The Seamander 

Prologue:

You have probably heard of Oddness-On-Sea. In Summer, villagers come to splash around in the salty sea as children run across the sand in the blazing sun. People normally ask for a triple threat from Charlie’s ice cream. You’ve probably visited the Seafull Cafe where people come after a great splash in the sea. This is what happens every Summer…

But in Winter, the frost spreads faster than smoke, as icy rain trickles down your window. Be there when it’s cold, colder than Antarctica. The fog here is so thick, you cannot see in front of you.  People rarely visit here in the winter because all the doors are shut and no one dares to step one foot outside …

Chapter 1:

I’m Levi Hunter and I am the owner of my little cafe – It’s called the Seafull Cafe. Many people call me Lev. As the owner I normally clean the tables, serve my customers and think of ways to advertise my cafe. Someone told me that serving people as the owner of the cafe is unacceptable but I love helping my staff, especially during the  busy summers. I go home every evening after closing up. The best thing about leaving work late is that I can see the beautiful sunset near the sea. Work in Winter is pretty lonely since no one even visits. However, working during Summer can be  stressful since so many people love a drink after being outside in the scorching hot sun all day !

All of a sudden, I can see a girl standing in the heavy rain, she peers into the building. The curious girl slowly closes her umbrella and enters the shop. She has a frightened look on her face. I was about to tell her that the shop was closing but she looks at me, eyes locked. She steps forwards, towards me, and clutches my arm.“Hide me!” she squeals.

Before I tell you what happened next, there’s something you might need to know. What I’m about to tell you is our village’s little legend. This story was told so long ago that it has changed throughout the centuries. Legend has it that a creature wakes from slumber every night in the winter and roams the slithering paths of Oddness-On-Sea. Apparently it was called the Seamander. It had dagger-like claws, a scaly tail and it always carried a ghastly grin.

Some say that it wanted to take our lives. Some say it wanted to rule over us. Some say the beast was harmless. I’ve never believed in these legends but sometimes I see things in the corner of my eye that I can’t explain…

“What happened ?” I ask, a frown emerging on my face.  “Is everything okay?”

“It’s there!” she pants as she points near the pier, “I’ve seen it!”