As before, all commments and critisism is welcome, please don't be afraid to comment, I really do enjoy reading them and try to improve subsequent stories based on them.
Jane sat in front of the television engrossed in the action of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Behind her the popcorn happily exploded away on the stove. She couldnt believe her luck. This was the first time she had been entrusted with the house whilst her parents were out and, even though they would both be back long before her bedtime, she wasnt going to pass up this opportunity. The decreasing pops of her snack alerted her to the fact it was ready and she got up to retrieve it from the stove. She settled back in front of the movie her hunger all but forgotten as she munched away on the buttered puffs. She knew this would come back to haunt her though. Butter popcorn, the night before the cheerleading tryouts. She already thought herself too fat, even though at twelve years of age she weighed a tiny five stone.
And so she sat there, engrossed in her movie. Had she paid more attention to the world around her maybe she would have realised something was amiss. Maybe she wouldnt have drawn the curtains to block out the glair from the streetlights. Maybe she would have noticed the pair of red glowing eyes that were watching her.
It was angry. They had found its nest and nearly broken in. How could that have happened? It was unsure about the world that it was in. All it could do was to act as it always had done. It had already fed for now. It had needed sustenance in order to attack the hunter. It didnt know what it had eaten, all soft and fury, but it had eaten its fill. For now there was its larder to be stocked. It would need plenty of fresh meat for the hibernation.
It heard a scream. One of the prey was in this building and looking at a flashing box. It had obviously unnerved the prey because it had reached for a smaller black box, pointed it at the flashing and the flashing had stopped. It sneaked around the side of the building looking for an entrance. This prey was not paying attention. It would be easy to subdue it.
Jane sat on the couch, visibly shaking. What was she thinking of. This would give her nightmares for a month. She started to cry but as soon as it came forced the tears back. She wasnt going to be afraid. Not afraid of a film. It wasnt real after all. Her protestations did nothing to relieve her sense of unease.
Jane Masterson, She said out loud. It might be the middle of the night but Im perfectly safe in my own home!
The creature heard the voice. A feeling of doubt entered its mind. The prey didnt make this sort of noise unless there was other prey around. Or worse still. Maybe it was the hunter. The creature remembered the hunter all too well.
*
It had been out on a hunt. The prey was scarce that night and it had not eaten enough to sustain it for long. It knew that it needed more in order to restock its now dwindling supplies. How was it so difficult to find prey in a place this size? It was no good musing on it though.
Rounding a corner it saw his quarry. A lone prey, smaller than he would have wanted but it would do for this nights hunt. It hadnt even sensed the creatures presence. This would be an easy catch. It stepped closer. It needed to be as close as possible.
The prey must of heard its movements because, flinching in shock, it turned and let out a shrill scream. It was too late however. It would have no problem capturing and subduing the prey. Not now. With a distinct increase in the glow of its eyes, the creature let out a scream of his own and the prey, memorised by the sound, fell silent and slumped to the floor.
This took a lot out of the creature. It only used this ability when really needed. It was already too late however because, as it picked up the lifeless body, it was knocked to the ground a gash of blood forming across its chest.
This was the hunter, claws protruding from its arms. The creature staggered to its feet, caught off guard and dazed from the blow. The hunter was on him in an instant. Another hit knocked the creature back and it collided with a wall. It was powerful this hunter but it had thought the creature dealt with and left him in a heap. The hunter knelt by the body of the pray and the creature took this opportunity to strike.
It leapt at the hunter who turned as if expecting the assault and battered away the creature mid flight. The hunter walked slowly towards the creatures body. The creature realised it was not going to survive a final attack. Seeing his chance as the hunter made his move, the creature spun away from the sharp claws that were rammed into a ground where the creatures body once lay.
Once again it leapt, but this time away from the Hunter. It snatched the body of the fallen prey and sped off into the night.
It never saw the scene that unfolded behind, the husband telling his wife of the tragic events that had occurred. Even if it had it could never understand. The mother and father of the kidnapped girl were beside themselves. They searched all night, calling the girls name through empty streets. There was not a sign of their daughter. No one had seen anything and the only clues to the creature were those left after the fight.
They were determined to find their daughter but neither held much hope. Both parents had to come to terms with the awful truth. Neither Matt nor Mel Marvellous felt heroic as they contemplated the fate of their daughter. Drained of energy, they returned home but was an empty shell of the home they once knew. No parent should outlive their children.
*
Jane turned the television back on and, having regained composure, settled down once again to watch the film. Maybe a drink would steady her nerves, something nice and cool. A quick trip to the kitchen and she was back in front of the movie.
It was all clear. There was no scent on the house other than that of the prey. The creature slowly, delicately pulled open the door. This was something it had learnt the other night. These portals would alert the prey if charged at. He creped up on the pray, bring careful not to make a sound.
Jane was surprised to see two glowing dots on the screen. They were red. That was all she needed. If the set had broken whilst she was in charge of the house then she would get the blame. She hoped it was nothing serious. She knew whose allowance it would be coming out of if it were. One again she turned off the movie. The dots remained. She moved closer to the screen. She thought she saw the creature from the black lagoon standing behind her couch but dismissed the though. She switched on again and turned to sit back down. Seeing the creature for the first time she couldnt believe her eyes. It only became a reality for her when it moved, leaping towards her and sending her into a panic. The last thing she saw as she passed into unconsciousness was its face, mouth wide open, tong hanging out and saliva dripping from the gaping jaws. And of course the eyes, the glowing, burning orbs that signified every level of hell.
Then world started to spin as Jane Masterson passed into unconsciousness. It was a blessed relief.
To Be Continued...
Posted
As an afterthought, does anyone think that this chapter was too divergent from the main story or did that not matter? Id love to know what people think.
