half of Roxy who had been torn in half. Pamela screamed out loud at the top of her lungs and Randy wore a look of shock upon his face. Then the same huge hideous hand that had hold of Jordan’s neck just minutes ago had hold of his moms head. More of the wall broke away as the monster lifted Pamela into the air by her skull as she screamed. Randy rushed into his room grabbing his Mossberg 500 pump action shotgun.Cocking it as he ran back to Jordan's room faster than his two feet have ever moved in their life. Right as he entered the room the long hand crushed Pamela’s skull like an egg. Blood, brains, and skull fragments still covered in hair and skin oozed from the creatures hand as Pamela’s headless lifeless corpse fell to the floor convulsing. Jordan was covered in his moms brains and blood. Then it emerged from the wall and it was horrifying. It had a droopy face and jaw with hundreds of sharp jagged teeth with completely bloodshot red eyes.

     Jordan froze in shock and fear and he wet himself at the sight of this horrifying abomination. Randy fired round after round at the thing to no effect as it grabbed him up by his waist with both of its hands and it opened its huge gaping maw and in one monstrous bite it ate Randy’s head neck and clavicle. The sound of snapping bones could be heard as Jordan picked up the shotgun and emptied the remaining rounds into the hideous monster. The 00 buck had no effect whatsoever on the creature so he dropped the shotgun and reached for his lighter. He then ran up to the creature and flicked the Bic repeatedly near the monsters side and it back handed him so hard that he flew through his open door landing in the hallway.

     Jordan ran into his father's room and quickly grabbed the keys to his Lamborghini as Randy taught him how to drive it;  he ran downstairs as fast as he could as the creature continued to eat Randy like a Labrador eating a grinder. Jordan opened the door to the garage and then he pushed the garage door opener that was hanging on the wall and he entered the Lamborghini and started it up; right as he flipped on the headlights the monster came crashing through the wall grabbing onto the car with both its monstrous hands. Jordan put it into reverse and put the pedal to the metal and burnt rubber but the creature would not let go. Jordan flicked on the high beams and the monster let out a loud roar as it covered its eyes. Jordan then peeled out of the garage flying down the driveway in his dads Lamborghini. When he reached the bottom, he spun the car into a 180 and peeled out of their driving as fast as he could without crashing. He continued down the mountain downshifting and breaking at the switchbacks he nearly made it to the bottom when he crashed into another car. 

     Jordan awoke at the hospital days later handcuffed to the bed when suddenly a detective came into the room. You are under arrest for the the Murder of your parents. You will be tried as an adult I can promise you that,” said the detective.

     

     “I didn’t kill them some monster did,” said Jordan crying and scared.

     “You blew your moms head off and you cut your dad in half with a chainsaw and we will find it unless you tell me now what you did with it right now you sick little fuck!” said the detective.

     “I swear it wasn’t me you’ve got to believe me it was the thing in the Wall,” said Jordan.

 
    “You won’t fool me with that crap you can pretend to be insane all you want it won’t make any difference your dad was a good man and very well liked,” said the detective.

    “I know he was I swear I would never hurt them,” said Jordan crying. 

     “You can tell it to the judge,” said Jordan.

     He was tried as an adult and given 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole and he was put in a juvenile corrections facility until he reached he age of 18 and then he was transferred to a maximum security prison. His parents had left him the house in their will and all of their money but it didn’t matter as he had no way of posting bail.

     Jordan worked out daily and the events of that tragic night poisoned his mind. He got into fights occasionally in prison and every chance he got he read and read about what might have killed his parents that night. He learned about demons and that if that is what he encountered that it did not like something about the lighter. He came to the conclusion that most likely the flint is what it didn’t like as he read in one of the books. It said that demons could be killed by weapons made from flint so he would acquire a Bic lighter every chance he got and he would take a piece of paper and the lighter as he turned the wheel creating sparks as flint powder fell onto the piece of paper he then hid it well.

