Growing Up, My Dad Took Us Camping | CreepCast

[music] Welcome back to Creepcast! We are doing another story in person. This one's called Growing Up My Dad and I Always Went Camping. One year, we brought the rest of the family. Do you like camping, Hunter? Yeah. Really? Not really. I don't know. I did it a lot when I was a kid, but I'll have camping. It's okay. I mean, if I'm there with friends and stuff, it's fine. I'm not going to sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag. Not fun. Especially at the age of Matt now. No. Not very fun. But also don't want to be somebody that has like an RV camper guy. It's just not also the camping I want to do. So I don't know. So I'd rather just say I'm not doing any of it. I like camping and I'm trying to get Hunter to go camping for an episode. I told you I would go. Tell me what go. But here we are, not camping. So this, I'm reading this story now. We're reading this story now to try to convince him that it'd be fun to camp. So if you want Hunter to go camping with me. If you want Hunter to go camping with me, why don't you let us know in the comments. I suggested it before you ever said a single thing about it. I mentioned it kind of as a joke. And here we are, still not camping. The story that was designated for camping in a studio. I told you camping inside a haunted house. That is not count. We didn't even sleep there. I took you camping inside of a house. That's Taco Bell. That's not camping. Taco Bell is not camping. That's camping. If I went camping, I would, I would, I would door dash. Taco Bell to my campsite. You know, if we go camping at my house, I've got like the woodland and stuff we could door dash. To the campsite. I'd say what I, I'd say what I want to do. If I go to your house, I'm watching you ride that bike. I'm excited to put out the clip. Dangit. Oh, actually, do you know how it was here in the time of person? Is there any scars on it? Yeah, it's still scarred up a little bit. It's pretty easy. It's not that bad. I still get some nerve pain. And I push in on it. But nerve pain, he says. All that. It's pretty good. It should. Oh, it's healed. I'm really good. It's compared to what it was first. That was. Yeah. Palm scars typically go away. But when I do that, my fingertips will fuzzy, so maybe I'll fuzzy. I black out and I speak a different language. Yeah. All right. Well, have you, have we read anything from this? Shadow Swimmer 77? No, so this is from Shadow Swimmer 77. This was posted three years ago. It's our slash no sleep. And it currently sets 65 up votes. But whatever we were talking about camping topics, Harry found this one. I said it looked pretty good. The comments seem to like it and stuff like that. So perhaps it's a hidden gem, hidden gem of a. Not all of them can have thousands and thousands of up votes. Yeah. There's got to be some, there's going to be some diamonds in the rough, right? Some people that some, some unseen gems. Uh oh. New title sequence. Unseen gems. Unseen gem. Unseen gem. Unseen gem. Unseen gem. Um, all right. So can we, since, since I made this story for, since I, since I, we got the story for camping. Can we pretend like we're camping? I always pretend I'm camping. I'm always, I'm camping with you. What do you mean by that? There's always such a fire between us, man. It's really sweet. Thank you. Hey, Hunter, can you pass the marshmallows, buddy? They're my butthole. I don't want to play pretend anymore. I don't want to dig them out. I don't want to pretend anymore. Got to treat it like a little scratch and sniff down there. All right. You can do the whole. Thank you. Thank you, audio listeners. Have you ever seen a lot of those videos of people like poppins. It's a shit and clean and ear wax. Appreciate you guys for giving this, giving this good rating. Watch it on Spotify. If I legitimately told you, this is an actual question. If I told you that there was something stuck up there. No. Would you? No. No. Just listen. Listen to the ball. If I told you, I said, Isaiah, I have four or five, maybe six of those large marshmallows packed away in my butthole. Would you take one of those ear wax cans? And I was like, that's the only thing I can get it out. Would you fish it out? I just gave you my answer. You figured out how to get them in there. You can get them out. It's too deep. Don't know when you say it. Gosh. That's got to be like, you know, I'm not indulging this. Just say thank you to the people for watching. If you're listening to any of the audio platforms, please give us a good rating. It does help us out. And also to our beautiful patrons. We appreciate you. And thank you for supporting the channel. If you want to consider supporting the channel, hey, maybe sign up. Also, there will be that cam footage for extra content on the Patreon. Yep. Also, Merch. Would you do that for Patreon content? No. Merch. Merch is available now. Got the frog shirt. We got the small dog shirt. And we have the. Go ahead and give him more time. Stand up and give it to him one more time. All right. So before I had you pop it and lock it into the thing, right? This time, bend over. Bend over frontwards. And act like you're peeking in something. Give me one of these. Is it in there? Do that. Bend over and point like this. Is it in there? At that camera. Come on. Come on. Just once. No. Once once. I know exactly what you're doing with it. And I'm not looking for marks in that level. Stay puff. All right. That's it. We can get to the story now. We don't have to keep the announcements. All right. Go ahead. My dad and I always went camping. One year, we brought the whole rest of the fucking family. Link in the description. Support the artist. Let us begin. The lappitated wooden building who signed proclaimed it as the home to Allegheny Adventures. It's red paint, weathered, and peeling. Looks more abandoned than closed. The van parked next to the building was equally devoid of habitants. Though there were three canoes loaded on to its attached trailer. Hello, everyone. Dad wandered to himself, and stabbed in the steering wheel anoidly. The SUV idled quietly on the dirt road, the terminated at the gravel lot adjacent to the building. Car windows were down, letting it in the comfortable warmth but mid-August afternoon. What's going on, Dale? John called the dad from the Jeep behind us. His head's sticking out the window. Through the windshield, I could see my older sister, Tara, asleep next to him. Her foot braced against the dashboard, where she was riding shotgun, but couldn't spy her friend Amanda in the back seat. Don't know, babe. Looks like the dead heads forgot we were coming. Seriously? John's voice carried a put-up on tone. He said this is going to be fun. Dad rolled his eyes. And I'll take care of it. It turned to me as he opened the door and stepped out. Stay here, Paul. Keep an eye on your brother. He's not my brother. My mom was quietly under my breath as he slammed the door. What the fuck was that? Would you say to me? Dad, let me get. Don't get close to me, Doug. What was that? Would you say bye? Dad asked leaning back in the window. Nothing. That's what I thought. That's it with an arched eyebrow. Stay here. Hitched up his shorts and started walking. Hitched up his shorts and started walking to the building. He said raised eyebrow, right? Millennial smirk. Stay here. Was my line? I'm bored. Dennis won from the seat behind me. Shut up, Dennis. I told him. Still looking at Dad as he climbed the three rickety steps and banged on the screen door at the top. That's no way to talk to your brother, Polly Wally. Turn back to him. Just because our dads are married doesn't mean you. Sorry, gay dads, okay. I saw the Sean thing and I was like, I did. Yeah, okay. So it's funny as I read Sean and immediately was like, oh, yeah. They're both married. You didn't register. Okay, okay. Just because our dads are married doesn't make you my brother, you little scab. Stuck his tongue got at me. But Michael Ayer was enough to make him turn back to his video game magazine with a grumble. I returned my attention to the building where Dad had switched tactics and was trying the door. It's won't go open as he pulled and he called back to us. Be right back. Or step it inside, screen banging noisily behind him. Checked my watch and saw it was just a little past two. Sean got out of the Jeep, pushing his designer sunglasses up his nose and stretching exaggeratedly. For a moment, everything was serenely quiet. Not only the only noises, the low rumble, the car engines, the slight whisper of a breeze. Hey, Dale! Is there anything okay in there? Sean shouted towards the door Dad disappeared through. There was no answer and silence extended for several long heartbeats. I'm gonna eat five hot dogs later. I'm gonna eat four hot dogs later. I'm so glad he can do that I'm so glad he can do that I can't wait to how can't wait to I came later Yeah, I'll know no, every time I've been a little too woke there at say a patriot. I'm a little too progressive. I'm really curious how the address is going to cut around that. It depends which one we give it to. Gotta get to the Irishman, right? Why the fuck would you have me? Why would you? Why the fuck would you have me out of that? If Nate gets this he's sending it to see in it. It was so funny. It's the dad kick in the door. I probably the screen door practically