“Don’t you move a damn muscle--,” Scott shrieked from behind the old man, pressing a revolver to the back of Frank’s head, “Or I’ll blow you out of your boots, old man!”
“Scott!” Both shocked and relieved to see our friend, I could only watch as Ronnie leapt forward, snatching the rifle away from the old man.
“How did you?” Rich gasped, startled as he looked in question to our friend, and Scott said, “The damn brakes failed in NR2 when I pulled out of the driveway. I went into the ditch and hit the stupid sign post. It’s a good thing you had those big old bumpers, or I might’ve been in some real trouble.”
“Thank God you’re okay.” Rich hugged him.
“I came back to get NR1, but didn’t have the keys. So I hurried down to the boat-house. I heard the engine from the dock and Frank threatening you. So I went back for the Dingy on NR2 and came after you guys.”
“You’re going to spend what’s left of your life rotting in jail.” Ronnie pointed the weapon at Frank. The old man didn’t even react. His face stern and eyes fixed, he smiled, “For what, a bunch of here-say? No body, no crime, shit for brains.”
“He’s right--,” The answer came like a poison from off Rich’s lips, “Without proof—it’s just his word against ours….”
Rushing to the stern of the boat, I looked over and down into the dark waters. Through the streaming fog and waves I could see nothing. The bodies had finally vanished beneath the dark waters…
I had slowly turned, my eyes following to where the group stood together, and my heart sank. As terrible as it was, we did not have one single shred of solid evidence against old Frank. Although I had recorded his entire conversation, the barrels and bodies were forever gone….
And that was when I heard it. It was a subtle but certain thumping, the sound of something bumping against the side of the boat.
“What the hell is that sound?” Old Frank’s eyes became huge.
Red Cloud had fearfully looked around in the deep shadows and fog that drifted across the deck, and turned to look back at me, “Something is coming—we are no longer alone out here.”
“There isn’t anything out here but the wind and the fog--,” Frank had cursed at the old native, “So, don’t try any of that Indian spook crap on me.”
“No, he’s right--,” Rich had argued, his features pale and filled with unspeakable terror as he looked to me and quietly said, “This was never just a haunting. There’s something else out there in the lake and fog—and it’s coming….”
Again came that strange thumping, the sounds of something bumping against the side of the yacht. It sounded like the subtle but steady echo of something approaching. It was climbing up the side of the craft.
I had turned to look back over the side, but found only the cold night and endlessly drifting fog. But when I gazed back to where my friends stood, my heart leapt into my throat. For there, like a pale and bloated spider, it crept from over the starboard rail! It was as though the corpses had somehow congealed together, as conjoined at their backs, became a multi-limbed nightmare! The heads lolled from side to side, mouths gaping wide, vomiting blackened filth with every movement they made!
It stared from blackened sockets where eyes had once been, the arms violently flailing, claw-like fingers grabbing blindly at the night! I could only stare as it clambered from over the side. Dropping onto the deck with a thunderous crash, limbs snapped, flesh ripped, and its rotting feet were torn away! It then scuttled along upon the decaying and blackened stumps of its many legs, like some enormous and hideous crab. Before I had time to even scream, it was upon them! Shots were fired, men wailed. Within the ensuing chaos they struggled to escape the heads and clutching hands of the horrendous thing!
I had never before been more terrified. The abomination thundered across the deck, leaving a ghastly trail of rotting remnants and pooling death in its path.
Scott wailed. Throwing an oil lamp upon the nightmare, he fired into the oncoming fiend. But the monstrous thing swatted the lantern aside, sending it over the rail and beyond harms reach. His futile efforts rewarded with rage, swiftly turning and flailing wildly, it now rushed toward the terrified man.
Rich had pulled Scott from out of the thing’s path, and not a moment too soon, as falling backward, they narrowly avoided its grasp.
“The cabin--,” Red Cloud had bellowed, “It’s our only chance!”
“But we’ll be trapped!” Ronnie cried out, stabbing hopelessly at the horror with a gaff that he had found upon the deck.
