Chapter 17: Sea Dragon's Wrath

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As a child, I used to adore reading classic horror novels like Hansel and Gretel, The Dreams in the Witch House, and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

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As a child, I used to adore reading classic horror novels like Hansel and Gretel, The Dreams in the Witch House, and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.

Because I had an insatiable appetite for dark literature, I believed that I could be the next Edgar Allen Poe. 

So during my first year at Harvard University, I wrote at least five short stories — only to be rejected by the New York Times magazine. 

I guess the publishers didn't enjoy violent demons, gruesome monsters, or loathing witches. 

So when I told my future husband about my twelfth rejection letter, he asked me what was my least favorite monster.

I tell him that I am afraid of the beasts whose monstrous size overpowers me—almost like the sea serpent anxious to consume four helpless teenagers. 

Switching his safety off, Caleb cocks his Beretta and fires the shot. The vociferous noise crackled like lightning soaring across the bleak atmosphere. 

But even though the kids made a few dents in the sea monster's left ear, the bullets weren't enough to take it down. 

The enraged sea dragon let out a menacing roar and approaches the shore — only to be greeted with a hailstorm of bullets. 

Johnny, Brooke, Nessa, and Caleb all stood together, firing their weapons at the 200-foot long sea serpent. 

White silver bullet shells and golden round casings rolled along the grayish-brown sand.

Small projectiles irritated the serpent until the teenage misfits have run out of bullets. 

Quickly, the children dug into their backpacks to retrieve their ammo when a piercing cry forced them to cover their ears. 

Its scaly tail invoked ferocious waves. 

Caleb tries to cover his ears as well as he could, but he can feel something wet leaking out his eardrums.  

The indignant sea dragon sprayed a thick, hot stream of water from its mouth. It moistened the gravel, fended off seagulls, and even soaked Johnny and Brooke's hair.

Sand grains powdered their jeans, whereas the warm climate caressed their dampened curls. 

Nessa and Caleb tried firing shells at the sea serpent, but much to their disappointment, it dodged every single one of them.

Their feet sank into the bulky sand pudding. 

Steamed liquid jets gained behind Caleb's feet when all of a sudden, the deadly fountain stopped. 

The giant reptile shrieked until Johnny shoots its left cheekbone and watched the angry current swallow it whole.

"Holy shit." Brooke lowers her gun to inspect the chaotic water. "Is the monster dead? Did we . . . kill it?"

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