[Part 1 of 4]
The evening sun dipped low over the city of Amsterdam, casting long shadows across its picturesque canals. Tourists leisurely wandered the cobblestone streets, their footsteps echoing softly against the centuries-old buildings. The water, usually clear and inviting, mirrored the sky’s fading colors in hues of orange and pink. But there was something off tonight—an undercurrent of unease that lingered just below the surface.
Marie de Vries, a local tour guide, finished her last tour of the day with a sense of relief. The crowds had been thicker than usual, the questions more persistent, and the air unusually warm for a mid-August evening. She watched as her group dispersed, their cheerful chatter fading into the ambient noise of the city. The canals looked serene, as they always did at this hour, yet Marie couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Her unease had started that morning when the police tape cordoned off a section of the Prinsengracht canal. They were tight-lipped, as they often were with such incidents, but whispers spread quickly. The rumor was that a body had been found, mangled and unrecognizable. Boating accident, they said, though there had been no signs of a crash. Marie had seen enough of the world to know that rumors were rarely true, but this one stuck with her.
As she packed up her things, Marie caught sight of a man standing by the water’s edge. He was tall, with a weathered face and deep-set eyes that seemed to be searching the canal’s depths. He looked out of place, a stark contrast to the tourists around him. Intrigued, she approached him.
“Excuse me, are you lost?” she asked, offering a polite smile.
The man looked at her, his expression unreadable. “No. Just… watching,” he replied, his voice gravelly.
“Watching what?” Marie pressed, her curiosity piqued.
“Something’s in the water,” he said, his gaze never leaving the canal. “Something big.”
Marie followed his line of sight but saw only the calm, glassy surface of the canal. “There’s nothing there,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “Just the usual boats and—”
“Not a boat,” the man interrupted, his voice low. “Something else. Something that shouldn’t be here.”
Before Marie could respond, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd. She watched him go, a cold shiver running down her spine. There was something unsettling about his words, the certainty in his voice. She shook her head, dismissing the encounter as just another strange occurrence in a city full of them.
But the unease stayed with her as she made her way home, her footsteps quickening as the sky darkened. The streets grew quieter, and the city’s usual charm faded into something more sinister. The canals, once a symbol of peace and beauty, now seemed to harbor a secret—a dark, dangerous secret.
Later that night, as Marie lay in bed, she found herself staring out of her window at the canal below. The water was still, reflecting the moonlight in a silvery sheen. But the man’s words echoed in her mind, refusing to be dismissed.
Something’s in the water.
The next morning, the city was abuzz with news. Another body had been found, this time in the Keizersgracht. The rumors spread faster than the authorities could contain them. The word on everyone’s lips: sharks. At first, it was dismissed as ridiculous—a fear-mongering tale spun by those with too much time on their hands. But as more bodies surfaced, each one more gruesome than the last, the whispers grew louder.
By the third day, the city’s mood had shifted from disbelief to terror. Tourists canceled their canal tours, and locals avoided the water like the plague. The canals, once the lifeblood of Amsterdam, had become its greatest fear.
Marie, unable to ignore the mounting dread, sought out the man she had met by the canal. She found him in a small café, nursing a cup of coffee and staring out the window at the street beyond. He looked up as she approached, his eyes hard and unforgiving.
“You were right,” Marie said, sliding into the seat opposite him. “There’s something in the water. But it can’t be sharks, can it? This isn’t the ocean.”
The man regarded her for a long moment before speaking. “It’s not just sharks,” he said quietly. “It’s something much worse.”
Marie’s heart skipped a beat. “Worse? What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen things,” the man continued, his voice low. “Things that don’t belong here. It’s not just about the sharks. It’s about what’s controlling them.”
Marie stared at him, her mind racing. The idea was absurd—unbelievable even. But something in his eyes told her that he believed every word.
“What are you saying?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The man leaned in closer, his gaze intense. “I’m saying that the canals are no longer safe. And if you want to survive, you need to stay as far away from them as possible.”
Marie felt a chill run through her. This was no longer just a mystery. It was a nightmare, one that she had unwittingly stepped into. And there was no waking up from it.
