The Creature Of The Depths

Mesmerized

A near shapeless form of shadow swayed some distance ahead, it’s ever moving body void of all light. It was almost mesmerizing to watch as it seemed to slowly draw closer, tendrils of darkness, acting as limbs that pushed it further closer before reaching out and disappearing behind it again.

The form shifted from some blob like shape to a more elongated shape, as if it had turned. A spot on it appeared to open up and glow an iridescent red. It was hard to take my eyes off the creature that stared directly back at me with one of its own.

My mind was void of thoughts similar to how this creature seemed to be void of any light aside from its eerie glowing red eye that was dead set on staring back at me. The red eye…it almost seemed out of place but at the same time suited the dark creature fascinatingly well.

The creature drew closer… and closer… until it was inches away from touching me. I couldn’t help but hold my breath in anticipation, hearing nothing but my own anxious heartbeat pounding in my ears. before I knew it, it lunges a dark tendril forward and-

There was an echoing sort of sound as if flesh hit glass underwater, a hollow thump that was just barely clear enough for me to make out over the sound of my pounding heart.

-It hit the glass that separated myself from the aquarium the creature remained in. I felt myself gasp when the lights went back on and a hand placed itself gently yet firmly on my shoulder. The lights coming on showed me what I had been staring at this whole time, the creature, black colouration and luminescent red eyes.

“-atie? Katie?!” A voice finally reached my ears and snapped my attention away from the sea creature. “Hey, are you okay? You look as pale as a ghost!” It was my sister standing next to me. I had completely forgotten where I was. Sam had come to pick me up and take me with her on a vacation, an electrical storm had rolled overhead of us and the whole Science Centre had lost power.

I had been so mesmerized by the large octopus-thing that I forgot everything, I probably had even tricked my mind into thinking I was underwater with it too. That explains why I was so scared… “I’m alright Sam” I said with a sigh of relief, glad to have her near. “Is the storm over?” I asked her, trying to shift the conversation. 

“No it’s still going on pretty strong, but they managed to get the back up generator running. Are you really sure you’re alright? I was calling your name for about five minutes and you’d been staring at that empty tank since I got here almost thirty minutes ago! I told you to meet me by Braydon’s office but you never showed up, so I came back and here you are-” She rambled on, but I wasn’t listening at this point.

Empty tank, she said? I swear there was…I looked back at the tank but the thing I was staring at wasn’t there…in fact Sam was right. Nothing was in that tank! Just the dark waters lit up by the Centre’s emergency backup lights. “I swear I saw something in there…” I muttered. Sam gently took my hand in hers and gave it a comforting squeeze.

“Katie…you’re still recovering after what happened almost two months ago…maybe it was a bad idea to bring you along…” She said with clear concern lacing every one of her rather cautious words. “We can just take a ship and head right home if you-“

“No, I’m fine Sam, lets go meet up with Braydon and see how he’s holding up. Besides, its not safe to head out in the storm.” I pointed out with a shake of my head and started walking away from the deep sea exhibit.

“Alright, if you say so” Sam sighed and gave a smile. But I could tell… she was still pretty worried about me…

I guess…I really haven’t been the same since I left CR48…