"What the hell was that?"

Tim pushed the rubber raft away from the jagged rockface with an oar. The cave was just barely large enough to navigate the fragile boat through. The beam from the flashlight seemed to be absorbed by the darkness almost as soon as it was born. "Man, are we supposed to be doing this?"

"Hey," John answered. "The old man says there's pirate gold down here."

"Well what if the tide comes in?"

"You're just scared of the dark. You wanna hold the flashlight?"

"Jesus Christ!"

Something bumped against the raft, rocking it slightly. "Watch the goddamned rocks, Tim! This water's cold, and I don't feel like swimming."

Timothy swallowed hard. "I really don't like this."

John turned around. "Look, sissy. When we get that gold we'll be able to buy anything we want, and our folks'll be proud. You'll even be able to get that bike you've been wanting."

Timothy stared straight ahead, past his friend, his mouth opening and closing like a drowning fish.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" He did not see the huge, black mass rise out of the water in front of him.

"Let's got out of here!"

The thing fell on John like a tidal wave, smashing the front of the raft into the water. Timothy was catapulted over the thing. His hand slid over its inky slime an instant before he plunged into the icy water. His head struck a rock, and for few horrifying moments, he had no idea which way was up. He panicked as he inhaled the frigid, salty water.

"Martin? Ezra? Oh God, it's cold. Anybody? Please, God, get me out of this. Please!"

Finally Tim's head broke the surface of the water. He cleared the water from his eyes and lungs and looked around. The flashlight was bobbing in the water a few yards away from him, but he did not dare go after it. The sight of the huge black blob rising from the water and swallowing his brother was burned into his mind. The bouncing, unstable light revealed a small, gravel dune near the side of the cave and swam as quickly as his numbing limbs would allow. He climbed on top of it, shivering, coughing. He tried to pray. There was something warm trickling down his neck.

Suddenly the flashlight died. The blackness was impenetrable. Tim's mind screamed, but his mouth was silent.

"Get away from me! Get away!"

Tim heard something moving in the water. He curled into a fetal position and tried to block out the world. He began to cry.

"What would you have me do?"

Timothy heard a soothing, unintelligible voice in his head. He could not understand what it was saying, but he felt what it wanted. His fear evaporated even though he felt slimy tentacles begin to wrap around his legs. He sat up.

"What would you have me do?" he asked the thing in the dark.

The old man leaned on his cane as he watched the white surf desperately smash itself against the black rock. He knew that the rocks were there centuries ago and they would always be there. He looked up at the slate gray sky and smelled the salty wind. His life had been good. He stood looking at the flat line of the horizon. He recalled that fateful day when he was first led into the cave with the promise of pirate's gold by an old woman and how the god of the cave touched him. After that day, he served his master its sacrifices, and there were many, many sacrifices. Then he heard a sound and turned and looked back at the cave. There was a person clambering out of the cave, moving toward him.

"Who are you?" the old man shouted.

The boy looked at him and smiled. He picked up a large rock and continued toward him. He was bleeding heavily from a cut in the side of his head.

The old man raised his cane threateningly. "I am the servant!" he screeched. "He chose ME!"

The boy continued to walk toward him at a slow, leisurely pace, the smile never leaving his lips.

The old man saw the innocent face he had sent into the cave was now twisted and corrupted. He knew what had to happen, but he couldn't accept it. "I'll kill you!" he screamed and ran at the boy.

With the speed of youth and the strength of a demon, the boy swung the rock at the man's head, shattering his skull and scattering pieces of his brain into the ocean.

"There's a new sheriff in town," the boy said. He picked up the body and walked back toward the cave. It would be the first of many meals for its new master.