[Part 2 of 4]
The days that followed were a blur of panic and confusion. The authorities tried to maintain order, but fear had a way of seeping through even the strongest of barriers. The once-bustling canals were eerily deserted, the usual parade of tour boats and kayaks replaced by a disquieting stillness. The city’s vibrant heart had stopped beating.
Marie couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom that had settled over her like a dark cloud. Every time she passed a canal, she quickened her pace, her mind conjuring images of what might be lurking beneath the surface. The man’s warning echoed in her thoughts, refusing to be silenced.
One evening, unable to bear the tension any longer, Marie decided to take matters into her own hands. She couldn’t just sit by and do nothing while her city fell apart. She needed answers. And she knew just where to start.
Marie had a friend, Anouk, who worked as a marine biologist at the Artis Aquarium. If anyone could help make sense of the impossible, it was her. Anouk had always been the rational one, grounded in science and logic. Marie hoped that she could offer some kind of explanation—anything that would make sense of the madness that had taken over Amsterdam.
When Marie arrived at the aquarium, it was after hours. The building loomed in the twilight, its stone façade bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Anouk met her at the entrance, her face pale and drawn. She looked as though she hadn’t slept in days.
“Marie,” Anouk greeted her with a tight hug. “I’m glad you came. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Everything’s been so… chaotic,” Marie replied, pulling back to study her friend’s face. “What’s going on, Anouk? The rumors, the bodies… sharks in the canals? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Anouk sighed and motioned for Marie to follow her inside. The aquarium was dark, the only light coming from the tanks that lined the walls, casting an eerie blue glow. They walked in silence until they reached Anouk’s office, a small room cluttered with books, research papers, and various aquatic specimens preserved in glass jars.
“I don’t know where to start,” Anouk admitted, sinking into her chair. “This whole thing is… it’s beyond anything I’ve ever studied.”
Marie sat across from her, leaning forward. “Just tell me what you know.”
Anouk ran a hand through her hair, gathering her thoughts. “It started about a week ago. We received reports of unusual fish behavior in the canals—species that aren’t native to this region, behaving aggressively, attacking boats, even swimmers. At first, we thought it was some kind of environmental anomaly, maybe a shift in water temperature or pollution causing the fish to act out. But then the bodies started showing up.”
She paused, her expression troubled. “Marie, these bodies… the wounds aren’t consistent with a normal shark attack. They’re far more severe, as if the sharks were… being directed somehow.”
Marie felt a chill run down her spine. “Directed? By what?”
Anouk hesitated before answering. “I’m not sure. But there’s something in the water—something that’s affecting the marine life, driving them to violence. I’ve seen reports of similar occurrences in other parts of the world, but nothing on this scale. It’s as if the canals have become a breeding ground for something… unnatural.”
Marie’s mind raced. The man’s cryptic warning made more sense now, but it also raised more questions. “Have you told the authorities?”
“Of course,” Anouk replied, frustration evident in her voice. “But they’re focused on containing the panic. They don’t want to believe that something like this could happen here. They’re chalking it up to hysteria, blaming the media for spreading fear. But we both know it’s more than that.”
Marie nodded, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. “So what do we do? We can’t just sit here and wait for more people to die.”
Anouk leaned forward, her eyes intense. “I’ve been working on a theory, but I need more data—samples from the canals. If we can figure out what’s causing this, maybe we can stop it.”
“Samples? You mean, go into the canals?” Marie’s voice wavered slightly. The thought of getting anywhere near the water sent a wave of dread through her.
“I know it’s dangerous,” Anouk acknowledged, “but it’s the only way. We need to understand what we’re dealing with. And if we can isolate the cause, we might be able to reverse it.”
Marie took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Okay. I’ll help. What do we need?”
Anouk smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “We’ll need equipment—protective gear, containers for the samples, and a way to test the water on-site. I’ve already made some preparations, but we’ll have to be quick. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes.”
They spent the next hour gathering supplies from the lab. Anouk explained how they would collect water and sediment samples from different points in the canals, focusing on areas where the attacks had occurred. It was risky, but they had no other choice.