     Over the next 30 years he saved lots of flint powder and when he was released in 2018 he took it with him. Jordan was ready to face the same monster that killed his family as it took away thirty years of his life he could never get back. He bought many flint nodules and he spent a month learning how to make flint knives and arrows made from flint. then he wrapped his hands in boxers tape and he took the jar full of flint powder he had saved for thirty years and poured some of it it over the wraps on his hands. And then he put the jar into the front pocket of his leather jacket. He had two knives made from flint as well as a bow and a full quiver of arrows. He purchased a dodge Demon and he drove to the house he left behind thirty years ago to the day. He parked his car in the driveway when he arrived and he took his bow and walked up to the front door and unlocked it and went right upstairs to his old room. The room was the same way he left it thirty years ago he made sure no one tried to sell it out from under his nose while he was in jail. He put his hand on the Iron Maiden poster that was still on the wall.

     “Alright you ugly motherfucker, show yourself,” said Jordan but there was silence.

     “What are you afraid now you big mouthed cocksu-“ before Jordan could finish the sentence a giant arm punched through the wall knocking Jordan across the bedroom and he landed right on his bed.

     “Nice punch you fugly fucker” said Jordan as he loaded an arrow firing it right into the monsters shoulder and it roared out in pain as the wound started to singe and smoke rose from out of it. 

     He quickly loaded another arrow firing it into the monsters cheek. It roared out in agony and tore the bow from his hands snapping it in two. Jordan launched himself high into the air punching the hideous creature square in the nose and it started to sizzle as its skin melted off. It let out a deafening roar and Jordan threw punch after punch hitting the beast. The monster picked him up by the skull just as he did his mom. Jordan screamed out in pain as he quickly unsheathed his flint knife stabbing it right through the Demons right arm and it dropped him.The monster pulled the knife out and threw it through the glass window shattering it. The thing grabbed Jordan by his side picking him up with both of its very long clawed hands and arms. Jordan tried to unsheathe his other knife but couldn’t as the monster had a death grip on his waist where the knife was.

     The foul creature opened its enormous mouth as wide as it could ready to bite off Jordan’s head. He remembered he still had the glass jar in his pocket. So he reached inside his jacket pocket and cut himself on the broken glass but now he had a fistful of flint powder and broken glass. Right as the monster went in for the kill Jordan chucked the flint powder and broken glass right into the creatures mouth and it released him making a terrifying noise as the flint burnt the inside of the monsters mouth. It thrashed it’s arms around cutting deep into Jordan’s side with its long claws. Jordan screamed in pain then he grabbed the knife and stabbed the creature in its side over and over again until the blade of the knife broke inside the monster. The ugly pink creature fell to the ground burbling and wheezing as it lie dying. Jordan grabbed the knife from the beasts arm and cut through its neck until its head was severed breaking the knife as well. The demon melted into a grotesque pink puddle of yuck. 

     “That’s for killing my parents you ugly fuck!”said Jordan.

     He then felt really strange and he started to seizure his body twisted and grew and his mouth dropped and stretched beyond its capable limit.

     “NO, NO, NO!” yelled Jordan until his voice distorted.

     He transformed into the same hideous monster that he just killed and he walked back into the wall.

END

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Short Story #3

Trevor Whittemore

The Mattress 

     It was early summer and Fred had just gotten off of working construction on the street laying blacktop. Fred was a built man in his early forties and he worked long hard hours. He was dripping with sweat when he got home so he took a cold shower and then threw on some fresh boxers and a tank top. Fred then took out he trash and noticed a nice California king sized mattress just outside the dumpster.

     “Wow why in the hell would anyone want to throw this away,” said Fred who’s mattress had more holes in it than a knit blanket. 

     He then hauled the new mattress back to his house and he trashed his old one. After that Fred took a shower he made himself a microwave meal as his wife Barbara usually does the cooking but she was on a business trip and she would not be home for at least another day. So Fred threw a frozen burrito in the microwave and after he finished it he grabbed a bottle of water and went into his bedroom took off his clothes and set his water down on his night stand and got into bed as he slept in the nude.

