Of Men and Monsters

In the summer of 1975, eleven-year-old Ryan, his older brother Matt, and their mother flee their abusive father, seeking refuge in a seaside cottage in Bayport. But as the brothers navigate new friendships and budding romance, a chilling discovery in the attic, a menacing presence on the phone, and something monstrous growing in a tank threaten to unravel their fragile peace. Can they escape the shadows of their past and the creeping horrors of their present?

Of Men and Monsters

In the summer of 1975, eleven-year-old Ryan, his older brother Matt, and their mother flee their abusive father, seeking refuge in a seaside cottage in Bayport. But as the brothers navigate new friendships and budding romance, a chilling discovery in the attic, a menacing presence on the phone, and something monstrous growing in a tank threaten to unravel their fragile peace. Can they escape the shadows of their past and the creeping horrors of their present?

The salt-laced breeze, thick with the scent of fish and the distant crash of waves, was the first thing that truly felt like freedom. I scrambled out of the back seat of our beat-up station wagon, my brother Matt already grumbling about the move.

"This is it?" Matt asked, his voice laced with the usual teenage disdain.

Mom, ever the optimist, chirped, "It doesn't look like much from the outside, but wait until you get in!"

I jogged ahead, eager to explore, a cool shell already tucked into my pocket. The house itself was a sad, faded blue, its white trim chipped, shutters crooked. But the beach, stretching out endlessly, promised adventure.

Inside, chaos reigned. Boxes everywhere. My room was small but overlooked the ocean, a constant lullaby. The upstairs bathroom, however, was a horror movie set, complete with a claw-footed tub and rust-stained fixtures. Later, while exploring, a gurgling noise from the bathroom made me pause, then my eyes caught on a cord hanging from the ceiling. A pull-down ladder to the attic. Curiosity tugged harder than any fear. Up I went, into the stifling heat, to discover a treasure trove of old comic books, a distraction from the new, unsettling rhythms of our lives.