As before, all commments and critisism is welcome, please don't be afraid to comment, I really do enjoy reading them and try to improve subsequent stories based on them.
You can find the other chapters below
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Creature
A Marvellous Family Story
Chapter Three
Jane sat in front of the television engrossed in the action of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Behind her the popcorn happily exploded away on the stove. She couldnt believe her luck. This was the first time she had been entrusted with the house whilst her parents were out and, even though they would both be back long before her bedtime, she wasnt going to pass up this opportunity. The decreasing pops of her snack alerted her to the fact it was ready and she got up to retrieve it from the stove. She settled back in front of the movie her hunger all but forgotten as she munched away on the buttered puffs. She knew this would come back to haunt her though. Butter popcorn, the night before the cheerleading tryouts. She already thought herself too fat, even though at twelve years of age she weighed a tiny five stone.
And so she sat there, engrossed in her movie. Had she paid more attention to the world around her maybe she would have realised something was amiss. Maybe she wouldnt have drawn the curtains to block out the glair from the streetlights. Maybe she would have noticed the pair of red glowing eyes that were watching her.
It was angry. They had found its nest and nearly broken in. How could that have happened? It was unsure about the world that it was in. All it could do was to act as it always had done. It had already fed for now. It had needed sustenance in order to attack the hunter. It didnt know what it had eaten, all soft and fury, but it had eaten its fill. For now there was its larder to be stocked. It would need plenty of fresh meat for the hibernation.
It heard a scream. One of the prey was in this building and looking at a flashing box. It had obviously unnerved the prey because it had reached for a smaller black box, pointed it at the flashing and the flashing had stopped. It sneaked around the side of the building looking for an entrance. This prey was not paying attention. It would be easy to subdue it.
Jane sat on the couch, visibly shaking. What was she thinking of. This would give her nightmares for a month. She started to cry but as soon as it came forced the tears back. She wasnt going to be afraid. Not afraid of a film. It wasnt real after all. Her protestations did nothing to relieve her sense of unease.
Jane Masterson, She said out loud. It might be the middle of the night but Im perfectly safe in my own home!
The creature heard the voice. A feeling of doubt entered its mind. The prey didnt make this sort of noise unless there was other prey around. Or worse still. Maybe it was the hunter. The creature remembered the hunter all too well.
*
It had been out on a hunt. The prey was scarce that night and it had not eaten enough to sustain it for long. It knew that it needed more in order to restock its now dwindling supplies. How was it so difficult to find prey in a place this size? It was no good musing on it though.
Rounding a corner it saw his quarry. A lone prey, smaller than he would have wanted but it would do for this nights hunt. It hadnt even sensed the creatures presence. This would be an easy catch. It stepped closer. It needed to be as close as possible.
The prey must of heard its movements because, flinching in shock, it turned and let out a shrill scream. It was too late however. It would have no problem capturing and subduing the prey. Not now. With a distinct increase in the glow of its eyes, the creature let out a scream of his own and the prey, memorised by the sound, fell silent and slumped to the floor.
This took a lot out of the creature. It only used this ability when really needed. It was already too late however because, as it picked up the lifeless body, it was knocked to the ground a gash of blood forming across its chest.
This was the hunter, claws protruding from its arms. The creature staggered to its feet, caught off guard and dazed from the blow. The hunter was on him in an instant. Another hit knocked the creature back and it collided with a wall. It was powerful this hunter but it had thought the creature dealt with and left him in a heap. The hunter knelt by the body of the pray and the creature took this opportunity to strike.
It leapt at the hunter who turned as if expecting the assault and battered away the creature mid flight. The hunter walked slowly towards the creatures body. The creature realised it was not going to survive a final attack. Seeing his chance as the hunter made his move, the creature spun away from the sharp claws that were rammed into a ground where the creatures body once lay.
Once again it leapt, but this time away from the Hunter. It snatched the body of the fallen prey and sped off into the night.
It never saw the scene that unfolded behind, the husband telling his wife of the tragic events that had occurred. Even if it had it could never understand. The mother and father of the kidnapped girl were beside themselves. They searched all night, calling the girls name through empty streets. There was not a sign of their daughter. No one had seen anything and the only clues to the creature were those left after the fight.
They were determined to find their daughter but neither held much hope. Both parents had to come to terms with the awful truth. Neither Matt nor Mel Marvellous felt heroic as they contemplated the fate of their daughter. Drained of energy, they returned home but was an empty shell of the home they once knew. No parent should outlive their children.
*
Jane turned the television back on and, having regained composure, settled down once again to watch the film. Maybe a drink would steady her nerves, something nice and cool. A quick trip to the kitchen and she was back in front of the movie.
It was all clear. There was no scent on the house other than that of the prey. The creature slowly, delicately pulled open the door. This was something it had learnt the other night. These portals would alert the prey if charged at. He creped up on the pray, bring careful not to make a sound.
Jane was surprised to see two glowing dots on the screen. They were red. That was all she needed. If the set had broken whilst she was in charge of the house then she would get the blame. She hoped it was nothing serious. She knew whose allowance it would be coming out of if it were. One again she turned off the movie. The dots remained. She moved closer to the screen. She thought she saw the creature from the black lagoon standing behind her couch but dismissed the though. She switched on again and turned to sit back down. Seeing the creature for the first time she couldnt believe her eyes. It only became a reality for her when it moved, leaping towards her and sending her into a panic. The last thing she saw as she passed into unconsciousness was its face, mouth wide open, tong hanging out and saliva dripping from the gaping jaws. And of course the eyes, the glowing, burning orbs that signified every level of hell.
Then world started to spin as Jane Masterson passed into unconsciousness. It was a blessed relief.
To Be Continued...