The Monster of Stilt Town

 This was a story I wrote called The Monster of Stilt Town.

The water frothed as the young fisherman threw his lure into the dark waters. Steve Evets was newly employed and nervous. Stilt Town 20% relied on him for food tonight. He was thinking hard about his fishing lessons and what to do when there was a bite. A bite told him to depend on it. He reeled in the fish, and to his disappointment, it was tiny. Barely the size of his hand. It also looked horrendous. He sighed. This was going to be a long day. 

He woke with a start. It was the last day until diving day. 25 of the children from Stilt Town, 14-18,  all chosen manually at school the day before, would dive under water to lift a giant stone wall into action. It was going to be Steves first year. His older friends had been telling him how last year, they saw a blue fin. “Thats impossible.” Steve had said. “The monster only comes at precisely two o’ clock,” 

The monster. Right. Every year, June fourteenth, a monster comes to Stilt Town. To reinforce ourselves, ancient people built a raisable stone wall to deflect it. When it comes across the wall, it gives a loud wail, and then disappears.

Then there is a large all you can eat celebration. Everybody in the village is ordered to attend the extravagant occasion.

Just the thought of it gave Steve the chills. He shivered, and not because of the cold winter morning. He sat up and got dressed, then walked out to the wreck he calls his home. Smoke had filled the kitchen and entered Steves lungs. He coughed. It was his father cooking today. “How’s our little diver, eh?” He said cheerily, after which giving a small cough. “Bacon and eggs is a tough meal.” He muttered. Steve laughed. His father had a great sense of humor. His two older brothers sat at the table waiting for there burnt breakfast. It was a waste of great food to them. They barely ever got real meat in this house.

The school was across the street from Steves house. A nerve ball tied inside of his chest. What if he got chosen? His brothers never got chosen, but last year his friends did. He ad a pretty fair chance. Given the fact that there were only 500 kids in Stilt town, and 83 of them in his school. Each school would choose two girls and two boys. There were 6 small schools. 

The classroom was small with 22 children crammed into it. The assembly was called first thing in the morning. Most kids were giddy with excitement, but all Steve felt was nerves. He took a seat on the cold, hard chairs and waited. 

“Welcome, welcome to todays diving ceremony. We will be calling 8 childrens names when the cameras turn on, so just talk to a friend at the moment.” The principal walked of the small stage to talk with the camera crew. The ceremonies of each school are broadcast across the whole town, along with the chidrens name, age, and reaction. 

“Action!” “Welcome, welcome, St Bairens, to the annual diving ceremony. There is really nothing left to say, so can I please have Dean Farris to call the names.” A lady in all gold, including her hair, walked up next to two of the wheels old people use in bingo. Steves heart was pounding. “Ladies first,” She said in a posh accent. “Sarah Mangoh.” She called. A 16 year old girl with a swishy ponytail and grinned walked up to the stage. She was known for being a bully. This was just won more thing for her to brag about. Dean Farris once again pulled a name. 

“Liliana Rosefield.” 

Steves heart stopped. Liliana had been his crush for five years. Her glossy brown hair bounce as she skipped up to the stage. They had exchanged few words, only from occasionally being buddied up. Steve stared with his dark blue eyes as the dean once again started talking in her horrible accent. “Now for the gentlemen,” She said. She rummaged around in a box labled ‘BOYS’. “Garry Berret.” She called. A young an nervous boy walked up to the stage. “Now, last but not least we have, Steve Evets!” Dean Farris called to nobody. 

For the second time in a day, Steve was stunned. He shakily stood up and soon realized he was acting like Garry Berret. He not-so-confidently walked up to the wooden stage and looked at the sea of heads. He wondered how he got chosen. Bad luck, he guessed. Everybody applauded and the screen on the side of the wall went blank.

“Now, all divers, come with me to my office.” The principal said. “We have somebody who wants to meet you.” The principals office was a small room at the back of the school with loads of folders, papers, and books. Two strong men were standing on each side of the small desk and behind them in the principals chair, was the mayor. “Ah, little divers, I’m here to explain what roles you must play tomorrow.” He said. He reminded Steve of a fox, which made him nervous. “You, ponytail, if it comes, you can distract the monster, your hair is radiant enough for it.” The mayor said. 

“Uhm, what? Thats like, a death sentence!” Sarah shrieked. A glare from the mayor shut her up.  “You, the pretty girl, you can pull a the north lever. And boy with blonde hair, you can keep her guard.” Garry’s eyes widened and Liliana’s face brightened. “And lastly, you can sound the alarm if all goes wrong or right.” Steve got the job that did nothing. Of course. All he had to do was press a button when the walls were lifted. Past Steve would’ve been ecstatic, but this seems less epic then he had expected.

“So.. what job did you get?” Steves father asked. “I have to press a button when the walls are lifted to signal that we are safe.” Steve muttered. “Don’t be all gloomy, atleast your part of it!” Steves father always could find a silver lining. A slight raise of Steves shoulder ended the conversation.