     “Wow this is like a cloud much better than that piece of holy shit and it even smells brand new,” said Fred as he turned on his fan. He then drifted off to sleep.

     At around midnight Fred awoke and he started to itch all over.

     “Why am I itching so bad,” said Fred as he scratched all over his body.

     “Maybe it was something in that damn burrito that I am allergic to. Who knows what the the hell they put in those things,” said Fred then got up and grabbed two Benadryl from his medicine cabinet. 

     He then got back into bed opened his bottle of water and took the pills. Shortly after he fell into a deep sleep. The next morning when Fred woke up he had red spots all over his body. From the top of his shaved head to the tops of his feet. And they itched something fierce.

     “What the fuck is this chicken pox!” yelled Fred as he scratched himself profusely. 

     “I can’t stand this I need to get in to see a doctor,” said Fred as he jumped in the shower and washed himself thoroughly.

     “Christ this itches!” yelled Fred.

     After he finished showering, he brushed his teeth and drove himself to the local urgent care. He was seen by the Doctor shortly After signing in and filling out paperwork.

     “When did you first notice this?” asked the Doctor.

     “Just last night I started itching and when I woke up I was covered in spots," said Fred.

     “Have you ever had chicken pox before?” asked the doctor.

     “Never. Is that what this is?” said Fred.

     “Yes, I reckon it is so I am going to write you a prescription for Acyclovir and I want you to get some Aveeno oatmeal and soak in it. You do have a tub I presume?” said the doctor.

     “Yes I do,” said Fred.

     “I will write you off work for two weeks and if this doesn’t clear up by then I want you to come back in to see me," the doctor said.

     “Two weeks? I can’t miss that much work,” said Fred.

     “I strongly suggest you stay away from anyone as this could spread like wildfire to the populace,” said the doctor.

     “Great! I will be lucky if I still have a job after this,” said Fred with a frown.

     “Most importantly don’t scratch them. I know it’s hard but you could scar if you do,” said the doctor.

     “Alright. Is there anything else doc?” asked Fred.

     “I will also write you a prescription for Ibuprofen for the pain, so make sure to take them after you eat and they should scab over within a few weeks which is when I want you to come back in to see me got it,” said the doctor.

     “Thanks doc,” said Fred and he left.

     That night Fred took an aveeno bath after taking the medicines he was prescribed but he couldn’t stop itching and the spots had tripled in size and they were very painful. Fred went and grabbed a bottle of glenfiddich scotch and started to down it. 

     “What the hell is happening to me this fucking hurts” said Fred cringing. 

     He lied back down in his bed and he turned the television on and a horror movie was playing.

     “I look like I belong in a fucking horror movie” said Fred as he downed nearly half the bottle of scotch. He then passed out drunk.

     At 2 am Fred jumped out of his bed screaming in pain and ran over to the bathroom mirror and when he looked into it he saw silver dollar sized blisters covering his entire body he screamed out in pain as he looked at his arms and torso. The giant blisters were moving and a large black beetle chewed his way out of Fred’s arm and it bit a chunk of flesh out of his arm with its razor sharp teeth. Fred screamed and smashed his fist down hard onto the giant beetle and nearly broke his hand as its carapace was harder than stone.

     ”Ahhh!” screamed Fred then more of the large black bed bugs started to chew there way out of him.

     “HELP ME!” screamed Fred and one by one the large black beetles burst out of him.

     He fell to the floor squirming in pain as the large flesh eating bed bugs devoured him. They ate his eyeballs from their sockets and his ears and nose they ate his genitals and before the sun rose Fred was nothing more than a skeleton lying in his own blood on the bathroom floor. The large beetles then flew out through the glass window in Fred's room shattering it to bits. The next day Fred’s wife Barbara returned and when she entered her bedroom she screamed out at the top of her lungs when she saw the skeleton of her dead husband covered in blood. Barbara couldn’t figure out how her husband died or who did it or even if it was him. It was so bizarre. She spent the next couple of nights in a hotel as the police investigated Fred’s bizarre murder. After the funeral Barbara decided it was time to go back to the house where her husband was killed. That night she climbed into bed and immediately noticed how soft the mattress was.

