The early evening of Valentine’s day was the start of a busy night around Valentine Bay. Valentine Bay was a scenic and quiet fishing town but was also known for its celebratory parties. Many locals and visitors would start their holiday evenings at the popular restaurant named Cabana’s. Cabana’s sat right next to the dock that led to the main beach of the bay. The water there was beautiful and clear and was known to bring in a lot of tourists to the area.
Jennifer, a local college student was hosting at Cabana’s tonight but was looking forward to the party afterwards. The casual yet elegant restaurant filled up fairly quickly with happy customers. Many were couples using the night to celebrate their love for one another. The seating limit was 120 people at one time and they were on their way to a full house. Deloris, the lead waitress, was helping three other waitresses with the rush of customers that came in. Murray, the owner of the restaurant graciously made his appearance at many of the tables to show his gratitude. He was the kind of business owner who was friendly and welcomed everyone. Chester, the head cook was working and making one of his lover specials, Shrimp Scampi.
As the sun set and darkness rolled in, lit candles flickered and soft music played in the background. While the customers inside enjoyed their evening, the ones out on the patio noticed a heavy fog rolling in. This was a little strange since nobody heard of any fog warnings for the night.
Just then, a scared young woman ran up onto the outdoor patio from the beach, “we have to get inside, there’s something in the fog.”
“What do you mean, it’s just fog,” the waitress outside said.
“No its not. I saw something in it and it’s coming this way,” the young woman ran inside the restaurant.
Some of the customers on the patio continued to eat while others stood up and observed the thick fog as it approached.
“Do you see anything out there?” One gentleman asked.
“No, I don’t see anything,” his dinner date replied.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. The fog will pass,” the waitress said.
As the beach was no longer visible, the heavy damp fog made its way up onto the patio.
“Wait, what is that? One man said.
The customers inside of the restaurant were suddenly startled when they heard the beginning of many screams and noises coming from out on the patio.
“I told them that they needed to come inside,” the scared young woman stood and yelled.
Deloris looked at the patio windows and saw the fog. With the customers outside screaming, she walked toward the windows to see what was happening. Just as she was trying to see, a blood covered lady screamed and fell up against the window.
“What’s going on out there?” Murray walked toward the door.
Deloris ran in front of him, “don’t open the door.”
“But our customers need our help,” Murray said.
“There’s something out there in the fog,” the young woman yelled.
Because of the screams and noise from moving chairs Chester had to see what the ruckus was, “what’s going on in here?”
Deloris stopped Murray from opening the door and quickly locked it.
Just then, a gentleman with his right arm missing was thrown up against the glass door. Chester, Murray, and Deloris jumped back, and now the customers inside the restaurant were screaming.
“Everyone stay calm,” Murray yelled.
A few of the customers ran past Jennifer as she walked into the dining room.
“What’s happening?” Jennifer asked.
“There’s something or someone in the fog,” Deloris said as she stared at the patio door.
While one of the customers that ran out the front door a only a minute ago, ran back inside yelling, “my wife… It got my wife.”
Deloris turned and saw the distraught man covered in blood. She ran over to him and helped him to a chair. Jennifer stood in shock as to what she saw through the patio door, while Chester and Murray moved some of the chairs to the center of the restaurant and away from the patio.
“Jennifer… these people need our help,” Deloris yelled out.
Jennifer looked at Deloris, “yes, but what is out there?”
“I don’t know,” Deloris said. “Everyone, please sit down and relax while we try and figure out what is going on,” Deloris motioned to the frightened customers.
Some of the men helped their wives to a seat and tried to comfort them while a few others talked with Murray and Chester about what to do. Deloris had Jennifer and the other two waitresses assist the customers while she talked to the men.
“So far it seems that we are safe in here. Whatever is out there hasn’t tried to get in here yet,” Deloris said.
“Yeah, yet. But what if they or it tries to?” One of the men asked.
“What is that?” One of the ladies yelled and pointed toward the patio door.
Even though the fog was as thick and white as a cumulus cloud, everyone looked and was shocked by what they were seeing. It looked like a large tentacle and it was touching and feeling the door.
“Can it get in here?” One of the ladies asked.
“Not unless it can pick a lock or break the glass,” Deloris said.