As they prepared to leave, Marie’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from an unknown number.
Stay away from the canals. They’re watching.
Her heart skipped a beat. She showed the message to Anouk, who frowned.
“Who could this be?” Anouk asked, her voice tense.
“I don’t know,” Marie replied, her mind flashing to the mysterious man she had met by the canal. “But I think someone knows more than they’re letting on.”
Anouk’s expression hardened. “We need to be careful. Whoever sent that message, they’re either trying to help us or scare us off.”
“Either way,” Marie said, “we can’t turn back now. We need to find out what’s happening before it’s too late.”
They left the aquarium under the cover of darkness, making their way toward the nearest canal. The city was eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a heavy silence. Even the tourists had retreated to their hotels, leaving the streets deserted.
When they reached the canal, Marie hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. The water looked calm, but she knew better than to trust appearances. Anouk handed her a flashlight and a small net, then slipped on a pair of protective gloves.
“Ready?” Anouk asked, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Marie nodded, gripping the flashlight tightly. “Let’s do this.”
They approached the water’s edge, the night air thick with humidity. Anouk knelt down, carefully dipping the net into the canal, while Marie shone the flashlight over the surface. The beam of light cut through the darkness, revealing the murky depths below.
For a moment, nothing happened. The water remained still, the only sound the distant hum of the city. Then, without warning, the net jerked violently in Anouk’s hand.
“Something’s here!” Anouk hissed, struggling to keep hold of the net.
Marie shone the light directly into the water, and her breath caught in her throat. Just beneath the surface, a dark shape moved—large, fast, and unmistakably predatory. The net strained against Anouk’s grip, the force nearly pulling her into the canal.
“Let it go!” Marie shouted, grabbing Anouk’s arm and pulling her back. The net slipped from Anouk’s hands and disappeared into the water, swallowed by the darkness.
They stumbled back from the edge, hearts racing, as the water rippled violently before settling once more into an eerie calm. Anouk was breathing heavily, her eyes wide with shock.
“That… that wasn’t a shark,” Anouk stammered, her voice trembling. “It was too big. Too fast.”
Marie nodded, her mind spinning. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
As they turned to leave, Marie’s phone buzzed again. Another message from the unknown number.
You were warned.
Fear gripped her as they fled the canal, the reality of their situation sinking in. Something was in the water—something far more dangerous than they had imagined. And now, it knew they were onto it.
They made it back to the aquarium without incident, but the atmosphere between them was tense. Anouk paced the length of her office, muttering to herself as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.
“There’s no way that was a shark,” Anouk said, more to herself than to Marie. “It was too strong, too aggressive. And the speed… it’s not natural.”
Marie sat down, her hands still shaking. “What if it’s not just one thing? What if there’s something else down there, something we don’t even know about?”
Anouk stopped pacing, her eyes narrowing. “If that’s true, then we’re dealing with something unprecedented. Something that could change everything we know about marine biology—and about our world.”
Before Marie could respond, the lights in the office flickered, then went out, plunging them into darkness. The sudden silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of their breathing.
“Power outage?” Marie whispered, her voice tinged with fear.
Anouk shook her head, though Marie could barely see her in the dim light. “The aquarium has backup generators. This shouldn’t be happening.”
As if on cue, a low rumble echoed through the building, growing louder with each passing second. The tanks lining the walls vibrated, the water within them sloshing violently. Something was coming—something that wasn’t natural.
Marie’s phone buzzed one last time. She glanced at the screen, her heart pounding.
It’s too late.
The glass of the tanks shattered simultaneously, sending shards flying across the room. Water gushed out, flooding the floor as the creatures within thrashed wildly. Marie and Anouk scrambled to their feet, their escape cut off by the rushing water.
The last thing Marie saw before the room was plunged into total darkness was a pair of glowing eyes staring at her from the water—eyes that didn’t belong to any fish she had ever seen.
And then, the water rose, engulfing them both.