exploded outward slamming against the side of the building and eliciting a shriek of surprise from Sean. A haggard looking man wearing a scraggly beard and a brilliant colored tie-dye t-shirt emerged stumbling down the steps. You barely caught himself from face planted in the dirt before it's on your spin to me. I got the giggles and he get them out. What's so funny man? You barely caught. You barely caught himself from face planted in the dirt before spinning place back toward the building. His balance wavering concerned I opened the door and got out but didn't know what else to do. I came back. I saw Tara was awake and that she and Amanda had gone out of the jeep. Their mouths both twisted in frowns. Dennis had dropped his magazine, shot open and dull shock. My dad exited the building after the man. Look of confused amusement upon his face. No, no way. No, how I ain't going. I ain't talking to you, dude. Man, I recognize there's Jerry Conroe, the owner of Allegheny Adventures. Showed at my dad, jabbing his finger towards him violently. Jerry! Dad spread his hand. Can't give that voice to a game. Man yelling. Oh, I thought you were like doing like a feminine voice all of a sudden. I thought you were given the dad a feminine voice. Patronon cut. That's why I thought you don't want me like that would be like. We're having a good time and stuff, but. Alright, whatever. Patronon cut and go let go. I said the line. Say the line. Say it again. Jerry. You bastard. Jerry! Dad spread his hands in a placating gesture. What are you talking about? Paul and I have been coming here for years. We paid in advance months ago. No, man. Jerry shook his head vehemently. Not a chance. You know we ain't getting any rain this summer. Rivers load's been like 80 years. Turns out that ain't good thing. I looked online just yesterday. Everything says water's deep enough for canoes. Just not some of the bigger stuff. We shouldn't have a problem. I ain't talking about the fucking canoes, man. Jerry screams bit flying everywhere. Dad wiped away a few flex landed on his beard. Gross. Look, Jerry. I think you're a little too stoned to be talking business. Where's Cheryl? Cheryl's. Jerry drifted off for laps into his knees sobbing. Is that good for Jerry? Yeah. God, man. Cheryl's gone. He managed to get out. Dale? Sean had walked up near our car. Eyes wide with concern. Dad held his hand up. Warden Sean back. He knelt down next to Jerry, speaking quietly in near the crime man's ear. Jerry kept sobbing but after a minute or two started nodding his head. Wipe in the back of his hand across his eyes. That stood and clapped him on the shoulder and helped him to his feet. We'll get the trailer loaded with our gear. Get sobered up and let you know when we're ready to go. Fucking cry, baby. That's an ad lib. Thank you. Hey, Cheryl's was a bitch. That's a good thing. Jerry. Hey, that's a massage on the shoulders. You're going to make it through it. You're going to make it through this winter. Hear me, Jerry. You can do better than Cheryl. You're tight. Not a tension. Stress. Oh, stress. That was, you know, we don't like that. Was that good? I thought that was okay. Was that right? I like all the emotive. Yeah. It's making it very. Yeah. God damn. You got to start stretching. It's like trying to tell me later. They you got to start stretching. Oh, yeah. I was like, what are you doing? What was that? I was like, my back is always stiff. I do. We'd stretch all the time. So I'm like, what else? What is the stretch? Do we have to do? So. Are you alive? Hello? Hi. What have I been? I got. Jerry continued to nod before stumbling back up the steps and back into the building, screen again, slamming noisily behind him. Paul. Dad looked at me. Shaw and I apart the cars. Could you take Dennis and the girls to the shed and help them get the life jackets and the paddles? Sure, Dad. Turn back to Dennis. Let's go puke stain. Hey, first warning. I'd love again. Is that normal? I heard Sean asked Dad as I walked behind the building towards the equipment shed. I almost felt like you should be this dad. I mean, you're your new dad. Do you want me to be dead? Well, I'm just saying, I already have these ad lives. Like, if you heard your son say this about your daughter, let's go puke stain. Hey, hey, watch it. Watch it. None of that. Yeah, definitely. Would you this watch it? That's your sister. That kind of thing. Yeah, it's your sister. I do like that. I mean, that's your sister. Yeah, it's just statement. That's your sister. Yeah. Yeah. Would you raise my voice? I would raise my voice if they like heard each other. Like how? Like if I had if I had a son who like, like pushed his sister over something, we like, Hey, that's you raise your voice. I've only ever screamed a few times. I don't think I've ever heard you actually get emotive. No, I have there. There's been a few times. How about this? Your son has a paddle. He fucking bobs are one right in the face. What do you do? You guys see me be like, Hey, put that down like that. You didn't grab it or anything. Skulled them. I would take the paddle out of their hand if they didn't drop it. Yeah, would you do that? Give me that. I love you, but you have a lot of demons in that head boy. I don't think I don't think I tell my kid that he has demons in his head. I feel like that's a bad start. You're right. Because you're acting funny. I actually kind of like that. That's pretty good. You're on the head because you ain't acting right. You hear me? There must be a crack on here. Good Lord, you're defective. We're sending you back. How about that one? Just make your child paranoid. You're going to abandon them at some point. I hope you realize that we're leaving the night and you're not coming with. Grab her hand. Can you censor him saying my child? You said you said you said you said you said your name. You haven't your daughter's name yet. No. What? We said it's a girl. We haven't said the name. You said it earlier today though. On video? Oh, we will make a general note that if you said it, we'll believe it. Oh, okay. My bad. If I did my bad, I didn't mean to. Yeah, I think you said it out. No, no, you're good. I think it's funnier when you keep inferring information out loud and announced. I think that's good. 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You're such a square pawl. I had a ruffle in my hair as you walked behind Tara into the shed for using the equipment. I bet he could get us some really good shit now. She turned back to me with a malicious grin. I think he'd help me find a life jacket that will fit over my girls. I don't like that phrasing around that. This is like a teenage or maybe don't call him your girl. I'm just reading what's on the paper. Yeah, I know. I'm not scolding you for the language. You're looking at me. Okay, where are you going? Harry, I don't think they should call him with the language. That's better. She arched her back causing her chest to stick out provocatively. Tarawalder eyes and gently shoved Amanda. You're ridiculous. Don't tease him. Don't like the energy being created right now. She turned to me, seeing my eyes practically bugging out of their sockets. And you're a pig. Hey! Ooh, Paulie's got a girlfriend. Isn't Dennis like eight? Oh, is he? I thought that was the dad's name. The dads are Dale and Sean. Dale. Dale, yeah. Dennis is a younger brother. Dennis Krun from the doorway. Shut up, Dennis. Sorry, Paul. You're cute, but you're not my type. I like men older. Now you're dead on the other hand. Hmm, if he weren't gay. Oh my God! Territory. Grabbing a life jacket and paddle at random and storming back out of the equipment shed. I can't believe I invited you on this trip. You need me, honey. I made a better fucking die. I mean, I can't do this. If she does not drown or I would be so upset. I made a call that after her. Without any source of estrogen on this trip, you'll die. I hear it's war crime making him read these lines. It's wrong. This is how we show today. She is shuckled turning back to me. Seriously though, can you let me find a good life jacket, bitch? No, that's the character. Sure, Dennis, grab a small, I'll get you a size, I'll get you size in a second. I told my stepbrother, pulling on my own jacket with practice motions before handing Amanda a medium. Here, try this one. Amanda tapped her lip with her finger softly as I adjusted the various straps. How's that work anyway? I mean, Sean throws a giant blip at my gay dar, but your dad is like totally hetero-seeming. And both of them are obviously, and both of them obviously had kids with their previous wives. Amanda doesn't suffer a bolt. I went daddy's. Cut. Page your own cut. Page your own cut. That's a PC. That's a PC. I shrugged. I think it's just a different time. When there are age, they felt forced to try and fit in. Sean says he finally realized he couldn't repress who he was anymore. And that's why he ended up, then that's why he ended his first marriage. My mom left my dad, Tara, and when she found her soulmate in her weekly Bible study. Dude, that sucks. No wonder Tara never told me. How's Sean and your dad mean? Community theater. They played Jean-Veljean and Jean-Veljean and Javier. Opposite each other and lame and lame is. The rest is history. That is so cute. And your dad does theater? Musical theater? God, he'd be so my type. It was almost four by