Prologue

You’ve probably been to Wonder-on-Sea. In the summer, you might of felt the burning heat. You might of lept into the refreshing ocean or had ice-cream from an ice-cream van. You maybe have explored rockpools or made tall sandcastles. You probably went to the theatre at the end of the pier. It’s an amazing place to go… in the summer.

But in winter, you’ve probably felt the freezing wind driving the rain. You should try avoiding the frosty streets. When the mist reveals itself, locals stay indoors. In the winter, in Wonder-on-Sea, the place turns into a ghost town. The locals stay away from the beach… terrible things happen when it’s misty.

Chapter 1

My name is Stephanie Strawberry and I work at the theatre at the end of the pier. Most people call me Steph. I’m the theatre’s main actress. I perform for 10 hours of the day. People feel bad for me but even though it’s tiring, I enjoy putting smiles on little childrens faces. I’m always busy in the summer and the winter but I have a little room behind the stage where I can relax when my job is done.

I lock up the theatre for my boss and that’s when I saw a girl running up to the theatre. It was dark and misty but I could just make out her silhouette. When she got closer I could tell she was running from someone… or something was chasing her. I let her in and she hisses, “Quickly, lock the door!”

Before I continue with what happens next, there is one legend you should know about. This legend existed for a long time that barely anyone knows the details about. It tells of a monster that comes out of the forests at night. It stays in the shadows hunting for food, we believe. Apparently, it’s a variety of mander called the Pandamander. No one knows what it looks like but a smell of blood and rotten bamboo floods the city. When you smell the stench you seek shelter and close the curtains and lock the doors.

Some say it’s in pain and is looking for help. Some say it lost it’s child and is now looking for it. Some say it wants to wipe out the whole city. Roars tear through the mist at night but I think it’s just thunder. It can’t be real… right.

“Why, what’s wrong?” I hiss back.

“I’ve seen it-” the mysterious girl whispers back. Suddenly, a claw brakes through the door.