The Beast

The Beast-Hiding Inside You

Dan Holley had been planning a surprise for his new bride for months. Finally, the surprise was about to be revealed to her in a few minutes. The fall day had been crisp and cool, but now the sun was setting in the western sky. Dan pulled into the driveway that led to the victorian style home. The house had recently seen renovations to its old charm but still held a secret the young couple didn’t know. As he helped her into the house, she was utterly speechless. The interior decorating was precisely what she loved. Making their way to the back entrance, they noticed the sunlight glistening on the water as it began to disappear on the horizon slowly.

Dan turned on the lights and followed his wife to the outside. They walked down the pier, where a boat sat docked. Angelica turned to Dan and asked if they could use the boat. Dan grabbed her by the shoulder and hugged her. “We actually can use the boat, but don’t you think we should do that in the morning?” She looked up at him and pleaded to just take a short trip on the water. After giving in, he helped her into the boat and then proceeded to get in himself. Once they both sat down, he took the oars and started to row. With the sunlight fading, he told her it would have to be quick. What the couple didn’t know was the area had seen suspicious activity. Over the years, the house they were visiting had many young couples come, but few ever left. According to the stories, they would disappear, never to be seen. Most just assumed the couples had gone back from where they had come. Dan and Angelica started to feel the current of the water pick up and realized the house was getting further away quicker than it should. Once the light became distant, Dan started to row in the house’s direction but wasn’t getting anywhere. Finally, he realized they headed to a small island appearing from behind a fog that arose out of nowhere. As they moved closer, both began to show fear.

Both heard noises coming from the island. Dan started to notice what looked like eyes watching them as the boat was pushed to the shore as if a magical force had dragged them ashore. Dan got out of the boat and told Angelica to stay while he looked around. He took a few steps onto the shore when he heard the first loud cries. Realizing it sounded human, Dan began to yell out, “Hello.” As he did, he heard what sounded like a woman’s voice call out for help. But when he turned in the direction he heard the voice coming from, he felt chills come over him. Angelica called out, “Dan, please get back in the boat. I am scared.”

Dan turned around and started to walk back to the boat, but it was empty. Panic set in as he began to look around, looking for his wife, seeing she was nowhere around. He called out for his wife. “Angelica, where are you?” “I’m right here, Dan. You are standing right in front of me.” “ I can’t see you.” Dan got back in the boat, but as he did, he felt the same chills as he had moments earlier. He turned to look behind. As Dan did, he was face to face with a beast with glaring red eyes. He had never seen something so terrifying. Before he could defend himself, he felt something tear into his side and slash across his entire body. Looking down, he realized he had been sliced wide open. As the thought of death entered his mind, he looked up. As his eyes focused, he saw Angelica standing before him, his blood covering her. What he didn’t know was she had seen the same beast as he had.

Realizing what she had just done to her husband, she cried out and rushed to his side. Trying to help him, she removed her jacket, placing it on his wound, hoping to stop the bleeding. Telling him to stay awake, she pushed the boat in the water. Jumping in, she began to row in the direction of the house. After a few moments, the realization that she wouldn’t make it in time set in. Her husband was going to die, and she was guilty of murder. What had come over her? Why had she attacked him? Why had she seen a beast with those red eyes? It had to be something that existed on that island. Angelica knew she could only try to make it back to the house. Rowing hard as she could, she began to see the lights from the house come back into sight. After another fifteen minutes, Angelica rowed the boat up to the dock. She checked on Dan, realizing he was still alive but in need of medical attention. She got up out of the boat and made her way to the house. Running inside to grab her purse, she pulled out her cellphone to call 911. She ran outside to the boat and stayed with Dan until the ambulance arrived, followed by local police.

Angelica stood there in tears as he was wheeled away on a stretcher after the paramedics had bandaged his wounds as best as they could. The police had walked over to Angelica and began to ask her questions. The questions pertained to the happenings of the evening. Angelica answered everything as best as she could, even telling them what she had seen and heard. As she described the beast she swore was very real, the two officers looked at each other. It wasn’t the first time they had heard, and they insisted she go into even more detail. After the questioning finished, the officers told her that they would need everything she had said written down. They even informed her the island and water around it were known locally as a possessed place. Therefore, any that went to the island at night was taking a chance. Evil spirits were said to inhabit the island, ones that would show themselves in many forms. Her description of the beast with glaring red eyes was just one of many stories. Finally, the police officers gave her their cards and returned to their car.

Angelica stood there and looked back at the water, trying to see the island where the events had happened. She was still in shock, and now she had to make it to the hospital to be with her husband. She walked towards the house, taking another look back, knowing it was somewhere she wished she had never come.