The Beast

by Ally Condie

  Their sudden appearance had rendered Bridger speechless. He blinked at Opal like a startled bird.

  Opal grabbed his sleeve. “Hurry! It’s this way!”

  Nico and the others ran past them, bolting down toward the beach. Jake lowered his camera and met eyes with Jacqueline and Derek. They all three looked to Bridger, who was staring at Opal with his mouth hanging open.

  “What are you doing here?” he finally spluttered.

  “Now’s your chance, Bridger!” Opal pointed after Nico. “You’re about to get the footage of a lifetime!” She released him and sprinted downhill without looking back.

  That was enough for Colton Bridger. “Let’s go!” he shouted, pounding down the trail after her. His crew struggled to keep up as they all raced back the way they’d come. On the beach, Emma and the boys were at the water’s edge, pointing into the fog and jumping up and down. The film crew arrived and began hastily preparing equipment. Bridger was trying to look everywhere at once.

  Okay, Thing, Opal sent. That’s your cue!

  “The monster is here?!” Bridger shouted, then dropped his voice. “It’s real? There is a Beast in Still Cove?”

  Opal tried to sound shaken. “I guess so. Maybe. I don’t know! Something followed us in from the Sound.”

  “Where’s your boat?” Jacqueline asked suspiciously. “I don’t see one anywhere.”

  Before Opal could answer, something dark and heavy rippled the cove’s glasslike surface. Everyone fell silent as a crest of water swept around the island. Opal raced over to stand with her friends.

  “Ho boy,” Tyler breathed. “We really stepped in it now.”

  “There it is!” Bridger shouted, then he impaled his cameraman with a wide-eyed glare. “Tell me you got that.”

  “I wasn’t ready!” Jake whined, fumbling with a detachable battery. “This thing isn’t an iPhone, you know!”

  Bridger howled in frustration. “Get in the boat. We can’t miss it again. Use a freaking iPhone if you have to!”

  The Freakshow team began piling into the rowboat, though Jacqueline tossed a skeptical glance at Opal and the others as they huddled on the sand. “You better not be pranking us,” she warned, but at a shout from Bridger, she helped push off into the water.

  A rumble echoed from the walls of the cove. Everyone froze. Another line of wake slid past, this time arrowing in the direction of the open ocean.

  “Are you getting this!?” Bridger shouted as they oared away from the island.

  “Hey!” Emma called out. “What about me?”

  Bridger flapped an annoyed hand as the rowboat slid into the fog. “Sorry, Elizabeth, but it’s not safe for you to come with us now. Your friends can give you a ride home!”

  The water was still once more. Where was the Beast headed? Toward Timbers? To the Rift? It dawned on Opal that Bridger and his crew were now chasing a very real sea monster from another dimension in a rickety dinghy. “I wouldn’t go out there if I were you!”

  “Are you kidding?” Bridger laughed maniacally. “I live for these moments!” His face was alight with excitement as the Freakshow team vanished into the mist. Their voices carried even after they’d disappeared.

  “I saw it too, boss,” Derek babbled excitedly. “What could make a wave like that?”

  “I saw … something,” Jacqueline agreed. “But I don’t know what it was.”

  “Thanks again for the tip, Elizabeth!” Bridger shouted. Then they were gone.

  Opal turned to look at the others, releasing a long-held breath. She was already exhausted, and Halloween had barely begun. She should be eating candy and watching scary movies with her friends. Instead, she was living one.

  “Thing,” she said quietly, “did you send the Beast away?”

  Yes. But there’s a slight problem.

  Opal covered her eyes. “And what is that?”

  It’s not listening to me anymore. And it’s coming back.

  23

  NICO

  Nico slumped onto the sand.

  The sun was sinking below the surrounding cliffs, bathing the cove in a spectral half-light.

  “What’d you say, Thing?” He was too tired to process another threat. The rowboat was out of sight—the Beast had lured Bridger away from the island like a well-trained dog. Thing had made it happen. But now …

  “So …” Tyler was standing beside him. He rubbed his eyes. “A telepathic goo-man inside a glass jar … just used a legendary sea monster as an accomplice … to protect the interdimensional vortex hidden on our secret houseboat.” He paused. “I have that all right?”

