Witches Trench

Chapter 1

The sailors grabbed buckets trying to rid the water from their beloved ship. The clouds were dark as night, flashes of light scattered through the sky her voice booming through the once calm sea. She was angry, very angry. Violently the ship rocked back and forth ,the crews shirts drench with pounding rain. "He's coming mates prepare the barrels!" the captain shouted over the thunder. The crew hurried to grab the barrels and set them on the deck. A dark figure rose for the salty waters. The figure looked at the crews offering but the foolish crew had given the beast barrels with bottoms by mistake. Legend says they were doomed to die.

The monster screeched in anger , before he swung at the ship's side leaving a gaping hole. "Prepare the escape boats!" Like chickens with their heads cut off they scramble to prepare the ship. A young man by the name of Samuel was pushed into a boat by his father, tears raced down his face as his father brokenly whispered in his ear. "Let them know what has happened here,what this beast has done." He nodded and held his father close,"I promise." The boat was lowered down into the rough waves and he rowed himself away from his father. As he got farther and farther away he could see the ship sinking by the light of his lantern the beast had done its job, and Samuel would make sure to do his.

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"Come on Aileen!" I grabbed her arm and dragged on the ship. "I'm right behind you slow down it won't leave without us!" People of all kinds entered the cruise ship. My parents were going on cruise for work the tested out products from all over the world so they weren't home often. I convinced them to let me bring Aileen with us. She's been my best friend since middle school, I had moved from Tennessee and she moved from Texas. We where both the new kids at school and we instantly became friends and have been from then on. Lee is short like me, her hair is a beautiful chestnut brown and curly no doubt. She has honey brown eyes and soft features. Me on the other hand, I have long blonde hair and Dark green eyes. I look very average is how I would describe it.

"Girls come on let's go get our room keys." Mom led us to a desk the room was very fancy with statues and pictures of sea life. I felt as I shouldn't touch anything in case I'd break it. We gathered our keys and mother led us out of the room into another less fancy room. "Here is your room key girls, now go get settle in if you need anything will be a couple doors down." I took the key telling my mom thanks before heading off to our room. Once we entered my jaw dropped I looked to see Lees had done the same. The room was beautiful, with two queen size beds a mini fridge full of sweets. I flat screen was on the dresser and to right was a sliding door that lead to the balcony. Through the door was the kitchen the hardwood flooring felt cold beneath our feet.This was going to be the best summer ever.

Its been a few days since we've been on the cruise and me and Aileen were chilling on the deck late at night. I looked at the stars and embraced when I was interrupted by Lee screaming and clutching on to my arm. I looked over to see her startle face. "Whats wrong?" I ask panicked. She shakily points into the water and we see a dark figure. My green as widen and I run to the room dragging Lee behind me.

Once we got to the room we jumpin in my bed and held each other close shaking like scared puppies. "W-What was that!", Lee's voice broke the silence. I didn't want to scare her so I just shook my head slowly. "I don't know maybe we're imagining things?" she chuckled and we soon started laughing hysterically. "Whatever it was it scared the crap out of me!" As our laughter dies down I feel my eyes get heavy and we fall asleep grins on our face.

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We arrived at the lovely Paris, and we're looking at all their food and doing some shopping. "Hey Cora check this out." Aileen handed me this ancient book. I blew the dust off and opened to a random page. 'Why does she want me to read this?' I thought. Then I saw it the thing we saw last night on the deck, that's strange? I read the passage,"The Umibōzu is said to live in the ocean and capsize the ship of anyone who dares speak to it. They are a demonic that appear to shipwreck victims and fishermen. According to one story, if angered, they ask that the crews provide a barrel that it proceeds to fill with seawater to drown them. To avoid this disastrous fate, it is necessary to give him a bottomless barrel." I closed the book and met Lees honey brown eyes.

"Aw yes the Umibozu!" A chipper voice came from behind us. I turned around to see a man with scruffy black hair and glasses on the bridge of his nose. He wore a blue tie and white dress shirt as well as some tan trousers and dress shoes. The man looked professional and you could tell he wasn't a french native.I handed the book back to Lee. "Who are you sir?" I ask wondering how this man knew what I was reading from afar."That doesn't matter dear but I suppose you want to learn more of the beast you've seen, yes?" I nodded my head. "So it wasn't our imagination?" Lee spoke up interested in what the mysterious man had to saw.

"Of course not my grandfather was on a boat that got attacked by that horrible monster,sadly he was the only one to survive." I felt my heart sadden as I heard the story of his grandfather but I also was excited by the new discovery. "I'm very sorry sir but how do we know this isn't just a myth like mermaids or fairies." Lee questioned the man I wasn't able to speak my mind thinking of what it would of been like to see a demon so close. The man's voice brought me out of my trance. "If you don't believe me see for yourself I'm a man of knowledge and know of I hidden beach here in Paris here is a map that will guide you there, but if you go remember to bring that necklace of yours." He pulled a map from his bag and handed it to Lee. We look at the map, "What do you mean by that" I try to ask but the man had disappeared. This was going to be the strangest summer ever.

I couldn't stop thinking of the things that man told us. How could he know about my necklace? It's not something you would notice when first meeting someone. The old golden trinket meat a lot to me I've had it since birth. It's a golden mermaid not much to it. Maybe the legend is true I have to find out. I know curiosity killed the cat but I just have this strange feeling. I get up and poke Aileen until she wakes up. "Lee get up we have to check out that map." She groans and wraps her self deeper in the blanket. Knowing her I'll get nowhere just poking her.

Leaving the room I go get some ice and sneak back into the room only achieving a few weird stares on the way. I put the ice bucket all over Lee. She springs up and jumps out of the bed. "Cora! Why did you do that!" I laugh uncontrollably at her squirming from the ice down her shirt. My laughter dies down and as I calm myself down. She searches for a change of clothes. "Wear something you can go to the beach in." She looks at me confused and then smiles reading my mind. "You believe what that man said?" She asks eyebrows raised already knowing the answer. "No! I mean kind of, well it couldn't hurt to look for this mystery beach." I try to convince her. "I don't know Cora." I sigh," Please Lee this could be the best adventure ever." I plead pulling off the best sad puppy face I can. She looks at me and laughs. "Alright, alright! We can go,but never make that face again." We change into some beach wear and grab my phone incase Mom calls. "Let's find this beach."

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The map led us to these woods it was peaceful the trees overlooks everything and surrounded us. Wildlife roamed around the place."The map says it should be... here." Lee points to a bunch of lilac bushes. 'What the beach should be here?' I scratched my head. "Where is it?" I walk forward and trip over a stone falling forward. Clenching my eyes I grabbed Aileens arm and drag her down with me. Except I don't fall to the hard rocky path we were on. Instead I fall to a soft sand. I open my eyes and I'm met with beautiful sand, the ocean clear and crisp.

"It's perfect." I hear lee whisper to no one in particular. I take off my shoes and walk toward the water. I walk in slowly until I'm knees deep. Suddenly there's the touching feeling. The ocean pulling me under "Aileen!" I scream she turns and runs toward me jean shorts soaked. "Cora!" she yells my name but it gets harder and harder to hear her. I feel this tingling sensation in my legs and my mind goes blank. I resurface and see she takes my hand and pulls me close. Tears run down my face." Y-Your legs Cora." She speaks voice shaken. I look down to see my legs have been replace shiny scales of gold. "You look like a mermaid sea shell bra and all!" I looks at myself again unable to comprehend what just happened. "Are you okay?" Aileen asks voice soft and kind. I nod, she drags me to the shore. We sat there in silence, it wasn't uncomfortable just neither of us knew what to do. This was going to be a magical summer.