[Part 3 of 4]
The cold water enveloped Marie, dragging her under before she could scream. The flood was relentless, pulling her deeper into the darkness of the shattered aquarium. For a moment, panic overtook her, her mind screaming for air. But then, instinct kicked in. She forced herself to stay calm, to focus.
She needed to find Anouk.
Through the murky water, she caught glimpses of debris swirling around her—broken glass, fragments of furniture, and worst of all, the frantic shadows of marine creatures that had once been safely contained in their tanks. With desperate kicks, she pushed herself upward, toward the faint shimmer of light above.
Her head broke the surface with a gasp, and she inhaled the stale, damp air. The room was half-flooded, the water level rising with each second. The sound of alarms echoed through the corridors, distorted by the chaos. She spotted Anouk clinging to the edge of a desk, her eyes wide with fear but alive.
“Anouk!” Marie shouted, her voice ragged. She swam to her friend, gripping the desk to steady herself. “Are you okay?”
Anouk nodded, though her face was pale. “We need to get out of here! This whole place is coming down!”
Marie looked around frantically. The only exit was blocked by a torrent of water rushing in from the hallway, the doors sealed shut by the pressure. The only way out was the way they had come in—up the stairs and out of the building.
“Up there!” Marie pointed to a set of stairs that led to the upper levels, partially submerged but still accessible. “We can make it if we hurry!”
They scrambled up the stairs, the water lapping at their heels. Behind them, the aquarium groaned ominously, the weight of the water straining its ancient structure. As they reached the top of the stairs, the floor shuddered beneath their feet, and a loud crack echoed through the building.
“Run!” Anouk yelled, pushing Marie ahead of her.
They sprinted down the narrow corridor, slipping on the wet floor as the building shook violently. The lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Just as they reached the end of the hallway, a deafening crash echoed from below, followed by the sound of rushing water. The lower levels were collapsing under the pressure.
“Go, go, go!” Marie urged, fear giving her strength. They burst through a heavy door that led to the roof, gasping for breath as they emerged into the open air. The city stretched out below them, eerily silent in the moonlight.
But the danger wasn’t over. As they leaned against the door, trying to catch their breath, a chilling realization hit Marie. Whatever had caused the aquarium to flood was still out there, still in the water. And they were trapped on a roof with no clear way down.
Anouk pulled out her phone, her hands shaking. “I’m calling for help. The authorities need to know what’s happening here.”
Marie nodded, but her eyes were drawn to the dark, winding canals below. From their vantage point, they could see the water clearly, reflecting the city’s lights like a mirror. But something was wrong. The water wasn’t calm—it was churning, as if something massive was moving beneath the surface.
“What is that?” Marie breathed, pointing to the nearest canal.
Anouk followed her gaze, her face draining of color. The water was swirling in a way that was impossible for a canal—no waves, no current, just a slow, deliberate movement, as though something was rising from the depths.
“Oh my God,” Anouk whispered, lowering the phone. “It’s spreading.”
Before Marie could respond, a loud roar filled the air, vibrating through their very bones. It was a sound unlike anything they had ever heard—part animal, part machine, and wholly terrifying. The canal below erupted in a violent spray of water, and a massive shape broke the surface.
The creature was monstrous, a nightmarish blend of shark and something else, something far more dangerous. Its body was sleek and dark, but where a normal shark’s fins would be, this creature had long, serrated appendages that sliced through the air with deadly precision. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its maw was filled with rows of jagged teeth that snapped at the air as it thrashed violently.
Marie and Anouk stared in horror as the creature lunged at the nearest bridge, smashing through it with terrifying force. The sound of crumbling stone echoed across the city as the bridge collapsed into the water, the debris swallowed by the roiling waves.
“It’s attacking the city,” Marie gasped, her mind struggling to comprehend the scene unfolding before her.
Anouk shook her head, her voice trembling. “No… it’s hunting.”
The creature moved with terrifying speed, its massive form disappearing beneath the water only to reappear moments later, closer to another bridge. It struck with the same ferocity, sending chunks of stone and metal flying into the air. The bridges, once symbols of Amsterdam’s charm, were being destroyed one by one.
Marie’s mind raced. “Why is it doing this? What could possibly be controlling something like that?”