the time we got the gear on the trailer. Had Jerry, still likely stone, but considerably less upset. Drive us to 25 miles north to the river entry point. Unloaded, got the canoes ready to launch. Okay, Jerry. My dad shrugged his beard. You get back home safe when we see you in a couple days, yeah. Jerry mumbled something under his breath, but nodded agreeably and waived before slamming the van door close and driving away. You do the most interesting people. I went to get in the canoe. My dad was standing next to you, but he put a hand on my shoulder. Now hold on a second, Paul. I think you and Dennis should share canoe. What, dad? No, come on, think about it. You're the most experienced one here besides me. The load is voiced and spiritually. Sean's not much from an outdoorsman, but I think he'll do okay with Amanda. Well, why can't Dennis go with you? And I get tired then. Big senior too cool for a little brother? No, come on, Paul. He's too light compared to me. You know it's important to keep the canoes at least somewhat balanced. Besides, he looks up to you. Dad, I ducked. Paul. Dad interrupted my protest across his arms. I could tell an argument wasn't going to end my way. Fine. But remember it's your fault if the little idiot won't listen to me and tips the canoe. Good man. Dad. Dad slapped my back and turned his attention to the rapidly darkening sky. Now, we better get a move on. Despite what Jerry said about not having any rain this summer, I think we're about to get some. Let's just go to the first island down to pitch camp for the night. It'll ease the others in. And with good luck, we'll get the tins up before the weather hits. We had any luck. Wasn't good. I'm having fun. Well, I'm getting read a lot this time. So I'm having a good time. I like this dynamic. This river adventure about ready to go on. Yeah, they're all going out. And it's like two joined families. And then Amanda there who's being like your stereotypical like horror movie, you know, girl type character. So it's a fun little thing. Have you ever been canoeing? I like canoeing a lot. Was it fun? We had any luck. Wasn't good. The issues start. I looked over you. He was staring at me. But I look up. It's like he was looking at you all for a reaction to something I did. I just looked at them and I was like that. Okay. And then the darkness I just see. Okay. All right, you got me. All right, red handed. The issue started almost immediately. Dennis was not only two weeks really help with the paddling from his seed in front of the canoe. But the little shit actively worked against me. He dipped his paddle on the water, forcing me to constantly change the side. I was rowing on. And at one point, even back paddled. Snickering at his cleverness. For a long time, if I was canoeing with someone that did that, I would just slam them on the back of the head. Buzz canoeing, there's a kid up front like pushing backwards to be annoying. Just boom. Bit dangerous, but. (laughs) He did, he did just. (laughs) (laughs) - You're in my ear spot back when you were in. - Where? - Who? - Long day. (laughs) What do you say? What do you say? - Before long, we were far behind the other two canoes. I cast what I hope was, and I told you so, looking dad's direction. But even from as far away as I was, I could tell he and Tara were laughingly engaged in conversation, he didn't notice. - Stop it, you little fart-muncher! - Editor cut this out. (crickets chirping) - Yeah, that's busy, yeah. Yeah, there's a lot of this, we will, well, a million presented guys, we'll have to be very careful with this. - Yeah. - Yeah, but I wanna see it. (laughs) I wanna see it. - At last, did his start of being annoying and simply leaned back on the gear we had piled in the middle of the canoe, pretending to go to sleep. About half of the compensate for his sabotage, I was at least able to get his going in something resembling a straight line. Though with just me rowing, there was no hope we would be able to catch the others before they got to the campsite. The island in the middle of the river, the dad had chosen was only about a mile and a half down from the launch point. But even that took us a better part of over an hour to investigate. The rain started to fall about half a mile out, slight drizzle at first, but gradually increasing. I could see ahead where the other two canoes had made the bank of the island. Dennis set up with a shriek of surprise. As the rain picked up, he actually started helping me row. Even with both of us paddling in Unison, by the time Dennis and I finally reached the campsite and managed to pull our canoe out of the water, we were fully soaked through. Coming into a clearing we had used in past years, dad was in the process of staking the weather fly down on a small two person tent. While Sean sat hopelessly in the middle of a pile of poles and tarps. The girls were nowhere to be seen, so I could only surmise they were in the tent that was working on. He paused as he saw a stumble up. Paul, I'm gonna finish getting the girls settled, then I'll help Sean with our tent. Why don't you and Dennis unload the gear from your canoe and stack it under that tree over there with the rest of it? Then take the hatchet and hacksaw and try to find some woods we can get a fire going. In this, I raised my hands to indicate falling rain, a distant rumble of thunder helping illustrate my point. It'll all be soaked. Dad threw me a grin. Don't worry, kiddo, I packed some dry tender. Once we get started, the world will burn. Might just be a little smoker than usual. I grumbled but moved towards the canoe and started pulling out bags and coolers, shuttling them to the tree with the other equipment and supplies. To my surprise, Dennis helped without even a snarking comment. By the time we got the gear unloaded, Dad and Sean had the second tent about halfway up. Walk towards them, hatching one hand and waterproof flashlight in the other. We're all set. How come you didn't have the girls go get wood while you were waiting for us? Dad laughed. Didn't trust them to find the right kind. Also, come on. Will it keep you approved that the chivalry isn't dead? I shook my head inside. Come on, Dennis. From previous days on the island, I knew it wasn't huge. Maybe I'd 10 minute walk from end to end. Each year there were usually one or two decent sized trees that have fallen over. So I was fairly confident we'd be able to find some deadwood, though I was still skeptical how well it would burn while the rainwater soaking through it. I just knew that sometimes there was no point in arguing with Dad. Despite the extended daylight hours of summer, clouds caused night to fall prematurely. I was glad I thought to bring the flashlight. Otherwise, it would have been way too easy to trip and fall face first into a mud puddle. I placed the beam on the ground in front of me, carefully choosing my steps, periodically pausing to shine the light off to the sides, looking for fallen logs. Dennis followed me, head down and grumbling, swinging the hacksaw he was carrying and letting it hit against the tall grass and various plant life that lined the narrow animal trail I had us walking on. Finally, after maybe 10 minutes of searching, I found something promising. A tree had fallen, and the way it rested against one of its still standing neighbors seemed like maybe even gotten a little bit of top cover from the rain. I handed the flashlight to Dennis. Here, hold the light for me. I'm gonna use the hatchet to try and get some of the small stuff cleared off, then we'll, and then I'll swap you for the saw. Why can't I saw? I looked up at the still falling rain. Because I could do it faster, and I'd like to get out of this crappin' and to dry close as soon as I can. Wouldn't you? Dennis mumbled something under his breath, granted and shining the light on the fallen tree as I'd asked. I started to clean off the smaller twigs, working by the light. Dennis started hopping from foot to foot to try and stay warm, causing the beam to sway, but I managed to bite my tongue and not say anything. I'd switched to the hacksaw, cutting off and stacking some good-looking, inch-thick branches. When a keening whale carried high over the falling rain, sounded from somewhere not very far down the river, it'd snap the flashlight beam around wildly. Paul, what was that? Pause for a moment, listening. And heard an answering call echo. This one, from farther up the river in the opposite direction. It's all the Terry weirdness in a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the temperature that had trooped fiercely with the storm. The hairs on the back of my neck stood at full attention. All right, I don't know. Maybe some kind of bird or frog or something. In this rain? And this is voice hissed. Cretulus, shook my head, shrugging off the fear. It doesn't matter, it's not here. Let's get this finished up and get back to the tent. Got back to work, just credit. In his held slight steady. I think this is cool. I like the monsters by the river thing. There's one time we were staying on an island on the lake, very similar, and we were sitting around the campfire at night. And I heard, there's a bunch of like bird calls you'll hear at night, Tennessee, like Whipper Whills and stuff like that. Whopper was like. That's what I call Whipper Whills. Sounds like it's going Whipper Whill, Whipper