The Rustbucket idles near the shore of a pristine lake, sunlight shimmering on its surface. This was their first stop, a scenic spot Max had remembered from his younger years. Ben, eager to stretch his legs, kicks off his shoes and saunters towards the water's edge. Laura trails behind him, her gaze scanning the surrounding forest, ever vigilant.
"Anyone wanna take a dip?" Ben calls out, turning to Gwen, who's lounging in a folding chair, engrossed in a book.
Gwen looks up, arches a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, and shakes her head. "No way, Ben. I have no idea what's swimming around in that lake. For all we know, it could be filled with leeches, snapping turtles, or worse." She shudders dramatically. "I'll pass."
Ben feigns disappointment, but shrugs it off. "Suit yourself. More for me then." He wades into the water, a grin spreading across his face as the cool water laps against his skin.
"Come on, Laura," Ben says, gesturing towards her. "The water's great. You should try it."
Laura hesitates, her eyes darting around. "Is it safe?"
"Probably," Ben replies with a mischievous grin. "I haven't seen any man-eating fish yet."
Laura slowly walks towards the lake and sticks a toe in. "It feels nice," she admits, a rare hint of a smile gracing her lips.
Ben's gaze drifts towards Gwen, still lost in her book on the shore, and a plan begins to form in his mind. He glances back at Laura, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Hey, Laura, I've got an idea. Wanna help me with something?"
He leans in close, whispering his scheme into her ear.
Gwen watches as Ben and Laura splash each other, laughter echoing across the water.
"Gwen, you're missing out!" Ben shouts, waving her over. "Come on in! The water's awesome!"
Gwen adjusts her sunglasses and sighs. "I told you, Ben, I'm good right here."
Suddenly, a spray of water hits her face. Ben grins mischievously, cupping his hands for another splash. "What's the matter, Gwen? Afraid there's a monster in the lake?" He cackles.
Gwen scoffs, wiping the water from her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, Ben. I don't believe in monsters."
The two continue their aquatic antics, when suddenly, Ben lets out a yelp. His arms flail, and he disappears beneath the surface.
"Help! Something's got me!" he shouts, before being pulled under completely.
Gwen rolls her eyes. "Nice try, Ben. I'm not falling for that old trick."
But then she notices the genuine distress etched on Laura's face. Without hesitation, Laura dives into the water, disappearing beneath the surface in search of Ben.
Minutes stretch on, and neither of them resurfaces. Gwen's initial amusement starts to morph into concern. Then, to genuine worry. Where are they? Something must have happened.
Just as she's about to jump up and do something, she feels a pat on her back. Startled, she whirls around.
"Ben? How...?" Gwen stammers, pointing towards the still-unruffled surface of the lake. "But, I just saw you..."
"What are you talking about, Gwen? I was in the Rustbucket the whole time," Ben says, a puzzled expression on his face.
A cold feeling creeps up Gwen's spine. That's not possible, she just saw Ben in the lake.
Laura finally breaks the surface, dragging Ben's limp body towards the shore. "Help! He's not breathing!"
Gwen stares at the Ben in Laura's arms, then back at the Ben standing before her. But this time, it's not Ben. The blond hair recedes, the features twist and warp, and the skin turns a sickly green. Three asymmetrical orange eyes stare back at her, and a perpetually open mouth reveals rows of razor-sharp teeth. It's a horrifying monster, standing right in front of her.
Gwen stumbles backward, tripping over her chair. Before she can scream, laughter erupts behind her. She turns to see Ben, doubled over and clutching his stomach, tears streaming down his face. Laura stands beside him, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Gotcha! You should have totally seen your face!" Ben says between gasps for air.
The monster contorts, the features melting away until it takes the form of a tall, slender humanoid composed of dark green, viscous slime. The three orange eyes remain, unblinking, and the mouth stays open in a silent, unsettling grin. Fin-like protrusions resemble a slicked-back ponytail, and a strange symbol floats within its chest.
"Meet Cellshifter," Ben says, wiping his eyes. "She's the new summon. Pretty cool, huh?"
Cellshifter's abilities are nothing to laugh at. The new summon can shapeshift into anything, perfectly mimic humans, and move without making a sound. And, as Gwen just witnessed, it has one hell of a sense of humor.
Ben claps Cellshifter on the back—a gesture that causes a ripple to run through her slimy form. "That was awesome, Cellshifter! Thanks for helping me mess with Gwen."
"Yes," Cellshifter replies, her voice a low, gurgling monotone. "Returning to RV." Without another word, she melts into a puddle of slime and slides towards the Rustbucket, leaving no trace behind.
Gwen fumes, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. She can't believe she fell for such a childish prank. The fact that Laura was in on it only makes it worse. She was starting to warm up to the girl, and now this? "You two are unbelievable!" she snaps, grabbing her book and storming towards the Rustbucket. "Just...unbelievable!"
Laura watches Gwen disappear into the mobile home. "Will she be alright?" she asks, her voice tinged with concern.