“There are windows, we can get through if need be!” Red Cloud had argued, hurrying everyone along.
We had all made for the cabin, slamming and barring the door with whatever we could find. But it had not been enough, as the thing now slammed its full weight against the door, its hinges breaking, walls shaking, and the glass shattering from all about us.
“You know what this is, Frank, don’t you?” Rich had turned and glared at the now cowering old man, “It’s the devil in the flesh, coming to take your soul for all your sins!”
“You can’t take what he doesn’t have.” Scott cursed at the old man, “I say we toss him out to that thing and be done with this!”
“You’re all just as guilty!” Frank leapt up from where he had cringed, and pointing in accusation, cursed, “You dumped those bodies—we’re all going to Hell!”
It took everything for Rich and me to physically restrain Scott from leaping upon and beating the old fiend. The thundering assault from outside drew us back to Ronnie who struggled alone. Turning and slamming our full weight against the cabin door, we all fought to keep out the monstrous thing. We were sent sprawling back as it pounded against the door, its frame beginning to break free.
“It’s no good! It’s going to break through at any moment!” Horrified, Ronnie looked back to me. The nightmare hammering its way inward as the portal splintered, the hinges bursting from the frame. The door was sent inward as though by a hurricane. It sent the big man reeling back and to where we had all stood, bowling us over as we sprawled helplessly upon the floor.
As we struggled to regain our footing, I turned and dared to look back. We had been fortunate, as due to its great size and mass, the hideous fiend could not force itself through the small door. It tore frantically at the boards, shredding and breaking all in reach, the flesh torn from its rotting bones, while slamming its body further inward with every brutal attempt. The stench was overwhelming, blinding, as its foul and bloated innards spilled out through multiple gaping wounds.
Red Cloud had wasted no time: While smashing out what remained of the cabin windows with a chair, he hurried everyone out. It had taken only moments, but as the last of us climbed through, the nightmare shattered the door frame and frantically pursued.
It had been by mere luck alone that I had pulled my leg free and narrowly avoided its reach by just inches, as numerous claws had reached out.
“Make for the dinghy! There’s no other escape!” Ronnie had barked, sending the others running in blind terror with Frank close behind. I had turned, and glancing back, cried out as it once more scuttled after us in close pursuit. In all of my years and worst nightmares I had never witnessed anything like this. The horror complete, I knew deep in my soul that this was some kind of vengeful demon, and certainly no mere haunting or ghost!
We had not even managed to make the yacht’s edge when the thing was upon us again. Scattering in different directions, we fled wailing before the ghastly thing. It smashed at everything that crossed its path. Ripping out the railing, splintering the wood and leaving everything covered in that oozing, putrid and pooling filth. The stench was abominable and burned in my lungs.
“For the love of Christ, someone help me!” Frank shrieked, as having climbed atop the cabin roof, he scrambled backwards as the horror lurched after him. Reaching numerous arms upward, its bony, clawed fingers tore into the wood as it pursued him. Kicking and screaming hysterically, he was caught upon splint
ered boards.
I had watched in horror as the nightmare had crept upward, dragging its mass across the cabin’s roof and casting its arms out again. The fingers traveled like hordes of clattering, bony spiders across the torn wood, clawing and grabbing at his legs. He fought desperately, his shrieks of terror sending tremors through my entire being, as it suddenly caught hold of him, its many limbs lashing out as it dragged the screaming and struggling man helplessly back across the roof.
I could do little more than stare aghast, as through the chaos, the nightmare pulled him down. Gripping him tightly, it scuttled upon those hideous stumps back across the deck. Each separate head shrieking a screeching, unearthly and deafening howl! It caused us to fall to our knees, covering our ears with both hands.
With blackened eyes, the heads twisted and turned, the thing searching as though suddenly confused. Frank wailed helplessly, as he struggled in vain to escape. It suddenly spun, and noticing where Ronnie stood cringing behind the helm, rushed toward the horrified man. He fled in terror, racing back across the deck and to the remnants of the cabin.
Scott had appeared from out of nowhere, wielding the gaff, and struck a mighty blow into the amassed heads. But entirely unaffected, the horror had just lashed out and cast him aside like a rag doll. I had seen Rich and Red Cloud run to Scott’s aid, dragging him clear of the flames as the horror once more pursued our friend.
Ronnie had attempted to run, but was cornered at the stern and with no other place to go, without a thought, leapt from over the side.
Helplessly, I had watched as the monster now pursued the fleeing man, dragging the struggling and screaming Frank, as the thing scrambled over the rail and disappeared into the fog. There was an immense splash as it went down into the lake and we all ran to the starboard side. What met our eyes was nothing short of a nightmare: Caught within the numerous and bony claws, screaming and thrashing wildly, Frank vanished into the fog and beneath the dark waves!
We had only stood and stared as caught within the horror and shock of the moment, all trembled, too terrified to utter a sound. And then, from out of the stillness something breached the surface of those dark waters once more. Struggling and gasping in the icy waves, Ronnie waved, pleading for help.
Although absolutely horrified and still in a state of utter shock, I raced without a second thought to his assistance. Rich had followed closely, slipping and sliding upon the putrid filth that lay strewn all about the deck. Hurriedly climbing down the rope ladder and to where the dinghy had been left tied, we jumped down into the little craft, and fumbling for the oars, paddled desperately toward the struggling man. Terrified of what lurked just below the blackened waves, I forced my every effort, focused my mind upon our floundering friend.
“Ronnie—we’re here!” I had reached over the side and grabbed at the flailing man.
He had fought his way through the dark waters and dense fog as we leaned over and pulled the soaked and violently shaking man into the boat. No sooner had we gotten him into the craft than did the nightmare reappear.
The waters churned from all around the little rubber boat as we paddled for all that we were worth! I could make out a pale form swiftly coming upward from just beneath the surface. A shape that now swiftly followed as we moved to the side of the yacht.
Frightened beyond our wits, we had fumbled, stumbled while rushing toward the ladder and rope. Ronnie had insisted that I go first. Caught in the terror of the moment, I had rushed ahead without a second thought.
The water suddenly erupted, a foaming and blackened wave exploding just beyond the little boat. Stricken in terror and short of breath, I had turned and desperately reached down to catch Ronnie’s hand. He swung from the rope ladder, barely out of the boat. To my absolute horror, the monstrous thing surfaced. Its hideous, pale, and putrid flesh glistening in the ship’s dim lights, within its long and bony arms it tightly clung to the gasping, desperate and still shrieking Frank!
With a sudden violence it swatted aside the rubber raft and moved beneath the rope. We had narrowly escaped as it came from below, and I dragged him over the side and from out of its reach.
We all stared in horror as among the screaming and howling heads, Frank’s body was pulled downward into the putrid and pulsating mass. The hideous fiend’s flesh a mass of liquid putrefaction, it drew the shrieking man inward in an embrace of certain doom. His cries became sickening, choking as he suffocated and was absorbed into the glistening, putrid mass. His entire body vanishing as it engulfed him in rot and filth, and he was suddenly gone….
Rich had turned, falling to his knees, and violently heaved the contents of his stomach across the deck. I had run to his side, assisting the shaken man to his feet, and said, “We’re all getting out of here—do you hear me?”
There was no response, just a wide-eyed stare as he coughed and turned while vomiting again.
“It’s coming back!” Scott cried out as he pointed, panicked and turned to run.
“It’s this damned ship!” Ronnie followed swiftly and back across the deck, “It’s no good. It wants this ship and anyone on it!”
“Then torch the damn thing!” Rich shrieked, “We can use the dinghy—it’ll hold all of us!”
“I don’t want to go back down there with that thing!” Scott’s eyes were huge as a sound now drew our attention to the stern, port-side. It was that same thumping, pounding sound which, echoing in the stillness, resounded like thunder in the night.
