The Dracula Shark

By Terry McGuin

The story takes place in an old western town with one sheriff, in Allen East Transylvania. Dennis Brown Doctor, scientist, and a Dracula lives in a castle on the out skirts of town. His family comes to help him create something in his laboratory. They experiment on sharks. He shows them the serums, virus, and antidote that he has made. Dennis has a few surprises in store for them. One is his horse named Mid-night. He has a problem when someone either walks behind him or is not nice to him. The brothers fall for the same girl in town. One has a birthday but does not celebrate like normal people. Then things really start happening. They come across a beautiful cave, a few tunnels, a couple of houses that they didn't know were there. Let's just say it's hard to get out of all of them. Something goes through the whole town that makes them act weird. It's like you step in a mud puddle and find out it's quick sand. Hope you enjoy the book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662453977

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The Dracula Shark

Terry McGuin

Copyright © 2021 Terry McGuin

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-6624-5396-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-5397-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Where It Began

The Laboratory

The Town

The First Attempt

Tommy’s Day in Town

Dennis’s Secret

Terry’s Failed Experiments

The Second Attempt

The House in the Woods

The Search for Shelley

Shelley’s Dilemma

Terry’s Birthday Gift

Third Time’s a Charm

The Dracula Shark

The Cave

Terry’s Last Shot

The Townspeople’s Mistake

Dennis Falls Off the Wagon

James’s Confrontation

Tommy and Terry’s Showdown

Contents

Where It Began 5

The Laboratory 9

The Town 15

The First Attempt 20

Tommy’s Day in Town 28

Dennis’s Secret 36

Terry’s Failed Experiments 43

The Second Attempt 52

The House in the Woods 61

The Search for Shelley 70

Shelley’s Dilemma 82

Terry’s Birthday Gift 92

Third Time’s a Charm 103

The Dracula Shark 113

The Cave 125

Terry’s Last Shot 139

The Townspeople’s Mistake 155

Dennis Falls Off the Wagon 172

James’s Confrontation 187

Tommy and Terry’s Showdown 200

Chapter 1

Where It Began

The midnight hour was full of windblown trees that looked like old decrepit, long bony fingers coming to wrap them around your neck. An ancient dilapidated castle on a small mountain, predisposed in the full misty white moonlight, came into view as the black, gold-trimmed coach swayed back and forth, bounced up and down as the four Clydesdale horses pulled it along the narrow, winding dirt road. On the right was a wall of jagged rocks as far as you can see. On the left was a cliff with monstrous boulders and a rushing river.

The coach came to an immediate halt in front of two towering, extensive wood-and-silver iron doors.

Mister. This is your stop, yelled the young black-haired kid from on top of the coach’s seat.

Thank you. Could you help me with my bags? came a voice from inside the coach.

A tall raw-boned, brown-haired thirtyish-aged man with a scar stepped off from inside the coach. He looked toward the howling of some wolves on the rocks in the distance. Then walked to the back of the coach to get his bags.

Is your wife meeting you here? inquired the kid.

No. I’m not married.

Well, I never saw this many bags without a woman with them, chuckled the kid. By the way, my name is Billy.

My name is Thomas Adkins. My friends call me Tommy, he remarked as they shook hands, laughing at the statement.

Tommy started for the doors, stopped to examine a plaque that read: Doctor and scientist Dennis C. Brown lived most of his life here in Allen, East Transylvania. he worked side by side with Igor, trying to make a mutated virus in 1818–1908.

You’re a braver man than I am. I am not going inside that place. They are strange people. Do you know them?

Yes, I know them, and they are strange, Tommy declared, handing the kid more money than he’s ever had by the looks of him.

Thank you. I really appreciate it. But I can’t take this. It’s way too much.

It’s not if I hire you for the week. See you tomorrow at ten a.m.

