Author's Note: The horror genre has always been one of my favorites. I had a great deal of fun writing this one. If you enjoy it, please feel free to vote and comment. Thanks!
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The cool fall evening was beginning to turn dark as the sounds of dead leaves crunched underneath our feet. We could see the bonfire in the distance grow bigger with each step and my friends were starting to come into focus. This was the moment I've been dreading all week; introducing my new girlfriend to my super rude and immature friends. Girlfriend? That even seemed a bit premature. We had only been on a couple dates. This was a mistake. Why did I bring her here, I wondered.
Her warm hand gently gripped mine, comforting me that she wanted to be here. That she wanted to be with me. And also, probably to help with her own anxiety. I spent the entire drive and even the short boat ride over to this island explaining how my friends were like the uncensored version animal house. I don't think she believed me, but she soon would.
"Garret, you fuck face! What took you so long?" Paul shouted out as we came within earshot. Despite his average height, he had the confidence of a giant. "And who's the hottie? Oww Oww!" He howled.
We hadn't even reached the group yet and already my stomach was in knots. This was a mistake, I repeated in my head.
"I'm Julie." She said confidently as we took an open spot on a log, completing the circle around the dancing flames. "You must be Paul. Garret told me how charming you were."
"Damn straight." He said as he shot back a swig of beer and gave her a wink.
The group oohed and giggled. "Don't mind him. I'm Kelly. Paul's girlfriend. Please don't hold that against me." She slapped Paul in the arm. "It's great you could make it."
Kelly was by far one of the prettiest girls I knew. Her wavy, light brown hair fell just below her shoulders, always looking purposely out of place like she just woke up. I was always surprised how Paul ended up dating her, but I supposed it took a guy as obnoxious as him to even approach her. Her baggy, maroon hoodie that was clearly too big for her hid her toned curves as she handed us each a beer.
"And I'm Jim and this is Laurie." The remaining couple said with a friendly grin. "Seriously, we're not that bad. Unless we're drinking." Jim said as he finished his beer and grabbed another. "Unfortunately, much of this trip will involve drinking, though." He laughed and downed half of the new bottle.
Jim and Laurie were always a more reasonable couple. Still quick with a joke, but generally less offensive and seemed to tame Paul's behavior.
"Alright, guys. That's enough. You've made your point." I said trying to remain cool.
"I was expecting worse." Julie joked, taking a big swig of her own beer.
"Be careful what you wish for." Paul said, as he leaned back and his large grin was glowing in the shadows.
"What is this place anyway?" I asked hoping to change the subject. "It looks like..." I had barely been here and really the only way I could describe the place was creepy. The jagged, leafless trees seemed to stretch out like dying, bony hands as they reached for the cloudy sky. The old Victorian house in the distance looked like it belonged on the cover of an old novel from a different era. "It looks... fucked up." I finally gave in. As much as I had matured in the past few years after college, I couldn't help but stoop to their level whenever I hung out with this group. I'm not even sure when the last time I swore was, but it came easily just moments after seeing them again.
After the laughing died down, Paul began in an overly deep voice. "Welcome to Water Garden Island."
"Water Garden? What part of this island looks like a garden? Looks more like a wasteland. I said, not realizing how much I was complaining. "And who chooses a decrepit island for a getaway anyway?"
"People on a budget." Laurie chimed in. "Unless you wanted to pay an arm and a leg..."
"And a dick," Paul added.
"This was the best we could find and still get a whole house to ourselves for an entire weekend." Laurie continued. "It was surprisingly cheap. Like dirt, dirt cheap."
"Maybe there's a reason for that." I said with a snarky grin.
"Maybe no one wanted to take a long ass drive around winding cliffs only to then still have to take a tiny ferry the last mile to this shack of an island." Paul said already growing bored with the conversation.
"Not to mention it's prime thunderstorm season around here. Guaranteed to rain about 80% of the time." Jim added. "And I haven't had cell service since I got here. Just saying."
"Or, maybe it's haunted..." Laurie said with a subtle smile.
The group erupted with laughter. She was always trying to tell about some ghost here, or seeing some spirit there. It was hard to take any of it seriously she had cried wolf so many times.
"There is this legend..." Jim leaned forward and had a way of quieting the group. "They say on this island lives a terrifying creature." His eyes darted around, making sure we were listening.
We couldn't help but mirror his body language, and soon we were all leaning in, listening eagerly.
"It only comes out at night and goes after girls in particular. They say a hot girl brings out the beast in him."
We were half giggling and slightly on edge. I felt Julie hold on to my arm as he continued.
"In fact, they say on a night like tonight, underneath a full moon, the hairy creature hangs. Oh God! Julie it's right next to you!"
Julie turned to her side and screamed, as Paul was bent over with his pants down, mooning her right in front of her face. Without hesitating, she slapped his hairy dick and balls that dangled below his spread cheeks.
"OWW!" Paul screamed as he quickly turned around and sat back down, before even pulling his pants back up. He held onto Kelly as the group erupted in laughter once again.
Kelly gently patted his exposed penis, "careful with that thing...I'm going to need it later." She said playfully.
Julie's eyes were fixed on the sight. Still breathing heavily, she reached over and gave it a squeeze. "Sorry, didn't mean to hurt the hairy monster underneath the full moon." She said as her hand trailed off of his shaft.
The group was speechless as they watched, even Paul didn't know what to say. "Uh, no, my bad. Sorry." He said awkwardly as the whole group stared at the strange sight of her hand on his dick. "It was a stupid joke." He added while he finally pulled up his pants.
Julie cuddled back into my side as if nothing happened, and the group stared silently into the mesmerizing flames.
"Anyway..." Laurie started again, "I was being serious. Whether you believe it or not, there is a legend about this place. A real spirit that supposedly haunts this island."
"Oh please, that's a crock of shit and you know it." Jim said, going against his girlfriend.
"No, she's right." Kelly said. "At least that there is a legend about this island. Whether or not you believe it, it's at least a well-known tale."
