Behemoth 2

by Michael Cole

  “Oh, but letting them get munched is perfectly fine,” Chief Nelson barked.

  “You have yet to provide evidence that these accidents are the results of shark attacks,” the Mayor said. He emphasized the word “accident,” which irritated Nelson. It seemed as if the Mayor didn’t want to acknowledge the bizarre chain of events plaguing the island.

  “We had a fisherman report a sighting, recently,” Nelson said. “And what else could’ve sunk those boats? Coral reef?”

  “That first one sounds like a boating accident,” Mayor Calvin said. “Those two boats could have easily collided. And we already know a rogue wave took out the trawlers.”

  “Oh, give me a break,” Nelson said. “A rogue wave would’ve swept the whole side of the island! Not just a beachfront property.”

  “You’re not seriously gonna tell me you think a shark wrecked those trawlers,” Calvin said.

  “I don’t know, it didn’t have much of a problem busting through my patrol boat,” Nelson said.

  “A twenty-foot boat,” Calvin said, shaking his head with doubt. “And that shark is in captivity. Besides, I find it highly unlikely it sank two fifty-foot trawlers in a matter of seconds. I’m sorry, Chief, but it doesn’t seem like you have any evidence.”

  “But the fisherman reported that he saw the thing,” Nelson said. Do you not fucking listen?

  “Okay, where is he?” Mayor Calvin asked. “I know he made this claim to the news station, but has he said anything since?” Nelson sighed heavily and looked away, putting his hands in his pockets. “Am I supposed to guess, or…”

  “We can’t find him,” Nelson said. “We don’t know if he left the island, or what happened, but nobody knows where he’s at.” Mayor Calvin leaned back in his chair, staring at Nelson. Nelson saw the look on his face. It was enough to express Calvin’s thoughts. There was no point for the Mayor to speak, though he did.

  “Sorry, Joe, but I’m not giving you permission to place restrictions on the water. There’s too much going on right now. We’ve got fishermen trying to put food on the table, and on top of that, we’ve got an influx of tourists coming to Felt’s Paradise. We’re getting ferries coming in, with a bunch of visitors who expect to go swimming and boating. We can’t afford to close the beaches, and…what’s that look you’re giving me?” Nelson gazed down at him like a prosecutor facing down a defendant in a courtroom.

  “No reason,” he said, and turned around. There was no point in talking to Calvin further. It suddenly became apparent that he had words with William Felt, who “somehow” convinced him to keep the waters open. For a man claiming to be running low on funds, Felt seemed to have deep pockets. Unfortunately, he couldn’t prove it. Without the Mayor’s support, and the Coast Guard preoccupied with the events down south, Chief Nelson found himself on his own in dealing with the situation. Unless he obtained proof that more of these sharks inhabited the waters.

  There was only one person he knew who could help.

  ********

  The hospital lobby was just filling up as Forster walked through the door. Flowers in hand, she wanted to express her apologies for creating the scenario that gave Officer Beck his devastating injury. Unable to get Officer Beck’s room number because of HIPAA laws, she had to use her own intellect on determining where he was. With the knowledge that he lost his leg and underwent surgery, he was most likely in Intensive Care.

  With only a few minutes before she had to arrive at work, figuring out the maze of the hospital became very frustrating very quickly. Finally, she found a staff member and told a lie, stating that she was his sister. Luckily it worked, and the staff member pointed out the location. Upon entering the unit, she suddenly felt foolish for arriving. Standing outside one of the hospital rooms was a young, petite lady, whose face was red with tears. When her eyes turned toward her, Forster realized she had been recognized by Beck’s wife. Forster recognized the rage that was suddenly swelling within the wife and knew it was best to leave. Placing the flowers on the nurse’s desk, she turned to leave. Just as her hand clutched the door handle, she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning her back around.

  “Why are you here, huh?” Mrs. Beck said. “You found your fish, and nearly cost my husband his life. What, you think you’re sorry or something?”

