The Red Man Returns

Windwood Beach, New Jersey. The nearby amusement pier was flourishing with adults and children alike. Although packed with people, Windwood Beach was practically empty. There were a group of friends sitting in a circle on the sand.

The moon shined, and seagulls flying around squawked, occasionally diving down to pick up scraps of food. For the most part, it was quiet. Except for the screams coming from the amusement park. On a typical Saturday night, what else was there to do besides the amusement pier? Twenty past nine oclock, the group was listening to one of their favorite bands: Queen.

He had brought his beats speaker to listen to music, further setting the tone for relaxation. What better way to compliment this music than with a joint? Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a rolled-up joint, reaching into his front shorts pocket to grab a lighter. Putting one end into his mouth, he flicked the lighter to light it.

Putting the lighter back into his pocket, he took the first, long hit. Inhaling and holding his breath for a quick moment, he then blew the smoke out. As he took another one, he asked if anyone else would want some.

”Anyone? ” He said as he held the joint out, moving his hand back and forth.

”Sure, ” Tommy said as Luke handed the joint over to him.

”We
e gonna get caught, ” Nala said in a worried, nervous tone of voice. She rubbed the back of her neck as Luke then passed it on to Mallory.

Nala, you could say, was the always paranoid one of the group. You could go further by saying that shes overly paranoid. The beach is empty, and the pier is about a mile away from where they were hanging out. If the beached were packed, they wouldn have begun smoking. The chances of them being caught in the ”act ” were low to almost nothing.

”Ill be right back, ” Tommy said as he got up. He brushed the sand off of his shorts. ”Just gonna piss real quick. ”

As he walked away, Luke noticed him stumbling and tripping over himself. Thats when he decided to get up and go walk with Tommy. Nala, Mallory, and Vicky stayed behind. Vicky took a hit off of it as she passed it along to Nala.

”Just take a **in hit, ” Vicky said in an irritated tone. Nala rolled her eyes and shook her head. She waved her hand.

”No. Im good. ”

Vicky sighed dramatically while she rolled her eyes.

”Bitch please, just take a hit. ”

A short distance away, down by the water, Tommy and Luke stood side-by-side with each other. Luke was facing the other way while Tommy was pissed.

”Is something bothering you? ” Luke asked, ”I sense something is. Are you sure you
e okay? ”

”What do you mean? ” Tommy asked as he zipped his shorts back up, then tightened the black belt back around his waist. Upon looking up and out onto the breezy, vast ocean, something caught his eye.

”Uh…Luke? ”

”What is that? ” Tommy questioned, ”you see it too right? Its not only me seeing it, right? ”

Luke turned around. Tommy pointed out straight ahead. The water was choppy, so whatever it was that Tommy initially saw, Luke didn see it.

”Whatever it is you saw, I don see it, ” Luke mentioned to Tommy. Tommy looked over to his left at Luke, still pointing out what he was seeing.

”You don what looks like a body? Really? ”

Luke didn bother arguing with him. It would kill the mood. So, instead of doing that, he looked out onto the water once more, scanning and examining it from left to right. Even though he still didn see it, he lied to Tommy.

”Oh…I see it now. ”

”Looks like a body, right? ” Tommy suggested.

”Its still too far out to tell, but from our standpoint it does; yes. ”

Mallory, Vicky, and Nala overheard what they were talking about. They watched the boys as they both pointed out onto the ocean. Mallory raised an eyebrow.

”Hmm, ” she mumbled, ”wonder what they
e pointing at. ”

”Hows it feel? ” Vicky asked Nala, ”good? ”

Upon blowing out, she covered her mouth and coughed heavily. It wouldn take long for whatever it is, to wash ashore. When it did, Luke and Tommy walked over to it. It was lying face down on the wet sand. His body was in an awkward position, and his skin color was strange.

”What the ** is this….thing? ” Tommy asked as he picked up a large twig off the ground. Walking up to it, with the stick pointing down at it, he poked it twice. He waited for something to happen, but it didn .

”Its human, ” Luke mentioned, ” look at his body physique. Its similar to ours. ”

”No shit, ” Tommy said, ”Ive seen pictures of other people like this. Their skin color was the same grey color. ”

Tommy reached into his pocket to grab his phone. Turning around, he now faced Luke. Opening his phone, and scrolling through pictures…

”Here are a few, ” Tommy said as he held his phone out to show Luke. Swiping through the pictures, he only had four. The photos were proof of his claim.

