William

Dredge

A sharp jolt startled me awake. I stirred, and a deep echo rung throughout the cabin, almost like a groan of some sort. Feeling slightly annoyed, I begrudgingly rose to sort it out. These kinds of things weren’t uncommon at sea. Maybe some marine wildlife hit the hull. Perhaps something was happening with the engine. Whatever it was, none of my crew seemed to be bothered to fix it. I’ll scold them for that later.

Rising to the top deck, the air was silent. A chill lingered, and yet I didn’t shiver. Almost like a heavy towel had been placed over me, a weight of some sort. Its different kind of chill; almost like something was watching. Ridiculous, but still, I couldn’t quite shake that unsettling feeling. While I was up here, I decided I might as well check our cargo – mainly make sure that the ropes were still holding strong. Making sure the ropes were taut and secure, I was satisfied that they wouldn’t break.

With my lamp lighting the path, I made my way to the bowsprit, and lent over to check for damage. The waves were rougher than was normal – they hit the ship violently and made it too difficult to see anything on the hull. I heard a snap, and instinctively dived for to the floor. A cargo crate had come loose and had slid down the deck and slammed into where I was previously standing, breaking the railing of our small cargo vessel and falling into the ocean. Slowly standing, I scratched my head wondering what happened. I had checked the ropes, they shouldn’t have snapped.

Still shaking off the remnants of sleep, I squinted through the darkness, trying to see if anything else seemed out of place. The lamp’s flickering light cast eerie shadows that danced with the movement of the ship. I turned back towards the cabin, intending to check on the crew and see if anyone else had noticed the commotion.

As I descended the steps, I paused. The silence that enveloped the ship was unnatural. No familiar snores or murmurs from my crew. An unsettling thought crept into my mind: where was everyone?

I pushed open the door to the crew’s quarters. Empty bunks, untouched. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. My heart began to race. I needed to find answers, and fast.

Returning to the deck, I felt the chill deepen, wrapping around me like icy fingers. I moved towards the engine room, hoping to find some clue to this strange occurrence. As I approached the door, I noticed it was slightly ajar, swaying with the ship’s movements.

Inside, the engine hummed steadily, oblivious to the chaos outside. However, an odd smell permeated the room – a mix of salt and something metallic. I stepped further in and nearly slipped on a slick patch of liquid. Shining my lamp down, I recoiled at the sight of dark, viscous blood pooling near the engine. A bloody handprint smeared across the wall told me I wasn’t alone in my fear.

I hurriedly backed out of the room, my mind racing. Could it be some sort of attack? Pirates, perhaps? But where were the signs of struggle? And where were the bodies?

A sudden gust of wind howled through the ship, and I heard it again – that deep, echoing groan. This time, it was unmistakably close. It seemed to come from below deck, in the cargo hold. With my heart pounding in my chest, I followed the sound, each step heavier than the last.

The cargo hold was darker than pitch, the shadows almost tangible. My lamp barely penetrated the gloom. I took a deep breath and descended, the groan growing louder, more guttural.

At the bottom, the smell hit me first. Rotting, decaying flesh. I gagged, holding the lamp higher. There, in the far corner, something moved. The light caught the glint of eyes, too many eyes, reflecting back at me.

A monstrous figure emerged from the shadows, a grotesque amalgamation of human and marine creature. Its skin was slick and pallid, barnacles and seaweed clinging to its malformed limbs. It let out another low groan, its mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp, glistening teeth.

I stumbled back, the lamp slipping from my grasp and shattering on the floor. Darkness enveloped me, save for the faint glow of the creature’s eyes. It advanced slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the terror it induced.

Desperation surged through me. I turned and ran, blind and frantic, towards the deck. The creature’s guttural breaths echoed behind me, closing the distance. I burst out onto the deck, the cold night air slapping me awake.

With no time to think, I made for the lifeboat, fumbling with the ropes in my panic. The creature’s silhouette loomed in the doorway, its eyes glowing with a malevolent hunger. Finally, I managed to lower the lifeboat and jumped in, cutting the ropes with a shaky hand.

As the lifeboat hit the water, the ship groaned one last time, the creature’s roar of frustration mingling with the crashing waves. I rowed with every ounce of strength I had, not daring to look back.

Hours later, as dawn broke over the horizon, the merchant ship was nowhere in sight, swallowed by the Atlantic. I drifted, exhausted and alone, the image of that monstrous creature seared into my mind. Whatever it was, it had taken my crew and nearly taken me. And out there, in the vast ocean, I knew it was still lurking, waiting for its next victim.

Author biography

William Cavanough is a 15 year old musician, reader and outdoor sports enthusiast. He spends most of his time doing exactly one of those three things; practicing one of his multiple instruments, reading a novel or spending time outdoors kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and more. He has visited numerous countries overseas, from the farthest Northern Norths of Scotland to the humid mountains of Nepal, and he plans to visit many more in his life, whether is be for his music or personal recreation.

Book Review – The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

“The Silmarillion” by J.R.R. Tolkien is a masterful work of fantasy literature – in fact, it works as a bit of a basis for all fantasy that exists today, with Tolkien having created many of the tropes and even species that are used in more contemporary works. It delves into the rich history and mythology of Middle-earth, Tolkien’s masterful creation. After becoming infatuated with his world after deep-diving into his mythology through various video essays, I bought the Silmarillion alongside various other works such as Unfinished Tales or The Children of Hurin, both works in a similar vein for people who might be interested. Set thousands of years before the events of the Lord of The Rings or The Hobbit, The Silmarillion is a collection of stories that chronicle the creation of the world, the rise and fall of kingdoms, and the battles between good and evil, or more precisely the creations of Iluvatar vs Melkor. It revolves around the Silmarils, three jewels which are said to ‘decide the fate of the world’.

The writing is lyrical and immersive, drawing the reader into the world of LoTR and providing valuable insight to it’s structure. But beyond simply it’s value to an admirer of Tolkien’s works, it serves as a delightful read regardless. The book is divided into several sections, each focusing on a different aspect of Middle-earth’s history, from the creation of the world by the Valar to the struggles of the Elves, Dwarves, and Men against the forces of darkness, namely Melkor, or Morgoth depending on when he’s being referred to, who serves as a main antagonist of sorts – similar to Satan, being the seed of all evil in the world created by Iluvatar, the god and being who is generally pictured as everything that is ‘good’.

However, any potential readers should be aware that if they are expecting a similar read to his more well-known works, they would be in for quite a shock. It’s complex narrative structure and dense prose both work against you, as it is written in a much earlier style of Tolkien’s writing than more ‘modern’ books that most people have read, but it still remains a rewarding experience for fans of Tolkien’s work. The depth and most importantly consistency of the mythology created by Tolkien is truly awe-inspiring, and the book offers a deeper understanding of the events and characters that shaped the world of Middle-earth.

Overall, The Silmarillion is a must-read for any fan of Tolkien’s legendarium. It is a powerful and compelling work that showcases his unparalleled talent for world-building and storytelling, as well as providing a long read that makes you work hard to dig deeper into the meaning of each individual sentence.