  “I am,” Forster said, trying to pull away. “I really am so sorry. I just want…” A solid fist to the left side of her face made the room spin around her. For a small petite woman, she could hit hard. Forster staggered back, pressing a hand to her face while naturally holding her other arm up defensively. Her blurred vision refocused just as her attacker came at her with another swing. Forster leaned back, letting it miss, while two nurses rushed in-between them. The room flooded with employees and visitors, drawn in by the sudden commotion. It took both nurses to hold the wife back, while a third got on the phone to call security. Finally, Mrs. Beck ceased her effort to rush Forster.

  “Go back and play with your fish,” she said. Forster said nothing. As she turned to leave, she noticed the sour expressions on everyone gathering in the room. Forster was always well known on the island and was even more so after the incident leading to the hybrid’s capture. As her notoriety increased, so did the disdain that the island population had for her.

  She hurried out the door, trying not to listen to the shouts coming from all around her. Even as she walked into the hallway, she mentally shielded herself from the bombardment of insults and foul language that blasted her. Her walk turned into a run, and with each step, the bruise on her face throbbed worse.

  The lights seemed brighter, and the sound of water filled her ears. Then there was a voice that spoke louder over all the insults.

  “Julie. Julie. Hey, Julie…”

  ********

  “Julie? Hey, Julie?”

  Forster lifted her head off of the desk table, suddenly taking in the scenery that was the marine hospital. Water splashed as the dolphins, having improved from their sickly conditions, swam about their pools with greater enthusiasm. Forster then looked to her left, seeing Marcus standing over her.

  “Oh gosh, Marcus,” she said. Her jaw ached as she spoke. She put her hand to her bruise. Her dream had perfectly captured the real life encounter she experienced that morning. The only element it didn’t include was the exhaustion she was feeling, both physically and emotionally. Even with the burst of joy she was feeling, her body struggled to fight the fatigue as she stood up to give him a friendly hug.

  “My gosh, how are you doing?” she asked him. Marcus hugged her back with his remaining arm, as his other was still in a sling.

  “I’m good. I’m doing really good,” he said. He looked at the dolphins swimming in the pens. “Looks like they’re feeling good as well.” He then noticed the bruise on her face. “Jeez, what happened there?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” Forster said, slightly embarrassed. She worried that he suspected she got into another brawl with local residents. She stepped back after the hug, determined to change the subject. “So, what’s going on? Are you coming back to work already?” Marcus smiled.

  “No... I’ve decided that I’m done with this place,” he said.

  “Huh?” Forster instantly shrieked, immediately putting her hand to her mouth afterwards. It was not news she was expecting to hear. “You’re leaving?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I am,” he said with a nod. “Going back to see my dad in Utah. I was able to land a job at the college back at home. Nothing special, just being a financial aid tech. But the best benefit is, since I’ll be full-time, I can go back to school for free. I’ve been thinking about it, and especially after everything’s that been going on around here, I’m going to do it.” Forster forced a smile, while standing quiet for a moment.

  “Wow, Marcus, that’s…that’s great,” she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

  “I’m catching the ferry shortly, and tomorrow I’ll catch a flight home. I’ll be staying with my folks until I get situated.” Marcus
saw a window on the far side of the room, which gave a partial view of the Atlantic. He sighed. “I gotta say it’s weird; I love seeing the ocean every day, and thought I’d be sad if I ever had to leave. But after what we’ve done to it, being associated with a guy whose partner soiled these waters, I find myself sad being around it now. I guess it’s a good time for a change.”

  “So, I guess you’re here to drop off your ID and gather belongings?”

  “In part.” He looked back at her. “I wanted to say thanks to you for what you did the other day.” The haunting image of the Great White swimming toward him flashed in both their memories. “You saved my life. Thank you.” Forster smiled. This time, it was much more authentic.

  “Actually, it’s I who hasn’t thanked you,” she said. Marcus gave her a puzzled look. “I know you were the one who got Nelson to go after me, when I went out there after the hybrid. I was an idiot going after that thing. I was just chasing old dreams. Point is, I’d probably be dead if those guys hadn’t come after me. And they wouldn’t have if it weren’t for you.”

