Beware the Land

By Valerie Biamonte

Something evil is raging in the forests of Minnesota.

After a rough year, John "JB" Bauer is finally taking a vacation. He and his family are camping in the very place a Native American legend has been brought back to life: a legend that requires the blood of those who offend it. The mythical creature begins a murderous rampage and will stop at nothing.

Curiosity gets the best of the Bauers, and they decide to investigate the deaths that have stumped local law enforcement.

But when JB and family find themselves wrapped in the middle of the legend itself, all hell breaks loose! The beast is hungry and the Bauers are next!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valerie Biamonte
• Release date: Apr 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9780984580361

Valerie Biamonte

Valerie Biamonte is an accountant by day and an author by night. Valerie has three main focuses in her writing career: Novels, Screenplays, and Children’s books. Her mystery/thriller Silent Russian, recently took 1st place in the annual Mate E Palmer Communications Contest! She's hoping to take another 1st place at the national level of the competition in September 2012. She is a member of National Women's Press Association and Sisters in Crime. Valerie’s accounting career is with the top Foodservice Buying, Marketing & Training Group in the nation, located in Illinois. Valerie is happily married to Realtor and photographer, Joe Biamonte, and has one grown son. Previous accomplishments: a) The children’s picture/story read-to-me book titled Two Dogs and a Tale, formerly published through Publish America. Valerie recently participated in Elk Grove Village’s Byrd Elementary School’s Read America, where she read Two Dogs and a Tale to 150 students. b) Recently completed and available for production is the dark comedy screenplay Business As Usual. Visit www.TheWoopsInc.com for the synopsis of this darkly hilarious script. c) The Ghost of Retirement Screenplay. Full synopsis for this Horror film is available at www.TheWoopsInc.com d) Einstein the Destroyer, a children’s story/activity book. See www.TheWoopsInc.com e) Lost Cause a mystery/suspense novella that'll leave you at the edge of your seat! d) Attended the Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest on June 9th & 10th 2012. We had a great time at the IWPA tent on Dearborn & Polk.

Book preview

Beware the Land

by Valerie Biamonte

Published By:

The World is Our Oyster Publishing and Screenwriting, Inc.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 by Valerie Biamonte

Cover Art by Lea Goffinski

eBook ISBN: 978-0-9845803-6-1

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Chapter One

Tiffany Beaumont swallowed the last of her sixth bottle of beer. At age sixteen, and very attractive, she was used to getting her way with pretty much everything. She was the head cheerleader at school. Freshmen, sophomores, other juniors and even some seniors all vied for her attention. She was currently dating the star of the school's football team, Jayden Jackson. The future belonged to her. She owned it!

She also had her parents wrapped around her little finger, especially her father. She had duped them into believing she was spending the weekend with one of her friends. She smiled to herself; they hadn't even bothered to call her friend’s parents to make sure that was where she was going.

She carelessly tossed her empty beer bottle into the wooded area behind the campsite. The crickets that had been singing moments before suddenly quieted.

The early spring air was cold at night, so she snuggled closer to Jayden and watched the fire. Gimme 'nother beer, babe, she commanded with a sexy smile.

Damn, girl, he chastised. We're gonna have to make another beer run, you keep this up. Your parents'll kill you, you come home hung over.

Tiffany barked out a drunken laugh. Oh puh-lease! They're idiots and you know it. I could come home with a tattoo of your face on my chest, tell them it's a rash, and they'd believe me. She paused. Now gimme that damn beer.

The other three boys, while enthralled by watching Tiffany's every move and listening to every syllable coming out of those pouty lips, knew she was trouble – not only because she was drinking all their beer and making a mess of their campsite, but because her rebellious behavior had been making her notorious at school.

The high school football team's fullback, Petey White, was the first to give Jayden a hard time: The queen has spoken. You're her whipping boy, Jayden. Get off your ass and get that woman a beer.

Jayden threw an empty at his friend but missed. I'm nobody's 'boy,’ and you know it.

They all laughed because they knew it wasn't true. He'd lick Tiffany's feet if she asked him to.

