Fangtooth

by Shaun Jeffrey

  On the way up, they saw Sara and Duncan making their way down. “Back,” Erin shouted. “Get away. There’s something down there.”

  Duncan frowned and shook his head, perplexed. “Are they down there? Did you find your son?”

  “There’s something coming after us,” Bruce shouted. “A fucking monster of some sort. I don’t know what it is, but run.”

  Sara threw her arms in the air. “Where’s Jen? Is she all right?”

  “Yes,” Bruce said. “But we won’t be if we don’t run.”

  Erin heard rocks skittering behind them, propelling her to move faster. The incline made her breathing laboured and she gasped to draw breath.

  Whether it was the look on their faces or the sincerity behind their words, Duncan and Sara turned tail and hurried back to the top of the cliff. When she reached the summit, Erin looked back down. She thought she saw movement in the jagged shadows of the rocks, but it was getting too dark to see, the moon’s light unable to illuminate the path she had just taken.

  “So what do we do now?” Bruce asked.

  Without answering, Erin took out her phone and dialled 999. When the call went through, a female operator said, “Emergency, which service?”

  “There’s two teenagers trapped in the cliffs here at Mulberry.”

  “So you need the coastguard?”

  “No, we need the fuckin’ army.”

  “I don’t understand. You said two teenagers are stuck.”

  “Not stuck really, more like trapped.”

  “I still think you require the coastguard in this situation.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Calm down, and tell me again what the problem is.”

  “Okay, there are two teenagers trapped in the cliffs.” She took a breath, couldn’t think straight. “They’re not really trapped … well they are—”

  Before Erin had a chance to say anything else, Bruce grabbed the phone from her. “It’s my son, goddamn it, and he’s trapped by these monsters in the sea. Hello, of course I’m not joking. Do you think I’d joke about something …hello. Hello.” He shook his head and closed his eyes. “She cut me off.”

  Erin took her phone back, “You should have left it to me.”

  “Can someone please tell me what’s going on,” Duncan said.

  Erin pointed towards the village. “First I think we’d better get as far away from here as we can.”

  Bruce shook his head. “I can’t leave my son down there.”

  “Where’s Jen?” Sara piped up.

  Erin felt like screaming. “Bruce, you’ve just seen what’s down there. The tide’s at its highest, so your son’s safe for now where he is. So’s Jen. But we’re not.”

  Bruce looked pensive. “You’re sure he’ll be safe?”

  “If the creature hasn’t gotten him yet, then it’s unlikely it will get him now. The rocks were too steep, and by the looks of it, the creature wasn’t able to climb very well. Now come on, we’ve got to get out of here and get help.”

  “We’ll pick up my car on the way. It’ll be faster,” Bruce said.

  Without waiting to argue anymore, Erin started jogging back towards the village. After a moment, she heard the others following behind, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to be on her own.

  Erin burst through the doors of the bar. Graham looked up and scrutinized her with his one good eye. The next minute, Bruce, Duncan and Sara piled in behind her.

  “Pour me … a stiff … brandy,” Duncan said, wheezing for breath as he leaned against the bar, head down.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Graham said to Erin. “Duncan, what’s going on?”

  Erin wiped sweat from her brow. “Not a ghost, a monster.”

  Graham scowled. “Duncan, what’s this all about?”

  Duncan looked up, his cheeks inflamed. He took the brandy and downed it in one. “I don’t know. I really don’t.”

  Erin looked back at Bruce. He seemed hardly winded by the exertion prior to driving into the village. Behind him, Sara collapsed in a chair by the door. There was no one else in the bar, which she found disconcerting. More people would have calmed her fears, providing security in numbers.

  “We need to get help,” Bruce said. “It’s a waste of time calling the police again.”

  “Police!” Graham said. “Can someone please tell me what’s happened?”

  “It’s my son—”

  “And Jen,” Sara said.

  “They’re trapped in the rocks by this … this creature.” Bruce held his hands up to ward off any questions. “I don’t know what it is.”

  “I told you, it’s an Anoplogaster cornuta,” Erin said.

