Have you heard of The Beast of Harbour Green? Very few have. It’s a story that has been passed down through generations, every version different. Some say that it has laid there for centuries, never waking from its sleep. Others say that is does wake and that’s where earthquakes come from. But those people are wrong, for no one truly knows the beast’s origins. We know it lies there, we know it sleeps, but we don’t why or what for. When did it arrive? And will it ever wake?

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Despite the fact we know where the beast lives, we don’t exactly where. Harbour Green is a big place, it would take years to explore it all. But, one person has claimed to have seen it. Alone, deep in a cave that burrowed into the side of a hill.

 

The person in question was a young boy by the name of Jordan Pathwight. In 1966, when he was 13, he was exploring in the woods in Harbour Green. He lost his way and stumbled across the entrance to a small cave. With his explorer mind kicking in, he ventured inside, immediately finding the wall to be slimy. He decided to keep away from them. A light breeze was escaping the cave from deep within the hill, only adding to his intrigue. It was fly past him before slowly fading away, only to then return with heavy force. He continued further, following the cave as it twisted and turned. Down he went until the light from the surface could no longer reach him. The deeper he got, the stronger the wind became until it was a ferocious storm, flapping his coat behind him as if he were on a boat at sea. It was still fading in and out, almost knocking him over several times. Still, he pressed on. His curiosity was peaked.

 

“Where does this go?” he thought to himself. He continued to descend into the dirt, the cave now a little flatter and the walls a lot less slimy. He could place his hands against the wall now. Soon enough, as he reached a small, open space, the wind suddenly ceased and Jordan was left with a silent space. The area was small, no larger than your average living room, but something seemed grand about it. With the wind gone, he could hear a lot more, and somehow see a lot more too.  Behind him, he could hear the whistles of the wind something was blocking it up here. He stepped forward, arms stretched, reaching for the wall on the other side. As he grew closer, he felt the air grow warmer. He became confused.

 

“Why would the air change temperature?” he asked himself. “Is there a hot water spring?” But once he reached the other side, his questions were answered. His palm landed on a flat, scaly surface. He felt fear envelope him and he fell away. Down he went to the floor, palms slapping against the stone. Whatever it was in front of him didn’t move. Eyes wide and breathing quick, Jordan stood again and approached the scaly wall. He placed his palm against it again. It was warm. Frowning, he gently ran his hand along it, feeling each notch and chip in the scales. It seemed old. He ran his hand along it until the wall started to bend. He continued to move. The wall bended against before turning into shallow ridges before becoming a large, deep gap. The boy’s curiosity vanished and he stepped away from the wall. It was an eye. Then, he felt the ground shake. Terrified, Jordan dove to the floor, rushing to the cave’s entrance. Looking back, at the wall, he could see a yellow eye staring at him from the darkness. He held back a scream.

 

The rushes of wind were still blowing, this time stronger, pushing the boy out quicker. As he reached the mouth of the cave, he felt the ground shake and rumble again. Rocks began to fall as the cave started to fill itself with debris. It wasn’t long until the entrance was gone. Panting and scared, Jordan turned and ran back home, shouting his findings to his mother, who was preparing dinner. He had been gone for nearly seven hours. But, his mother didn’t listen. Nor did his brother, or his teachers, or even the therapist that he went to. To this day, he still holds his opinion of what he saw, and many others believe him.

 

To this day, we don’t know why The Beast of Harbour Green lives where it does, or even if it still sleeps there. Many people have ventured into its woods and hills to try and find the illusive creature but each search as turned up empty. If The Beast of Harbour Green exists, it doesn’t want to be found, and some don’t want it to be. So remember, if you're ever travelling through Harbour Green, and you come across a small cave. Don’t go inside.

 

You make awaken it.