Wind’s Creek, a town bustling with life which resided in the realm of the supernatural. Unusual occurrences were a regular happening in the town. Besides, the dense and dark woods of the town where the fabled Wendigo resided, there were many other regions located in the town which were far more dangerous and treacherous than the one before it.
One, such place was Gravenrose depths, a lake which was almost as large as the Caspian Sea. It would have been a great tourist attraction and local beach for the town. But, rumours spread like wildfire that there was a water demon that lived in the lake. Trapped and its power being drained every decade by the Great water spirit, Saline.
Nobody would dare, to swim in that lake and it was covered by a mass of mist, which hid the lake from foreign view. But on the night of Friday 13th every year, the fair lady Saline’s powers would weaken allowing the water demon to have control over its powers once again and regain its strength.
“That’s the whole fable regarding the water demon, Mannadul.” A woman in her golden years whispered to the small group of crypto zoologists in front of her as she passed the mythological book across the table.
“Miss Martha, you said that your husband and father were after this Mannadul?” Grace murmured lowly keeping quiet as they were sitting at the local library. Sipping her cappuccino , the blonde woman glanced back at the fifty year old woman.
“Y-Yes, my father lost his life to the demon while my husband lost his arm to the demon but he says that it was some kind of she-devil.” As she tapped her finger on the table. “I think we are prepared for this kind of job, Evelyn. We have been waiting for such an exciting case since we were kids.” A man maybe around his early twenties exclaimed quietly, as Evelyn brushed her brown hair aside murmuring, “I understand James, but there is a high risk factor in this.”
James grumbled a bit as he looked through articles regarding Gravenrose Depths, as he babbled to the group, “A dinghy caught on fire in 1987 with three people on it. They had gone out for fishing. Boat was found utterly destroyed at shore, the corpses were not found until ’91. Out of the five divers sent to retrieve the skeletons. One went missing and another went insane and is currently in Hope Garden Psychiatric Hospital.”
He flipped through different articles and files. A dark tanned finger tapped on one of the articles, “That’s your father’s and husband’s article Miss Martha.” “Yes, you are correct Markus.”
The tanned man with dark hair read out to the rest of his team, “Father and son went on a yacht tender. Father is currently missing. The son, a Theodore Johnson lost his left arm in the process of defending the boat from a very large shark. The tender has a large distinct hole at the bottom of it.” Murmured Markus, as he continued, “Lying about the beast that’s been lurking in the depths of the lake.”
Martha nodded as she handed Markus, a business card. A confused expression appeared on the thirty year old man’s face. Chuckling, the fifty year old spoke up “The Seer of Divinity, she’s an oracle. She had warned my husband and father, both didn’t listen.”
Markus nodded as he handed the card to Grace. A male with ruff jet black hair, bags under his eyes, the only one who had stayed silent until now. “Thank you Miss Martha.” Cole looked over to his group, “Markus and Evelyn, interview that diver whose been stuck in Hope Garden Psychiatric Hospital. Grace and James check out this Seer of Divinity.”
“What are you going to do, Cole?” blurted James. “I’ll hire a ship crew and get the salt.” The group gave their gratitude to Martha as they dispersed.
At Hope Garden Psychiatric Hospital, “Ma’am where is patient number #4568?” questioned Markus to the receptionist. The nurse sighed as she continued to type on her computer saying, “Murphy’s been having it real bad lately. Something about the thirteenth of Friday. You’re his nephew and niece, right?”
Evelyn slowly nodded. “He is in ward twenty four on the second floor.” Markus nodded as he took Murphy’s file as he dragged Evelyn up the stairs. “W-Was it necessary to lie to that nurse?” “Of course, Evelyn. The security’s strict here.”
They locked the door behind them as they saw a man aged around sixty, strapped onto the bed. Sitting themselves on a pair of stools, the raspy voice of the diver exclaimed, “Y-your here to talk about the lake, r-right?” The woman in the room nodded as a noticeable flinch in response to it.
“There’s nothing to say much about it kids, there’s something horrifying which is out of this world.” Pausing a moment the traumatized person continued, “It took Spencer first. I survived as I was near to the shore. It showed me how I was going to die. How my closed o-ones would die.” Scribbling was heard as Markus noted it down, “They reported it on the newspaper but soon covered it up.”
An audible loud knock echoed through the room, as exclaims were heard outside of the door, “Y-you kids better leave. Hope it helps.” The old man wheezed out as the door clicked open. Markus and Evelyn dashed avoiding the guards, running through the facility. Stopping at the entrance, Evelyn sat on Markus’ bike as they sped off, leaving no trace of them behind.