Anouk’s face was pale as she watched the devastation. “I don’t know. But whatever it is, it’s intelligent. It’s not just attacking randomly—it’s targeting the city’s infrastructure, cutting off the bridges, isolating the people.”
A sickening realization dawned on Marie. “It’s trapping us. It’s trying to make sure no one can escape.”
As if to confirm her fears, the creature’s roar echoed through the city once more, a triumphant sound that sent chills down their spines. The water in the canal began to churn again, and Marie could see more shadows moving beneath the surface, circling like predators ready to strike.
“There’s more than one,” she whispered, terror gripping her heart.
Anouk grabbed her arm, pulling her back from the edge of the roof. “We need to get out of here—find somewhere safe before it’s too late!”
Marie nodded, her mind racing. “But where? If these things are in the canals, nowhere in the city is safe.”
Anouk’s eyes widened as an idea struck her. “The Rijksmuseum! It’s built like a fortress and has a secure underground vault. If we can get there, we might be able to hold out until help arrives.”
Marie hesitated, knowing the museum was on the other side of the city. The idea of crossing Amsterdam with those creatures on the loose was terrifying, but it was their only option. “Okay, let’s go.”
They made their way to the emergency fire escape on the side of the building. The metal stairs clanged loudly as they descended, each sound amplified in the eerie silence of the night. The city below was a shadow of its former self, the once-vibrant streets now deserted, the water a lurking danger.
As they reached the ground, the reality of their situation hit them full force. The canals crisscrossed the city, and with the bridges destroyed, navigating was going to be nearly impossible. Every street led to water, and every crossing was a risk.
“We need to stay out of sight,” Anouk whispered as they crept along the edge of a building, keeping to the shadows. “Those things could be anywhere.”
They moved cautiously through the narrow streets, the sound of distant sirens the only indication that others were still alive in the city. The roar of the creatures echoed periodically, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked just out of sight.
As they approached a canal that stood between them and the museum, they paused. The water was dark and still, but that made it all the more threatening. There was no way to tell if something was waiting just beneath the surface.
“We have to cross,” Marie said, her voice tense. “There’s no other way.”
Anouk nodded, scanning the area for anything they could use to cross the water. “We need to find something—a boat, a raft, anything.”
They searched frantically, but the streets were empty, abandoned in the chaos. Marie’s heart sank as the reality set in. Without a way to cross the canal, they were trapped.
Then, a faint light caught her eye—a small boat, tied to a dock just a few meters away. It was old and weathered, but it was their only chance.
“There!” Marie pointed, already moving toward it. “We can use that to get across.”
They reached the boat and untied it quickly, slipping into the small vessel. The oars were still in place, and they began to row quietly, their eyes scanning the water for any sign of movement.
The canal was eerily quiet, the only sound the gentle splash of the oars as they moved through the water. Every ripple, every small wave sent a spike of fear through them, but the water remained calm, undisturbed.
They were halfway across when the boat suddenly jolted, nearly tipping them over. Marie’s heart leapt into her throat as she looked over the side, her flashlight illuminating the dark water below.
Something massive moved beneath them, a shadow that passed just beneath the boat, sending ripples across the surface. They froze, their breaths held as the creature circled below, its presence a looming threat.
“Don’t move,” Anouk whispered, her eyes wide with terror. “If we stay still, maybe it won’t notice us.”
But the creature was already aware. The water began to churn violently as it rose from the depths, its massive form breaking the surface with a spray of water. The boat rocked wildly, nearly capsizing as the creature’s dark, gleaming eyes fixed on them.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The creature hovered just above the water, its massive jaws opening in a silent snarl. And then, with a sudden, violent lunge, it struck.
The boat was tossed into the air, and they were thrown into the water. Marie plunged into the cold depths, the shock of the icy water stealing her breath. She kicked frantically, trying to reach the surface, but something grabbed her leg, pulling her down.
She struggled against the unseen force, her lungs burning as she fought for air. The world became a blur of darkness and bubbles as she was dragged deeper, the weight of the water pressing down on her. She kicked out, her foot connecting with something solid, and the grip on her leg loosened.
