Hello! I took a small break from Art Fight because I wanted to write this story for the Writer's Jam 2025. I am a writer by heart after all. So, I wrote this story based on the siren prompt. Word count: 2270
Just as a little disclaimer: while nothing gruesome is directly mention, it is implied, and there is the mention of blood. So, if you're sensitive to this kind of thing, then don't read.
With that said, here's the story of...
The Siren of Misty Cliff
“Aren’t sirens supposed to live out on the Mediterranean Sea?” I didn’t mean to sound rude, but I felt way too cranky after waking up at two in the morning.
Frank merely chuckled in response. “That’s what makes this so interesting, Harvey. Just think: a mythical creature that’s supposed to be on the other side of the Earth is here in Maine. Just why is it here? Migration? Habitat change? Or was it chased out of its old home by some other beast?”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe you can ask her those questions yourself if she’s actually real?” That was me back then: I never take took rumors and tall tales seriously. It just wasn’t worth my time understanding something that was basically fabricated. Yet, I always found myself surrounded by those tales, especially with a friend like Frank constantly by my side.
I’ve known Frank ever since kindergarten and he had always been into adventure, danger, and in particular, monsters. He was always yakking to me about dragons, unicorns, chimeras, and so much more. I’ll admit, it was fun playing along when we were kids, but here, we were eighteen; practically adults at that point.
Yet, Frank kept on holding on to his silly interest, and it has escalated to the point where he would set up trips to go find these monsters. Whenever he heard rumors of some mysterious beast out up in the mountains or something like that, he would plan an outing and drag me along for the support.
And have we found anything on these trips? Nope, there was nothing to show our efforts other than a few blurry pictures.
I couldn’t stand these dumb trips. They were a waste of time, but Frank was my best (and only) friend, and it didn’t feel right to leave him by himself. Especially when these trips could get dangerous.
That time, he was chasing down the rumor of a siren that was spotted near the rocky shoreline of Misty Cliff. It got the name due to the persistent fog. There’s always a lighthouse at the top of it to help incoming ships, and people claim it’s always because the weather never changes. However, we weren’t here for a lighthouse.
For some time, it had been circulating through the grapevine that a giant woman monster with wings could be seen around Misty Cliff. Even if they couldn’t make out the shape, some would at least claim they hear a beautiful singing voice, or they could see a pair of blue eyes flash at them in the dark. It wasn’t any different than the wild fairy tale that I had always heard.
What made these rumors so different was that there was a story of an actual attack. The source was a worker for a small shipping boat. He said they were trying to find a place to dock when siren ambushed them. According to him, the captain steered towards the direction of an ominous melody despite protest from his crew. Then he stopped the boat, walked onto the deck. Next, a large beast came down, grabbed him, and took off.
I remember when I first heard it, my first thought was that it was a lousy attempt to hide that the captain went overboard and they just haven’t found the body.
Frank, however, thought this was an opportunity to find a real beast. He “borrowed” his parents’ motor boat, took some equipment, and then he dragged me miles from our hometown to this small unoccupied beach. Based on what I saw from the map, if we kept going west from here then we would find Misty Cliff.
I frowned as I looked at what Frank packed. All we had on us are a film camera, two life jackets, a heavy duty lamp, and a box containing peanut butter sandwiches. I also glanced at our boat as well. The cracks on its paint showed its time, and I wasn’t confident on how that motor was going to run.
“Won’t it be better if we just rent a boat at the nearby town?” I asked; hoping I could appeal to whatever common sense he had. Of course, he didn’t listen.
“It’ll take too much time.” He insisted, “If we want to find the siren, then we need to do while the window of opportunity is there. According to what I heard, the siren is spotted most likely at around this time. So, if we want to find her, we need to do it now.”
I rolled my eyes. I shouldn’t have expected him to have the patience or wisdom to properly prepare. Ultimately, I decided to just accept what we had: it wasn’t like this was going to be a challenging trip anyway. We would just drive the boat towards the cliff, go around it, and that was it. The weather didn’t look too bad as from the expected fog. We only had some rough water to deal with, and that was it. As soon as Frank would realize that there was nothing out here, he would turn back, and then I’ll have some relief until the next adventure.
With what we have, we pushed the boat out to sea. I steered the boat at the stern while Frank stood at the bow, camera in hand and eyes wide as he kept looked out for the siren.
At first, the trip was going as I expected, which was basically nothing at all. It was neat getting near the rocky gray cliff. If you got close enough, you can see it through the fog. I could also see the signal from the lighthouse showing at the top. The photography club at our school would’ve loved a shot or two. However, I wasn’t the one with the camera.
Frank kept his head up as he ready himself to find the beast. In one hand, he had the camera, while in the other, he had the lamp. The light could only help us see so much in the fog.
I was so sure we were going to find nothing. “Come on, let’s go back. I’m sure if we go back now, then we can make it home before the library closes—.”
“Harvey, shush.” He lifted his hand up at me while still having his body forward. “Do you hear that?”
At first, I was going to snap at him… Then I heard it too: a soft humming sound.