  Duncan turned and scowled. “A what?”

  “Anoplogaster cornuta. Otherwise known as Fangtooth. It’s a deep sea creature.”

  “That’s not like any deep sea creature I’ve ever seen,” Bruce said.

  Erin nodded. “They normally grow to the size of your hand, but something’s made that one mutate.”

  “And what could do that?”

  Erin shrugged. “There could be any number of reasons. Natural mutation, overfishing, chemicals being dumped into the ocean.”

  Bruce shook his head. “So why haven’t they been spotted before?”

  “I can’t say exactly, but as they’re a deep sea fish they could have gone unnoticed for years. We know more about space than we do about what’s in the ocean. New species are being discovered all the time.”

  “So why have they come ashore now?” Duncan asked.

  Erin looked at everyone in the room in turn. “I don’t know. There always has to be a first time.”

  “Do you think it’s an isolated incident?” Bruce asked.

  Erin pursed her lips. “I highly doubt it. But one thing’s for certain—”

  Bruce swallowed.

  “—we’re no longer at the top of the food chain.”

  Chapter 27

  Jen’s bottom lip trembled and she shivered. “Where’ve they gone?” she whispered.

  She was trying hard not to cry, but Jack could see that she was on the verge of breaking down. A monster had chased her, and she had discovered that her grandmother was a nutcase, so was it any wonder?

  Jack noticed Lillian had scuttled away when his dad turned up. He wondered where she had gone; wondered where the monster had gone too. He hadn’t seen it since it scurried into the rocks after his dad. He hoped his old man was all right.

  He sat at the edge of the recess. Open to the elements, it was cold and sea spray kept soaking them whenever a wave rolled in, but it was a difficult climb, which kept the creature out.

  Jen slouched in the rear of the recess, and Jack shuffled back and snuggled up next to her, trying to keep each other warm. The moon was bright enough to enable him to see down to the water, and he kept his eyes alert for any sign of the creature.

  “They’re going to leave us here, aren’t they,” Jen said.

  Jack turned and shook his head. “Of course they’re not. But you saw that thing, they had to get away.”

  Jen sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “We’re going to die, and it’s all my gran’s fault. What was she thinking? I know she’s a little batty at times, but this…”

  Jack squeezed Jen’s shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, trust me.”

  Jen looked at him with big, moist eyes, and without even thinking what he was doing, Jack kissed her quickly on the lips. A jumble of thoughts ran through his head as he turned away, and he could feel his cheeks burning. What a dumb ass stupid thing to do. Why did he have to go and do that?

  He felt Jen’s hand touch his cheek, and he flinched, thought perhaps she was going to slap him or swear or something, so he wasn’t prepared when she turned his head towards hers and kissed him back. The kiss didn’t last long, but it was long enough to send a delicious shiver down his spine.

  When their lips parted, there was an embarrassing silenc
e, then Jack took Jen’s hand in his and squeezed.

  “I’m sure someone will come for us soon,” he said.

  Jen nodded and pursed her lips. “They’d better. I don’t think my hair can take much more of this.” She ran her hand through her sodden locks and smiled.

  Jack grinned back.

  Then he settled against the wall with his arm around her shoulder, offering the comfort of his embrace.

  After a moment, a noise caught his attention, and he turned and stared across the expanse of water to see a boat approaching, its bow slicing through the waves like a cleaver leaving a foaming trail in its wake. Bright lights played across the surface of the water.

  “Jen, look,” he said, “someone’s come to rescue us.”

  Jen sat up and a look of hope spread across her face. She smiled at Jack. “You were right.”

  “I always am.”

  She punched his arm playfully.

  The boat drew closer, and Jack could see someone standing on deck. It took him a moment to realise that it was Rocky–and that the figure at the wheel was Zander.

  “Oh shit,” he said.

  Jen frowned. “What is it?”

  “Zander and Rocky.”

  “I don’t care who it is as long as they’re here to rescue us.”

  Jack wasn’t so sure that that was what they were here for. He had a sinking feeling, as though his heart had taken an express elevator down to his stomach.