They shook hands again. Billy hightailed it back on the coach’s seat just as Tommy pushed open the door. Tommy took one step in the doorway and was violently shoved into the heavy door. Before he could get his breath he was forcefully thrown across a round wooden table with an oil lamp, old books, and a vase with dead flowers on it.

What the hell is your problem? You stupid-ass jerk! Tommy shouted as he got to his feet and finally got his bearings.

You’re getting slow, little brother.

Terry! Is that you? You damn idiot.

Looks like both of us have changed some.

Tommy walked past Terry to hang his coat on the heavy brown wooden coat rack. He picked the coat rack up and broke it over Terry’s back and shoulders.

I haven’t changed that much, dumbass.

Are you boys ever going to get along? came a voice from on top of the staircase.

They both turned their heads to see who it was. There stood a man thirtyish-aged as they were. He started down the marble staircase shaped like a number seven. Thirty-five steps later, he was at the bottom. Dressed in a black cape with a high collar, if you would have glanced at him instead of outright staring, you would’ve thought he was Bella Lugosi’s Dracula. His eyes were glowing red.

You boys follow me to the laboratory.

Tommy and Terry both started to follow right behind him. Looking straight ahead without blinking. Tommy missed a step when he shivered and started shaking his head no. Then he stopped.

If you do that shit one more time, I am leaving. That’s why I left years ago. Because you would make us do shit we didn’t want to do.

Tommy ran to catch Terry before he got to the laboratory door. He grabbed Terry’s shoulders and shook the hell out of him.

He did it again, didn’t he? Dammit, Dennis, stop doing this shit. I don’t care how old your ass is. Payback’s a bitch.

When Terry and Tommy started to clean up their mess all the lights in the castle came on. Tommy was able to see that the inside was so much newer, cleaner, and bigger than what the outside looked like.

Where is uncle James? Tommy asked as he picked up the pieces of the coat rack and hung his coat on one of the high-backed chairs with red velvet padding on it.

James is around here somewhere, Terry answered.

You boys hungry? Dennis asked.

Yeah, they both uttered at the same time.

Dennis led the way down the hallway. The shiny marble floors were the same as the stairs. They passed door after door. Behind about the tenth shiny cherry wood door was the kitchen.

There, standing at a double wood-burning stove, was a big muscular bald guy. He was wearing black pants and a white button-up shirt that looked like someone ripped the sleeves off.

James, do you have something to feed these boys? asked Dennis.

What boys?

The voice that came out of James sounded like James Earl Jones. So imagine the body of Dwayne The Rock Johnson with James Earl Jones’s voice and a face that resembles Bruce Willis.

Uncle James, what happened to you? inquired Tommy.

Yeah. You changed more than us, commented Terry.

Thank you, guys. Do steak and eggs sound okay?

Sure, answered Tommy.

They all sat at the kitchen table and talked while Terry and Tommy ate their food. Tommy told them of his doctorate in marine biology, his divorce, his investment that made enough for him to retire three times over. He will never have to work again unless he wants to. Terry told them that he was in prison for ten years, his wife was killed, and he can only get shit jobs now.

"You boys get a good night’s sleep, and I’ll show you the lab tomorrow.

Chapter 2

The Laboratory

The laboratory was as big as inside of a Walmart. Just inside the double-wide metal gray doors were three long cherry wood desks with chairs, sitting in front of shelf after shelf of medical books from drugs and chemicals to research. You couldn’t miss the picture someone drew of a shark standing up right on its hind fins. Then as you walked around in a big circle to different sections, you couldn’t miss the enormous water tank in the middle of the room, with three sharks swimming around. There was a section that was curtained off that looked like an autopsy room—a long table with a drain at the end of it, and big serrated butcher knives, saws, and drills laying around. Then the whole back wall was nothing but a long bench with all different-sized test tubes, beakers, and Bunsen burners on it. Then you came to the glass jars with rats, fish, seahorses, and eels just to name a few things that are in them. It looked like they were trying to make a new species. Like a head of a rat with a body of a fish. There were hundreds of jars with stuff in them.