Queen Tiffany stood up, pouting. We'll see about that. Right after I get back.

Jayden nonchalantly leaned back his large frame, trying to re-establish his alpha status. And where do you think you're goin'? he asked her.

Tiffany flashed a smile. The others noted how great she looked in the light of the campfire.

Anywhere I damn well please. She stormed off to the restroom, stomping her feet slightly so one and all knew she wasn't through with Jayden. He and the others watched her go.

Petey the instigator spoke up when she was out of earshot. What a bitch. You gonna let her talk to you like that, man? Where's your balls?

Jayden stared him down. She's just drunk, that's all.

Petey grinned mischievously. What are you gonna do about it? Go kiss her ass, boy. She owns you.

Jayden looked down the dark trail. He made his decision. Petey, you go to hell. She just needs a good lay, that's all – show her who’s boss. He stood up, grabbed a flashlight, and went down the same path Tiffany had taken.

The guys laughed loudly. Petey knuckle-punched the friend next to him.

Tiffany walked drunkenly to the outhouse, wishing this hellhole of a campground had toilets that flushed. She didn't even notice that all the crickets and other insects in the area had fallen silent, an indicator that something was wrong – very wrong. Nor did she hear the rough breathing of the creature that watched from the dark shadows of the trees.

Tiffany took the mini-flashlight from her jeans pocket and shined it into the outhouse as she opened the door. The door creaked loudly, and she was met with a foul stench. She covered her nose and looked around, disgusted. There were spiders in every corner of the painted cinderblock room. The odor of feces and urine from the full toilet made her gag. She quickly turned and let the door slam shut, shivering. No way was she going in there! The queen decided to relieve herself in the bushes nearby. She had no regard for the land anyway and was glad she had some tissues in her pocket to use for toilet paper. She selected a bush to pee behind and walked around it, out of the moonlight.

Bastards, she mumbled to herself as she unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, thinking of Jayden's friends. ‘Why did they have to come along, anyway?’ she thought to herself as she sighed, and then heard the snapping of twigs as something heavy stalked her.

Jayden? That you? Her anger was beginning to surface. Get the hell out of here. I'm done with you. I'll get my own damn beer, and you're not getting laid!

She received no answer. She re-zipped her jeans, determined to deal with Jayden first so she could relieve herself in peace. She wished this part of the campground had lighting down its paths. Other than a sliver of moonlight, it was pitch black all around her.

Jayden? This isn't funny!

Still no answer. Her bladder was really starting to bother her, but she wasn't about to let him – or worse, one of his friends – walk up on her while she was doing her business. She angrily stepped out from the bush and moved closer to the sound of footsteps. With hands on her hips, she opened her mouth to shout a few choice obscenities.

A giant beast from the forest snarled as it angrily leaped upon her. Its eyes shined red. Its long, wet fangs glistened in the moonlight. It had grunted loudly when it knocked her down. The air was knocked out of Tiffany’s lungs. She struggled for breath, but had no success.

Tiffany, trying to roll away, finally gulped in some air. The monster smelled like rotting flesh, just as foul – but very different from – the stench in the outhouse. In the moonlight, Tiffany could barely make out its curved, pointy ears and the dark fur covering its body in patches. The eyes glowed red, like animal eye-shine only blood red instead of reflective silver.

The girl struggled against the large claws extending from the giant paws of the creature. The monster quickly slashed at her, instantly carving a deep path across the girl's chest. Blood started leaking through her shirt. The stain spread rapidly. As Tiffany attempted to scream, she was still trying to identify the monster that was snapping at her throat and dripping saliva all over her neck and chest. It wasn't a bear or a bobcat. It was enormous. She couldn't tell what it was. It looked like a mutant of some sort and must have weighed more than twelve hundred pounds.

Tiffany’s survival instincts kicked in. Her own teeth bared, and breathing heavily, she attempted to wriggle out from beneath the beast. She raised her hand and – doing battle in her drunken state – tried with all her strength to jab out its eye, but the beast seized her hand