”Theres more of them? ” Luke questioned.

”Haven you heard about the secret Navy operation? Codename: Operation Fury? ”

”Doesn ring a bell, no. ”

Tommy rolled his eyes and turned the phone around again, only this time he went to the internet to pull up an article on what he was talking about. Neither of them noticed that the persons hands and fingers began twitching.

”Listen, ” Tommy said, ”this article was published four days ago. Ill read it. ”

| Channel 12 News – Mysterious Creatures Wash Ashore in Washington D.C; Residents of D.C And Surrounding Areas Warned To Stay Indoors; F.B.I Director Charles Wells Urges |

Date: August 21, 2022

Written By: Victoria Alonso

Updated: July 28, 2022 @ 8:31 P.M

Local Law Enforcement officials are baffled by the startling discovery of a group of mysterious creatures that washed ashore early this morning. From what weve been told, a sig-legged, similar to a spider, creature with two heads morphed together. A muscular creature with a baby face and tiny arms was also among those who were discovered.

Late last month, the United States Navy released a statement to the press in regard to Operation Fiery; which ended in success and minimal casualties, and what came of that military operation. As of now, there is no reason to panic. At this time, all beaches will be closed until further notice.

It wasn until two weeks later when the President himself addressed the nation on their secret attack on the island. According to F.B.I files that were recently declassified after the announcement, the renowned scientist Matthew Cross [a former scientist who was employed by Sahara Therapeutics Corp] was wanted on counts multiple counts of murder and manslaughter.

We had a chance to interview F.B.I Director Charles Wells. For clarity, weve edited this conversation:

Victoria Alonso:

Mr. Wells, thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.

Mr. Wells:

Its a pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Victoria Alonso:

Now about the recent press release, tell our viewers, what is going on here. Bodies upon bodies washing ashore?

Mr. Wells:

Operation Fiery was a successful operation carried out by the Navy. I can say much at this time. The first report of these…these mutants–uh–creatures came in from Washington D.C. Local authorities responded to the scene where a male body was found.

Proper closing of the public beach ensued, while further investigations and examinations of the body were carried out.

Victoria Alonso:

What came of this discovery after the body was recovered?

Mr. Wells:

I cannot say at this time.

Victoria Alonso:

What can you tell us about this interview?

Mr. Wells:

I recommend and urge people to refrain from visiting beaches until theres more information. At this time, state governors have issued temporary closures of all beaches until further notice. In short, we ask that the public allocate us time to properly investigate this threat.

Victoria Alonso:

Threat? Could you elaborate more on what you mean, Mr. Wells?

Mr. Wells:

We
e, with the information we do have, are considering this a dangerous threat. State and local officials are enacting temporary closures on all east coast beaches. When these mandates go into effect is up to State and local officials. I cannot elaborate any more than that.

Victoria Alonso:

Im afraid we
e out of time, Mr. Wells. Thank you again for calling in.

Mr. Wells:

A pleasure. Thank you, for having me. Bye, bye.

Victoria Alonso:

Alright…take care.

t[End of Transcript]

Upon the conclusion of our interview, we
e left with more questions than answers. At this time, no casualties have been reported, nor injuries or sightings. Whats to come of these sightings? I suspect theres more to the story than whats being told.

*** Be advised that this remains a developing story. Check back soon for more updates and information. Authorities ask that if you have any information, you
e urged to contact your local law enforcement officials. ***

Author:

Victoria Alonso

Editor:

Jason Wilde

Publisher:

Channel 12 News, Spectrum Corp.

”Sounds like a bunch of bullshit, ” Luke said as Tommy put his phone back into his pocket.

Luke and Tommy had their backs facing the unconscious cannibal. They continued to bicker and argue different points with each other.

”There are pictures online, ” Tommy argued as he reached back into his pocket to grab his phone. ”Wanna see? ”

Luke rolled his eyes and scoffed. He wasn believing any of that horseshit.

”Like Donald Trump always said, its all fake news! ” Luke mentioned, ”only published for the views and to spread fake rumors, fake stories, etc, etc. You get my point. ”