With a final burst of strength, she broke free, kicking toward the light above. Her head broke the surface, and she gasped for air, coughing and choking as she flailed in the water.
“Anouk!” she screamed, her voice hoarse. “Anouk!”
There was no response. The water was calm again, the creature gone. But there was no sign of Anouk.
Panic gripped her as she searched the water, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t lose Anouk—not like this, not after everything they had been through.
“Anouk!” she called again, her voice breaking.
A faint splash behind her made her turn, and she saw Anouk’s head bobbing above the water a few meters away. Relief flooded through her as she swam toward her friend, but it was short-lived. The water around Anouk began to swirl, a dark shape rising behind her.
“Anouk, behind you!” Marie screamed, but it was too late.
The creature struck with terrifying speed, its massive jaws closing around Anouk’s body, dragging her beneath the surface before she could even cry out. The water churned violently, then went still, stained with a spreading pool of red.
Marie stared in horror, paralyzed by the sight. The cold, unforgiving reality of what had just happened hit her like a blow to the chest. Anouk was gone. And she was alone.
Tears streamed down her face as she forced herself to move, to swim toward the shore. Every stroke was a battle against the weight of her grief, but she couldn’t stop. She couldn’t give up. Not now.
She reached the edge of the canal and pulled herself out of the water, collapsing onto the pavement, gasping for breath. The city around her was silent, the destruction a stark contrast to the vibrant life that had once filled these streets.
As she lay there, broken and exhausted, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out with trembling hands, her vision blurred by tears. Another message from the unknown number.
You’re next.
Marie dropped the phone, a sob escaping her lips. The horror that had engulfed Amsterdam was far from over. And she was its next target.
[Part 4 of 4]
Marie lay on the cold pavement, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The night air bit at her skin, but the icy chill in her heart was far worse. Anouk was gone, and with her, any hope that they could stop the horrors stalking Amsterdam. Yet, despite the overwhelming grief, a spark of determination ignited within her. She couldn’t give up—not now, not when the city needed her most.
She pushed herself to her feet, trembling but resolute. The message on her phone had been clear: You’re next. It was a taunt, a declaration that the nightmare wasn’t over. But Marie wasn’t going to wait to be hunted. If she was going down, she would go down fighting.
Her eyes scanned the darkened city streets, and her mind raced to formulate a plan. The Rijksmuseum was still her best bet for survival, but getting there would be a challenge. The creatures in the canals were intelligent, strategic, and brutally efficient. They had already claimed Anouk, and if Marie wasn’t careful, she would be next.
She couldn’t afford to waste any more time. She needed to move, and she needed to arm herself. Her best chance was to find something she could use to defend herself, something that would give her even a slight edge against the monstrous creatures.
The nearest building was a small, abandoned workshop, its windows shattered and door ajar. Marie stumbled inside, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The place was a mess, with tools scattered across the floor and workbenches upturned. But it was better than nothing.
She grabbed a sturdy wrench from the workbench and a flashlight that still held a faint flicker of power. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. She needed to keep moving, needed to stay one step ahead of the terror that hunted her.
The streets were eerily silent as she crept through the shadows, the wrench held tightly in her hand. Every noise, every ripple in the water set her on edge, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to make it to the museum; it was her only hope.
As she navigated the labyrinthine streets, she kept to the alleys and backroads, avoiding the canals whenever possible. But the creatures seemed to be everywhere, their ominous roars echoing through the city, each one sending a shiver down her spine. They were tearing the city apart, one bridge, one street, one life at a time.
The museum was within sight now, its grand façade looming in the distance. Marie quickened her pace, her muscles burning with the effort. She was so close. Just a few more blocks and she would be safe—if anywhere could be considered safe.
But as she rounded the final corner, her path was blocked. A massive creature emerged from the canal ahead, its dark, gleaming body cutting through the water with deadly grace. It was one of the smaller ones, but no less dangerous. Its eyes locked onto Marie, glowing with a malevolent intelligence.
There was no way around it. She would have to fight her way through.