It’s about damn time you got your asses here. I told you I wanted to show you and Terry what I’ve been working on, Dennis spoke in a chastising voice.

Chill out, old man. What are you doing up already, anyway? Tommy shot back at him.

James came through the lab door with a magnificently carved wood box with a gold lock. Dennis pulled out a gold key and opened the box that held seven large canning jars with the wire you pulled over the lid to vacuum seal it. But the box could hold one more jar.

What do the colored lids mean, Dennis? Terry asked.

You both have to promise and swear and give me your word as a man you will never tell anyone about this box. Unless you talk to me first.

I swear as a man I won’t say nothing unless I talk to you first, Tommy said as they shook hands.

Yeah, sure. Me too, Terry said unconvincingly.

Dennis stared at Terry waiting for a handshake that was not given.

"This is what’s in this box. Number one, blue, is an aging serum. Two, yellow, is a daylight serum. Three, red, is a mutated virus serum. Four, brown, is an animal serum. Five, black, is a death serum. Six, green, is a fitness serum.

Seven, orange, is empty, as you can see. I need you boys to help me with the orange one, finished Dennis as he locked the box back up and put the key inside his cloak pocket.

What’s the orange one going to be? Tommy asked.

It’s right up your alley. I want to make a Dracula shark.

Why the hell would you want that? Terry remarked.

Have you ever seen one?

No, all three of them said together. Then James walked away with the box.

Dennis walked over to the shark picture. The boys followed him on their own this time. Dennis picked up a folder off the desk that was three inches thick. Dennis handed Tommy the folder to look through.

Why the hell does he get to look at the papers, and I have to do all the damn heavy work?

"Terry! Did you go to college to be a marine biologist?"

No, but I can still read, write, and do math, Terry expressed sarcastically.

Here cry, baby. Take these papers and shove them so far up your ass that you can read them from the inside of your eyeballs, Tommy stated as he shoved the papers into his chest.

Tommy walked over to check out the three sharks. He noticed that all three sharks were going the length of the tank then would bump their upturned pointed snouts on the side of the glass tank, turn around, and do the same thing on the other side.

What is wrong with these sharks? This blue shark, shortfin mako shark, and this young great white shark should be trying to tear each other up. Their almost acting like they don’t know they are actually sharks, declared Tommy.

Who cares! Terry snapped back.

Dennis walked over to the tank with Tommy and started to explain what he had already done when a jar with a tailbar lionfish in it smashed at their feet. Dennis reeled around with his eyes bright red.

"Stop! Go sit down at that damn desk and read every one of those fucking papers," ordered Dennis.

Can I open my eyes now? Tommy asked.

Yes.

I know what you did. You hypnotized them.

Yes, and I gave them the number four brown serum so they wouldn’t know they were sharks.

Bam! They both whipped their heads around so fast it’s a wonder their heads didn’t keep spinning like a toy top and fall on the floor. Terry had flipped the desk over and was gone.

Dennis pushed a button on this black metal box. It didn’t do anything but light the button up red. Tommy went to upright the desk and was picking up all the papers when James came through the door.

James, I want you to find Terry and keep an eye on him so he doesn’t get into any more damn trouble.

Is he acting out again? James inquired.

As always, Tommy chimed in.

James left the lab. Tommy finished straightening up. Dennis sat down with his head in his hands looking at the floor.

What’s wrong with you?

It’s time to take my serum. I have to take it every four hours.

Okay, you go do that, and I will go to town to get a couple of things.

See if James needs anything while you’re there.

Do you still have Midnight?

Yes, but ask him politely to ride him.

Tommy started for the kitchen to talk to James but was thinking more about what Dennis had said to him about the horse. Then out of nowhere, a door flew open, hitting Tommy in the face. Tommy fell back on his ass and blacked out. When he came to, Terry was sitting on him and had him pinned to the floor.

Get off me, you son of a bitch, Tommy grunted while trying to get loose.

