The Experiment. Horror short for @carrieallen and Mission Control

This is a horror short created at the request of @carrieallen for her show.

Enjoy!

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Moonlight glistened on the black water. Sounds of the sea echoed through the night.
Like a rhythmic drum it drew back and forth spraying salt across the base of the lighthouse. A pair of lanturns floated by. "There's another one over here."
The two men shined their lights at the grass. It was smeared with the remnents of their last chicken. "Poor Rosie."

The older of the two rubbed the grass blades. "There's no carcass. Every piece was eaten. Even the feathers."
His smaller partner whispered. "What type of fox did this?"
The father laid his palm down by the claws marks. "Something that can eat a fox."
A shriek filled the air.
"The crew!"
The men ran towards the dock. The sound of flesh being ripped and blood splattering on wood grew closer as they sprinted. They shined the lights onto the small boat. Growling came from below the deck. Floorboards creaked as they walked to the stairs. The growling lessened and paused all together. Duncan looked to his son.
"It knows we are here."

Ferris loaded his pistol, bullets rattling in his pocket. They bounced around in his hand and tumbled to the deck. It skipped across the wood, his heart dropping with each bounce. It wedged into the grate of the ship. His little fingers wrapped around as a movement flickered. He brought the light closer. Eyes glowed back inches from his hand.
"Mother Mary!"
Ferris fell back unloading the entire pistol into the dark. Each pulsing heartbeat met with the recoil of the firearm.
Duncan pulled his son back dragging him across the deck.
"Did you get him?" His father's voice shook like a leaf.
Floorboards creaked beneath them. Each board coming closer and closer. Duncan turned around, the stairs were right behind them. And the creature knew where it was. Duncan stood in front of his son snatching the pistol and tried loading the gun. His hand trembling as an explosion echoed above him he turned as cannonballs destroyed the ship. He cradled his son as fire rained down on them.

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A few hundred yards away. The SS Odysseus reloaded her guns. "Keep firing until we know she is dead."
The cannons fire again sending another volley. "That's the third one this week captain."
The first mate shook his head. "How many of our beasties do we have to destroy until we can use them on the Spanish?"
The captain grunted. "So far the Irish are good tests. We need to figure out who's leaving the brig unlocked. We can't let them walk off the ship." The first mate cocked his head.
"Sir. I locked them myself but find the cages open."
The captain scoffed. "Who else has the keys?" The first mate paled as he looked behind them. "Only me."
Floorboards creaked beneath them. He turned as they listened. The boards creaked as dozens of footsteps sprinted across going for the stairs."
"Is the staircase locked?"
"Yes."
The captain grunted. "It seems as if they don't mind locks. Damn."
Growls echoed through the night as silence swallowed the ship.

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The beastie that inspired the story.

It took about 10 mins but I want to do more. It felt so natural that I want to turn it into a story now on Steemit. Thoughts?