Whill. But there was, or maybe not be where they're called. That's where everyone says. But there was one bird that I thought it was a bird. We heard on the other side of the island. It wasn't a big island at all. You can walk fully across the side of it in like a few minutes. But sound like something going like, oh, oh, oh. That I'm just like, oh, it's like a big crane or something. But then it started to change its like donation a little bit. And we came like, hey, hey, hey. And it would always be in threes every time. And you could kind of hear it moving along the other bake. And at one point, it got to be like, hip, hip, hip. And it almost sounded like it was saying words. And remember my dad being like, it sounds like it's saying something. What's it sound like? And then the next time it went, plain as day went, help, help, help. And I was like, it sounds like it's saying help. And I was like, no, I don't, I don't think so. The right after that help, help, help. And then after that just disappeared completely. Maybe it had been going for like half an hour and then just totally stopped. And the next day I walked over there with my friend to let go, walk around, like get firewood playing around. And there's this huge spot on the side of the bank, where in like the sand up the shore, it looked like something had been dropped and then dragged down into the water. Like these huge skid marks, like a boat had thrown an anchor up there and just dragged it out as it backed up. Dang. You giving me nothing to work with, I don't know what you're talking about. It's spooky. Heldria. 11, I think. Are you smiling about it? I don't, I don't know, I'm dead. I'm fucking stupid. That is, that is actually spooky though. Why is your dad held that guy? Or was it a bird? Well, that's what we thought was a bird. Yeah. I mean, it was clearly an animal of some kind, because it was like the threes every time. It sounded like it was doing different calls and stuff like that. But after that, it helped a disappeared. I don't, I don't think it was a guy. I think it was certainly an animal. And it was saying help. It sounded like it was saying help. The call kept shifting until eventually it sounded like it was going help, help, help. Almost like it was trying to mimic or something. Anyway, we returned to the campsite maybe 20 minutes later, both carrying armfuls of cut branches. Tints were both now fully set up. Dad had also erected a makeshift tarp over a circle of stones he'd arranged to serve as a bonfire pit to help protect the flame from the weather. He crashed over a small pile of paper and wood scraps, carefully setting them to provide the maximum chance of the fire catching. Then it stumped his wood next to him. Where's my dad? He asked him, my dad nodded toward our tent. He's getting changed, Dennis. Once you go through the same, Paul, can you help me get the fire going? I sighed internally, but nodded and moved to help him as Dennis disappeared into the tent. Waited until the flap zipper closed fully, whispered dad and my voice low. Did you hear those noises? Dad nodded. Yeah, we all did. It scared the crap out of Sean. He jumped about a mile. The girls were pretty freaked out too. They are the only ones, dad. What the heck was that? Don't know, son. I can't say I've heard anything quite like it before. Maybe a mountain lion, a mountain lion? Two of them? Do they live around here? Maybe. They got lost from over near Penn State. Hey, probably don't swim very well. But all the more reason to get this fire started. Ranging the starter tarp doing a surprisingly good job of keeping it dry till dad had last nodded out approval That should do it. Let's give it a shot. What do you do the noise? It sounded like It says a whale, right? About if you think it's a mountain line probably like a screech of some kind well, they see like maybe it was a light and what was the mountain line? That sounds like a woman screaming What if it was like the Tom and Jerry scream? You hear a loud cartoon mallet hit something He took it which like I've never I've seen mountain lines before in the daytime But never like hard-won cry, but I've seen videos like these guys walking around at night And then it sounds like there is a woman being murdered. That's kind of a coyote. No, not like a like like a I am being killed scream like that Yeah, it's super loud booming across the woods. Yeah, coyote sound like a children crying Yeah, it's very odd. Don't like it. Yeah, they suck. Not fun Took out a long big lighter and set the flame to the rolled newspaper in several different spots Dinder caught quickly the woods snapping merrily and we moved to stack the branches Dennis and I cut into a rough pyramid over the starter material The sticks spoke considerably as they began to dry, but eventually caught just as dad predicted Looked over to the remaining pile nice job Paul Those won't last very long though. We need something bigger if we want to keep this thing through the night Aside I think the tree I got these from will work. I was just to cut some logs from farther down the trunk Okay, I hate to ask dad cleans up the hill the still fallen rain Peel of distant thunder rolling from way over the mountain line of the river But he changed you could go cut a few good size ones before we get cleaned up You can't come with me I think I better stay here just in case any other camping newbies need anything I'm sorry this trip is off to a rough start You want to take Dennis again? I didn't have to take a moment to think about it. No. I'll get it done fast for myself Besides he's already probably changed Dad clapped me on the shoulder Proud of you son every time he's talking about that touching if it's like a Big heavy. That's how that happens I rolled my eyes and stood grabbing the hacks on flashlight from where I'd set them So I just want to say if he's dead like it's probably mountain lines out there Anyone got there in the dark It's pretty crazy. It's like it's probably two mountain lines on either side of the river Good thing we've got this fire going. Hey, can you go away from the fire over to the dark? I'll leave the hatchet with you. Don't think I'll need to cut the big stuff. Don't think I'll need to cut the big stuff Dad nodded in agreement. Hey, I paused turning back to him I love you, Paul. Love you too, Dad We'll be waiting here Scald and crushed away back towards the fallen tree I found the spot Dennis and I had come from without difficulty and got to work Setting the light in a way to shine on where I was cutting The rain had blessedly stopped at least temporarily But the cold front, the broaded, caused an eerie fog to begin to seep sinuously up from the undergrowth The temperature had continued to drop and it was only the physical activity that was keeping me from shivering It was probably not too cold yet, maybe in the lower 50s But the change from the upper 80s of the earlier afternoon made it feel much worse than it actually was Something nagged me at the back of my mind as I worked on the tree But it was several long minutes before I realized exactly what it was Other than the rasp of the saw gliding back and forth against the tree And the distant gurgle of the river flowing past the island shore The night was utterly still quiet No birds called, no insects chirped It's dead silence Another chill ran down my back as my mind returned to the mysterious cries from earlier And then back farther to Jerry's strange warnings from this afternoon Despite what I told Dennis and what dad told me, those sounds were like nothing I'd ever heard before I got back to my work with a will, focusing on getting enough wood to last the night so that I could Get out of my sopping clothes and curl up in my sleeping back until morning I told myself that surely the light of day would ward off whatever it was that made those sounds But a little voice at the back of my mind asked But what if it doesn't? Going was slower than earlier the lower parts of the tree between six and eight inches thick and taking much more effort to work through Still, I managed to cut a good number of pieces Enough that I was thinking it may take multiple trips to get back to the campsite When I paused, my ears registered another sound from back the way I came Thinking about it, I realized that the noise had been going on for several minutes now And erupting the earlier silence I previously noted but I was so focused on my work that at first I didn't notice the change The sound was faint but distinct screaming I hesitated for just a moment Fear causing paralysis for another cry high pitched and full of pain launched me in action The fire would have forgotten I sprinted back towards the campsite saw in one hand flashlight in the other the being bouncing wildly in front of me as I ran I took a bad step and felt face first sliding along the wet ground The hacksaw dropping from my hand and skittering into the undergrowth I left it, having managed to keep hold of the light, picked myself up and continued my mad dash I ran as fast as I could my breath pounding in and out of my lungs A stitch cramping along my side but all the while my fears told me that my greatest efforts won't be enough I burst from the brush into the clearing the fire still burned merrily where dad and I said it But the rest of the campsite was an utter disarray No shit The tents were collapsed the