     “Oh Fred you got us a new mattress how sweet of you” said Barbara as she started to cry. Eventually she took a Valium and cried herself to sleep mourning over Fred.

     The next morning she woke up covered in tiny red spots itching all over.

END

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Short Story #2

Trevor Whittemore

Abandoned

     It was early October and Benjamin and his best mate Ronald decided to go on a camping trip. They brought a tent, sleeping bags, a cooking pot, hot dogs, buns, 2 cans of chili, 4 packages of chicken top ramen, a wooden spoon, water, a flashlight, a grappling hook connected to twenty feet of rope, a loaded Glock 23 with a sure fire light attached a bong and half an ounce of Jack Herer, and half an ounce of soul assassin OG.

     “Wow this is quite the hike Ben,” Ronald said.

     “I actually don’t know any one who’s came this far up the mountain,” Benjamin said.

     “These trees are amazing this is truly a magical forest, I hope we can find our way back,” said Ronald taking it all in.

They had been hiking for nearly six hours straight when they came to a large boulder.
     

     “How the fuck are we supposed to get up that, there has got to be another way right?” asked Ronald.

     “Nope I’m afraid not but that’s why I brought this,” Benjamin said as he pulled the grappling hook out of his backpack. 

     “You’re joking right I'm not about to climb that thing and fall to my death,” Ronald said.

     “Don’t you want to see what is beyond this rock I sure do. I mean who knows if it’s even been explored,” Benjamin said.

     “What If the grappling hook doesn’t hold that’s got to be at least twenty feet up if we fall we are dead” said Ronald.

     “I will go first and secure the grappling hook around that tree and I promise you won’t fall,” Benjamin said.

     “I don’t even have any service on my cell what if something happens,” Ronald said.

     “This is a once in a lifetime chance to explore an area that probably hasn’t even been discovered where’s your sense of adventure,” Benjamin said.

     “Back at home playing Uncharted on my PS4,” Ronald said.

     “Well then when I find some real treasure I will tell you all about it. I didn’t hike all this way to turn around I have always wanted to go beyond that rock and your the first person to actually make it this far with me you can’t turn back now” Benjamin said.

     “Alright but you better make sure that rope is secure around that tree,” Ronald said.

     “Scouts honor” Benjamin said as he saluted his friend.

     Benjamin twirled the grappling hook and flung it into the air and missed the tree as the iron hook came crashing down to the ground nearly hitting Ronald.

     “Don’t kill me before I get up there,” Ronald said.

     Then carefully Benjamin took aim and flung the hook into the air and it caught on a thick tree branch. He tugged the rope hard to see if it was secure.

     “Perfect” Benjamin said with a smile.

     “Nice throw” Ronald said.

     Benjamin then climbed up the rope and once he reached the top of the enormous boulder he fastened the grappling hook around the trunk of the tree.

     “Your turn just don’t look down,” Ben said.

     Then he carefully ascended the rope and high fived Benjamin once he reached the top. Benjamin and Ronald continued to hike through the forest stopping to hit the bong once. They continued their journey until they saw what appeared to be an old abandoned house made from stone. It looked like a house lost in time from a bygone era. Most of the foundation had crumbled pieces of the outer structure were still in tact. There was an iron trap door that led into a basement with an ancient looking lock on it.

     “Wow this House has got to be at least three maybe four hundred years old,” said Benjamin with excitement in his voice.

     “It sure looks ancient older than anything I've ever seen,” said Ron.

     “I wonder what’s down there, I reckon I could shoot off the lock with this,” said Benjamin as he pulled out his 40 caliber handgun and fired a couple of rounds at the old rusty lock.

     “What the fuck bro those could have ricocheted and hit me,” Ronald said.