Marie tightened her grip on the wrench, her breath catching in her throat. The creature hissed, its body coiling like a spring, ready to strike. She had only one shot, one chance to take it down before it tore her apart.
With a primal scream, she charged forward, the wrench held high. The creature lunged at her, its jaws snapping inches from her face. She swung the wrench with all her strength, connecting with a sickening crunch. The creature shrieked, reeling back from the blow, but it wasn’t enough to stop it.
It came at her again, faster this time, its jaws wide open. Marie ducked, the creature’s teeth grazing her shoulder as it passed. She spun around and struck again, this time aiming for its eyes. The wrench connected with a wet thud, and the creature howled in pain, thrashing wildly as it retreated into the water.
Marie didn’t waste a second. She turned and sprinted toward the museum, her heart pounding in her ears. The creature’s shrieks echoed behind her, a chilling reminder that she was far from safe. But she was close—so close.
She reached the museum’s grand entrance, the massive doors looming above her. With a final burst of energy, she shoved them open and stumbled inside, slamming the doors shut behind her. The sound of the creature’s roars was muffled by the thick walls, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Marie allowed herself to breathe.
The Rijksmuseum was dark and silent, the grand halls and priceless art shrouded in shadows. But it felt like a sanctuary compared to the chaos outside. Marie leaned against the door, her body trembling from exhaustion and fear.
She knew she couldn’t stay in the entrance hall; it was too exposed. The creatures were relentless, and it was only a matter of time before they found a way in. She needed to find the secure underground vaults Anouk had mentioned, a place where she could barricade herself until help arrived—if it ever did.
Using the faint light from the flashlight, Marie navigated through the museum’s corridors, her footsteps echoing eerily in the vast, empty space. The grand paintings and sculptures that adorned the walls seemed to watch her as she passed, silent witnesses to the horror that had overtaken the city.
At last, she found the entrance to the underground levels, a heavy, reinforced door that led to the museum’s storage and vaults. She pulled it open with some effort, her arms protesting from the strain, and descended the narrow staircase into the depths of the building.
The air was cooler down here, the walls lined with crates and shelves filled with artifacts and art pieces too valuable to display. It was a maze, but Marie pushed forward, her mind focused on finding the most secure location.
At the far end of the underground complex, she found what she was looking for—a massive steel door, secured with a keypad and a heavy-duty lock. It was the vault where the museum stored its most priceless treasures, and it was her best chance at survival.
Marie approached the keypad, her hands shaking. She had no idea what the code was, and there was no time to search for it. But as she reached out to try her luck, the door clicked open with a soft hiss.
Startled, Marie stepped back as the door slowly swung inward, revealing a dark, empty chamber. She hesitated, her mind racing. Had someone opened it from the inside? Was she walking into a trap?
But she had no choice. She had to take the risk.
She stepped inside the vault, the heavy door closing behind her with a final, ominous thud. The chamber was pitch black, the silence so complete it was deafening. Marie felt her way along the walls until she found a switch, flicking it on. Dim lights buzzed to life, revealing a small, reinforced room lined with metal shelves.
The room was empty, save for a single figure standing in the center.
Marie’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the man from the canal, the one who had warned her to stay away. He stood still, his face half-hidden in the shadows, but his eyes—those piercing, haunted eyes—were unmistakable.
“You,” Marie whispered, her voice trembling. “You’ve been watching me.”
The man nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “I had to make sure you were ready.”
“Ready for what?” Marie demanded, her fear mingling with anger. “What the hell is going on? What are those things?”
The man took a step closer, his gaze intense. “They’re not just creatures. They’re part of something much bigger—a force that’s been lurking beneath the surface for centuries, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now, that moment has come.”
Marie’s mind reeled. “But why? Why now? And what does this have to do with me?”
The man’s eyes softened, a hint of sorrow in his expression. “You were chosen, Marie. You’ve always been part of this, whether you knew it or not. The creatures are drawn to you, to your bloodline. It’s in your veins—a connection to something ancient, something powerful. And now, they’ve come to claim you.”
Marie shook her head, her heart pounding. “That’s impossible. I’m just an ordinary person. I’m not connected to anything.”