flaps violently torn open Poles snapped jaggedly reaching like broken bones of a compound fracture Our gear was strewn about half hazardly The rest of my group, dad and Sean, Dennis, Tara and Amanda, I saw no sign outside of a terrible wet redness that seemed to mark and stain every piece of gear I stood, mouth open and shocked My mind whirling as I tried to comprehend what I was seeing But knowing the shallow pools starting the soaking ground here and there could only be blood Bruh All of them Just, I'm sure they're not all dead yet But just getting massacred left and right while he was up the road a little bit My god His dad's like, yeah, it's probably a mountain line and then two wind-to-goes descended on him Oh my god Just dropping down from the tree These 12-foot tall demons Like, okay, I ain't gonna get some fire one It's like the rivers like 30 feet wide you can see the shoreline over there And then gargoyles But yeah, it's like, hey, Paul Gargoyles Love you, Paul Love you, dad, dad nods, and in the background you can see in a single jump From one shore to the other It's a tiny speck in the dish It's flying Oh god, I love my gay dads And then just As I walk in behind him, you can see like a limbs getting thrown up in the trees He's in wood Yeah, Paul, I'm just shooting him where my god I'll bust Paul Yeah, he's like me Just in an instant To take transmission Yeah, like as soon as Paul's plastic clear just Fuck both of them appear like standing in the middle of camp A wordless groan alerted me to the collapse tent I rushed to the noise and cried out in horror at the side of my father's ruined body Anelt down beside him, cradling his head in my lap The flickering fire light was enough to see the vicious wounds all across his face Poor and red His jaw was horribly broken His chin shifted almost two inches to the right of where it should be His eyes were swollen shut and his nose turned at an impossible angle The hatchet I'd left him with at the fire was buried three inches into his chest And I could see white poking through a hole in his left pant leg The rest of him was fully covered by the deep furrows of claws It's a wild animal, trying to tear him apart I'd had a couple years in the boy scouts I had a medical merit badge, but I was at a loss for anything to do for him Still, I gently started to lay dead down Thanking to try and find the first aid kit that Must still be somewhere in the ruined piles of gear But he reached out, grabbing my wrist with surprising desperate strength And haze, and I noticed two of his fingers had been torn from his hand Stop moving him, lean down to listen To see if he was going to try and say something Maybe he could tell me what causes catastrophe What happened to the others? All I could hear though was the rough wheeze of his breath And painfully forced in an out of his lungs Tears fell from my eyes intermingling with the blood still seabing from his face, his breathing caught, rattled, and then stopped. Sob escaped my throat as I clutched at my father's corpse, the best and strongest man I'd ever known. My thoughts were a jumble of puzzle pieces in my head, shock and grief and disbelief all fighting for position, my entire body trembled uncontrollably. Unexpectedly, one realization managed to push through the gauze that my mind was wrapped in, thought, cool and cold as a piece of granite. Whoever did this to my dad was still out there. They had the others, they might come back from me. My stomach turning, I reached down, bracing myself, managed to pull the hatchet out of dad's chest. Dad's on the ground like, "Oh, wait, I think I'll use that a little bit." I was just thinking, "I'm just gonna say, Paul's a fucking badass dude." Yeah, to see all this and be like, "Time to go." Yeah, the blade releasing with a sickening crack. A downpour of blood escape from the newly revealed opening, but I told myself I wasn't causing any more harm. There's no more harm to cause. I sniffed hard to clear my incredibly stuff nose, I stood and took stock in my situation. There was no phone to call for help. That always insisted on completely unplugging for the trip and it's not like there'd be any service even if I had one. Sean, Dennis and the girls were missing, possibly dad, or possibly worse. But I tried to find help, it would be hours before I got back with anyone. By then, it'd be too late to do anything. I moved down to the canoes. All three were where we left them, but enormous tears have been ripped in each of their holes. There was no way I could use one as is. As I looked over the boats, trying to determine if there was any way to repair one enough to make it at least partially flow worthy, the beam of my flashlight caught on a series of footprints impressed in the riverbank. The dirt made soft by recent rainfall. I shuddered to see them. Larger than a grown man's, the prints were made by something heavy. It's feet both clawed and web like an enormous platypus. A rustling and some nearby bushes caused me to start. Cautiously, I approached the noise using the hatchet to push away some of the tall grass hiding in the motion. My mind going numb as my flashlight found the source. Creature was big. Not huge, certainly, but definitely over six feet long and weighed several hundred pounds. It had four limbs, roughly arranged in the same anatomical layout as a human. The beam of my light reflected Dully off slimy scales covering the entirety of its body. Their color a dark green, almost black. Both its hands and feet were webbed and clawed like the footprints I found, but its fingers looked like they might be dexterous enough to use tools. Things head with some kind of hideous cross between human and fish, whiskers like a sturgeon droop from its cheeks and it opened its mouth to snarl at me. Its teeth arranged in a circular pattern like a lamp ray. Sound it made was weak, but I recognized the same strange call that Dennis and I heard earlier. I could also tell it was badly hurt. Thing was trying to drag itself back to the river but there was an enormous gash and its shoulder impeding it. Its left arm was almost torn from its body and leaking blood, though not as much as I would have expected. I realized that Dad must have been the one to wound this creature that he certainly got the work to the exchange. Cold fury began to work its way up from deep inside my stomach and I raised the hatchet with the intent to finish the monster off before thoughts stopped me. I had no way of knowing where terror and the rest were taken, but it must have been my other creatures like this one. It appeared to be aquatic or amphibious and with no way of even knowing which way they went down the river, I'd have no way to find their layer on my own. I considered the dilemma and came upon a possible solution. Noting the relative slowness that the creature was managing to claw its way to the water, I went back to the trash. What's the thing that said about "I knew you wouldn't be normal" about this story? This is just positive. The fucking Trevor. Trevor messaged me and said "This is daddy moke." He loves getting ripped to shreds while getting asked. This is daddy. This is daddy moke. Those are like social medias like "We're three dads." I said "This is daddy moke." He loves getting shredded. He should pull off so you can have time with Sean. There's only DT in the PC, man. Yeah, this is PC for sure. All right, sorry guys. Noting the relative slowness that the creature was managing to claw its way to the water, I went back to the trash campsite and began rifling through the gear. It didn't take me long to find what I was searching for. A spool of all-purpose parachute cord in a box of Kim lines. Pulled out my pocket knife and quickly cut links of cord, tied slipknot loops through half a dozen of the lines before cracking them to life and a bright green flash of neon. Now I also took a pair of two foot long pieces of cord and tied one end to each handle of the hatchet and flashlight, gathered in my belt. Of course, curing the tools is the best I could in my waistband. Returning to the creature, who was only feet from the river, I took my life jacket from the ruin canoe and pulled it on. I took four others and used their straps to tie them to each other, considering the next step of my strategy. Closeness to the water, or possibly my nearness, sent the monster in a greater effort. It's a flopped, squirming towards the perceived safety of the river. I softly approached it and, as it thrashed, managed to loop three of the Kim lines around its various limbs, securing the last one just as it made the water. It would have to be enough, being submerged seemed to invigorate it, confirming my suspicion of the creature's aquatic nature, though it was still clearly hampered by its wound. If it weren't for my doctored lights, it would have been impossible to tell where the creature was in the water. And even with them, I could tell I'd have to try and stay close or risk losing it. Slip it into the river, I arranged myself on the secured life jackets like a makeshift raft, and began to follow the fleeing fish monster, hoping against hope that it would take me to wherever my family is. I abandoned all sense of time. My focus entirely kept on keeping track of the three small balls of glowing light moving gradually down the river. I followed the creature through one fork, then another, then