Everyone in the restaurant was quiet while they watched the tentacle move up and down on the door. Quiet until it grabbed a hold of the door handle and shook it. A few of the women screamed and gripped their dates arms and hands tighter.
“We should try the front door again,” one of the men said.
Chester looked at Murray, “I’ll go look. The coast might be clear now.”
“I’m Ben, I’ll go with you,” he said.
So, while everyone else watched the tentacle by the patio door, Chester and Ben went to the front of the restaurant. Out the front windows all they could see was white fog. It was so thick that they couldn’t even see the cars in the parking lot.
“What are we going to do, we can’t see anything?” Ben looked at Chester.
“I’ll have to go out there.”
“But there might be something out there,” Ben said.
Chester paused for a moment and then walked over to the glass doors that led to the parking lot. Ben stood off to the side and watched Chester as he stared into the fog before opening the door.
“These doors have been unlocked this whole time,” Chester looked at Ben.
“So, maybe it is only on the back patio,” Ben said.
Chester looked into the fog but didn’t see any movement. He took his first step out of the restaurant and looked around. Before Ben could ask him anything, he heard Chester scream. When Ben saw Chester’s bodiless head hit the front door, Ben rushed to lock it. Everyone else in the restaurant heard the scream and looked at Ben as he rushed back into the dining room. Ben shook his head no and sat down in the corner.
“We’re never going to get out of here,” one lady squealed.
“Well, we need to just stay inside and wait for it to pass. If it wanted to get in here, I’m sure it would have by now,” Murray said.
“Use the phone and call for help,” one lady looked at her boyfriend.
“I tried already. There’s no signal.”
“What about the land line?” Another lady asked.
“I tried that earlier and it’s dead,” Jennifer said.
“So, we’re trapped here,” the lady started to cry.
“We just have to be patient and wait. Someone will come,” Deloris said.
The rest of the night, Deloris and the other waitresses tried to keep their customers as calm and comfortable as possible. Murray made sure that everyone had something to eat and drink if they wanted it. Even though the phone was dead, they still had electricity for lighting and AC. Whatever it was outside didn’t seem to fight too hard to get inside but it still made unusual noises throughout the night.
When daybreak hit, Deloris heard the sound of a helicopter, “Listen… I think help has arrived.”
The rest of the customers listened and heard it too. Then they noticed the fog was starting to turn green.
“They must be spraying something on that thing out there,” Murray said.
They all watched as the tentacle’s that were outside the patio door moved out of sight. Ben got up and ran to the front of the restaurant when he heard a loud vehicle approaching. Murray and several others followed him to see what it was. They looked out the front windows and saw the fog out there was also turning green now. It wasn’t long before someone dressed in a hazmat suit and gas mask knocked on the front door.
“We’re safe now,” Murray yelled out.
While Murray unlocked the front door, Deloris unlocked the patio door for the rescuer who knocked on that one.
The man in the hazmat suit opened the patio door, “you’re all safe now… But I wouldn’t go out that way,” he looked at Deloris.
Deloris nodded and then guided the customers to the front of the restaurant where other men in hazmat suits were waiting. They handed out some N95 masks to the customers so they wouldn’t have to breathe in the green mist. The man in charge explained to them that it was safe outside now but to be aware that what they are going to see is not pretty. Some of the customers were just relieved that the horror was over while others couldn’t wait to get home.
While customers started to leave, Deloris and Jennifer walked to the back of the restaurant to see what was left of their coworker’s out on the back patio. Since the fog and the green mist was now lifting, it was easier to see everything outside.
“Are you sure that you want to go out there?” Deloris asked Jennifer.
“No I’m not,” Jennifer looked at Deloris.
Deloris slowly opened the patio door and stepped outside. Jennifer stepped out right behind her and looked. Tears flooded both of their eyes as they saw blood and body parts all over the patio. Their coworker Nancy laid bloody and still on one of the table tops, while Bobby the bus boy was on the floor and missing his head. Jennifer turned and ran back inside to throw up while Deloris couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Even the long brown tentacle’s that came up over the patio railing laid lifeless. It was a sight that an average person would hope to see only while watching a horror movie.
The End
I hope that you enjoyed Slaughter At Valentine Bay. Please share it with anyone you know who might enjoy it. And whatever you have planned for Valentine’s day, I hope that you have a nice one.
Very scary, definitely horrifying !