I am really tired of you being the favorite all the damn time.

Well then, start making something of your life and stop blaming me and everyone else for your bad choices and stupidity.

That did it. Terry looked like he had been hit in the face with a sledgehammer. That was all Tommy needed to get loose. Tommy got to his feet and snatched ahold of Terry and beat the shit out of him. James was on the other end of the hallway, hollering at them to stop. But just as Terry jumped on Tommy, they both were pulled roughly apart and thrown fiercely against the wall. Both were knocked out.

James got Tommy to come to first and took him to the kitchen. Then went back for Terry. He was just stirring when James got back to him.

What the hell happened? Terry mumbled.

Other than Tommy whooping your ass, I don’t know. It looked like you both threw yourselves up against the wall, James said, walking Terry back to the kitchen.

Is there any coffee? asked Tommy.

James sat at the table after getting coffee for all of them.

Did you throw yourself against the wall? Terry asked Tommy.

No.

Well, I didn’t, either.

James? They both said at the same time.

I told you I don’t know what happened or how it happened.

Where’s Dennis? Terry asked in an accusing voice.

Probably in his room. He had to take some more serum. Tommy told him.

Terry got up from the table, walked by Tommy and bumped his shoulder harder than normal, and said, Just so you know, I’m not stupid. He gave Tommy a dirty look as he walked out of the kitchen.

I’m going to town. Do you need anything? Tommy asked James.

Yep, I need meat, potatoes, vegetables, and coffee for the week. And whatever you want to drink other than coffee.

I better take the coach.

You probably better get some firewood too. But you can’t take the coach. It broke down. Send Midnight with a note to Billy. He will come and get you again. But make sure you ask Midnight nicely, James informed Tommy.

What is going on with Midnight?

You’ll see.

Okay, Tommy said, looking dumbfounded and scratching his head as he walked out of the kitchen.

Chapter 3

The Town

Tommy got to the stables without getting jumped by Terry or any other strange mishaps.

The stable was just as he remembered it years ago. Four stalls on one side and four stalls on the other side. The wood was older but still in good condition for pine wood. He found Midnight in the last biggest stall on the left.

Hey, Midnight. You have gotten big. Take this to Billy.

Tommy opened the gate to get Midnight out, but when he took a step, Midnight just plopped his big ass right down on the hay-covered floor and stared at Tommy.

What the hell are you doing? Come on, Midnight.

Tommy thought maybe he was hard of hearing now. So he talked louder. Midnight just sat there looking at him. Then he remembered. Be nice; be polite to Midnight.

Okay, Midnight, would you please take this note to Billy for me? I would really appreciate it.

Midnight got up off the floor and started toward Tommy and stopped. "Yes, I will take the note to Billy for you, but I am not hard of hearing. Boo!" Midnight told Tommy.

Have you ever seen on the old cartoons when they would get scared and their shadow or spirit would jump out of their body? Well, Tommy’s just sprinted into town.

What the fuck! Did you just talk?

Tommy looked around like he was getting ready to steal something, tripped over the feed bucket, busted his head on the stall’s wooden gate, and ended up on his ass on the ground. He started spitting and sputtering couldn’t get one word out. Midnight was laughing and throwing his head up and down at Tommy on the ground which made it worse for Tommy.

Can you get up? Put the note in my saddlebag.

Tommy tried to get up but his legs wouldn’t hold him, and he couldn’t speak yet. He tried again. He got up but had to sit down on a bale of hay.

Put the note in the saddlebag, sissy. I’ll be back in a little while. Are you going to be out here?

What do you think? Just because I found my voice doesn’t mean my legs are going to work. At least not right now.

After Midnight left, Tommy finally got the use of his legs back. So he walked to the other stalls to see if the rest of the horses talked. They didn’t say a word. No matter how nice he was toward them. There was a real pretty Palomino. She was a light tan with three white splotches one on both of her sides, and from her neck