another, before I lost track, stopped trying. I was thankful the thing was as badly heard as it was. I realized its injury was all that was keeping it moving slowly enough that I could keep it in sight. Likely the only reason it had an attack to me. My throat tightened when I saw one of the Kim lights separate from the others, falling to the bottom of the river and sinking into the silt, apparently having been kicked loose from the monster. Somewhat unsteadily, the other two glided away though, continuing in the same direction they had been, so I kept following, then an up a silent prayer that the remaining cord stayed secured. Approximately, the motion stopped. The lights which I'd been following perhaps two feet underwater now bobbed at the top. Cautiously I approached, fearful I knew the reason. Before long, I confirmed I was right, monster'd blood out. Floated, floated on the surface of the river, a lethal goldfish dead in its massive bowl. Cold and wet and dark, unnoticed until now, warded away by fear and the adrenaline of my pursuit came crashing down on me. Shivered, supported by the extra life jackets I could only hope I'll need, trying to figure out what to do next. Try to work things through logically. We've been traveling quite away from the island. Monster's layer couldn't be much farther. Besides, lack of better ideas, since I didn't have anything truly better to do, I just have to try and search the river bank for a cave or something, and pray. I moved to the side of the river the creature seemed to be heading for. Gearing the bank, fumbled for my flashlight. My heart leapt when I found it wasn't there before I remembered the safety line I tied it to it. Thank you my past self for this preparation. I traced the cord, still secured my belt, and pulled the flashlight into my grasp. I had to smack it against my palm a time or two before a weekly turned on. It's claims of a waterproof nature apparently more for advertisement the next will use. It didn't take me long to find what I was looking for. Allegheny isn't terribly deep even in wet years, maybe eight or nine feet on average. I could see from the marks on the banks where the waters would typically be four feet overhead, and the yawning hole I found was only submerged about halfway. I thought back to what Jerry had said earlier about how this was the dry season in decades. In a normal year, the opening would be fully under water, but now. Showed the flashlight into the hole, figure of dark and close spaces gripping my heart. Yeah, I'm like I was afraid of the cave, but not the fish people that murdered his family. Kind of real though. Yeah. Master phobic hole fuck that no fighting these giant fish people with a hatchet shirt Yeah, I can wrap my head around that The opening was certainly big enough that I could fit but there was no way to know that it stayed that way No way to know this was in fact the monster's layer or the Tara or Dennis or Amanda or Sean were still alive My mind returned to dad's room face His last gasping breaths I sighed I had to try You know his mom his dad is pretty sick because he did take one down with it Oh, yeah, he's a badass. He was awkward going to say the least dragging the four extra life jackets with me But if I found any of the others and if they were in bad shape and if we had to swim any distance to get out There's so many ifs going through my mind The tunnel went into the riverbank for 50 yards or so before dipping down You're made consistently half full and I float swim along my breathing rate increased reaching the point I was practically hyperventilating claustrophobic sense of the earth crushing and around me competing with the understanding that I may be Trapping myself in the din of killer fish monsters Man should get a hold of myself and continue onwards After a subjective eternity the passage I'd been swimming through emerged into a cavern of significant size Would be 15 or 20 feet tall and three times that across Coming out of the wall I fell with a splash into a sort of underground lagoon that took up the majority of the cavern The walls of the cave glowed with a faint lemon essence enough to faintly see by Though I didn't know enough marine biology to say what kind of algae or whatever was causing it I swam to the shore and found my efforts were rewarded There were dozens of webed claw prints similar to those on the island as well as some other marks that look like something had been dragged I could only hope it was the rest of my group There were at least a dozen different passages off the cavern. I was in but the freshest prints and drag marks seemed to head down three of them There might have been other exits to the underground Warren, but I didn't know where they were and it was going to be way too difficult to bring the life jackets with me I had no idea who would get back up the passage I came in through, but that would have to be something I figured out later Got a small recess in the wall that I was able to stash the extra vest in for taking out the hatchet and flashlight Picking the leftmost footprint marked tunnel at random creeping along stealthily as my squelching shoes would let me Paul turning into rambos Fucking peak. Yeah, he gets the axe as a flashlight stash. He's like all right time to kill the official people to actually fucking murder these for my family The flashlight was almost unnecessary The algae persisted enough to light my way so I kept the beam off move just carefully as I could Paws in every few steps to listen for sounds that might reveal the location more monsters are my family Seemingly far away down the passage. I heard hooting calls like the ones Dennis and I heard earlier But there was something about the tone that made me think it was just the creatures communicating are that they didn't alarm that they knew I was there The passage floor was slimy, so I was very careful to avoid slipping and falling Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any other passage ways to choose from where else I would have to Where else I would have had to start making some difficult choices The tunnel I'd chosen opened into a cavern only slightly smaller than the one containing the lagoon The algae on the walls here was even more highly concentrated and though it was not as bright as light in a lamp the glow was still more than enough for me to see I wish I couldn't Sean was suspended upside down It's arms and legs secured spread equal to poles on either side of him by rough looking rope and Surrounded by four of the fish monsters one considerably larger than the others Peace have what had been wedged in his mouth, but I could see he was awake His wide eyes fear filled and wild his head whipping back and forth My earlier suspicion that the creatures could use tools was confirmed as the largest creature took a flint knife and Definitely cut away Sean's clothes leaving him hanging naked Made a strange cries all the while and I realized that based on the wrapped tension of the three smaller creatures They must have been the monster's version of a school lesson Closed fully removed the monster took Sean's hair in one clawed hand Bend his head back and cut his throat My stifle to cry Jamie my hand in my mouth the Sean's life poured from the gaping wound I could tell he was trying to scream himself, but between the wooden gag and his own blood choking him he only managed to emit a panicked Ergol The gap didn't last long Creature must have severed both carotid arteries soon the blood was only dripping Bought the urge to be violently ill as the fish monster continued to dress its catch Slicing open Sean's belly and removing his stomach and intestines smell like nothing I ever experienced before this being a fish's version of Catching humans is disturbing. Yeah, well, it's like the thing is like, you know fish you chop the head off and then you yeah Literally the exact parallel of what they were doing on the shore. It's like a dad teaching his kids Here's how you clean a fish cut it off. Yeah What if we're the monsters I cautiously edged away from the goose I Cautiously edged away from the gruesome scene unable to take it for even another moment I was furious that I didn't do something to save Sean, but at the same time knew there was nothing I could have reasonably done I could only pray I would have better luck with dentists in the girls Made it back to the entrance cave and followed the second tunnel with the drag marks Still move cautiously, but faster than I'd before But I'd been only a few minutes faster. Maybe I could have done something to help my stepfather Gonna let something like that happen to the others Similar to the first tunnel. This one wouldn't seem to have any offshoots Part of me wondered whether these paths are natural rock formations or if the creature somehow carved them out Where the other was fairly straight this one was far more winding with noticeable changes in elevation The height of the tunnel remained relatively constant thankfully and other than having a duck timer to My earlier feelings of claustrophobia were generally kept at bay The room the second tunnel he merged into was smaller than the one Sean was murdered in The algae remained on the walls though and lesser concentration The room was dim and if I was right that these passages had been designed by the creatures There must have been a reason for