The Beast Beyond The Lake

My memories haunted this old house of mine, good and evil but mostly bad. I still stay in this house anyway. Maybe I'm crazy. I don't think of leaving this house and moving to Penshaw, the closest town. This house is deteriorating as I age, and the house is undoubtedly winning in this aging race. The lumber on this house has lost its haleness; now, it is infested with termites. This house is creaking in agony with my every step, and a robust wind gust could make me homeless. But the memories attached to this house fuel me to replace the bruised lumber and scrub the mold-festooned ceiling of the attic. Every other day I squirted a hefty portion of the nasty-smelling disinfectant in a bucket full of water. I mopped the entire house flooring to ensure the laminated wooden flooring was glazing with the solution I cooked in my basement. Then I sprayed some room freshener in the corners of my house--aromatic lavender, says the spray bottle--it does smell like lavenders. And does its job to overcome the stink of that trashy floor disinfectant with no flavor. Once done with the floor, I check for cobwebs, but there are hardly any; even the spiders hate to accompany me. Later I took my laundry out, handed it with my yellow rubber gloves, let it soak in the mixture of soapy water, dashed some Dettol, took my gloves out, and let them sink in that water.

I hate the most in the world: "germs" and "loneliness." You know how it feels when you're alone and old and when you lost everything you had, but still, you have work, not for your family but yourself, only to feed your belly. But there is something that keeps me moving and my insanity in check. Something that motivates me to tug that starter rope of the motor with my wrinkled, trembling hands and drop tourists or individual passengers to their desired location on this grand lake called the Great Ander Lake.

My job is to help many researchers and their teams understand the lake's flora and fauna and take them to their desired parts of land encompassing the lake. The worst part is that when they do their job, I have to stay with them, act like I understand their dialect and complex machinery and tools, and remember their demands.

The lake stretches across over 4.3 kilometers. It's like a vast mass of water body on the land. You might think I'm a germaphobe, and still, I took this as a job? I hate this job, but I spent my childhood here; Moving around the lake is like handling your untidy pet. Eerie woods surround the lake with tall trees and minimal settlement. Great Ander Lake stayed neglected to the point of deterioration, and when 'Mother Nature is left alone, her beauty is more evaluate

d.

This lake is so vast that it is yet to be traced. Some parts are still anonymous because of McConnell. He thinks this lake belongs to his ancestors, and now it belongs to him. He filed a lawsuit, and for years this subject was under investigation, but the outcome was sour to McConnell. He lost the case. That was obvious; who the hell owns a lake?. After the drama, McConnell was pissed. He accepted the judgment and forgot about this lake. The authority got involved and began to think about the welfare of the Great Ander Lake. And because of this, I had to spend time mainly with these rock collectors, so-called geologists. But usually, I deal with tourists. This beautiful lake is quite an attraction. I'm very familiar with this lake because my whole childhood elapsed by this lake. I still remember when my brother, Jack Willis, and I used to fish by the lake. Back then, catfishes were like a foot long, but now fishers are seldom. That was like thirty years ago, but the memory is still fresh. Lots of things changed by the time I got married. My wife and I had to move to the city. I was a technician at a car factory. I still remember car industries only worked on customer demand, but now it is a mass-production business. Now every house has a car. Yeah, things change within a blink of an eye. Jack left me at his tender age and some other things that could have been abstained.

2.

One afternoon when the sun was in his prime. Its rays, like fingers, stretched across the lake. My house was very close to the lake and a small double-story house. It is a lake house with a platform and my boat tow. I had just finished my lunch and was about to take my afternoon nap, but a sudden rapping was on my front doorstep. I was agitated. The rapping continued.

"Coming," I shouted, but the rapping on my door continued ceaselessly.

"Oh, God. Hold up," Spit droplets discharged from my mouth.