     “But it didn’t and look the lock is broken in half,” said Benjamin as he lifted the old cast iron trap door.

     “I’m not going down there,” Ronald said.

     “You know you’re the biggest pussy I’ve ever met get your ass down here” 

     Then he switched on the surefire light attached to his Glock and threw a flashlight at Ronald who nearly dropped it. They climbed down a few ancient stone steps and found themselves in an underground cavern. As Ronald shined his flashlight down he screamed out loud as there lying on the floor was a headless skeleton wearing chainmail armor. Lying next to it was an old shield and sword as well as his severed head.

     “That’s nothing, look at this" said Ben and he shined his light down onto piles upon piles of human bones and skulls.

     “I am out of here,” Ronald said as he climbed out of the cave.

     Benjamin looked around the cave and there was a small tunnel leading further into the cave but he was to large to fit into it. When he looked in the tunnel he saw something large flickering on the floor so he reached as far as his arm would stretch but it was just out of reach. So he grabbed the old rusty sword lying next to the old skeleton and he used the blade to drag it towards him. His heart started to race with excitement when he saw what it was. Benjamin then bent down and picked up the giant emerald that was nearly the size of his fist and he put it into his bag. He then set the sword down in the tunnel and climbed back out.

     “Did you find anything down there,” Ronald asked.

     “Just a tunnel leading further into the cave but I couldn’t fit,” Benjamin said as his heart pounded with excitement at the treasure he just found.

     “I wonder who made it?” Ronald asked.

     “Maybe one of the seven dwarves,” Benjamin said.

     “Let’s set up the tent here,” Ronald said and they set it up under a tree right next to the ancient house.

     “Man I’ve got the munchies and it will be dark soon let’s make some chili dogs,” Ronald said.

     “That is the best idea you’ve had all day let’s do it,” said Ben as he gathered stones, twigs, and kindling to build a fire. 

     Ronald found some sticks and then he opened the two cans of chili and poured them into the pot that he set up over the fire using a large stick and some big stones. Benjamin then roasted the hot dogs and handed a stick with a dog on it to Ronald. After they ate dinner they loaded a fat bowl of Soul Assassin OG. 

     “Damn this weed is strong,” said Ron taking a huge rip coughing out all the smoke.

     “It’s the best shit ever isn’t it,” Benjamin said taking a bigger rip than Ronald.

     “I wonder who those dead men were in that cave. That headless skeletons weapons and armor looked medieval. You didn’t by any chance grab that sword did you it could be worth a fortune,”  said Ron.

     “No I left it in that tunnel go get it if you want I am sure it is worth quite a bit and that shield too”.

     “You really think so?” Ronald asked.

     “I am sure of it".

     “Could you get it for me mate please?” Ronald asked.

     “Don’t be such a wimp unless of course you want to wait until day break,” Benjamin said with a smirk.

     “Fuck it I will get them now,” Ronald said

     “That a boy” 

     Ronald then turned on the flashlight and carefully opened the iron trap door and climbed down the stone stairs. He grabbed the shield lying next to the skeleton then he walked towards the tunnel shining his flashlight on it and he spotted the sword. As he bent down to grab the sword he heard a high pitch snarl and he quickly shined the light down the tunnel but there was nothing there.

     “That Soul Assassins no joke I am hearing shit,” Ronald said. 

     A tad frightened he set down his shield and flashlight and reached for the sword which was a good arms length away. He grabbed it up quickly and just as he did he saw two glowing yellow eyes looking right at him. He snatched up the flashlight hastily and shined it down the tunnel but there was nothing there. He grabbed the shield and as he reached for the sword a tremendous force hit his shield cracking it in half and he saw the glowing eyes right in front of him he then felt intense pain and he tried to scream but only a blood curdling gargle came out and the last thing he saw were those wicked glowing yellow eyes before he slipped into deaths cold grasp.

     Twenty minutes later.....

     “Ronald what the hell are you doing down there?” Benjamin asked as he grabbed his Glock 23 and turned on the light. 