  Nico ran both hands across his face. “That about covers it. Only now the sea monster is off its chain, apparently.”

  “Nico, this is getting too crazy.”

  “Which part?”

  Logan cackled darkly. “Did you see the wake that nightmare threw off? It was going fast.”

  “It’s coming back, you know,” Tyler said dully. “You heard the green goblin. And we’re just chilling here on the beach, chatting away.”

  But Nico was still too overwhelmed to move. Opal made as if to flop down next to him, then reconsidered, as if even sitting might be too much work. They’d been up since the crack of dawn, and everyone was exhausted. This Halloween was already one for the record books, and it hadn’t even really started.

  Emma trudged over to join the group. Her shoulders rose, then fell. “This was all my fault, you guys. I’m so sorry. I never should’ve breathed a word about Still Cove. I … I just wanted …” Her voice broke.

  Nico stood up and put an arm around her. “We know, Emma. Making a TV show has been everything to you. We understand how you got carried away.”

  Emma cleared her throat. “No more, though. I’m done with Freakshow.” Her expression soured. “They left me here. Ditched us all on a deserted island with a sea monster swimming around. Bridger just … took off!”

  Something rustled in the woods behind them.

  Opal glanced over her shoulder, then rolled her eyes. “Oh, great. Look who’s back.”

  Nico was almost too weary to care. But he turned, spotted a squat green shape in the branches of the closest pine tree. Two more shadows joined the first, and all three began cackling madly.

  “These guys again?” Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose. “Wonderful. Fan-tastic.”

  Nico stared dispiritedly as Slash spun and shook his butt at them. “I really hate gremlins.”

  Emma frowned at the trio. “They’ve lasted for at least two full days. What gives?”

  Could I have everyone’s attention?

  Nico clenched his teeth. No matter how often it happened, he’d never get used to Thing invading his thoughts.

  We have a … situation on our hands.

  Opal sighed. “What’s the matter, Thing? Is the Beast back inside the cove?”

  Not just that. The Darkdeep has become active. I can feel it churning beneath me. I … I think … Be very careful out there.

  Nico shook his head to clear it. No time to be tired. He glared up at the gremlins, but they’d stopped moving, their long green ears cocked as if listening. The last glints of daylight were fading.

  Logan went still as a sudden silence swept the island. “What’s goi—”

  “Shhh.” Nico’s danger sense began tingling madly. “You guys hear that?”

  A loud crack. Another.

  The island began to vibrate. Softly at first, but then the sand beneath their feet began to shift and dance.

  “Is that a tremor?” Tyler blurted, his gaze darting to where the mouth of Still Cove hid behind a curtain of mist. “Guys, this is a horrible place to be if an earthquake’s happening. We’re in Tsunami City down here!”

  The shaking ceased abruptly.

  No one moved.

  “I don’t think …,” Nico began to whisper, but he didn’t finish, staring into the forest.

  “It felt more like—” Logan cut off as Tyler’s fingers dug into his arm
. “What the heck, Ty?”

  Tyler’s hand shook as he pointed into the cove.

  A sinuous curve was slicing through the slate-gray water, moving faster than it had sped away. The wave was headed directly for them.

  Torchbearers. I seem to have lost contact with the leviathan.

  Nico swallowed. “We found it, Thing.”

  “It found us,” Emma warbled.

  Oh dear. In that case, I suggest vacating the beach immediately.

  “You don’t have to mind-message me twice!” Tyler turned to bolt into the trees, but it was Nico’s turn to grab ahold of someone.

  “Not an earthquake,” Nico croaked, staring into the misty woods.

  Up in the branches of the tallest tree, the three gremlins began to sing.

  A gigantic form was lumbering through the forest.

  The creature towered over the canopy, its head at least fifty feet off the ground. The figment’s skin was a deep, liquid red. Steam rose from its body as the monster wrapped thick fingers around an alder tree. The trunk burst into flames.

  The gremlins stopped crooning, their voices morphing to howling cheers.