“Oh, dear God have mercy.” Rich looked to me, his voice barely audible as he gasped, “What do we do now? Michael—it’s coming for us! We need to get off this damn yacht!”
“Rich is right--,” Ronnie motioned to the bow, “We have to get off this thing—and somehow back into the boat.”
Scott had grabbed a fire-axe from off the wall, “But how do we do that—the raft was torn loose! It might be floating out there anywhere?”
“We must create a distraction—something that will give us time to clear out of here!” Red Cloud shouted, smashing several lanterns that he had retrieved from the ruins of the cabin, “And send this yacht and that thing straight back to Hell!”
We had all followed his example, frantically throwing anything flammable that we could find onto the deck and into big piles.
“But, we don’t even know if the dinghy is still out there!” Scott cursed, “It could be anywhere in that fog!”
“At this point--,” Rich gasped, “I’d rather drown.”
“Let’s torch this damn thing.” Gripping the axe tightly within both hands, he looked between us, “And then I’ll go for the dinghy….”
Rich had just lit his Zippo when the monster re-appeared, cursing as he threw the lighter down and the oil ignited. The deck became an inferno as the monster fell forward. Oblivious to the flames, its hideous stumps hammering, it scrambled toward us from across the deck.
It appeared even larger now. Having absorbed Frank, his arms and legs now flailed in unison, having become part of the fiend. In that same moment and in the fires glow, I had seen the old man’s face: His dead and empty eyes, his gaping mouth soundlessly shrieking from among the ghastly and rotting mass. Frank was now truly a part of the nightmare that he had created.
There was more gun-fire as Red Cloud emptied the rifle into the fiend to no avail.
“It’s picking us off one at a time!” Scott bellowed, pointing as it pursued Ronnie, and said, “We need to do something now—before it’s too late!”
“It is hopeless—you cannot kill what is already dead! This is an evil beyond us all!” Red Cloud frantically waved toward the stern, “Get off the boat! Go—all of you, now!”
Though his voice resounded with panic, his features remained stern, fearless. Among the flames and in the darkness, the old man faded in my thoughts, and I saw only the Cree shaman, the warrior standing there.
“Go now!” The old man grabbed a lantern from off the deck and raced toward the oncoming thing. As we all rushed toward the l
adder, I saw Red Cloud smashing the lamps while creating an encircling wall of flame. But it made little difference as the monster still came. The fiend had caught fire and was oblivious to the flames while burning in approach, its stench of charred flesh and burnt hair filling and fouling the air, as a thick and oily black smoke billowed into the night.
Scott had retrieved the gaff from where it had fallen, and rushing to guard our passage to the raft, shouted in horror, “This thing will blow sky high once the flames reach the fuselage! We don’t have much time!”
“I’m not leaving Red here alone to face that thing!” Rich wailed, as attempting to rush back, was halted as Scott took him by the shoulders, “Don’t make his sacrifice a waste!”
We all turned to where Red Cloud stood with Ronnie upon what remained of the upper cabin, fighting the creature among the flames. His strength failing, he cried out as he impaled the thing with a piece of the broken mast that he had pulled down from the rigging.
“Hurry—everyone move now while we still have the chance!” Scott scrambled after us, rushing everyone ahead!
When I had looked over the side, all that I had seen was dark water and drifting fog. Climbing over the side, I had halted to look back at my friends, “It’s gone! I don’t see the raft anywhere!”
“It’s there!” Rich had pointed to where it drifted less than ten feet off the side and near the stern, “I’m faster than you. I’ll go after it while that thing is busy with the others!”
There had not even been time for Scott to argue as Rich leapt over the side and dropped down into the icy waters. Gasping as he surfaced, he had shed his coat and frantically began swimming toward the raft.
“Hurry—we’re running out of time!” Scott had shouted, as looking between Rich and to where our friends fought the horror, he turned back to me, “Climb down—there’s no point standing here where it can see us.”
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