  “Just glad you’re alright,” he said. He looked at his watch, realizing he was short on time. “Crap, the ferry leaves in twenty minutes,” he said. “I wish I wasn’t rushing, but I have to leave.” Forster gave a tearful smile, and they gave another hug.

  “Good luck, alright,” she said. “Take care of yourself. And do your homework!” Marcus laughed.

  “I’ll do that, doc,” he said. He stepped away, grabbed his belongings from the locker, and started toward the door. He looked back to Forster one last time. “Hey…dreams don’t have to die.” Forster responded with a slight nod, and another smile. She waved farewell, and Marcus walked out the door for the last time.

  The emotion she felt was a strange mix of happiness and depression. She was genuinely glad that Marcus was bettering himself, and was getting away from the misery that was ironically called Paradise. Then there was a slight feeling of jealousy, as she wished she could get away. She thought on his parting words and wanted to believe it was true. But how? Her criminal history had basically ruined her career. Finding a way out seemed impossible, and her dreams seemed dead in the water.

  More than anything, she felt more alone than ever.

  The next twenty minutes consisted of Forster trying to gather her focus by getting back to work. She personally administered the protein cubes to each dolphin. Luckily, this process was now going much more smoothly than a few days prior, as the dolphins were vastly improving in health. As Forster worked, she tried to tally all of her remaining tasks in her mind. She needed to inspect the aquarium tanks, apply medication to the waters and see to it that the fish were fed, check on the shark. Then there were reports she needed to write and get to Felt, and she needed to make orders for supplies. Most importantly, she would need to be able to release the dolphins soon. Even the task of simply going over everything still left to do made her increasingly overwhelmed. She was doing the jobs for three people minimum. Though Felt had promised to hire more assistants, so far there were no job postings that she was aware of.

  She administered the last of the cubes to the final dolphin and climbed out of the pool. She grabbed a towel and started drying off her waist and legs and started toward the changing room to get out of her wet shorts and shirt. She quickly changed into professional looking business pants, with a white button shirt. With the sudden influx of visitors, Felt decided he didn’t want employees having any casual attire, despite the hundred-degree heat. The past couple of days saw an influx of new customers, and suddenly there were over twice as many people at the resort. As she changed, she heard some chatter as people entered the medical room. She couldn't make out any words, but the tones sounded frantic.

  Probably watching the news, she thought, as many people had gathered around the television screens all day monitoring the oil platform explosion. She stepped out of the changing room.

  “Oh, wait! There she is, she’s in here!” a janitor said, pointing at her. Two thoughts entered Forster’s mind; What does Felt want now? And, Holy crap, what time is it? He stepped aside, and a security officer entered the room. He was breathing heavily as if he had tried out for the Olympics, and his eyes were wide open as if he had been frightened out of his mind.

  “Ms. Forster! Please, we need you right away at the exhibit!” he said. She didn't waste time. She followed him out the door, and they both entered the nearest stairwell.

  “What's the problem?” she said, carefully maneuvering over each stair.

  “It's the shark!” the officer said. “It’s gone NUTS!”

  “Can you be a little more specific-- oh shit!” Forster exclaimed after nearly slipping on the edge of a step. She recovered and continued down.

  “It’s banging the walls, like it’s mad!” the officer said. “I don't know why. It just started a few minutes ago!” As they approached the bend which led down to the first floor, a flood of screams echoed upward. Forster and the guard stopped, as dozens of people ran up the stairs from the basement level, crying in terror.

  They clambered over each other, rushing up the stairs. A few people stumbled, and one completely lost his footing, hitting each step as he tumbled backward down the stairs. The officer froze, briefly unsure of what to do.

  “Help them, I'll go to the exhibit,” Forster said, making her way down the last few steps before bursting through the double doors to the main lobby. As she made her way to the main entrance, she immediately saw the huge gathering of people by the guardrail at the ledge of the pen. She couldn’t see the pen itself through the blockade of moving bodies; however, she couldn’t miss the huge spray of water shoot overhead, with a loud thud simultaneously echoing through the floor. Forster instantly grew nervous. Whatever was going on, the hybrid was hitting the wall hard enough for her to feel the floor vibrate.