  He heard Zander ease back on the throttle, and the boat came to a virtual standstill about fifty feet away.

  Rocky cupped his hands around his mouth. “Well isn’t this romantic,” he shouted, rocking precariously as the boat pitched in the waves.

  Even from a distance, Jack could see the sickly look on Rocky’s face.

  “Is he being sarcastic?” Jen said.

  “I doubt he has enough brain cells to know what being sarcastic is.”

  “That asshole.”

  “I knew there was something going on between you,” Rocky shouted. “Well, you’re welcome to each other.”

  Zander stormed out of the wheelhouse and yanked Rocky out of the way to shut him up. “So where are my drugs?” he shouted.

  “Jesus,” Jack said to Jen. “Is he mad?”

  “I did warn you.”

  “Look,” Jack shouted back. “I took less than an eighth. It was no big deal. Now just fuckin’ help get us out of here.”

  Zander shook his head. “It wasn’t in your house, me and dickhead here looked.”

  Jack noticed Rocky grimace, and he felt a slight sense of glee at Rocky’s discomfort. “I’m sorry. What else can I say?”

  “I don’t know how you found it all the way out there at sea, but where’ve you put it? And don’t fuck me around, because I’m not in the mood.”

  “What’s he on about?” Jen asked. “I thought you only took a bit.”

  “I did. He’s lost it.” He turned back to Zander. “Look, I don’t know what you’re on about, and I don’t know how you found us, but can’t you see we’re stuck out here.”

  “Luckily for me, I was outside the bar when your old man was telling Graham where you were. Now tell me where my stuff is, otherwise I’m going to make you wish you’d never been born.”

  Jack shrugged.

  “Goddamn it, where are my drugs?” Zander roared.

  The sound sent a shiver down Jack’s spine, and he was glad there was fifty feet of water between them. The man was crazy.

  “Rocky,” Jen called, “you’ve got to help us. There’s something … something in the water.”

  Rocky scowled. “Don’t you remember, we broke up. Or rather, you broke up with me. And now you want my help. Well you can go to hell, you bitch.”

  “Rocky, for God’s sake, can’t you see we’re in trouble?

  “Ask me if I care. I’m sure old Jacky boy there will help rescue you. Oh, I forgot, he’s stuck too.” Rocky laughed, then turned and lurched to the side of the boat where he was violently sick.

  Zander turned towards Rocky and scowled. He said something that made Rocky shake his head in reply.

  “Now, enough of the teenage tantrums and love sick kid bullshit,” Zander roared. “Where the fuck are my drugs?”

  Jack shook his head. “Fuck your fuckin’ drugs. You’ve got to listen to me, there’s something in the water, some sort of creature, a monster, I don’t know.” Jack knew he was rambling, but he didn’t know what else to do. They couldn’t stay where they were much longer. The creature would be back soon, he was sure of it.

  Zander ran both hands through his short brown hair, his lips pursed. “Listen kid, give me back my stuff and I’ll say no more about it.”

  “I’ve told you, I don’t have anything.”

  Zander looked furious. Even from a distance, Jack could see the tendons in his neck protruding like thick cables, his ruddy cheeks aflame.

  “Okay, I’ll tell you where they are when you rescue us,” Jack shouted.

  Jen glared at him. “I thought you said you didn’t take them.”

  “I didn’t,” Jack whispered, “but if the only chance of our being rescued was to say that I robbed Fort Knox, I’d fess up to that, too.”

  Zander nodded his head. “I’m glad to see you’ve seen sense. I’ll bring the boat as close as I can, but then you’re going to have to swim.”

  “Swim!” Jen shrieked. “No way. There’s no way I’m going in that water.”

  “I know how you feel,” Jack replied. He turned back to the boat and shouted, “Isn’t there another way, you know, without going in the water?”

  “Not without running aground. Now I’m going to bring the boat as close as I can.” He turned and started back towards the wheelhouse.

  “We can’t go in the water,” Jen squealed.

