The bones of the creature were suspended above him in all their terrifying splendor. It was forty feet long from snout to tail, suspended by wires that branched off into darkness. Metal pins affixed the skeleton in place, giving one an exact look at what the creature looked like thousands of years ago. Wayne's gaze trailed up the skeleton, stopping at its maw. Teeth thicker than his skull lining the sides of its enormous jaw. A rib cage the size of a bus. Dark eye sockets where its six eyes once gazed out…

“Hello, earth to Wayne!” a bratty voice called out, prying Wayne from his thoughts, “You promised you’d actually pay attention today!”

Wayne turned to face Courtney. He saw the pout on her face and let out a sheepish chuckle. “My bad, I guess It’s easier to get lost in my head than I thought!”

His sister grabbed his arm and began dragging him. “Then try harder. C’mon, Monie already went ahead!”

The duo made their way past several podiums and plaques describing the taxonomical struggles of classifying giant anomalous creatures and ventured back out into the aquarium’s main atrium. The shadow cast by a cutout of a bipedal sea-beast held Wayne's attention until he finally turned the corner. Three stories of concrete structures walkways loomed over an open-roof tank below with myriad east-coast species swimming about. They made their way down an auxiliary hallway, the lights dimming as the main source of illumination became the lights within each smaller tank.

Even as they ventured further into the building, Wayne couldn’t get his fears out of his mind. He had hoped that this little family outing to the aquarium would help him combat his rampant paranoia over the titanic beasts which preyed upon their world. The skeleton in the previous room, once thought to simply be that of a mutated whale, fell under new scrutiny once the attacks began. Instead of an outlier, it began to be seen as a progenitor species to the monsters which now threatened mankind.

“Waaayne, Courtney!” Monica said as she noticed her sibling’s approach, “Check out the eels!”

The duo gazed into the murky water. A slimy electric eel floated amongst the driftwood of its enclosure, sorting through the sediment. After some moments, it floated a bit higher, and locked eyes with him. What thoughts might be going through this thing’s head? That is, if there even were any to begin with. The life of an eel must have been so easy, Wayne thought. Blissfully unaware of the horrors of the world.“Bet he’s having the time of his life,” Wayne concluded sarcastically, turning back to his sisters.

Wayne’s sisters cackled at each other. “It looks just like you,” Monica said, pointing at him.

Wayne flushed. “W-what!? Seriously, this thing? I don’t-“ he stopped, staring at the fish in the dark tank, its beady eyes reflecting back in a thoughtless stare. “Actually, y’know what? I see it now, just like looking in a mirror.”

His sisters howled with laughter as he turned away to hide his smile. “Isn't this an aquarium? Wasn’t expecting a hyena exhibit…”

Seeing them laugh like that felt nice. Ever since their mother died, moments like these were few and far between.. Monica had just begun her college career, while Courtney was doing all she could to leave her mark in her last semester of high school. They were doing all they could to succeed in the face of tragedy, meanwhile, it felt like he was one bad step away from falling through the cracks. Between his schoolwork and helping to organize the funeral, he’d fallen behind on his studies, sleep was rare pleasure, and worst of all, he’d lost his job. Despite everything, he knew he had to be better. He had to set a good example for his sisters, even if it killed him.

“You’re doing it again, Wayne,” Courtney said, a bit of disappointment in her voice. “Can’t you just try to relax for one minute?”

Disappointment stung worse than anger ever could. Ever since the two of them were kids, she had always looked up to him, and did her best to cheer him on. He could handle anger. He was used to being scolded for his missteps, but knowing that his actions had let her down wounded him deeply.

“I’m… Really sorry, Cici. I've got a lot of pressure on my plate right now, so I just…”

Monica pat Wayne’s back. “You’re here, that’s the important part- no need to explain,” she said, smiling. “I’ll be honest Wayne; I was afraid you’d flake out on us. We’ve been worried about you.”

“About me? Why?” Wayne asked.

Courtney scowled. “You’re joking, right?” she huffed, poking his cheek, “do you ever go outside anymore? You know, besides when we drag you out? You look like a corpse.”