that The floor was covered in almost a dozen of what I could only describe as nests We make up comprised of everything from ratty blankets and old scraps of leather to tree branches and castaway clothing Carefully peaked into the closest nest my stomach turning at the mass of squirming flesh writhing and convulsing in its middle It was several long seconds before I realized what it must be pile the fish monsters at some kind of larval stage At some willed upon the monster's version of a nursery The tadpole things their mouse gaping wide with those lambray-like teeth Wigled and mashed disgustingly My heart leapt into my throat at the words sounded from the other side of the room I turned to look for the source and was amazed to find Dennis sitting alone. It's back to the wall They took them all but left me I rushed to his side. Dennis. Hey, Dennis Turned to look at me. His eyes were glassy and blank. Why did they leave me? I don't know, man, but come on. We have to find the girls. Do you know where they took them? Pulled on his arm attempting to drag him to his feet. Don't want to go. I want to stay here He began to fight against me. I tried to peel my hand away from his arm. Come on, Dennis. Come on out No, I don't want to go! I practically shouted before reaching down and trying to bite me. I Yelped and dropped his arm. My brother's sinking back down cross-legged to the floor. I looked around hurriedly There's a passage on the opposite side of the room from the one I came in and I thought I could hear fish monster noises heading toward me He only made sense. They wouldn't want to leave the nursery unguarded. I Couldn't afford to fight with Dennis before I found the girls and he seemed safe enough for the moment for whatever reason Dennis, I think something broke in you. I'll be back But I have to go find Tara Amanda, okay? He mumbled something but whether it was a response to me or to whatever voices were talking in his head I couldn't tell and obviously like that would be pretty brain breaking But do you think they're keeping them because he's too young? Yes, grow or something like that. It's what they have in the nursery. Yeah, I mean, maybe yeah Unless they've have some kind of like its innocence of a child, but I just I got it It seemed very animalistic. Also. I just see maybe they're busy just cutting up Sean. Yeah, they seem like Educated to the level of like apes, you know, I mean you would have to assume and they're using flint and all like that They teach each other stuff and there's basic and they're communicating. Yeah, so they're like it's like a Gorilla education, I'd imagine kind of thing. So maybe maybe they are like to not worth it for him or whatever I left her in to ensure the monsters coming to check on their young didn't find me I traded all sense of stealth for speed at this point I didn't totally understand what was going on and I couldn't afford to let the monsters find me, but I had to find my sister and her friend I jogged down the third and final tunnel with the drag marks praying that this was where Tara and Amanda were taken and not some other Helpless victim this tunnel was shorter than the other two and it didn't take me more than a few moments to reach another room This one dominated by a cage was of thick branches. Another tunnel on the far wall continuing farther into the layer. Large iron lock secured the cage door and I wondered how the monsters would have gotten a hold of it. Fortunately, there was no key, hopefully hung upon the wall. A quick examination made it obvious I'd have had better luck hacking through the cage bars in the lock, but considering their thickness, even that would take considerable time I didn't have. A formly huddled in the far corner of the cage, who was covered by a rough blanket so that I couldn't see who or what it was. But I had to believe they were a prisoner. The algae on the walls there was incredibly dim, so I turned on my flashlight and shined it on the shape. "Who are you? Is someone there?" A form rolled and shifted toward me. The cage ceiling was too low for them to stand, but they crawled toward the sound of my voice. "I can't see you. Please help me." I took a step back as the prisoner reached my side of the cage, grasping at the bars. I could do nothing but gasping whore. She was filthy and naked. Besides the blanket draped around her, but despite that I recognized her. It was Jerry's missing wife, Cheryl. Her eyes were gone, carved from her head and leaving only wet, empty sockets. She was heavy, "Oh, gosh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. All right. Well, we entered this air of the story. We're in it. We're in it. She was heavy and swollen with pregnancy. "Please. It hurts. Woo!" From the top rope of Burasca back into the ring, returning champion, one night only, and they want babies. Now introducing our challenger, the Scaly gentleman. My mind struggled for a long moment, half trying to come up with some plan to help. The other attempted to wake itself up from the nightmare. When she fell back to her side with a cry, shuddering. Cheryl's belly seemed to descend. As if something inside it was struggling to be free. "Oh boy." The flesh of her middle pulsed in and out, in and out, and then abruptly tore open. She screamed in pain as dozens of the small white fish tadpole things, like the ones I'd seen in the nest poured out of her womb. Their birthing whales were miniature versions of the fish monster calls, and with revulsion, I watched as they squirmed about and began to devour Cheryl. "God damn." Small pock marks of flesh torn wherever their mouth touched. More and more of the creatures crawled from inside her enjoying the feast, continuing to even after her screams turned to small whimpers of pain, the whimpers to silence. This was at last too much, and I threw up in great gasping heaves. Monsters paid me no mind, continuing to eat. "My gosh, crazy." Maybe that was a whiplash of a moat of information. We saw the guy get fish gutted earlier. He kept getting worse. Maybe it's not a pregnancy in the traditional sense, maybe it's more like a Xenomorph kind of thing. Dude, you can put a half of the fuck. There was definitely some fish to cap in it. We could say Xenomorph. I will say this though, would that visual have not been more effective if they would have come across the cage, and then her belly would have been split open, and they were eating it. It's just like a bit convenient to have it just be like, "Who's there?" The moment it happens, yeah. So it's like, you're coming on it and it's like, "Oh, they're Cheryl." She's being eaten, and it's like, "You could only assume the horror that happened." I agree. I agree. It would be more effective, more horrific, and work better for the story if they came across the remains. However, this is a story about a 12-year-old boy hunting down and fighting fish people that killed his dad. I'm still pretty on board with everything. Well, I'm saying that happening at this moment, the convenience of that is tonally fitting. Yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, I get you. I kept vomiting. Beyond when my stomach was empty and my throat hurt from the effort, after a long time, too long, and should pull myself together. I heard noises from back the way I came, so with little other choice, picked up my hatch and flashlight and continued on. The tunnel continued farther and farther away from my point of entry and from Denis. My luck continued to run dry, and now there were intersections and branching routes to choose from. I picked it random. At one point, I thought I heard sobbing, only to realize after a moment it was coming from me. The algae was fully gone now. The flashlight guttered and died, but I carried onward, desperate, unknowing what else to do but take another step forward. I heard a deep roar ahead, like a great sleeping beast, but still I went on. Suddenly, the tunnel disappeared. My foot didn't strike the ground. I was sure would be there, and I was falling, falling down, down. I hit water with a crash, the wind knocked for my chest, and I was born away on an underground current. Disoriented, blind to everything, my head struck rock. Blackness, if I'm consciousness, indesernable from the abyss I'd been fleeing. "Hey, I think he's alive." Awareness returned. I was lying on my back, soaking wet, mid-morning sun shining upon my face, a ring of concerned faces looking down on me. "Son, what can you remember? Where'd you come from?" Man wearing a traditional cap that's had a thick beard helped me set up. A head throbbed. I realized I was on the top deck of a boat, signed on the bulkhead proclaiming Monica Hella Gateway Clipper. "We found your bobbin along. Take your life, Jack. It's the only thing that kept you only half-drowned. Did you fall over board or something? Was there anyone else with you?" "Looked at the man. His eyes were kind but concerned. Thought for a moment, trying to decide what I could possibly say. There was, I told him slowly, but they're gone." "There's a fun little creature feature. Pretty brutal." "What the fuck did he pop up at?" "Well, so there's a lot of like waterways that have channels that lead out. With the captain's head, it's assumed the ocean." "Well, yeah, it's what I'm saying, it's like how fucking far away did he? Good lord." "Yeah, he's out at sea somewhere now." "So, he gets