Ben waves his hand dismissively. "Oh, yeah, she'll be fine. Gwen gets like that sometimes. She'll get over it. Probably just needs to chill in her room for a bit." He gives Laura a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. She's probably just embarrassed she fell for it."
Ben and Laura walk back to the shore, dripping water. Ben sees Max emerging from the Rustbucket, a fishing rod and tackle box in hand.
"What happened to Gwen?" Max asks, adjusting his cap. "I saw her march back to the RV like a storm cloud."
Ben rubs the back of his neck, a sheepish look on his face. "She's just a little ticked off. Laura and I pulled a prank on her, and she didn't take it too well."
Max stops, his expression turning serious. "Ben, you need to be kinder to Gwen. You two aren't kids anymore. She's your cousin, and she's looking out for you. You shouldn't be pushing her buttons."
Ben sighs, kicking at a pebble. "I know, Grandpa. I didn't mean to upset her. I just want her to enjoy this road trip more. All she does is stare at that laptop. I think she needs to relax more, take a break from all the work."
Max softens, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "Well, you have a point there. She does need to unwind. But there are probably less annoying ways to make your cousin have fun."
Ben nods, finally getting the message. "Yeah, you're right. I'll apologize to her later."
Max's face breaks into a smile, the lecture forgotten. "Good. Now, who's ready to catch some fish?" He holds up the fishing rod, his eyes twinkling. "I hear the bass are biting today."
Ben's grin returns, the earlier tension fading away. "Alright, I'm in! Let's see if we can catch anything."
Ben glances at Laura. "You wanna join us, Laura? It'll be fun."
Laura considers the offer, her gaze flickering between Ben and Max. The prospect of spending time outdoors, away from the confines of the RV, appeals to her. Plus, fishing could be beneficial to them, they could stock up on food. "I will go."
"Great!" Ben exclaims, clapping her on the shoulder. "Let's get going."
The trio heads towards the docks, the setting sun casting long shadows across the water. The docks are bustling with activity, with fishermen unloading their catches and tourists milling about, eager for a glimpse of the sea. The air smells of saltwater and fish.
At the end of the pier, they find a weathered fishing boat bobbing gently in the water. A man stands on the deck, his face etched with years of sun and wind.
Max strides forward, extending a hand. "Captain O'Malley, I presume? Maxwell Tennyson, pleasure to meet you."
The captain, a gruff man with a salt-and-pepper beard and piercing blue eyes, shakes Max's hand firmly. "That's me. And who are these young'uns?"
"This is my grandson, Ben, and our friend, Laura," Max says, gesturing towards them. "They're joining us for a day of fishing."
The captain surveys Ben and Laura with a critical eye, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get aboard! The fish ain't gonna catch themselves." He turns and heads towards the helm, his voice raspy as the wind. "Let's get this show on the road."
Ben grins at Laura, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Adventure awaits!" He bounds onto the boat, eager to cast a line and reel in a big one.
The boat chugs away from the docks, leaving the noise of tourists and fishermen behind. Ben, Laura, and Max settle onto the deck, casting their lines into the clear lake water. The sun shines, but an hour passes, yet no fish bother to nibble at their bait. Ben sighs dramatically, reeling in his line.
Max turns to Captain O'Malley, who stands at the helm, steering the boat with a practiced hand. "Any interesting tales out here, Captain? Anything besides uncooperative fish?"
O'Malley chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that seems to vibrate through the boat. "Oh, there are stories aplenty, Mr. Tennyson. This lake's been around for a long time, seen its fair share of strange happenings. There's one story that goes back generations, about a creature sleeping beneath these waters. Some say it's been here for hundreds, maybe thousands of years."
Ben's eyes widen. "What kind of creature?"
"They call it the Krakken," O'Malley says, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "A monster of immense size and power, said to stir from its slumber only when disturbed by greed or disrespect for the natural order."
Ben's mind races. The Kraken? He remembers that one episode from the Ben 10 TV series. He wonders if this could be the same creature, another echo from his past life bleeding into this new reality. "The Krakken? Really?"
Suddenly, a disturbance in the water catches Ben's attention. A large fin slices through the surface, its dark form stark against the sunlit water. The boat rumbles beneath their feet, a low, ominous vibration. Laura, ever vigilant, instinctively leans into Ben, her hand gripping his arm.
"You okay?" Ben asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
Laura nods, her eyes fixed on the water.
A giant shadow looms beneath the fin, growing larger with each passing second. It's headed towards the docks, where unsuspecting people stroll along the boardwalk, enjoying the day. The shadow continues to surface, and a towering beast rises out of the lake. The Krakken. Its massive form eclipses the sky, a living nightmare come to life. The surface is dark cyan, almost black in places, blending into an olive-green undercarriage. The monster has six gills pulsing rhythmically on its thick neck. Two long, tentacle-like appendages extend from its cavernous jaw. They writhe and twist. Its striking blue eyes gleam with an ancient intelligence.
"The Krakken?!" Ben exclaims, his voice filled with disbelief and a dawning sense of dread. "That's not good."
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz