The Fishers

Supernatural Stories | Sep 11, 2011 | 10 min read
56 Votes, average: 4 out of 5
Supernatural Stories

The Fishers

Erik
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The bright morning sun blazed through the tall grass making the dew sparkle like diamonds.  A ten-year-old boy, Dave Williams, is trailing behind his father down a narrow trampled path that leads to a wooded area.  Greg, the father, has two fishing poles in one hand and a large tackle box in the other.  Dave is playing with whatever he happens across as they walk: from long blades of seedy grass, to random rocks, and sticks.  Dave likes to dress like his father and today is no exception.  Both are wearing similar jeans, flannel shirts, and blue Iowa Cubs baseball caps. Dave stoops to pick up a large rock then adjusts a black backpack he is wearing.  With a mischievous grin, he hurls the rock into the grass as far as his little arm will allow. "What was that?"  Dave shouted, trying to act alarmed.  When his dad didn't play along, Dave added, "I think someone is following us dad!" "We better," he bursts into a sprint, "Run!"  Dave took off after his father and tried to keep up.  They ran until they reached the trees, where they stopped and laughed together while catching their breath. They continued their journey. Before the sun could finish rising above the forest, the two came upon a clearing.  It was a small clearing, the space of which was nearly all consumed by an oval-shaped pond.  Dave was sure it was just a little wider than even his father could cast a line.  The trees cuddled in close around its banks.  Bony, leafless limbs leaned out over the water. "Here we are!"  Greg announced. Dave set the backpack on the ground and began checking out the area.  He noticed that there wasn't much room to walk around on the sand with the trees being so close, but his dad promised him the fishing would be great.  Dave was more interested in finding places to explore.  He decided the most interesting part was at the far side of the pond.  That side didn't seem to have any banks to walk on at all, just a small cliff.  He could see clumps of weeds hanging over the shadowy edges and wanted to go check that out later. "Can I have a pop, dad?" "Let's find a spot first and get settled," his dad said.  "This is the pond your great-grandfather used to fish when he was your age." "Cool," he said.  Dave thought that was a neat piece of information although his great grandfather had died long before he had been born. His dad smiled and told him to grab the backpack.  They started walking along the sand until they got to the first bend in the pond.  There was a little more room to spread out  there. There was also an old log laying on the bank, which was perfect for sitting. "This is the hot spot," Greg announced. Dave shrugged and leaned his backpack against the log.  A few minutes later, they were both sitting on the dead tree with their lines out in the water.  Dave had a bobber on his line. "Ready for that pop?" "Oh yeah!"  Dave answered while he watched the little red bobber gracefully move with the current.  With the sunlight glaring off the water it was difficult to keep track of his bobber.  Each time he lost sight of it, he got excited about having a bite.  He liked fishing so long as there was action. Dave sipped at his pop and kicked sand into the water.  Greg stood up and walked a few paces away, holding his rod out in front of him.  "Won't be long now," Greg said. * Underneath the oval-shaped pond, a long, mysterious creature emerged from a shadowy water-filled tunnel, and swam out along the bottom.  The darkness of the deep hid the shape of the creature.  It paused and scanned the waters through bloodshot, brown eyes shaped like teardrops.  It looked up toward the surface and could see refracted light filtering down into the water.  It knew that meant the sun was up but that is not what stirred the beast. It had felt something on the surface vibrating softly in its den. It was not alone. Another creature, long and pasty yellow, followed the first out of the tunnel and swam through the water.  They both floated in the water, staring up toward the surface for a moment, then began to scan the pond more intently. The bottom of the fishpond was nearly pitch black but the creatures finally found what they hoped to find: something shiny suspended in the water, something small; barely reflecting the smallest ray of light.  The creatures swam toward the object. Buried in the darkness of the depths, they floated on either side of the object at eye level.  It was a small hook with a long night crawler dangling off it.  And, of course, it was connected to a long transparent line that rose to the surface. The creatures grinned at the worm. Their twisted grins were disproportionally wide for their narrow, rounded heads.  Their mouths were lined with rows of small, pointy, decaying, broken teeth.  They both stared at the hook with wicked, eager eyes.  Finally, the larger of the two reached out and grabbed the invisible line using two of its thin fingers as if to give it a pinch. It gave the line a little tug, like it was pulling the light on inside a closet.  Both creatures giggled and bubbles rose from their mouths.  