A puff of smoke filled the facility’s room, as the man extinguished his cigar. Sighing the man murmured, “So Murphy, what will it be?”
“Easy way out, isn’t it old pal?” coughed the old man. “No evidence left behind.” A sound of a gun being shot echoed through the hospital.
While with Grace and James, they had arrived at a small cottage near the trade fair which happened around this time in Wind’s Creek. An old crippled lady, coughed furiously sitting inside the little cottage, “M-Ma’am are you the Seer of Divinity?” The woman nodded as she chewed on some tobacco. “I’ve been expecting you Grace and James.” The pair’s eyes widened as they sat down in front of her.
“Mrs. Martha gave your business card to us.” Uttered Grace as an old raspy chuckle erupted from the oracle.
“Ah! Y-Yes, dear old Martha.” Pausing with a cough, septuagenarian continued. “I h-had advised her husband and her father. But those two buffoons, wouldn’t budge.”
James bit his lip trying to remain calm and collected as the old lady rambled about her customers which didn’t heed her advice and got off topic.
A small commotion was heard in the kitchen of the cottage as an elf appeared wearing rags, with pale skin and a small paper crown on its head. “Ah! Danaus right on time with the tea.” Some few mumbles escaped from the elf as he left the tea on the table, leaving the room.
“W-Wait is that the fabled Danaus, the King of Libya who had commanded his daughters to murder the sons of Aegyptus?” sputtered Grace.
James sipped his tea, as he shuddered at the thought of being turned into a slave. “Yes, dear. That’s Danaus alright. I might look in my late seventies but I’m very old. More than a thousand years.”
A cup shattered as Danaus appeared grumbling as he mopped the floor and removed the broken tea cup. “W-what did he do, Ma’am?” “Well my boy, he had come to me and pleaded safety from Lynceus. I said that I could simply warn him from getting himself killed. He tried to strike me with his sword. But, I was too quick for the foul king. I turned him into an elf, my personal assistant. From there it is believed that Lynceus had killed him in revenge.”
The oracle paused as she spoke up, “Now where were we? Ah! Yes, I warn you children that be especially careful. Without Mannadul, there are three different obstacles in your path.”
“Ma’am, Could you please tell what are the three obstacles?” inquired the other woman in the room. “Well dear I can predict not see into the future. I can see into the past but the future. Not at all.”
The pair got up as the old lady said, “That’ll be forty five dollars and thirty two cents, children.” Grace nudged James as he grumbled handing the fees to the oracle.
Both Grace and James left, the cottage as they booked a taxi online. Arriving around at six in the evening, as the Sun was setting down.
James and Grace met up with Evelyn and Markus on False River Landing, an old dilapidated port which resided next to the lake. A mist already brewing, around the surrounding area as footsteps approached them.
Cole had arrived with a small crew of three. “This is Mr.Washgrobbler and his two apprentices Lucas and Hasani.” A gruff looking man, who appeared in his late fifties nodded at the mention of his name as the two younger boys near about twenty, greeted the four.
“Pleasure, to help you tourist folks catch the fabled demon of the depths.” As Mr.Washgrobbler winked at them. “We better hit the waters on Annie, Captain. Activity increases by the minute.” Murmured Hasani as Lucas nodded in response.
James nodded as he walked to the old but big metal ship until he froze in his place as a dagger was placed near his throat. Sweat dripped from his forehead as a deep voice responded. “Don’t move boy. Nothing will happen to you unless I shall command for it.” The man who had killed Murphy stood beside James as he continued, “Welcome to the journey which will become quite more dangerous from now on. I’m Martin Lee, an underworld figure and a corporate monster.”
A group comprising of seven men stood behind Martin as five of them pushed the cryptozoologists onto the ship. “Now captain please proceed and start your dilapidated Annie.” Mr.Washgrobbler grumbled as he and his apprentices followed him onto the ship. “Boss, when Mannadul will be killed what shall we do with them?”
“Exterminate them Michael, the myth should die down with them.” As the Japanese man got on board with the rest of his bodyguards. The ship’s engine started as it moved fast but steadily halting at the command of Martin dead centre in the lake.
“W-What are we doing here?” grumbled out an agitated Markus. “Waiting for the right chance to kill the demon.”
The guards dumped the large tin canisters of salt into the lake, as the mist slightly cleared for them. As they heard bubbles in the lake, which alerted the human beings of the presence of Mannadul.
Until a horrifying screech was heard in the sky followed by a scream of Lucas, as a splash was followed in sequence, cursing under her breath, Evelyn exclaimed, “It’s a Manananggal, the fabled vampire which rips itself from its torso!”