  She hurried outside and started making her way to the guardrail. Like a quarterback, she pushed her way through the huge gathering of visitors until she reached the pen. As she grasped the metal guardrail, a surge of water splashed up at her as the huge red shape lifted its head above the surface. Forster shrieked and jumped back just as it rammed its nose into the ledge where she had stood. Like shards of glass, chunks of cement shattered into pieces of various shapes and sizes. The hybrid dipped beneath the surface, leaving a large dusty crater in the cement ledge. In a jolting motion, it hooked toward the right of the pen. Like the crazed beast it was, it mindlessly rammed the steel wall. Water rippled both inside and outside the pen, and the adjacent deck shook intensely.

  All the way to its far end, the deck was covered with panicking people. Several of them fell to their knees as the deck shook from the blow. Water swirled in the pen as the creature turned and rammed the opposite wall. It collided, spraying water into the air.

  “Get back!” Forster yelled to the crowd. “Back away! Move!” It took several more shouts from her before the crowd started taking her direction. She rushed toward the entrance to the deck, where a large crowd stood baffled by the scene. As they stood, they blocked the way for the line of people trying to get off. “Move back!” she yelled at them and ran toward the deck. The crowd finally moved aside like a floodgate, leaving way for the wave of people who fled the deck. Forster stood to the side and urged everyone on as they dispersed toward the interior of the park. Her eyes turned upward toward the hydraulic lift. An individual stood up on the platform, watching the shark.

  “What are you doing up there?! GET DOWN NOW!” Forster yelled at him. The man knelt down and grabbed a briefcase before hopping down. Forster noticed a VIP tag clipped to his white shirt as he passed by her. For the briefest of moments, her mind went from figuring out how to get the creature under control to wondering who he was.

  Not important. Her eyes scanned the deck and the crowd, making sure everyone was at a safe distance from the pen. Security officers had gathered around, helping to keep the visitors at bay. Many people spectated in awe, while others hyperventilated i
n fright. Forster then noticed a frantic couple rushing toward one of the security officers. Through the disarray of chatter, she only caught two specific words: help, and son. It was at that moment a crying sound suddenly filled the air.

  She turned and looked around the hydraulic lift. Toward the far end of the deck, a small four-year old boy had fallen to the deck after accidentally being separated from his parents amidst the chaos. He struggled to get to his feet, as he was held down by his shirt which had been caught in a nail. As all eyes went to him, the crowd erupted in unanimous panic.

  Adjacent to the boy’s location on the deck, the red shape emerged along the surface. Rather than mindlessly smash into the wall, it breached the surface, drawn to the cries of potential prey. It lifted its head clear of the surface, while swaying its tail to keep it up top. Forster watched in horror as the creature turned its head, gazing upon the boy. It snapped its jaws like a hungry canine and swayed its tail to bump it into the wall. It raised its head again, unable to reach the boy.

  “Shit!” Forster didn’t even allow herself to take a breath to prepare. She made a mad dash down the deck for the kid. As she was midway down, she shrieked and nearly came to an instinctive stop as she watched one of the creature’s legs unfold and raise over the water. Like that of a massive insect, the leg crashed down onto the deck, splintering wood where it landed. The hybrid’s head rose further from the water, and Forster immediately knew it was attempting to climb out of its entrapment.

  She skidded past the embedded claw-like appendage, and quickly wrapped her arms around the little boy’s waist. She yanked him up, tearing his shirt where it was pinned to the nail.

  “I got you!” she comforted him. She turned around, seeing another leg rise over the side of the pen onto the deck. The creature’s head was pointing straight up as it clung with its two front appendages. In a straining motion, it started heaving itself out of the water. Its head tilted down toward them, and those enormous jaws opened. With the boy in her arms, she jumped around the nearest leg, and ran toward the shore. The hybrid’s head fell onto the deck, barely missing them. Determined to catch them, it quickly swayed its head to the right and snapped its jaws. Unable to compensate for the shift in its own weight, its two legs lost their “grip” on the deck. Wood splintered as the entire portion of decking gave way, and the creature fell backward into the water, buried beneath a tremendous splash.