“You are far from ordinary,” the man said quietly. “Your ancestors were guardians, protectors of a power that has been passed down through generations. But over time, the truth was forgotten, buried beneath the weight of history. The creatures sense that power, and they want it for themselves. They’re here to finish what they started centuries ago.”
Marie’s mind raced as she struggled to process the man’s words. Could it be true? Could she really be connected to something so ancient, so powerful? It seemed impossible, yet everything she had witnessed pointed to something beyond the ordinary.
“What do I do?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The man reached into his coat and pulled out a small, ornate box, handing it to her. “Inside, you’ll find what you need. The only way to stop them is to embrace what you are, to wield the power that’s been dormant within you.”
Marie took the box with trembling hands, her heart heavy with the weight of responsibility. She opened it slowly, revealing a small, intricately carved amulet that glowed faintly in the dim light. It was warm to the touch, and as she held it, she felt a strange energy pulse through her—a connection, as if the amulet recognized her.
“The amulet will protect you,” the man said. “But you must act quickly. The creatures won’t stop until they’ve taken everything, and by then, it will be too late. You are the only one who can end this.”
Marie looked up at him, her eyes filled with determination. “I won’t let them destroy my city. I’ll do whatever it takes to stop them.”
The man nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. “I knew you would. Remember, you are not alone. The power of your ancestors is with you. Use it wisely.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the door, leaving Marie alone in the vault. She watched him go, her mind racing with the enormity of what lay ahead. But there was no time for doubt, no time for fear. The city needed her, and she had to act.
She slipped the amulet around her neck, the warmth of it soothing her frayed nerves. As it rested against her chest, she felt a surge of strength, of resolve. The creatures had terrorized Amsterdam long enough. It was time to take back her city.
Marie left the vault and made her way back to the surface, the amulet’s power guiding her steps. The night air was cool against her skin, the city eerily silent as she moved through the deserted streets. The creatures were still out there, she could sense them, but now she was ready.
She reached the edge of a canal, the water still and dark beneath the moonlight. The bridge ahead was in ruins, a testament to the destruction the creatures had wrought. But Marie felt no fear, only a fierce determination.
She stepped to the water’s edge, the amulet glowing brightly against her chest. The creatures sensed her presence, the water beginning to churn as they drew near. But Marie stood her ground, her heart steady.
As the first creature broke the surface, its massive form rising from the depths, Marie raised the amulet. A blinding light erupted from it, piercing the darkness and driving the creature back with a roar. The light spread across the canal, illuminating the water and revealing the shadowy forms of the other creatures lurking below.
One by one, they rose to the surface, their eyes glowing with anger and fear. But the light from the amulet was too strong, too powerful. They recoiled, their roars of rage echoing through the city as they were forced back into the depths from which they had come.
Marie watched as the light continued to spread, purging the canal of the dark energy that had summoned the creatures. The water began to calm, the churning subsiding as the creatures retreated, their power broken by the ancient force that had been awakened within her.
She held the amulet high, her voice strong and unwavering. “This city is under my protection. Leave now, and never return.”
The creatures hesitated, their forms flickering in the light. But they knew they were defeated. With one final roar, they vanished beneath the water, their presence fading into the depths.
Marie stood at the canal’s edge, her breath coming in steady, controlled bursts. The night was quiet again, the city still. She had done it. The creatures were gone, banished by the power that had been dormant within her for so long.
But as the adrenaline began to fade, exhaustion set in. The weight of what she had just accomplished, of what she had lost, bore down on her. She sank to her knees, the amulet still glowing faintly against her chest.
She had won, but the victory felt hollow. Anouk was gone, and so many others had suffered. The city was scarred, its wounds deep and painful. But it would heal, in time. And Marie knew that she would do everything in her power to protect it, to ensure that the horrors of the past would never return.
As the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, Marie stood, her resolve firm. She was no longer just an ordinary person. She was a guardian, a protector of the city she loved. And though the battle was over, she knew her work was just beginning.
With the amulet still glowing softly at her chest, Marie turned and walked back into the city, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