I opened the door, not to forget with a countenance of anger wearing on my face, "What the HEL… " The words died in my throat. I discovered that Mr. Becknell, the town sheriff, was on my doorstep. My anger faded in seconds after just seeing him. I was pretty nervous. What might have happened? My eyes were fixated on him. One could have easily identified a petrified expression on my face. He let himself inside and sprawled on my rugged brown couch, and he took off his sheriff's hat, placed it on his lap, and spread his arms wide across the back cushions of the sofa. There was no place for me to sit. I took one of the old, rickety chairs from the dining table. Mr. Becknell completely took over the couch; there was no couch left on that couch but only Mr. Becknell. Damn, his large body. I placed the chair right in front of him and leaned myself, digging my elbow into my thighs and waiting anxiously for him open his walrus-sized mouth. My foot started tapping against the wooden floor.

"You look disturbed," said Mr. Becknell, fishing for something in his shirt pockets.

"No, I…I'm good. What brought you here?" I questioned him

"Hold on a sec. Let me grab it for you," Becknell said, still trying to find something in his pocket, but this time with more effort.

"Here we go," He pulled out a packet of lemon drops. I mean, come on!

"Do you want some," He offered me some lemon drops. I refused without hesitation.

"What happened to your hand there? Something wrong? Why is it wrapped in a bandage?"

"Nothing, it's just a cut. I'm okay!" I said furiously. "Get to the point," I said, "I need some rest,"

"Oh, I see now the age is getting in, huh? You should be more careful," said Mr. Becknell with a grin on the face

"You can say that,"

"But you look quite fit for a fifty-two-year man,"

"Yeah, and you look terrible for a fourth-year-old,"

"Yeah, your right." Rolling that lemon drop in his mouth. "Tell you what, we got a visitor in the town. He is some sort of Hydrologist whose job is to study the streamflow, PH levels, and…."

"Yeah, I got it." I interrupted him.

"I want you to take him to the southern region of the lake. You have been there, right? Everyone in the town knew about that,"

"You want me to take that guy over there—but you know what happened there,"

"Yes, I do. But that's an official order. Can't resist the authority,"

"Do you think what I told you was a lie… about what I saw there that day? Do you think I'm just joking around?" I stood up. My face was red, and the veins on my forehead protruded.

"Calm down. I believe you and everyone in town too, but I can't help it," Becknell gestured for me to sit down, "If you want, you can meet the officials and let them..."

"No. No," I interrupted.

"I'll take him there. Tomorrow, eleven am sharp. But only until two pm, that's it. Not more than that, or else I'll leave without him, you understand me?" I said sternly.

"That's the answer I like to hear." he acknowledged.

Mr. Becknell lifted himself off the couch, leaving a massive crevasse on the cushions.

"Tomorrow morning," he said and took his sheriff's hat and sunglasses from his breast pocket and opened the front door, letting the warm light enter the room. She stood in the doorway. He was standing there like a cowboy against the backdrop of blazing sunlight. I could make only his dark silhouette.

"Tomorrow, at eleven... sharp. Be ready. I'll be there with Mr. Kay till then good-day, Jim," And Becknell banged the door. He was leaving me in the dark.

That night was a long and uneasy one for me. The following day, the sun had disappeared between the clouds; these overcast conditions fueled my terror. I packed my backpack with the absolute essentials required for this trip. I dressed in a blue and white flannel shirt and tucked it into my blue jeans. My greyish-black hair was proper and cleanly self-trimmed, and my beard was outgrown and bushy, but somehow it complimented my look; I topped it off with a navy-blue field cap. I glanced at the clock; I'll have something to eat and an hour to go till then. I had some eggs by the time it was already a quarter to eleven. I sat on the sofa, anxiously awaiting Mr. Becknell's arrival with his hydrosol… something I can't pronounce. I had finished smoking my third cigarette when suddenly I heard a thud on my door, and I panted at that smoke inside my lungs. My bloodshot eyes were watering. I can't stop coughing. It was Mr. Becknell with another man beside him.

"You all right?" Mr. Becknell asked.

"Yeah," I said, clearing my throat.

"Jim, this is Mr. Jeff Kay,"

"Hello," I offered him my left hand. On the other hand, Band-Aid's hand remained engaged with my queasy throat. His hand disappeared in my extended grip. Mr. Kay appeared to be a guy in his early thirties with slick blonde hair and a skinny build. He wore a loose jacket that made him look even thinner than he was.

"Please come in," I insisted. Jeff and Becknell entered in. "Would you like some tea, coffee, or anything else?" I hate doing this, but I must adapt to this hospitable world.