     He then walked down the stone stairs and saw his friend lying there motionless.

     “Come on man I didn’t drop it that far in there,” Benjamin said and he shined the light down onto his friend and his head was missing. 

     He then heard a high pitched roar and as he shined his light down the tunnel about five feet away from him was a slimy green creature no taller than three feet with yellow eyes a very long pointed ears and a nose and a huge mouth full of razor sharp teeth. It had on tattered leather clothes and a leather cap with two straps on both sides of it hanging down past its gaunt cheeks. It was also wearing a leather satchel. In one hand it was holding a gnarly cleaver that was dripping blood and in its other hand was Ronald’s severed head. Benjamin took aim and right as he fired the goblin rushed him and bit his hand. He dropped the Glock and picked up the maglite that was lying on the floor next to Rons corpse and he hit the creature over the head with it. Benjamin then ran as fast as his two legs would take him. He ran to his tent and grabbed his backpack and he followed the same path he took before. He did not stop nor did he look behind him he ran and ran until he came to the same tree he used to get up the cliff with. He took his grappling hook out of his bag and fastened it to the tree as fast as he could and just as he was about to climb down his feet were pulled out from underneath him as he crashed down hard onto the ground. He tried to grab his flashlight and right as he had it in his hand a large cleaver came smashing through his arm severing it. Benjamin screamed out in agony as he looked at his bleeding stump where his arm used to be. Then THWACK, HACK, CRACK the Goblin severed his head off and it fell off of the cliff crashing down to the ground below. The slime green Goblin then shimmied down the rope and picked up Ben's severed head and he tied it to his waist with some twine. Then it climbed back up the rope and dragged Benjamin's corpse back to the campsite. It then carved him up and cooked him in his own pot that still had some chili left in it and ate every last bit of meet from Ben's bones. Afterward it grabbed the green Emerald from Ben's pack and looked it over then the creature put it into its satchel and it dragged Ben's headless skeleton back into the cave. The Goblin then removed the emerald and placed it in the exact same spot it was in before and it headed back into it's lair at the back of the cave.

     Two Years Later, a newly wed couple was hiking.

     “Wow babe what a hike that was,” said the husband.

     “I am beat,” said his wife.

     “Look at this a rope lets see whats up there” said the husband. 

     “You know I am kind of beat,” said his wife.

     “Come on where’s your sense of adventure,” said the husband.

     “Okay fine but you owe me one,” said his wife.

They both climbed up the rope and were never seen or heard from again.

END

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Short Story #1

     I'm going to start publishing my original short stories on my blog. I think it would be nice to introduce myself. It will be a serialized short fiction. I hope many people will enjoy them and become interested in my novels. I will try to publish often!

Trevor Whittemore

A Rare Catch

     It was late in August and Harold a retired Navy Veteran was fishing his favorite spot in Gozo. Using the same rod that his father gave to him when he was just a boy. Harold had caught everything from Albacore, Amberjack, Snapper to Sailfish and even though Grouper. 

     He cast his line whipping his wrist and the lure sailed through the air landing a good thirty feet from his skiff that he named Azalea after his late wife who was native to the island.

     “Damn it’s a hot one,” said Harold setting down his pole and reaching into his ice chest pulling out a large can of Cisk, a Maltese beer known for its unique flavor and a favorite among the locals.

     He had been drinking since early morning. Just as he cracked it open his pole launched into the water as he forgot to set the drag, so he quickly started up the engine and followed his pole. The Azalea was pretty fast for a skiff so he quickly caught up to it pulling alongside it. He reached down to pick it up and nearly fell in.

     “God Damned fish,” he yelled as he recomposed himself.

     A good thirty feet in front of his pole just beneath the surface of the water he could see the metallic blue glimmer of the fish he hooked that was dragging his pole across the water effortlessly. There were cliffs up ahead he knew the fish would have to change course soon but the pole disappeared beneath the rocks.

     “Well fuck me sideways and call me Suzanne. There’s a cave under there I’d bet my life on it and I am not loosing that pole.”