The next day, Steve had forgotten he was a diver, but when he drousily walked into the living room, he was greeted with fresh memories. There was a custom banner that read: ‘Happy Diving Day!’. His droopy eyes burst into life. His brothers were sitting at he table wearing silly hats over their soft brown hair. His dad was once again cooking, but there as no smoke this time. 

“Uhmmm, whats this?” Steve asked. “Oh just a little something!” His dad called. Steve walked over to where his dad was to see what he was making.

Cake. Steve’s mouth gaped wide open. They were always to poor to have cakes, even on birthdays. This was indeed a special occasion. His dad chuckled. “Knew it!” Steve stared at him. “I knew you’d be shocked.” He pulled it out the oven, crisp fluffiness and all. After 10 minutes he beautifully iced it. When Steve put it in his mouth, he was surprise at the burst of flavour theat erupted. This was a luxury he had never had.

The dock was wet with salty wave water. Steve was being suited up to go under the deep blue waters. “Here.” A man handed him a small rectangle with one green button and one red. “The red one signals something has gone wrong, and the green one means the walls have been lifted.” Oh, right. That was his job. “Thanks.” He muttered. 

“Divers of Stilt Town, listen here,” Speaker from a nearby building boasted. “In 1 more minute, you will be underneath the waters that stand before you. I must tell Liliana Rosefield, Sofia Night, Jake Prit, and Hazel Feather to go to there gates, all one hundred meters from the dock. And Steve Evets, press the button when your ready! Now, DIVE!”

The water was cold with winter air floating around them. The goggles allowed him to see everything down where he was. He followed Hazel to her wall and saw it rise. The wet stone looked worn and semi-bitten but useable. Next he went to Sofias wall and saw it rise perfectly with Hazels. Jacks was the same. But when he came to Lilianas wall, the red button was about to be put to use. In Stilt Town, everyone knows sign language. Liliana looked stressed. She signed , “It’s jammed!”. Steve slammed the red button before you could say “Sea monster.” A distant siren answered the slam. Really, it wasn’t the best strategy, the monster would be able to hear them from a mile away. Faster than he had ever swum before, Steve swam to the top. “Lilianas wall is jammed!” He yelled. A pause. Then screaming. A few people who lookd calm on the outside, but if you looked into there eyes they look petrified, rushed into a building and came out with hundereds of weapons. People were handing out diving suits and weapons for people to attack. Steve was confused. How could they fight a ginormous beast with nine hundred clueless swimmers? HE took a breath and redived. The sight of blood roused his senses.

It was here. Early. It had gotten through Lilianas wall. Liliana! She wouldn’t be safe there. He swam over and caught a glimpse of a blue tail, stained with small patches of crimson. Steves heart stopped for the second time in two days. He glanced around, just incase, he had reached over the dock and grabbed a dropped knife. This would be the time to use it. A horrifying face appeared in front of Steve. He lunged forward, stabbing the dangerous but beautiful lizard like head. It wailed and turned away, shaking blood from its face. When it had disappeared, a distant cry signalled that it was still a threat. Then Steve realized what he had to do. He had to, somehow, drive it to the surface. Once again, he swam to the surface. “Everyone! Be prepared! I’m going to drive the monster to the surface!” He yelled. Everyone looked stunned. “Please! It is the only way to kill it and live in peace!” There were some shakes of heads and nods of agreement, but overall, his idea had won an unknown vote.

The blue scales camouflage against the ark waters but just not enough to hide the monster. The dagger in Steves hands felt out of place due to his soft heart, but it was what he had to do. He dived underneath the belly and stabbed at the soft, fleshy skin. Intinstivly, the monster rose out to above the surface t get away from its predator. He was greeted with bows and arrows. Even from below th water Steve could see the sickening splashes of monster blood. Then it was sinking upon him.

The blue lizard was sinking fast and on a path onto Steve. Not far now. And Steve wasn’t known to be a fast swimmer. Even with his previous acts, those had still taken a few minutes. He divd out of the way right as it was about to hit him, missing it by centimeters. But when he looked back, he saw a small eye peeking open. It was still alive.

It lunged up at Steve, his heart pounding in his chest like it wanted to escape. Sharp teeth dug right into his toes, allowing flowing blood to fill the waters. That was when the unexpected happened. Radiant skin stabbed the back of the lizard, dagger in a soft hand. It was Liliana Rosefield. Together, they continued to damage the monser until finally, that eye closed. It was over. A holiday, gone.

That night, there was a celebration bigger than the ones before. Steve was having the time of his life, before Liliana walked over to him. “Hey, what you did in the ocean, it was, uhm, really brave.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and ran off. Steve just stood there, shocked out of his skin. What had just happened? Today was the most exciting day of his life. He looked down at his bandaged foot. Still a little sore, but alright. They had to amputate all of the toes on his left foot, because the monster appeared to have an unknown venom.

That next day, he and Liliana were given medals of bravery, and respect from the citizens for saving their lives.

“Really?” Rosie asked her father. “Yes. It’s quite hard to believe, but its true.” Steve Evets answered his daughter. Liliana was busy getting the baby boy to fall asleep. “Silly monsters. You so strong daddy!” She cried. Rosie ran around with her hands in fists in the air. Steve chuckled. He was so lucky.