"Just water," Mr. Kay ordered while examining my house.

I went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water.

"There you go," I offered him a glass of water and watched him finish it.

"Thank you," he said, exiting the couch and strolling around my living room.

"Nice house you have here," he said, lifting a car model on my shelf.

"Yeah, it's old but strong," I said. Besides the car model, he noticed a photo frame I didn't want him to catch, but it was too late.

"This must be your family, Jim?" He asked

"Yeah," I said. Jim looked up and found me very close to him. I snatched that photo frame from him and placed it back on the shelf facedown. He was not expecting it from me. His expression was like I had just performed a magic trick and had left him flabbergasted.

"Never mind," he said, forcing a smile.

"I think we should be leaving by now. It's already past eleven," I said, looking at Mr. Becknell, who was messing with my steering wheel showpiece on the wall.

"You hear me? Mr. Becknell," I said sternly.

"Oh, what are we waiting for, lads?" Mr. Becknell said with fake enthusiasm and dashed towards the doors. We both watched him leave my house.

"I'll be right behind. You go ahead," I commanded. Jeff obeyed and followed Mr. Becknell out the door.

I took my olive-green jacket from the wardrobe and lifted my backpack. It felt heavy and cumbersome, but there was no chance I could remove anything from it. I went out. I could see Jeff and Mr. Becknell under a tree, very close to the lake, having a conversation, and they stopped when I approached and faced me.

"All set," Jeff asked. And again, that fake-looking grin, which I hate.

"Yeah, all set," I said, and Jeff strolled towards the lake. "Listen… have you told him about the deadline, till two pm only? Have you?" I said while rage boiled in my gut.

"Calm down; you don't have to worry about anything. It would only take a few hours. Trust me, you'll be back in no time," Becknell said calmly.

"Whatever, if we don't return after four, you have to come and find us," I said in a spurious angst voice.

"All right, chief," Mr. Becknell said, patting my back.

I headed towards my boat, loaded my bag, and found another man occupying a seat.

"Who's this guy?" I asked Jeff, who was beside me.

"Ah, that's my assistant, Kevin," Jeff said without any enthusiasm.

"I thought you were alone,"

"No," he said and again, that fake grin.

He didn't look like an assistant to me. He looked more like a butcher than an assistant of a hydrologist. Yeah, all jokes aside, really rugged jeans, a sleeveless red shirt, a baseball ball, and a thick mustache and sideburns; don't certify to assist anyone.

"Alright," I said with dismay and sat near the aft. I began to inspect the motor and boat from inside.

"Come on, old man," I heard a slightly nasal voice from the front seats. To my astonishment, it was Kevin. There was a massive gap between them and me because our stuff was placed between us, occupying the whole middle of the boat.

"Alright, hold on tight," I said, unleashing the boat from the little wooden dock, and our venture began.

3.

The lake was calm, but the sky was stormy. Soon it could shower us with its anger. I was hoping we would take a little while to finish the job. Our boat was slicing through greenish water that reflected the overcast sky distinctly. It could have been a beautiful day except for the weather, not to mention I hate when it's raining; you can't trust the winds in such weather. It's quite a vast lake. It is painful to sit still and steer the boat for long. But watching the view around, the dense woods by your side, a fleet of birds passing above you, and the eerie sounds of the insects is soothing. I'm used to it, and I love it.

"How long will it take for us to reach there?" Jeff asked, his voice muffled by the chugging motor.

"If we go at this speed, It will take another fifteen minutes or even less," I said.

"Then speed up, dammit," Kevin interrupted.

"I can't, it's getting windy, and it's quite challenging to steer against the wind,"

I explained, but that numb nut couldn't pick what I said. Kevin kept yelling something that wasn't audible.

"So... for how long have you been doing this, the hydrologist thing? You look young. The only people like you I meet are old, as much as my age. What made you do this?" I asked Jeff, who was admiring the view.

He didn't say anything; even Kevin's eyes a stuck on Jeff for an answer. After a while, he spoke,

"Ah, I've been doing this for quite some time now. For the past four years. I live in Penshaw,"

"So, you like working as a hydrologist?" I asked him.