Firing was promptly followed as a deafening scream heard as Cole shuddered seeing a long red tongue slither across the throat of a guard, suckling the blood out and dropping the person into the lake.
A loud noise erupted from the hull of S.S. Annie, as Mr.Washgrobbler cried out, “Something’s ruptured the hull of Annie! We’ll probably sink in about thirty minutes folks!”
A hissing noise was heard, as the mist cleared a bit on the ship, Hasani had thrown the spare salt on the Manananggal. The creature’s face burning but only slowly melting by the minute. It hissed out to Hasani, as it charged at him only to be impaled by a dagger.
It croaked as blood spurted from it as it turned around getting a good biting grip on it’s attacker which was Marcus.
“If I’m going down, I’ll take you with me.” Uttered Marcus as he stabbed the vampire once more as he pulled it down into the waters of the lake.
Evelyn cried out for him as there was no response, from the Manananggal or Marcus. Grace bit her lips as she had lost her brother. Sighing she grabbed a fork stabbing one of the guards in the forehead.
James fell onto his feet as the ship was swaying side to side, “It’s sinking!” exclaimed Hasani. Scratching was briefly heard as the heavy dripping of water, onto the deck of the water. A six feet tall creature with yellow sharp teeth, its skin covered in red. It’s black tail whipped on the metal deck, as it sliced the face of a guard.
The deck was slowly filling with water, as the lower half of everyone on the deck was drenched. Mr.Washgrobbler promptly fired at Mannadul with his sawed off shotgun. For the bullet to only ricochet off the body of the demon.
It growled loudly as it dived towards Martin Lee, the man stabbed the creature with his pocket knife. Mannadul only gave a devilish grin back as it slit the throat of the businessman. The Japanese man croaking with his blood dripping down the throat as he fell down to his knees, gasping for air but to no avail.
Mannadul gave a loud shriek as it ripped the corpse to shreds. While the demon was having a feast on the corpses on the deck, James exclaimed, “Mr.Washgrobbler is there any flammable fluids on board?” “There are about five diesel canisters.”
“Grab them quick we’ll send Mannadul up into flames.” Hasani and Evelyn grabbed the canisters assisting Mr.Washgrobbler, Grace screamed out, “It’s noticed us, quick! Hurry!”
Mannadul screeched as it scurried hurriedly at them into a corner of the ship. Hasani and James threw two canisters at Mannadul which sliced threw it, the fluid leaking all over the demon and on the deck.
Evelyn shivered at the thought of being burnt alive as she threw a remaining bag of salt at Mannadul. Grace sprayed her holy water at the creature as it hissed in pain, as it went back. Some parts burning a bit.
Mr.Washgrobbler and Cole rolled the remaining three with it already leaking towards the demon. Hasani unloaded the lifeboat onto the lake as Cole grabbed a lighter. Mannadul sniffed the fluid which it was doused in as its black eyes widened in realization. Except Cole the rest of the group jumped down as the ship creaked breaking into two pieces, as the lower end was slowly sinking tilted.
“Go to hell.” Wheezed out Cole as he lit the diesel, jumping into the lake. Getting onto the lifeboat Cole, coughed as he removed his drenched shirt, the survivors witnessing the ship and the demon on board going up in flames.
A loud creak was heard as the ships collapsed with the horrifying cries of Mannadul were heard on the ship. The survivors paddled their way back to the shore as the mist lifted up, indicating the demise of Mannadul as they saw S.S. Annie sinking into the depths of the lake. Smiles appearing on the remains of the passengers on board of the ship. Grace cried as she was hugged by Evelyn, as they had lost Markus.
Hasani sighed as he looked at the picture of him, Lucas and Mr.Washgrobbler. The old man patting his shoulder.
Cole sighed, “We’ll keep this a secret between us like Martin wanted. The so called demon has been debunked, with all information.”The group nodded as nothing made the headlines for tomorrow and the curse of Mannadul vanished from Wind’s Creek.
On the Southern border of Gravenrose Depths, the tired and injured Markus dragged himself onto the shore.
Horns and a black tail already on his body, he gritted his teeth as his skin became dark red. Eyes becoming pure black, hearing a screech he turned around.
Seeing the almost dead Manananggal, he chuckled as he said, “Not today.” He grabbed a broken sharp branch as he stabbed the vampire in the heart, a the sun was rising. He sighed as he saw the female vampire wither into dust. As he dived into the lake, to protect Gravenrose Depths from any other monstrosity.
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