found by them. That is like a pitch black ending. That was depressing." "Everyone dies. Dennis is like gonna be fattened up and killed. They're probably food for the larva." "Also, the girls 100% are gonna be trained." "And the girls are trained into intubators." "Yeah, yeah, intubators for more to come. Intubators." "Hey, but at least me and my dad's went camping." "But you know what? Family fun." "How are you supposed to be, how are you supposed to ever comprehend?" "Well, you should know. I get to see people be like, well, they should have heated jerry's warning. At what point would anyone be like, ah, the fish people. I should have figured that out." "I will say that I did." "So, none of that coming. None of that at all coming." "No, I thought when they got it, I thought when the story started and they were going out there, I knew there'd be creatures." "I thought it was going to be monster feature." "I thought it'd be like a bigfoot way to go thing." "I thought it was going to be like in-bred mountain people." "Hills have eyes kind of like a wrong turn kind of mage people." "Well, fuck did you find this?" "I had scaly fish people." "Uh, was it recommended at all or what happened?" "Well, if you're objective recommend this author and I have stories and found this." "It's great." "Yeah." "That's not fun." "No, I mean, I think that, I think that like for something that has, I mean, like we said earlier, not a lot of traction on this. We'll definitely leave a link to the to the story. Curious to check other stories. I'm always fascinated with authors like this where it's like you can write a totally bleak ending and then you write something where you're like, "Oh, that was kind of not like the end." "I'm curious to see what other, like what other writing styles does this guy have? Or do all of his, you know, does everyone feel this kind of like this insane because my god, that was. "I mean, this felt like a, and I mean this in a good way. This felt like like an old slasher film." "Oh, yeah. I hate, I hate when I comment that because I always feel like I sound really fucking stupid. But once again, if this was a movie or something, it immediately, I thought of bone tomahawk. "I was thinking of the exact same film. Yeah. When they get dragged in and stuff and there's like kind of the indigenous, like, like torn apart and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah. And then he stays behind. Only here was kind of like, Paul has his hero moment where it's like my dad's dad, Olive Vingeum. I'll find this one you killed. I'll find the family. And then Paul, like, he has the bravery and he has the gumption to get all the way there, but he changes nothing. The, uh, also sad to say, not creep cast first, uh, forceful insemination. So, by a long shot. No. And it's like, we need to get the count. See for a double digits now. I would like to know how many forceful inseminations we have. Yeah. I will say first, first insemination that leads into the bait within a sentence being born and eating the mom. Yeah, I can't say there's new stories that have that at least. You can at least be happy with that. Is this the first one that's not a human doing it? Is this our, is this our first fish monster? If we don't count Cthulhu, yes. I wouldn't count Cthulhu. Or like, in, in that one, original fish monster. Well, in the, in the guy that did, what's his name? The guy that did one that's like shadow over ends. Yeah. I, I guess there were fish people there. I guess I mean, like actual in terms of the monster monster. Would you consider the mermaid people fish monster? I could say the mermaid, maybe one day on smear, two day on smear and non-lovecraftian fish monster. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think so. I can. And if you don't count, I can't picturing, uh, I can't picture and creature the black ogoon kind of people. Yeah, that's what I kept picturing. Yeah, I was thinking kind of like that or the fucking man. and hunched over that. - That are the fish people for when you first play wow. - Murlocs. - The Murlocs. Or the bloodfish at Jared's Landing, whatever, like those dudes. - And they're like, "Mmm" and they're like, "Ah!" And it's like a big fat fish head and it's like kind of like a-- - This one's a big circular, like autumn jaws, like a lamp right, yeah. - So he has like, sturgeon whiskers. - Yeah, yeah. I wonder why the, I'm surprised that they made that kind of sound. I wonder what led the author to think that that sound made sense for that thing. Creeping. - Almost started to be like a fuckin' like, "Gah!" - Yeah, you know, a show-beam sound. And I also mean this in a good way. - You do not have to say that. You can just say things. - Well, no, because what I'm about to say is this is a very dude-bro story. And that can be taken as a bad way. That's the best compliment anyone could ever give me. - Well, some people can take that to me. - It's like low intelligence, like, you know, dumb. I mean that in the way of like, fish monsters show up, kill everyone, find their nest, you know? I would say classic monsters. - I would say conventional monster horror. - Monster horror story, yeah. And I love monster movies. - Let's talk to the author and they say. - This author? - Yes. - Okay. - You can do whatever you can call whatever you want. It's called, you know, this camping story for No Sleep. But he said that the technical, real title, the story is called "Masha of Nomek." But No Sleep is weird with their roles and stuff. I just googled it. "Masha of Nomek is a Native American legend." - Oh. - It's a character from the Menonome Indian folklore and it's sometimes known as the big surgeon. - Oh, that's cool. How'd you spell "Masha of Nomek?" - That sucks that you can't. - M-A-S-A-E-Dash, N-A-N-A-N-A-N-A-A-S-H-E-E-N-A-M-A-K. - N-A-M-A-K. - Yeah. - And then I did look it up that Captain Spoke, the name of that, that's another river that intersects with Allegheny River. But it's like 130 miles, so he must have been. - I mean, I imagine he just got swept or whatever. - And he said, sounds like he might have been read with other stories, but he said, "We will definitely be the first people "that has covered this story." - Cool. - It was good. - I mean, I will say legitimately, I like the dynamic. I like, I know I said, "I wanted a man to get her come up "and did not want it like that." - No. - And I will say to you, I will say to all of the characters, all of the characters I felt really well fleshed out. - Like I gave a fuck about the relationship of the dads, the kids. It's interesting, it's interesting how fast the turns were. - Yeah, so fast. - Even like the throwaway line at the beginning that you think's for a comedic beat of that guy saying his wife left him, even that showed up later. And also little subtle things of showing like, I like that Dennis and, or Dale and Paul had that moment where he's like, "Dude, you're more experienced." Just help, that helped just establish it. Oh yeah, when Paul starts taking the ropes, it's like, "Yeah, he knows what he's done." - Yeah. - It's just that little subtle thing, I think is really fun. The also just proven by the way, the sleep moments. With Dennis just being left there, he's gone. I mean, he's gonna be, you're right, he's just gonna be fine. - They're gonna fucking eat him, 100%. - Well, they're gonna feed him to those larvas on the room. What's kind of interesting too, is that the, because the pat, I would almost assume that the fish would be able to swim out and then go on shore, but it seems like when the tide is low, that's when they actually come out and start fucking with stuff. - Yeah. - They probably fish or something, the rest of the time, but now they have to walk on land, yeah. - Yeah. It'd be interesting too. I was kind of thinking that, I was kind of thinking that maybe when he got down there, 'cause he's like, "Well, I went down there and they dragged something that it was just gonna be a deer." And he's like, "I just fucking came down here for no reason." Or something. - Something fucking hopeless like that, this was even more hopeless so. - Yes. - They are down here, but I can't do a thing about it. - What a fun uplifting story. Thank you so much for listening on audio platforms. Hopefully you don't drive off a fucking bridge while you're watching this. But no, in all seriousness, it was a lot of fun. And thank you so much to our audio listeners over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you to all of the patrons who's helped support the channel. We desperately, desperately, desperately appreciate you. And thank you to the author as well. I mean, honestly, we're gonna leave the link at the description. Please go check out his stuff. On the crewman pasta wiki, I did see that it is called - Mushonomic. - Yes. So depending on where you can see it, there's two different names, but it is that. Very fun though. I enjoyed it. - Also, once again, another ding for no sleep. You can't name it a cool story because you wouldn't call it that if you were posting to it. You have to call it a help forum for Reddit. - Shut up, yeah. - Shut up. - A lot of fun. Guys, until the next time, we will see you then, hey, stay creeped and stay away from rivers. - Thanks. - Stay creeped and a creep cast is not condoned forced fish pregnancies. Thank you. Good night. - Bye. (gentle music) , (gentle music)