"Yeah, it goes in my blood. My dad was a topographer growing up, and watching him work with maps and other stuff set my interest,"

"Oh, I see, and what about you, Kevin?" The motor rattling killed my voice, but Jeff seemed to have heard it just the same.

"He is just from the town. I just hired him to help me. Kevin doesn't belong to this field," Jeff said.

"Oh, I see," I said, looking at Kevin.

"I had to ask you something. I hope you don't mind?" said Jeff.

"Yeah, sure, if it's related to the lake,"

"No, it's about you,"

"About me?" I was surprised. "What about me?"

"The photograph I saw later this morning was your wife?"

I felt like diving into this lake and swimming away from Jeff. Still, it is impossible in this scenario, and I managed to speak out.

"Yeah, that's was my wife, Joanne,"

"Oh, where is she?"

I don't wanna answer him, but… "Joanne dead," I said.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," mourned Jeff.

Yeah, first, you come up with a knocking blow and say sorry like I didn't mean to hurt you, but you already did.

"Can I ask you what happened to your wife?" said Jeff anxiously, not expecting an answer.

I didn't feel like answering it, but finally contemplated my thoughts and spewed them out.

"She was a doctor and caught a patient's bacterial infection, which took her life," I said without looking at him.

"Oh, she didn't have proper precautions?"

"Her team of doctors was in a hurry. It was something different. They had never seen anything like this before. It was an emergency, and she g exposed to the infection. Since then, don't trust anything that the naked eye can't see,"

"And then?"

"I can't say anything more about it,"

"How long it has been, her death?"

"I think it's been a year or two, and after her death, I moved here,"

"It's so sad to hear that," he said, lowering his eyes and his face drenched in sorrow.

I thought momentarily," Is he shedding tears for me," Thankfully, he was not. He reached for me and squeezed my shoulder, and patted my back. Frankly, that was unnecessary. He took a cigarette out, shielding it against the waft of air as he lit it, passed it to me, and let himself another one. Much needed. Jeff took something from his pocket and began to examine it, which was shiny. I thought it was a mirror.

"I think we are going in the wrong direction," he said, looking again at his compass device.

"We are going east. We have to go south," Jeff said, looking at me suspiciously.

I looked baffled. And stood up and gazed in all directions.

"Oh, yes, you are right. I lost track in our conversation," And laughed it off.

"Are you alright, Old man?" popped Kevin.

"Yeah, I'm alright," I said casually.

After a few moments, I could see magnolia trees protruding at a distance on the southern horizon.

"This is it. That's our destination," I announced, "within a few minutes, we'll be there."

"Excellent," said Jeff.

"Well, I have to ask you one more question," said Jeff, looking at Kevin.

No more questions now, Come on!

"Okay, I'm hoping it's the last one."

"What do you know about the monster of this lake?"

That question made me swallow hard. And rivulets of sweat began to flow down my forehead.

"What monster are you talking about?" I asked, faking a surprised look.

"Come on, don't act silly; you are the one who spread the word about that Beast or monster or whatever that thing is. Becknell told me,"

"That moron," I said bitterly. "You know about that monster and still want to come here?"

"Sorry, it's my job," said Jeff. "So, tell me more about that beast you saw here that day?"

What the hell? I can't tell how badly I want to go back and punch Becknell in his gut.

"I'll just tell you briefly, what I saw that day,"

"Fine," Jeff said, throwing the cigarette butt into the lake.

"So, this is how it goes. I often come south for fishing, the only area where you can fish, or you can say where fish exist, and they are mostly extinct from other parts. On one fine day, I was fishing like I usually do. I heard a shrill cry from the woods--like an elephant, but it wasn't an elephant. I took a turn, and bang, I was down. I saw a tall figure twice my height; it had huge claws and long protruding ears."

"It must have been a bear," interrupted Kevin.

"No... No… it appeared too skinny for a bear, and he tried to attack me with his claws. I tried to shield myself with my hands, and its claw dug deeper into my forearms, see my hand!" I showed him my band-aid-wrapped arm. "It hasn't healed since." Jeff looked intrigued. "Somehow, I managed to escape with my bleeding hand and fled away from him, and still, that roar haunts me."

"I could take him down with ease," said Kevin.

