letters from Riverhead
Jun 1st
The year is 1608, my name is George Nigmen. I work in a fishing village with a few friends of mine from our old Town across the lake. The town is called Riverhead. I grew up there and know pretty much everyone there by name. From my old teacher Margo, to the cranky old fisher Gerald Toothmen. Things have been nice and good here.
Although the fish haven’t been coming into all too much. So some of the hunters have been getting they’re coin more than us fishers.
I know my friends Bill and Coss decided to go sailing out to sea to get more fish. They hope that maybe going out to sea will help them get some more fish. Let’s hope they are right.
I’m sending this here letter to ya because I’m hoping that you’re alright there in London Lydia. I heard of them having some good schools and jobs there for women. They’re less restrictive there than here. I hope you’ll be safe dearest sister.
From George.
July 5th
Bill and Coss haven’t come back yet, I hope they’re alright out there, but thats not what I’m writting to you about. A ship just came into port here. Everyone was excited, but mostly curious to see new faces. However our curiosity turned to horror and worry once we saw the crew. They were badly injured and beat up.
Some of they’re injures looked like they had gotten into a fight with...well I didn’t want to say it infront of the others, but it looked like they battles a monster. The captain said they’d just be resting here for a few days and then they would be back to sea. However he did say one thing that had my head turning a bit. He said
“Don’t go looking through my ship, we’ll help around here in gratitude for you letting us stay here. But I ain’t want to get into no fight with my new neighbors over bad manners.”
What a strange request, usually most ships when put into a dock or fishing town usually get a swift look around. Yet he demanded no. Some of the kids around here were a bit too curious and tries to get close it, but one of guys immediately shoved them away. Caused quite a ruckus it did.
And what’s even stranger though, is that at night. I swore I heard something moving around in lower deck of it.
July 6th
Last night, one of the kids had gotten into the ship. I heard them bragging about it earlier today. They kept it a secret of course.
I couldn’t help but listen to what the boy said. He spoke about strange symbols written on walls and odd looking fish in barrels.
The thing that had me the most spooked though, was the mentioning of a strange water like liquid on board. It was in the lower deck of the place. The boy said it was pretty dark so he couldn’t see anything. He put his finger in it and sniffed it. Gross. Yet he said it didn’t smell like sea water, infact it didn’t seem to have much of a smell at all from what he said. When the captain began to get close to us we just kept minding our own business.
Who knows what he would say to something like that.
...what on earth is on that ship has been on me mind since the market though. I’ve been staring at it more often than I’d like to admit.
July 7th
The boy got sick.
July 8th
The boy died just last night. The town had a funeral from him. Taken away so young into his life.
While I was at the funeral, I took notice of the fact those men from the ship weren't there. It probably is just me, but usually I be thinking its polite to attend a funeral, even if it ain't someone you know. Yet they were nowhere to be seen.
Strange. Yet they were still guarding and watching over they're ship like nothing happened.
July 10th
It was only a matter of time before the boy's family had learned what he did. That ship. The parents and a few others spoke to the men and captain about it. The captain scolded them and yelled at them "I told you not to board my ship!" He shouted. Everyone was confused and left speechless. Then the captain went back aboard. However, something that I saw from them. Is that there was less of them now than before.
Yes, they were missing three whole men.
Just what is going on there?
July 15th
I was sitting next to old man Gerald today. We were eating some sardines by the dock. Thats when my eyes went back to the ship. I haven't gotten a good night's rest since its been here. Infact the opposite. I've been having nightmares, nightmares of drowning. Falling deeper and deeper into the sea. It gets darker and darker as I go, but then I see...I see stars. The stars in the sea.
I told Gerald about it and he said one of the most confusing things I've heard him say since I was a lad.
"Things that come from the sea, should stay in the sea."
thats what he said. So I wonder now, did those men...take something from the sea?
July 20th
It wasn't noticeable by everyone at first, but slowly. We began to realize. That each and every single member of the ship.
July 21st
The crew of the ship is gone. All thats left. Is the ship.
Some folks wanted to know what happened, but Gerald voiced that we should get rid of it. Be done with it for good he said. Some folks agreed with him, others, like the dead boy's father. Wanted to know just what was inside the ship. I didn't know exactly what to decide on myself, but curiosity was too great Lydia. I decided we should venture into it.
Lydia...if this letter reaches you. If I don't send you another after.
Do not come back to Riverhead.