  Opal’s jaw dropped open. “What is that?!”

  Nico couldn’t answer. The flame giant glared down at them, as if noticing their puny existence for the first time.

  Logan’s head whipped from the now-smoking forest to the approaching wake. “The Beast is almost here! But, uh, this fire monster doesn’t look like much fun, either.”

  Emma removed her dagger and clutched it in a white-knuckled grip. A dry, baking wind radiated from the forest, blasting the gang as they cowered on the sand.

  “How do we dispel something like that?” Emma moaned. “We can’t even get close!”

  A giant wave crashed onto the beach, rolling over their sneakers and soaking their legs. The Beast’s sinuous head emerged from the shallows, its huge jaws parting with a thunderous roar. The sea monster stomped ashore on thickly muscled legs. Logan and Emma flattened on the sand as its massive tail whipped over their heads. Tyler had frozen like a statue.

  Opal was cowering beside Nico. Their eyes met. They were trapped between fire and water, with no place to hide.

  Nico had a sudden thought. Unsure how to communicate it, he shouted into the gathering wind. “Thing, the Beast hates fire! Make it see the figment in the woods!”

  Opal gave Nico a dazed look. “How can he miss it, Nico?”

  Quick thinking, Nico. I’ll make the leviathan understand.

  The fire monster raked a hand through the treetops. Sparks erupted from its fingers. The gremlins’ laughter turned to terrified shrieks as their perch began to burn. They scrambled down and ran off under the eaves, shaking their fists at the red giant.

  The Beast reared back, glinting black eyes locked on to the creature in the forest. Baring razor-sharp teeth, it made a low, growling sound deep in its throat. The sea monster backed into the shallows and ducked under the surface.

  Nico was stunned. It’s running away?

  But the Beast exploded back up and spat a stream of salt water at the fire creature.

  Steam billowed where liquid struck the figment’s flaming skin. The creature darkened to scarlet, bellowing in rage as it ripped a tree from the ground. It squeezed until the wood caught fire, then hurled the blazing missile at the Beast, which sprang sideways to avoid it, screaming in fury. The fire monster growled and crouched lower, as if intending to charge.

  “This is a bad place to be!” Nico shouted. He grabbed Tyler’s arm and dragged him down the beach. “Opal! Logan! Emma! Let’s go!”

  The leviathan is out of my control. It hates fire but will fight to protect its territory.

  “Its what?” Nico shouted, backpedaling across the sand. “It really lives here?! How have we not seen it?!”

  No time. Get away while the creatures are focused on each other.

  Nico spun and led the others away. The Beast hunkered in the water, hissing and snapping its jaws. The fire figment towered on the beach, its feet melting sand into glass where it stood. A tense standoff ensued—one creature howling and shooting water from its mouth while the other tossed flaming brands like hatchets.

  Nico didn’t know what to do. Fires were spreading in the forest. He shut his eyes and thought hard.

  Thing, we need help. The flame creature will burn down the whole island if we don’t stop it somehow.

  Understood, Nico. I will try to motivate the leviathan, but the threat of fire has made it difficult.

  A moment later, the Beast coiled in on itself and shot a huge stream of water at the red creature. Then it darted forward while the figment was distracted, sinking its teeth into the fire monster’s leg. Steam exploded between the Beast’s jaws as it heaved backward with a shriek of pain, yanking the blazing giant off-balance. Before the figment could recover, the Beast dragged its prey into the fire-quenching water.

  The ocean boiled. The flame creature screamed, then went black as ash. A beat later it faded from existence.

  “Okay,” Tyler breathed. “That was intense.”

  The sea monster was still thrashing in the water, jaws scorched and bleeding. It whirled to regard Nico and the others as they huddled in the darkness.

  “Uh-oh,” Emma wheezed. “It might be hungry after such a big brawl.”

  The Beast began stalking toward them, red lines dribbling from its mouth. As Nico watched in horror, it spat out a pair of charred, blackened teeth.

  Tyler’s eyes rounded with concern. “I think it’s really hurt.”

