Mothman Boyfriend: Shiloh (special preview)

There is a small lake near your home, where decades ago, your grandfather had taken a photo which had become the basis for a myth in your hometown. He captured something coming out the lake, when on film, looked like some sort of monster. It became known as the Carvey Lake Merman. The myth grew, turning the town into a tourist trap where merchandise, tours, and specially themed locations were made. The ‘monster’ he snapped became a local cryptid and celebrity, and ever since, that lake has become a hot spot for cryptozoologists, kooky scientists, and the weird pseudointellectual fanatics who have become obsessed with cryptids recently.

There are days you can watch the lake from your porch to see them swarm, setting up equipment, cameras, what have you, just to capture this illusive Carvey Lake Merman. Your grandfather has remained tightlipped on what he saw, ever enjoying the chaos his single photo produced. He’s been interviewed and studied so many times, he has an entire wall dedicated to the papers, articles, he’s been in over the decades. He even receives gifts and cards from some of those he’s gotten close to over the years.

“You think you’ll say anything?” You ask him one day, bringing him his iced tea as he gleefully watches the circus around the lake like he does everyday.

“Nothing important,” her retorts.

You smile at him. It’s never been quite important to you what he saw or what he photographed, or even did to capture such a lucky snapshot. To you, it’s always been about the joke, which is exactly what your grandfather saw it as. The once quaint and sleepy town had woken up because of this picture and dedicated all their time, effort, and resources to keeping the legend alive. Your grandfather had shaken the status quo and was quite smug about it. You were just happy he was enjoying himself.

Your grandparents had raised you, so it was no question for you when they needed you back home. After your grandmother passed, you decided to move home permanently to take care of your grandfather. Even though he was quite capable of taking care of himself, there was the fear of him falling that was prevalent, as he had already replaced one hip.

You kept up the photo business he had started, even keeping the dark room operational and renting it out to others who still used and enjoyed film. Your grandfather had taught you everything about photography, cameras, film, it had been a boon for you in school and helped you start a business of your own before you moved back.

The dark room was one of a few left, and some of your grandfather’s old students still enjoyed coming and using the facility. Film was a dying breed, but your grandfather was adamant about keeping it alive. In most of the interviews he gave to the cryptid fanatics, he would always work in film and how, because of it, the cryptids they loved and studied had been captured. He gave a history lesson, and even managed to wrangle some into mini classes about film and developing it. It always amazed you how he was able to wrap these people around his finger.

One day though, there was someone who came for an interview who did not buy into your grandfather’s charm. You had researched him before he arrived, finding his website was more about debunking the myths and legends. You had tried convincing your grandfather not to talk to him, but your grandfather had a mischievous glint in his eye.

The man arrived, prodding and poking your grandfather as if he wanted to make him angry. Your grandfather didn’t relent though, and this only seemed to feed the man’s own insecurities. He was getting red in the face and sweating, hoping that your grandfather would give away some clue about the true origins of the Carvey Lake Merman.

It came to such a boil, you had to step in and ask the man to leave. The man tried fighting you, pushing you aside to get to your grandfather. Luckily, you were able to get him off balance and knock him down. You kicked him as he crawled out the door and you warned him to never come back.

He posted nasty articles about you and your grandfather on his website, including his plans on how to bring to light the truth about the Carvey Lake Merman. Your grandfather just laughed.

“Let him, if he’s dedicated enough maybe he’ll find the truth. But no one in this town wants that.” He said with a shake of his head. “The Merman is too important.”

“He was so stinking angry,” you murmur. “I figured he’d try to press charges before he did something stupid.”

“Stupid hurts, remember that.”