"Good luck," I said. Screw you bitch.

"The monster seemed scary, huh, Kevin?" said Jeff.

"Not at all," said Kevin.

Now, I saw the shore was only a few meters away from us, and I cut off the motor and began to row the boat with an oar. And finally, we reached the infamous land. Kevin was the first to descend from the boat, followed by Jeff. They unloaded the boat with their stuff, and they had two bags. But my single backpack seemed heavier than theirs. I dropped my backpack, unzipped it, and took a small conical-shaped pipe-like device carved from wood. It looked ancient. I pressed it against my lips and began to blow air from its butt, resonating a loud, low-pitched sound that echoed across the dense woods.

"What the hell are you doing?" asked Kevin, looking disgusted.

"This will keep the beast and the other animals away from us," I showed him my horn. "I made it myself,"

Jeff and Kevin looked pissed off.

"You don't have to do that," Jeff said calmly.

"But It will help us conduct the experiments,"

"Listen, no experiments are going to conduct here. You heard me?"

I was baffled. "Then why are we here?"

"We are here for the beast," said Jeff. And I gasped.

4.

Kevin unzipped his bag, took a shotgun out, and started loading it, shell by shell. And Jeff took out a camouflaged crossbow from his bag. I stood frozen and just kept looking at them. Jeff began adjusting the crossbow string and attached a telescopic sight on top of it. He rummaged through the bag again. This time it was a quiver full of arrows, and he tied it behind his back. For the moment, I thought just to run away.

But I can't.

"I didn't sign up for this?" I said, but they both didn't hear me and acted like I wasn't there. "I'm sorry, but I'm leaving. I'm not into this, and you have to come with me. I'll confront you to Becknell, and he'll arrest you for carrying such weapons," I was scared to death, but I spoke with all my guts. "It's a scam," I added.

"Sheriff Becknell? He is involved in this," said Kevin aiming at the surroundings with his gun.

"We could do this with you or without you... my friend," said Jeff.

I noticed a change in his voice; it went from soft-spoken to crude, just like Kevin's.

Jeff continued. "Jim, Jim… come on, man. We are in this together and imagine the newspaper's front page with the pictures of us three and the dead Beast lying at our heels. Come on, don't ruin that picture for me,"

I had to appreciate his manipulating skills. He still had that charm in his voice.

"Okay, you stay here, and we'll be back in no time, and we'll give you equal credit, right Kevin?" said Jeff.

"Yeah, whatever…" said Kevin.

"Look, if you think you could stop him with your puny toys, you're completely wrong!" I warned them.

"But it is worth a shot, right? Earlier this month, Kevin and I caught a croc that was this big," Extending his arms as wide as he could. "We are used to these things,"

"This is completely a different thing. We are not dealing with Crocs here. It is more of a... supernatural thing," I said

"Supernatural? Don't tell me it's a ghost,"

"It can be," I said in a threatening tone.

"Okay, let's find it out—you can stay here, and we'll be back soon,"

I knew I couldn't stop them, all I could do was sit here and hear their screams as the Beast tore them apart or, even worse, join them, and I was ready for the worst.

"I'll come with you if you don't mind," I said.

"That's wonderful," said Jeff, elated.

I went near the boat and grabbed an oar for my protection. That's the least I could do before joining those idiots.

I unzipped my backpack, took out a yellow pair of rubber gloves, and began to wear them. It was difficult for me to put it onto my left hand. My left hand was aching badly, but somehow, I managed to do so. And then came an anti-pollution mask on my face. I need to find out what bacteria these woods' habitats.

"Ah, look at you," Jeff said,

And we headed deep into the woods, and soon we were engulfed by the dense, tall trees and wet, soggy ground. It started to drizzle. I saw Jeff moving very slowly ahead of us and started using hand signs I couldn't decipher, but Kevin could. Jeff stopped and started talking to me.

"Where was the last time you saw that beast?" he whispered.

"At the shore, and then I don't know," I said, matching his tone.

"You don't know?" said Kevin. "Have even been here?" he added.

"Yes, look at those empty cans of food. Those were eaten by me when the last time I visited this place,"

I pointed at the cans lying near the trees.

They said Nothing and moved on. The drizzle turned into heavy rainfall. We momentarily stopped and took shelter under a huge tree. Jeff cursed the rain, but it won't help to fade it away. Instead, it burst even more heavily. Kevin's eye caught something, and he pointed his finger to his lips and aimed for something far in the distance. Kevin had a firm grip on the handle. I saw something to my left and yelled.

"Beast… Beast look!" Kevin swung his gun until its muzzle pointed in the same direction as my finger. He fired a shot. There was no one there. Then we saw a shadowy figure moving ahead of us and getting away. They both ran, and I didn't know if I should follow them. Instinctively I followed them. Trying to match their pace and battling the falling rain that hindered my vision, I heard another gunshot. Then they started slowing down, and at a certain point, they stopped, and I joined them.

"Look at your beast," said Kevin, pointing his gun at a carcass.

It was a white-tailed deer, lying motionlessly with its eyes opened and oozing blood from its abdomen.

"What a waste of shell," said Kevin, frowning at me.

We went deeper into the woods. It ceased raining, but all our clothes were soaked, and even my bag was wet and heavier. I was exhausted very quickly. But their energy hasn't wavered at all. They wanted to hunt that Beast no matter what. Their determination was horrifying to me.

"Look, guys, time's up. We have to go now. We can return to this place someday or tomorrow," I sat near a tree, gasping for air. "We had a deal, you remember?"

"We? No…no… You and Becknell had a deal," said Jeff.

"Come on, guys, it's four already, and It will get dark soon," I said.

They completely ignored me and kept rambling in the woods. The rain had stopped, and a musty smell of decaying trees lingered. I knew they were tired too, but they didn't show their tiredness.

They are after the Beast, no matter what.

I like their dedication and perseverance, but it could be fatal and even their last mistake. Jeff stooped and talked about something with Kevin. They began moving stealthily after their conversation, leaning down their heads as they crawled across the mud, and I did the same.

"What happened?" I asked Kevin.

He said Nothing, just pointed ahead. I protruded my head out. There was a small hut-like structure that was s with local trees and grass.

"It must be where the beast stays," said Jeff, his eyes on the hut.

"Look, guys, it could turn ugly! Let's just get out of here," I said.

"Shut that hole of yours, alright?" said Jeff.

"Do whatever you feel. I'm leaving with my boat," I said.

Jeff and Kevin stood up. I was still lying down. Kevin grabbed me by the neck and punched the wind out of me. I had never felt anything like that in my fifty-eight-year-old life. The oar slipped out from my hands. I held my abdomen in uncountable pain, and Jeff knocked me out with a kick to my face. I was down for a count. I tried getting to my feet but crumpled down again. They surrounded me and started kicking the heck out of me. And finally, Kevin aimed for my skull. I could see two gun barrels close to the face, but it was only one. I couldn't see anything clearly; everything was burly and distorted. And I closed my eyes and thought, this is it; I'm going to die here. I heard a loud thud, and something dropped beside me. Kevin was bleeding from his head, and I saw a sharp stone stuck in his skull. Jeff was baffled but scared and began to shoot his arrows at anything moving. I saw a mysterious silhouette figure at a distance, and Jeff aimed at it. With all my strength, I got onto my knees, picked up the oar, and swung it as hard as I could at Jeff's legs, and he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a grunt.

"Run! Joanne! Run!" I screamed with all my lungs out, and the silhouetted figure faded deep into the woods. And I passed out.

5.

When I woke up, I found myself tied with ropes and felt like I was in a straight jacket. Looking around, I realized I had been brought back near the shore. Jeff and Kevin were patrolling me.

"So, what is your wife doing here?" Asked Kevin with a cloth soaked in blood and dripping out tied on his head.

"She was always here," I said, trying to break free.

"Why?" asked Jeff.

"She is sick," I said.

"Why don't you treat her?" asked Kevin and sat before me.

"Her disease is incurable," I said.

"Stop your bullshit and bring her here now. Call her now," said Jeff

I had no other choice but to call her here. They wouldn't shoot her since they knew the Beast was my wife. Hopefully.

"Grab that horn from my bag," I said.

Jeff looked confused and gestured for Kevin to do so, and he took it out.

"Blow in it from the opposite side," I said.