     Harold being an ex Navy Seal could hold his breath for nearly five minutes in his younger days. He killed the engine dropped anchor and put on his mask, snorkel, fins, waterproof flashlight and diving knife then he jumped into the water.

     He swam through a network of tunnels surfacing for air when he could. He swam underwater for a good two minutes when suddenly his flashlight flickered on and off then it died. Harold tried not to panic as he kept swimming. He swam faster and faster and tried to swim up hoping to find an air pocket but he hit his head on rock. He knew that if he didn’t find one soon he would drown. So he pushed on through the underwater tunnel and then in the distance he noticed a faint blue light. For a second, he panicked thinking this was it, but he swam as fast as he could towards the light and it got brighter and brighter, and then he surfaced as he gasped for air.

     He was in a giant cave full of large glowing blue crystals that illuminated the cave. He climbed out of the water onto the cavern floor as he breathed air into his lungs. He stared in wonder at all the giant glowing crystals in the cave then he quickly turned his attention to the sound of something scraping against he rocks. When he looked down into the water, there was his fishing pole being dragged around the large pool. Harold could see a strange looking metallic blue fish pulling his pole around. He waited for the right moment and reached into the water pulling his pole out of the water. He quickly loosened the drag a little and started to reel in the beautiful yet strange looking fish.

     “I think I got myself a new species here,” said Harold as he reeled it in.

     Then suddenly the fish shot out of the water and into the air it’s metallic blue wings flapping. Harold quickly noticed that it was not a fish that he hooked but a strange creature with webbed hands and feet with sharp claws at the ends of them. It had silvery eyes and metallic blue skin. He hooked the creature through its right cheek. It sneered at Harold as he reeled it in like a kite. The sinister looking sprite fought hard as Harold continued to reel him in. The wicked pixie was about the same length as a large Tuna but it was skinny and it had gill slits in its ribs. It hissed and darted down at Harold scratching and clawing at him with its hand and feet. Leaving tiny lacerations all over his arms. Then it opened its mouth revealing row upon row of translucent blue razor sharp teeth. Harold jammed his fishing pole into the pixies mouth but it bit it in half. He then unsheathed his dive knife right as he fairy bit into his shoulder. Harold screamed so loud it echoed in the large cave. He then stabbed the sprite in its kidneys as it poured blue blood. It let out a shriek so loud that Harold quickly covered his ears dropping the knife to the floor. The sprite launched itself at Harold who put his arm out in front of him trying to hold it back. But the vile pixie bit into his arm. He could feel it cracking through his bones splintering his ulna and radius as it bit his arm off. With a burst of adrenaline he quickly picked up the knife and stabbed it through the side of the foul fairies head its wings stopped flapping as it died at the end of his blade. Harold screamed out in pain as he bled all over the cavern floor. He then tore off his shirt and wrapped his half severed arm to stop the bleeding. Seconds later a few crystals in the cavern started to resonate. Then more and more until the entire cavern was humming. Then one by one they started to shatter blue liquid and shards shot out everywhere some piercing into Harold’s skin. Each shard contained the same creature that Harold just killed.

     “No,” screamed Harold as one by one the evil fairies flew down to him.

     One grabbed a leg another one grabbed his arm and another his head. They ascended holding onto Harold biting chunks of flesh from his belly until his entrails fell to the floor but one fairy grabbed one side of his intestines and another fairy grabbed the other side starting a tug of war match with them. The Pixie that had hold of Harold’s arm chewed it clean off as five more pixies ate his legs. The one pixie that had hold of his head chewed right through his cervical vertebrae pulling his head off and eating out his eyeballs. The rest of Harold’s mangled lifeless body fell to the floor with a splotch leaving a heaping mass of gore behind for the flesh hungry pixies to devour until there was nigh a scrap left of poor Harold.

     Azalea was floating outside the hidden cave and was later found by a local fisherman, but Harold was never heard from or seen again.

END

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