The melody radiated all around us; haunting us, taunting us even. Yet, the voice sounded as lovely as a nightingale, and it was comforting like a mother’s lullaby.
I’ll had to admit, there was something drew me in as well, but I could hear a voice in the very back of my mind screaming at me to turn away.
“Frank,” I warned, “We should go back now.”
He didn’t respond.
I repeated, “Hey, we should really go back.”
“Harvey, shut up.” He snapped at me in a tone I had never heard him say before. Then he ordered, “Keep the motor going.”
“Are you crazy?”
“I said keep it going.”
“Frank, can you for once think things over and realize that it’s not worth it!"
“…You’re being too loud.” His voice sounded blank and void of that enthusiastic guy I knew. Then he took a step forward, a foot stood on the edge. His hand dropped the lamp and camera from his hands.
Right away, panicked filled my mind as I reached out to grab him, but it was too late.
One minute, he was there, then next, he was gone… However, it wasn’t because he jump off the boat.
Just at the very moment when I was about to grab him, I noticed two glowing blue eyes in the fog. Then something swoop in, grabbed him first, and then flew right above us, taking Frank with it.
I didn’t see what it was at first. However, I had no concern to worry about that. “Frank!” I called out into the fog. “Frank! Answer me!”
There was no response… It was just me. On a small boat. With some distance away from the beach we came from. Or any safe docking area.
Then the something landed on to the boat with a THUD!
Standing before me was a large black feathered beast. Call it instinct, or whatever you want to call it, but I knew I was looking at the Siren.
Her arms completely covered with feathers that were wide enough to be wings. In fact, almost all of her was covered with feathers. The head reminded me of a crow with the shape of her beak. Where hands and feet would be were claws and talons.
She would definitely fit the description of the siren. However, there were features that stood out. Bits of hay straw poking out of her neck and belly. I didn't think sirens have that. Looking closely, I could see her chest wasn't covered by feathers, and saw that her skin appeared more like leather. Her blue eyes stared at me; glowing brightly like flames, and if I looked closer, I saw they had crossed stitching like buttons sewn on.
However, what stood out to me the most was the blood… There was blood all over her beak and claws, and I knew in my gut who it belonged to.
I immediately got to the back of the boat as much as I could. I dared not take my eyes off her as she slowly came close. Bits of straw spilled out as she moved.
First she lifted her head up in the sky and started to sing… That familiar haunting melody echoed once more, but I knew better. I covered my ears and summoned all the willpower I could just to not get lured in. I tried to fight back by throwing a peanut butter sandwich, but that didn’t do anything.
My heart felt like it could burst out of my body. I was staring face to face with this monster, and I had nothing to fight with. I couldn’t jump out and swim; I had no idea how.
With so little options left, I closed my eyes and waited for my life to end… But it never happened.
I opened my eyes when I realized the song had stopped. Instead, what I heard was a couple of pathetic squawks.
The monster was still before me, but she no longer appeared focused on me. She had her head down and shook it as if trying to shake away something. Her body hunched over as she backed away.
In that moment, I didn’t do anything. All I could think about were the many possible ways to get out of this.
Then before could attempt any of those plans, the monster screeched as if in agony and then took off and didn’t come back…
What happened next felt all like a blur to me. I remember returning back to shore once I collected myself. Then I ditched the boat on the shore as I drove all the way back home.
Everyone was distraught. My parents asked where I was and all I couldn’t say anything. I just went back to my room and tried to forget everything. Sadly, I couldn’t, and the memories resurface even now.
Frank’s disappearance was, of course, noticed immediately. His parents and the police had their own questions for me. Yet, I couldn’t answer any of them. How could I?
Who was going to believe something like what I went through? Who was going to believe that a monster like that lived on the coast? I experienced the whole thing and I still don’t believe myself. All I could tell them was that we went on a boat trip, he fell out, and that was it.
Once the police heard my testimony, they found the boat, but have yet to find a body. I was found a suspect, but I was eventually let go due to the lack of evidence showing foul play.
I don’t remember everything that happened the next couple of days… There might have been people who approached me either out of sympathy or spite, but I don’t remember. My mind just remained on what happened. Eventually, it all settled down and life returned to normal, but I was never the same.
I still hear stories about monsters, and I would think of two things: how much Frank would have loved to hear them, and how much of it was true. I never bothered to figure out the latter though; I was too scared to try.
Rumors about the Siren of Misty Cliff still remain, and every time I hear about them, I would flinch. I haven’t gone to see her since.
I could still hear her haunting song at times, and when I close my eyes, I could see her blue ones.
Sometimes I would overhear people who say they would like find her for some stupid reason or another. I would grit my teeth and try not to say anything. They’re a bunch of idiots who didn’t know a thing about the beast. Then again, I didn't know much either. I didn't think it was even a siren; there were too many details that didn’t line up with what was actually said about them. It was some other monster, but I didn't know what. All I could truly recall was that one night.
However, I knew one thing: those who dare go near the gray cliffs better be careful. If they fall for the song, then are not coming back alive.
If you want to see my Art Fight page, check out this link (there's no longer one) or just look for TheMage0777 on there.