The smaller of the two put its claw-like hand up over its mouth as it laughed. * "Dad! I got something!" Dave shouted, surprising even himself, as he was already starting to daydream about going exploring. His father stepped closer to Dave and watched.  "Wait for the bobber to stay under then give it a good jerk." To Dave's dismay, the bobber popped back to the surface. "Ya gotta really let it take the hook." The bobber went back down and stayed down. "Now, dad?" "Now, Dave!" Dave jerked back on the pole just like he had watched his father do many times.  He felt the resistance on the line and watched the pole bend.  "Dad, I got it!"  His blue eyes were gleaming with excitement. "Reel ‘er in!" Dave turned the handle as fast as he could.  He felt his heart race.  After a few turns the line went slack and the little red bobber bounced up to the surface.  "Aww shoot!" "You'll get him next time, son!" his father assured him.  "Probably need to put another worm on now." Dave kept reeling his line then stopped when the bobber was nearly to the shore. "Hey look dad, a turtle!"  Dave was pointing out toward the center of the pond. Greg looked out to where his son was pointing.  A small, dark curve of a turtle shell was floating on the water.  "Yep I think you're right!" "Can we catch it, dad?" "Now that wouldn't be very fa-" Greg's eyes widened in confusion and caused Dave to reevaluate what he thought was a turtle.  It rose further out of the water. "It's big!"  Dave shouted.  He though the distant object looked like a dark yellow Army helmet.  That's a weird turtle, he thought. The helmet-shaped object rose out further still and Dave swore he saw eyes staring out at him just on the waterline.  The yellow helmet now looked more like a long, scaly forehead and deep-set bloody brown eyes. This startled Dave and he looked up at his father. Greg dropped his pole.  The expensive rod and reel his wife bought for his birthday five years ago splashed into the water at his feet and he didn't even look down.  Instead, Dave felt his dad's strong arm press him up against his leg.  "I think we better go." A second head appeared next to the first one, like a submarine surfacing. "You dropped your pole, Dad!"  Dave squirmed off his dad's leg and bent down to save the pole from disappearing into the water.  There was a huge splash out in the pond. Dave was still struggling to understand what he was seeing and how to react.  His dad was just staring at the helmets or whatever they were.  Dave looked again.  He saw what he thought were fish jumping out of the water except these fish were gigantic.  It reminded him of seeing dolphins or sharks leaping out the water on the Discovery Channel. Though these creatures didn't fall back into the water. The two stood transfixed as the displaced water rushed off the two torpedo-shaped objects vaulting across the pond toward them.  When Dave felt the cool spray of the oncoming water on his face, he screamed. Greg grabbed him, slung him over his shoulder, pivoted around to face the forest, and dove into the trees behind the pond.  He hit the ground and rolled behind the trunk of a tree. Behind him, Dave heard growling.  He didn't dare look at what was causing that awful sound. Dave was trying his best to brace himself with his hands on his dad's shoulders and arm but he kept getting jerked around.  His dad was running fast. Dave decided he wanted to see after all and lifted his neck and to look back.  At first, all he saw out of the ordinary were their blue baseball caps lying on the ground.  For a moment, he thought about telling his dad that he dropped his hat. But he didn't because while Dave stared at the baseball caps he realized there were two tall dark yellow people standing on the edge of the pond staring back at him.  Dave gasped. He almost said the word shit but he knew his dad would be mad. Dave continued to feel himself jerked back and forth as his father dodged trees. What Dave was looking at weren't quite people.  Besides having spicy mustard-colored skin, Dave saw their arms were way to long.  Their legs were too long as well.  Their heads were bald and misshapen, somehow reminding him of popcorn because of the oddly placed bulges.  Their eyes were deep brown and looked mean.  They also looked like they were smiling, which sent a mixed signal to Dave as he tried to make sense of the two figures.  Dave had no idea what he was looking at, he was scared but also intrigued. Without bending, one reached down and picked up the fallen ball caps. The taller of the two monsters held the caps up to narrow slits above its mouth. The hats looked absurdly small next to its huge head.  Its face wrinkled twice and it tossed the hats in the underbrush. "Dad, you gotta see this!" Greg didn't stop to look around.  Dave could sense his father was panicked.  "We gotta get back to the truck and get out of here!" The two creatures began running toward Dave and Greg.  Their long legs were leaping over the underbrush effortlessly. Fear took over and smothered the curiosity in Dave.  The leathery yellow things were gaining ground at an alarming rate.  "Dad go faster!"  Dave shouted. "Hang on son!" his dad yelled.  