Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-25158530-20141102205628

Day 1        4:00 PM

                 We are going to some Island on the river where my family wants to stay for the weekend. I like to keep journals so I figured I would include this trip. We are going on Dad’s oversized fishing boat and taking a tent and supplies for the weekend, such as food and fishing gear. Dad hopes to catch a big fish tomorrow, but if not we have plenty of hot dogs. We are near the ocean, so if dad feels he needs to go out to catch something he still can. I just hope it doesn’t rain. John also can’t wait to get a fish, as he loves the taste of fish. Mom wants to get some reading done.

ADDITION: Reached the Island, set up tent. Dad went to try the waters with John and Mary. Mom and I stayed back to build the fire and set up dinner. Scruffy stayed with us too. There was lots of dead logs around so it did not take long. Mom said there was an old graveyard on the other side of the Island that we could explore tomorrow. I hope dad brings back a fish.

Day 2         5:00AM

                 Last night was odd. Dad brought back this monster fish, which Mom then fried over the campfire along with some hot dogs, which we had with chips and soda. We were all stuffed, even Scruffy. We then all returned to the tent and went to sleep. I was having trouble sleeping. Around 1:00 according to my watch, I had a terrifying feeling like there was something outside the tent. It was a cold feeling, like someone watching you. Scruffy was also staring outside of the tent, and gave a low growl. I pulled my rosary out of my shirt and said a prayer. The feeling stayed for some time, but I could feel it leave. Scruffy relaxed after that but came up to me and curled up, as he knew I was awake. Neither of us went to sleep for the rest of the night.

ADDITION: Around 6:00 AM Dad woke up and went to go get some early fishing. I went with him, which Dad was surprised about, as the whole family except for him has a bad habit of sleeping late. I told him that I had trouble sleeping, which he felt bad for. After I took my morning pill we went fishing with the sun not even peeking yet. We have stayed out on this old pier for several hours, catching great stuff, with the eating ones put into an icebox. Dad is very happy. I left my rosary back at the tent to keep whatever last night was away, even though I think I may have simply blown Scruffy’s unease out of proportion.

ADDITION: Dad and I have retreated to the tent with our sizable catch, as thunderclouds were gathering over the ocean. Dad was very happy with the haul but the rain would prevent cooking over a fire. We have chips and salsa for dinner in the tent. It has begun to rain hard and the wind is picking up. We sometimes hear branches falling in the forest but we are not under a tree so we should be safe. Lightning strikes every so often. Mom is worried but dad reassured her that the tent and the boat are safe. The clouds have made it quite dark outside, even if it is only 5:00 PM. I had thought that I had left my rosary on my sleeping blankets, but it was not there. I asked everyone if they had seen it but they said they did not. We sit here in silence, Dad reading his magazine, Mom her book, John and Mary playing cards, and Scruffy watching them.

Day 3      1:00AM

                 I am writing this under a torn up portion of the tent so rain will not get to the pages. I believe that my family is dead. Hopefully my writing can still be read, as my hands are shaking violently, as it is important whoever comes here again to know what happened and to get help. Last night after everyone had gone to bed, the mysterious feeling had come over me again, however this time it had a noise. There was growling outside the tent, like a lion or a crocodile. My family woke up, and dad got the revolver he had brought with him, as mother turned off the lantern. My younger brother and sister whimpered in the corner and hugged their mother. We heard a rip in the tent and turned towards the entrance flap. A clawed hand was slowly making a tear in the top of the tent flap. Dad shot at it, which made my sister scream. It then jumped through the tent, causing it to crash down on us. I was covered and tried to curl up into a ball to protect myself. I believe I then black out, as I cannot remember what happened. When I woke I was in the rain, drenched, and alone. Scruffy’s body was lying torn open near the burned out campfire. I cradled her head as tears mixed with the raindrops. My family was nowhere to be seen, but a clearly made path of broken twigs and blood showed in the forest. It must still have been recent. I thought of escape but the ocean was clearly too choppy and dad had the boat keys. I feel I must find my family so I can get the boat keys and attempt to get away. I have dad’s gun, as it was lying in the folds of the tent. I will leave this part of the Journal here so anyone who come here will know.

