It was better when the water beyond our shores wasn’t quiet like it was today. Then, at least, we knew where the evil was.
Our tiny island had been forgotten for so long now we didn’t remember anything else. There was barely enough visible land mass to produce crops and raise livestock to keep us all from starving but just barely.
No electricity or communications ran through our homes. The outside world simply didn’t exist for us. Lean-tos and shelters made from whatever washed ashore huddled in the very middle of our island for the most protection. It was almost the safest place. Our livestock surround that and then the fields spread a little further out. Not much grew in sand so our choices were limited, and quantities were meager.
Because of the evil swimming just beyond the shallows, there were no fish to speak of. Only “it” swam in those waters. Gargantuan in size, vile in temperament, it would kill anything it could reach. Kill isn’t a good enough word. It would rip apart and devour. If the victim was human, they would be tortured first. The livestock vanished occasionally but humans were its main choice.
Daily life wasn’t life at all. One person ruled over the visible people. Tank. Not a name really but more a description. He was a massive man. Dark skinned and muscled. His shelter wasn’t much better than anyone else’s but it had more than one room. He took whatever woman he wanted and horded the most food. Right now, his choice was Sheila. For some reason, he fancied her the most. She, of course, wasn’t happy about it.
He didn’t choose violence much. Just intimidation. If someone made him angry, he simply picked them up and threw them into the water. It didn’t take long for them to disappear, screaming.
Me? My name is Shell. I lived between the visible and non-visible people. I even had a boat. I never went out on it, but I worked on it a lot. I even made bargains with Tank for metal. He seemed to appreciate my advice. Not that he took it very often. Right now, he needed help with Sheila. He wanted to win her over. I tried telling him keeping her captive wasn’t going to do it. Of course, he wouldn’t hear of that. So, I suggested giving her authority. Let her guide him. Show her he appreciated her. That, he listened to. As far as I knew, things were getting better between them now. Who knew?
I am sure you are wondering what is meant by visible and non-visible people. Let me tell you…
CHAPTER TWO
My people are a bit different than the main group Tank rules over. My name is Shell only because I prefer to be around my boat and the others. We are not given names until we earn them. All of us. The visible and non-visible. At least the ones born here. Some have been washed up on the shore just like our building supplies. Not everyone gets eaten buy the evil. How else would it grow more food?
My family live beyond a veil to the eastern part of the island. That’s right. An invisible barrier concealing our home. Since it is beyond a magical barrier, it will not grow anything other than grass and trees. We have tried planting gardens. It never took. There is wildlife, but the humans can’t eat them. Only we can.
We are descendants of Flegrea. Some would call us demon wolves, shapeshifters. Human most of the time, we change to giant black wolves when we hunt. There are other reasons we shift but most of the time is for hunting. Other times? Let’s just say it’s an emotional thing. Long ago, control over anger and rage helped quell the insanity keeping us human most of the time.
I was on my way back home through the barrier when yelling stopped me in my tracks. Everyone was running towards the shore. That couldn’t be good. It would put everyone within reaching distance of the evil. No one seemed to care, however. Even Tank was running that way. “Uggg, fine!” I huffed and changed directions.
CHAPTER THREE
Chaos doesn’t even begin to describe what was happening. It’s not like this sort of thing hadn’t happened before. Sure, it wasn’t often, maybe even rare, but it did happen. Visibles ran around like sightless chickens screaming. Wood scattered a small part of the shore.
The waters beyond thrashed as the evil tore apart the remains of a large ship. Tentacles rose and lowered, crashing down with loud splashes. For a second, an almost feline face with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth could be seen devouring humans trying to flee.
Seconds seemed like hours as one after another perished in the sea. It didn’t even play with them this time. Why did the Visuals even try? It was pointless. All they were doing was risking their own lives and angering the evil by interfering.
I had stopped several feet from the rest. I wasn’t about to get any closer. Soon, they would start picking up the wreckage for more shelters or to improve the ones they had. Turning away to go about my own business, a shout stopped me in my tracks.
“Survivor!”
Now that was new. No one ever survives. This I had to see. Against my better judgement, I ran over to where Tank squatted just out of the water’s reach. A body lay still underneath him. All I could see were long legs and torn pants.
Getting closer, Tank glanced back at me. “Shell! He’s alive!” The look on Tank’s face was one I hadn’t ever seen. Hope.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Let’s take a look.” I nudged Tank aside. The chest underneath a soaked denim shirt rose and fell. Long black hair matted over a face I couldn’t yet see. An electric shock ran through me as I kneeled beside this survivor and placed a hand to one wrist. There was a strong pulse but that isn’t what shocked me. It was a real feeling of electricity kind of shock. This was no human. He was a non-visible.