Kevin didn't. He handed it to Jeff, blew it from the opposite side, and a loud, high-pitched whistle filled the air. After a few minutes, a figure started getting visible amid the woods. It was getting closer. Kevin stood up, and Jeff got alerted. It was Joanne; her white skin was no longer white. She was covered in burns, Her face had brown patches of wounds, and there were barely any hairs on her head like her body was scabbed entirely. She looked somewhat looked mummified because of the rugged gown she was wearing. Jeff and Kevin were scared to death. They aimed at her while moving away from her.

"This is not a human… It's a witch," said Kevin in a voice that shook with horror.

"Please don't shoot her; she is completely harmless," I said

"So, this is the Beast of the lake. I see you were trying to protect her, so you spread the rumor of the Beast. Yeah, I know society would never bear a thing like her. I mean, look at her! What a filthy creature! But I have to appreciate your story, but this is going to end soon,"

My barrel of emotion was rolling between sadness and anger, evident on my face. Joanne rushed toward me. She didn't like me tied like that.

"Look what your husband got for you," said Jeff, emptying my backpack. "See, dozens of food cans and water bottles; look, he got a dress for you. I was wondering why it looked so heavy."

Suddenly, Kevin passed out and was barely making a move. Jeff examined him.

"Come on, boy, it will be over soon, stay with me," said Jeff.

But Kevin didn't seem to respond. Jeff thought Kevin was dead. He stuck his ears close to Kevin's chest.

"You're alive, boy. Keep up," said Jeff. "I'll deal with you later." He told me. "First, I'll take my boy to the hospital." Jeff was lost in oblivion. He was going crazy by watching his friend bleeding to death. Jeff lifted Kevin, put Kevin's head under his arms, and steered him to the boat, and to everyone's surprise, we saw another boat coming toward the shore. It was Mr. Becknell. Jeff knew he was in danger and began to shoot arrows at Becknell. He dodged several bullets and retaliated with his service pistol. The Becknell's boat was closing in. He jumped into the shallow water and started lumbering towards us. Joanne and I were the only spectators of this gunfight. Jeff took the shotgun and fired blindly at Becknell. Fortunately, It didn't deal any damage to Becknell. He raised his pistol, aimed for Jeff's shoulder, and pressed the trigger. The bullet pierced Jeff's shoulder, and profusely oozing with blood, he crawled from behind the boat and soon begged for mercy.

"Drop your gun!" said Becknell, and Jeff obeyed and raised his hands.

He looked at me, then Joanne, and then asked me who she was? I explained to him everything.

"At least you should have told me," said Becknell.

I had no answer to that.

"I'll cuff these lunatics, and we'll go straight to the police station," said Becknell.

"Alright," I said and looked at Joanne.

Kevin crawled out of the blue and grabbed Becknell's knees, trying to trip him off.

"Shoot him," said Kevin, putting all his strength into tripping Becknell on the muddy bank.

Jeff took Kevin's shotgun and aimed at Becknell. All this time, Joanne was busy cutting the rope for me with a sharp piece of rock, and I untangled myself and ran and grabbed that barrel. Jeff misfired. Becknell stomped Kevin with his foot and tried to hold that shotgun. His finger was on the trigger all the time and could have shot anyone of us anytime. He hit the trigger, and a loud blast made my ears numb, and the smoke from the gun engulfed me. I could taste the gunpowder in the air. But I was still clinging to that shotgun. The smoke cleared, and I saw Becknell lying in the mud. Joanne tried hitting Jeff, but he pushed her off quite quickly. I saw Joanne falling and was heated, pulled the gun off Jeff, kicked him on his stomach, and shot right between his eyes. Jeff was down. His head flew apart. He collapsed like a tree, and I tried to reshoot him, but I was out of shells. I threw the gun away and dropped onto my knees. That was my lucky shot.

I checked on Joanne. Becknell, Kevin, and Jeff… were gone. No bandage was wrapped around my hand, and the wounds were similar to Joanne's. I was infected. I knew it long ago. I took all three of them one by one, loaded them in the boat, turned the motor on, and set the boat adrift into the horizon. Joanne hugged me. She had tears, and we watched the boat bobbing into the sunset.

The End.