  Zander stopped and turned back. “Look, either you get in the goddamn water, or I come over there and drag you across.”

  “There’s something in the water,” Jen shouted.

  “And there’ll be something else in there in a minute, you pair. Now get a move on.”

  “Can’t you throw us a line?” Jack hollered.

  Zander rolled his massive shoulders and turned to Rocky, who was still leaning over the side of the boat. He said something, then grabbed Rocky by the scruff of his neck and hauled him to his feet. Then he pointed at something on the boat and said something else that Jack couldn’t hear. Rocky shook his head, and Zander clipped him around the ear, which forced Rocky into action.

  Rocky staggered across the deck, his face turning green. Every time the boat moved, he almost fell to his knees. Zander made his way back to the wheelhouse, moving as though man and boat were one.

  Towards the front of the boat, Rocky bent down. When he stood up, he had a lifebuoy attached to a rope in his hand.

  The sound of the engines grew louder as Zander brought the boat closer to shore. A moment later, his voice boomed out of a speaker.

  “The lad here will throw you the lifebuoy,” he roared above the noise of the engines, waves and wind. “You’ll have to jump in the water, then we’ll pull you aboard.”

  Jack felt Jen shivering at his side. “I know it’s scary, but they’ll be able to pull us aboard pretty fast.”

  Jen cupped her face in her hands. “I don’t know whether I can do it.”

  “Well, I know you can.” He smiled to offer encouragement. “If you go first, I’ll keep an eye out, and if I see anything, well, you know, I’ll …”

  “What?”

  Jack swallowed. “I’ll jump in the water and distract it if I have to.”

  “Don’t be stupid. I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You didn’t ask. I’m volunteering.”

  Jen kissed him on the cheek.

  Concerned that Rocky might have seen, Jack glanced across at the boat as it drew nearer to the rocks, but Rocky was leaning over the bow, shaking his head.

  “Okay, that’s as close as I dare come,” Zander said through t
he speaker. “Kid, throw them that lifebuoy, and be quick about it.”

  The boat’s engines revved as Zander fought to hold his position, and Rocky stood up and threw the lifebuoy as far as he could. The red and white striped float hit the water about fifteen feet from Jack and Jen’s location.

  “It’s too far away,” Jen said.

  “It won’t be that far when you’re in the water. Come on, I’ll help you down.” Jack lowered himself from the ledge to the rocks below. A nervous tremor ran through him, but he tried to put on a brave face and despite his fear, he helped Jen down. The waves rolled across the rocks at his feet.

  “I don’t know whether I can do this,” Jen said.

  Jack put his hands on her shoulders. “Yes, you can. Rocky will pull you aboard before you know it.” He looked across at the boat, which seemed to lurch closer towards the rocks with each fresh swell. “I’ll keep an eye out, now go.”

  He ushered her towards the water, and despite her obvious fear, Jen complied. She waded out, and after only a couple of steps, the water was up to her neck. “Now swim for the lifebuoy,” Jack said. “You can do it.”

  Jen started to swim and Jack kept his eyes peeled on the sea for any sign of the creature. When Jen reached the lifebuoy, she grabbed hold of it. “Okay, pull,” she screamed.

  Rocky didn’t respond, and Jack could see he was leaning over the side of the boat again, fighting not to be sick.

  “Rocky, goddamn it, pull Jen aboard,” Jack shouted. He sensed Jen’s fear as she bobbed in the water like the bait on the end of a line, and wished he could comfort her.

  “Pull her in,” Zander boomed through the speakers, “or God help me, I’ll toss you overboard.”

  Spurred into action by Zander’s voice, Rocky lurched to his feet and grabbed hold of the rope. He looked on the verge of being sick again as he started to pull, and Jack hoped he could hold it together long enough to haul Jen aboard.

  The engines revved as Zander fought to hold position. Jack bit his lip and scanned the water. He glanced back towards Jen, saw something, and narrowed his eyes to see through the swells. There was something in the water twenty or so feet away from Jen. Jack tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry. The short hairs on the nape of his neck tingled.