Wayne grimaced. “Yikes. That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?”

Monica shot Courtney a firm look of disapproval, then turned back to her brother. “Look, the point is, we’re glad you’re here. I can’t remember the last time we went out together like this…”

“…Spring break, two years ago.”

“Was that the uh… Hiking trip?” Courtney asked, rubbing her chin..

Wayne scoffed. “The concert, actually.”

“I’m shocked you even remember that, dude,” Monica goaded, elbowing Wayne playfully before rushing ahead..

Wayne followed briskly, with Courtney hot on his heels. “How could I ever forget it? You lost your ticket!”

“I did not! Someone stole it!” Monica retorted, upping her pace.

“Just admit it already sis, you aren’t fooling anyone!” Courtney said, trying to catch up.

A smile crept up on Wayne’s face. He really was glad he’d tagged along.

***

“Pleeaaasseeee!?” Courtney wailed, clutching a large stuffed seal close to her chest, “it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!”

Wayne eyed Courtney skeptically, secretly checking to see if his sister had tucked a price tag away behind one of the fluffy critter’s fins. “You say that about every stuffed animal.”

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“Yeah but I REALLY mean it this time!” Courtney said, hugging the seal even more tightly.

Wayne looked at the seal, then back to his sister, then back to the seal again. He pinched his brow with an exasperated sigh of defeat. “Alright, alright! Please, just stop looking at me like that.”

Courtney squished the toy tightly and giggled with glee as she jogged to the counter, mumbling something about ‘the sweet taste of victory’.

He was so weak when it came to them. All it took was a set of wide eyes and a touch of pleading, and it was over. In this case, it was the time-honored tradition of his youngest sister managing to sway him into contributing to her chronic plushie addiction. He knew it was coming, but seeing his sister smile was well worth biting the bullet. As the cashier rang up the stuffed animal, he clumsily fished into his pocket for his wallet. “Aren’t you getting a bit old for these?” he sassed.

The girl looked offended. “Too old for PLUSHIES!? Never!” she hissed.

Wayne snorted. “Alright, if you say so, Cici.” He paid for the seal, then held the sickeningly adorable ball of fluff out to his sister, which she snatched without a moment of hesitation. Looking at her as she hugged the toy, his expression softened. In spite of everything, she was still his feisty, adorable baby sister. He ruffled Courtney’s hair, and then went to find Monica.

On the other side of the gift shop, he found Monica paging through a large book that was wider than it was tall with a teal, ocean-patterned hard cover.

“Doing a bit of research?” Wayne asked, peering over his sister’s shoulder.

“Ah! Uhm. I g-guess so yeah,” Monica stammered in surprise. Her sights returned to the page she had been reading, which divulged the aquarium’s conservation efforts. Pictures of experts working with penguin hatchlings filled the page.

Monica always had a fascination with the living world, especially the ocean and sea creatures. Whenever the group went fishing with their father, she was the one who would be spouting fun facts about every one of their catches, always eager to touch and observe. As she blossomed into an adult, her interests had shifted towards conservation, her strong moral compass shining through.

“I think you’d be a great fit,” he commented warmly.

Monica closed the book and glanced at her brother. “Huh?”

“You were struggling to pick a major, right? Maybe you should consider this- you know, marine biology, or something similar,” he elaborated.

“Maybe.” Monica beamed as she set the book down, her hand lingering on the cover for a few moments. “I think that’d be really nice.” The girl stretched, using the gesture to close the gap between her and her brother so she could lean against him, “I think staying out a bit longer with you and Courtney would be pretty nice, too.”

“Sheesh, what am I gonna do with you two..? One of you harasses me until I open my wallet, while the other tries to steal more of my precious time!” he lamented as he melodramatically flopped a hand over his face, “Is nothing of mine sacred!?”

Monica tittered. “Your precious time, huh? What exactly were you planning on spending it on if not with…” She trailed off as her expression shifted to one of dread.

Well, that was a concern. “…Moni? Hey, you alright?” he inquired with a frown.

“W-Wayne? What’s that?” she quivered as she pointed out the window.

