ld find the monster there. With the setting sun, came the darkness as shadows began to have a life of their own.

e back tomorrow?" I stammere

oth of them?" Cassius cocked his head to

I

make out a barely perceivable t

s was taking pleas

aunting, but because I wanted to do something for

, Cassius gave a short harrumph of disp

ses and the putrid smell of feces. Recalling the mayor's last words to me, I couldn't help but hold my breath for as long

stopped and annou

ht before me, a huge, gaping hole was seen. Within its depths, dark, oily looking l

"You see the size of that hole? Can you imagine how

ulp

nce that is seeping

ced by the monster," said Cassius with a laugh. "Wo

g to put a distance between myself and him for I knew he was up to no good. However, he tightened his grip, th

ou doing?"

pulled me toward him, such that our fac

time I have ever been that close to a man,

sius! The man who

back of my head jolte

hazarded a guess, yet prayin

id Cassius with a

shattered in

as he dusted his hands and stepp

ned out, he had tied

the rope up to his fa

life

wh

nightingale. I want you to enter the

e monster?" I asked as I eye

ttle nightingale..." sa

a name,

sed sidelong glance. "Pray t

yra," I

ehead, as if he was trying to remember something. Howeve

" asked Cassius as he gazed at me. I felt as if he was gazing into my

k waters awaited like the maw of a giant

face flashed across my mind, chasing away

opened my eyes,

hem," I replied with a ste

us, yet I couldn't quite place my finger on it. S

ell then,

his hand and pushed me direct

y waters of the Semaht River. As I fell, I vaguely recalled th