  “Not enough!” Logan wailed. “It’s maaaaad, and we’re the only ones left.”

  But the Beast stumbled, then halted, snuffling a burn mark on its foreleg. The monster howled in what seemed like frustration. It threw a last glare at where they huddled, quaking in fear, before jerking around and lumbering back into the sea. Moments later the cove was still and silent.

  “Ha,” Emma said in a shaky voice. “Just like we planned it.”

  “Great job, Thing Guy!” Logan shouted, a relieved smile spreading across his face. “That was amazing!”

  The little green creature didn’t respond. Nico glanced at Opal, who frowned.

  Thunder cracked overhead. A weird light was seeping through the mist, painting everything in a sickly yellow cast. Drizzle began to fall, quickly strengthening to a downpour. Tyler pressed his fists against his temples. “Man, can this day get any worse?”

  “No!” Emma said, clapping in delight. “This is good! The rain will put the fires out.”

  She was right. Nico saw the remaining flames wither and die under the strengthening shower.

  “I’m going after the gremlins,” he swore, scraping wet sand from his hair. “I have had enough of those guys.”

  As if summoned by Nico’s words, Slash appeared under the dripping boughs of the forest. He grinned, pointing a long, clawed finger at the group. “Yum, yum, yum.”

  Nico removed his dagger from his jacket. “Oh bring it, you stupid lizard. I’ll brain you with the handle of this knife if I have to.”

  Something is wrong. Return to the houseboat immediately.

  The command was so intense, Nico actually staggered. He felt the blood drain from his face.

  Something in Thing’s sending … It had felt like … anger?

  Movement behind the gremlins caught Nico’s eye. A lot of movement.

  “Nico,” Opal said quietly, as if afraid to voice what she was seeing. “There are more than just gremlins on this beach.”

  Emma gasped.

  Tyler and Logan covered their mouths.

  Behind Slash, scattered among the rain-slicked trunks, snarling figures appeared.

  Hundreds of them.

  Nico spun to face the others, saw his fear reflected in their eyes.

  He shouted the only word he could force from his throat.

  “Run.”

  24

  OPAL

  Opal slammed the front door shut behind her.r />
  “Did you see that mob?!” Tyler moaned, backing through the houseboat’s foyer. “How many figments are out there?”

  Emma’s chest was pumping like a bellows. “Hundreds of them.”

  “We should’ve gone for the tunnel,” Logan fumed, throwing his hands in the air. “Now they have us trapped!”

  Nico raced into the showroom. Everyone else followed. “They’ll be here any minute,” he said, seizing another dagger from a battered coffin filled with weapons. “Grab something to fight with. Now!”

  Not a good idea.

  Opal stumbled. It was the second time Thing had spoken like that—in a tone that pierced straight through her brain. She whirled to face the jar. Thing stared back at her, suspended in liquid, its eyes open and watching.

  “What do you mean?” Opal said. “There’s an army of figments outside. We have to protect—”

  No.

  Opal staggered against the weight of the word, the way it slashed into her mind. The others all grabbed their heads.

  “Thing, stop,” Opal said, a shiver of unease running down her spine. “You don’t need to … to yell. Or whatever it is you’re doing. We hear you.”

  Another sound filled her head. Low and echoing.

  A chuckle.

  The hair on Opal’s arms stood up.

  Thing was laughing. At what? At them?

  Sorry. Thing’s mouth twitched into a satisfied grin. There will be no more fighting today.

  “Why? Are they gone?” Logan strode to the window and peered out into the darkness. Then he stiffened, a sickly look creeping over his face. “They’re everywhere. Even on the stepping-stones. But they … they aren’t moving.” He spun, eyes scared and confused. “They’re all just standing in place, watching the houseboat. Like … like they’re waiting for something.”

  Opal felt her stomach knot. She met Nico’s eyes. As one, they rushed back into the foyer. With a shaking hand, Opal swung open the front door. Outside, nightmare creatures ringed the pond in a mass of gleaming eyes and teeth. Some bobbed in the water. Others crowded the field, or lined the surrounding ridges. Slash and his companions crouched on the closest entry stone, teeth bared.