Dear Diary,
I know I don’t really like writing in this thing, but somethings just have to be shared, even if it’s just to a scrappy little notebook.
A few weeks ago, I was awake, sitting by my bedroom window, staring out onto the waters of Porthledden Cove. I love the cove, and so did Ruffus, my border collie puppy. His favourite thing to do is run down to the cliffs and beach, and roll around like a fish in the water, then afterwards, he shakes himself dry, getting me all wet. I stared at the beautiful crashing waves, the twinkling stars, the rough sands. Then suddenly, Ruffus came barging downstairs, through the hallway, and out the front door! I hadn’t realised Dad had forgotten to lock it. Without a moment to lose, I started chasing Ruffus, all the way down to the cove, where he finally stopped before running into the water like a maniac.
I decided, it wasn’t worth it to try and get him out, he would come soon. Instead I sat down on the scratchy, pale sands and stared upwards as clouds gathered overhead. Rain was coming. I leaned my head back, though it was slightly uncomfortable sitting there in flannel pyjamas. As a sat there, I heard the gentle crashing sound of waves slapping against the cliff side. I must have sat there for half an hour before I suddenly heard the sound of Ruffus barking madly, as if he was trying to warn me about something. I sat up, wondering what was wrong, when suddenly I saw something in the corner of my eye. Ruffus came rushing up to me and jumped into my lap, soaking wet and shivering. I looked again, and saw….. a bright pair of great, yellow eyes, staring at me menacingly from just beneath the waters surface.
I sat there, frightened out of my wits. I thought it must have been a trick of the light, a piece of seaweed maybe, or maybe a bright fish? I couldn’t see well. It was so dark. I could only see shapes. Then, the eyes started rising up, slowly, sloooowly, until it was a dark, frightening shadow, glaring at me with it’s putrid eyes. I stared back, hardly able to move. I was so scared. Then somewhere nearby, lightning struck, illuminating the figure for a fleeting moment. It was a mermaid, but not the ones I’d heard of in fairytales. Those mermaids were pretty, with gorgeous voices and long flowing hair down to their sparkling tails. This one had greyish, slimy skin, razor sharp teeth, gills, and long, pointy nails and ears with pale ringlets of hair stuck around it’s head like spiders webs.
I was frozen in fear, dreading what was going to happen next, sure it was going to drag me into the water and drown me. Until again, lightning struck, and the creature was gone.
I don’t know how to tell anyone else what I saw that night, and even if I did, who would believe me? I still see that creature in my nightmares, stalking me in the middle of the night, ready to end me in a fleeting moment. I hope I can trust this book to hold my secrets, as I feel I am not ready to tell them.
Until next time,
Lileas Ainsley
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