ADDITION: Writing under a tree. Followed path, found Mary’s gnawed corpse. I can tell from the hair. My back aches from the amount of walking I have done, and it is still raining. The blood is mostly washed away by now, but clear drag marks continue to mark my way. Hopefully the creature leaves my father so I can retrieve the boat keys.

ADDITION: I have followed the path to the graveyard that mother spoke of. It is very old and most of the place is falling apart. Several graves seem to be dug open by something, but I dare not think of that. The trail ends in an open grave that seems to go down some ways. I have to go down to retrieve the keys. Hopefully the gun will keep the creature at bay.

ADDITION: It is dark down here. There is only the light from my flashlight. It is very wet with most of the cave under water, with a damp path to the right. I know it knows I’m here. That feeling is here again, that coldness. I will write again when I find something.

ADDITION: The cave has narrowed and dried out, so that it feels like I am inside a crevasse rather than an underground cave. I hear the monster as well as feel him. His footsteps are faint but recognizable. It is a clack, like claws on pavement. It keeps its distance, because it may know what the gun is and what it can do. I find my fear is gone as I concentrate fully on finding my father, even though I know I will not find him alive.

ADDITION: I have been traveling some time down the path. I am glad I have brought my Quetiapine from the camp, even though my pills are usually red, not blue. Must be the new ones my mom bought two weeks ago. I have seen no sight of my family, and the monster seems to not be following me anymore. I am alone.

ADDITION: I have seen the monster for the first time fully, and I have found my father. The thing surprised me by appearing in front of me. My father’s body had a hateful, triumphant look, with his eyes shining in the dark. It sneered at me as I backed away, but did not move. It let my father’s jaw hang open as it continued to stare at me. I was able to back out of its sight, but I know now I will not live. Hopefully this journal will help whoever finds it to know what is here and what it can do.

ADDITION: I have crawled along the edge of the tunnel, flashlight pointing one way and the gun in the other. The monsters last surprise has made me cautious of it catching me unaware. I stared at the other wall, hoping my peripheral vision will spot it in time. It seems to be keeping its distance, but I hear its footsteps following me. I came upon an open spot in the tunnel where the creature seems to live. The rest of my families corpses were there. There were signs in the wall, made by presumably my family’s blood, but I did not recognize any of them. There was a passage on the other side, and I took it. I heard the thing enter the room, and a thud. I then heard Mary’s voice, asking me to drop the gun to spare myself pain. I asked it what it was, and it repeated its plea in a higher, off cadence voice. I continued down the path in the tunnel, and heard it follow. It started to sing in a horribly off key way a song Mary and I used to sing as little children, from our favorite movie The Lion King, “Can you feel the love tonight”. I hurried away from that evil thing, down the passage. I have found a place to rest, where I am writing this.

<p class="MsoNormal">ADDITION: The passage has ended on the island surface, near a shallow area in a sea cave. I waded to shore quickly. The sun is nearly up, and I know that thing is afraid of light. I am so exhausted, I can barely write this. When the sun is up I will take our supplies and drift in the river, anywhere is better than on this island. When I am rescued I will get people to come out and kill whatever is here and avenge my family.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Taken from the local newspaper

<p class="MsoNormal">''Today authorities have recovered four bodies from an island in the middle of the Kate River today. They are unsure who or what caused the deaths, but they are sure of foul play, as the bodies were mutilated by what looks like a knife or other sharp object. The father and two of the children were found near the ruined campsite, where a third child was found near a cave on the shore. All three had their throats slashed, with the third child nearly decapitated. The mother of the children was found near an old graveyard, delirious, hysterical and in shock, with wounds on her arms and shoulder. She also could not get her jaw to close, with authorities believing she has had trauma to the area. She is not considered a suspect due to her injuries and lack of a weapon, and she has been taken to a nearby hospital for her injuries. The background of the family and searches of the surrounding area are being conducted. Hopefully, with good police work and luck, this horrendous crime will be solved and justice will be served for this unfortunate family.'' <ac_metadata title="Second Pasta (not reviewed) First Draft"> </ac_metadata>