Dave knew his heart was pounding but he realized he could also feel his dad's heart pounding though his back. Greg burst into the clearing and found himself knee deep in wild, overgrown grass. The grass slowed him down but he moved forward the best he could. Dave watched the wooded area waiting for the things to emerge in pursuit. "Where's the damn path?" he mumbled. "That way," Dave screamed, pointing toward the left not realizing his dad couldn't see him since he was hanging over his shoulder. Somehow, Greg did start running in the same direction Dave was pointing. "Dad they're not coming," Dave's words came out choppy, in rhythm to him bouncing with his father's strides.  Greg ignored his son and kept pushing through the tall grass, not wanting to look back and verify what his son claimed. They stumbled onto the open path and paused. Dave could hear his dad panting.  "I see the truck!"  Greg said. Dave craned his neck to see.  It hurt his side to hold his head at such an odd angle but before his stomach muscles gave out, Dave could see a small square of blue that he knew was his dad's truck.  Dave wished his dad would let him down so they could run to the truck together. Greg shifted Dave from his right side to his left. As he switched sides, Dave got a good look back down the path.  At the edge of the path, right where the trees began, the two creatures were standing perfectly still watching them.  They were about 40 yards away. "Dad," Dave whispered.  Greg turned around.  In the open light of the clearing, the two got their first good look at what was chasing them.  Looming before them were two beasts probably eight feet tall and standing on two legs.  The thick arms hung down past their knees.  They were naked and their skin was a dark, leathery yellow.  Their heads were big but still looked small for their enormous size.  Dave couldn't see any ears or hair on them.  The worst part was their eyes.  Even from this distance, the brown pupils glowed and almost seemed red. Those eyes made Dave feel terrified. "What the hell are they?"  Greg mumbled.  Dave tried to climb off his dad but Greg tightened his grip.  "Go on get out of here!"  Greg shouted to them. The creatures continued to watch without responding. He started running again. The duo of yellow demons gave chase. Their lumbering gait was surprisingly fast on the path, even compared to what Dave saw in the woods.  Within moments, Dave felt himself being pulled away from his father and into cold hands.  Dave watched his father stumble as his load shifted and he reached for him.  Dave was kicking and screaming in the grip of the creatures huge hands.  A sickening stench drifted out of the creature's mouth and Dave grimaced. "No!"  Dave tried to pull free but the arms of this creature enveloped him like a straight jacket. Dave watched helpless as the other creature slapped his dad hard in the face.  His father tumbled off the path into the grass.  The attack splattered bright red blood across the blades of grass and Dave realized the creature's claws had torn into his dad's face.  Greg tried to stand but only made it to his knees.  The creature was looming over him. The monster grabbed Greg at the base of his ribcage.  Its long claws drove deep into his body.  Greg looked like he was going to vomit and Dave could see blood running down his fathers' stomach. "Dad!" Dave was sure he heard laughter right at that moment but didn't know where it was coming from.  The monster twisted its hand in deeper and lifted.  As it hoisted Greg off the ground, Dave struggled again to free himself but the monster was too strong.  Greg could barely lift his head and his eyes were glassy and not focusing.  He was looking around. Dave knew he was looking for him. It held Greg high off the ground so the two were eye to eye.  The creature raised his free hand high above its deformed head; its claws gleamed in the sunlight as it wiggled its fingers. Greg looked away. As the monster's claws came down and sliced through his father's neck, the other creature flipped Dave over his shoulder, just like his father had done, and trotted back down the path into the woods.  Dave was beating on the creatures' back the whole way and crying. * The creature sprinted through the woods.  As it neared the pond, it spun Dave off his shoulder and cradled him in his arms, like a mother holds her baby.  Without pausing, it dove into the pond. Dave kept pounding anywhere he could on the creature as they swam.  He kept tasting water and quickly tired.  Everything went dark for Dave and he lost consciousness. Sometime later, Dave inhaled loudly, coughed and spit up water.  He opened his eyes but still couldn't see anything.  It was pitch black.  It felt like he was laying on cold rock.  In the darkness, he heard a voice, low and cracked, say, "Welcome home." THE END

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Reviews

Amit Sep 12, 2011

This is a crazy story. I could picture all this happening.

Chanchal Sep 12, 2011

that is so sssssscccccaaaaaaarrrrrryyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Erik Sep 12, 2011

This is my story. Why is the author showing up as Ellen? Erik Gustafson

Jaideep Chauhan Sep 12, 2011

Good Work Erik!!

Priyanka Sep 12, 2011

nice....

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