His gaze followed her digit and out into the bay, where a large swell in the water seemed to be approaching the building.

Wayne’s blood ran cold. He knew exactly what this was, but he dared not allow its name to enter his thoughts. The very source of all of his fears was before him, a waking nightmare. The hypothetical which deprived him of rest and haunted his days was now very much reality. Other patrons of the museum began to crowd around the windows curiously, including Courtney.

Courtney walked over, confused. “What’s going on? Why’s everyone-“

“We need to go,” Wayne pleaded in a low voice as he placed a firm hand on Courtney’s shoulder.

“What? Why!? But we haven’t-“

“Now!” he demanded as he took both of his sisters by the arms. He wasted no time in dragging them along, making a mad dash for the exit.

The waves broke and gave way to a carmine blur. The titanic beast caught a moored boat in its toothy maw and reduced it to splinters, the contents of the vessel gliding down its throat. None in attendance dared speak as silence swallowed the crowd just as thoroughly. A giant monster had made landfall in the United States for the first time, and they were the first ones to witness it.

The quiet shattered like glass as piercing screams cut the air, and the crimson creature let out an ear-bursting shriek.

If it weren’t for the fear compelling every muscle in his body to work at maximum capacity, Wayne might have felt a morbid sense of validation in that moment. That thing was bigger than pretty much every monster he had encountered during his research! He recalled the newly developing scale that had been made to categorize monsters, with the highest being A-class. Were they unlucky enough to present for one’s emergence!? His stomach did flips and his ears thrummed as he struggled to process his thoughts while dragging his siblings to safety.

The group escaped the confines of the aquarium, only to stumble as the ground beneath them rocked. Wayne turned just in time to witness the creature make landfall. It crushed the back half of the aquarium and loomed above, its chitinous form expelling steam. The creature looked like something between a crustacean and a lizard, with two legs, a giant tail, and two titanic crab-like claws. Around it, the metal that had once made up the aquarium’s structural supports hissed as they began to glow bright orange from the heat the beast was emitting.

Courtney shrieked as she picked herself up and continued to run. Monica and Wayne didn’t take long to follow.

The crowd escaped the now decimated aquarium, only to be absorbed into the quickly forming tide of fleeing civilians running for their lives. A wave of heat nipped at their tails, with the unfortunate succumbing to its bite as they stumbled and fell, their fates sealed.

Keeping his sisters close was proving more difficult by the moment, but the possibility of separation quickly turned to a guarantee as Wayne tripped and hit the pavement. Myriad footfalls barraged his form, his head being stamped on again and again. His ears rang and his vision blurred, but his yearning to see his family to safety drove him to push forward. He dug his nails into the pavement and dragged himself to his feet with a clumsy dash that transitioned into a delirious sprint.

Wayne heard Monica scream his name through the ringing. He couldn’t let them die here. He collected his broken glasses as he cried out to them, “Go! I’ll catch up with you, I promise! Just run!”

The two visibly squabbled at his words. Monica refused to leave, it seemed, but Courtney did as her brother commanded.She began to drag her elder sister away, an action that finally seemed to convince the other to move. The siblings exchanged one final glance before they were swallowed by the crowd.

The ground shook as the monster stepped further inland. It approached a beachside hotel and grasped the entire structure in its crushing claw. As the monster clamped down, it cleaved through metal and stone as if it were built from straw.

Wayne tried his best to run, but his legs failed him. The crowd had injured him more than he had initially thought. He wiped more blood from his face as he did his best to push on, but try as he did, he could not keep pace. Soon, he could only keep pace with the dead.

Pieces of debris clattered on the street around him as the building slowly toppled, casting its shadow over Wayne’s form.

This was it.

As the rubble came closer and closer, Wayne’s mind drifted back to his family. He hoped those two could keep walking after this. He hoped that, even with him gone, they could continue to forge ahead. He hoped they wouldn’t succumb to their fears and become pathetic shut-ins like he had been.

His lips parted in a cheery smile, revealing bloodied teeth. “No, they’d never. They’re stronger than I ever was.”

For an instant, his entire form was assaulted by a pain like no other, and then…

…Nothing.

Darkness.