Foster and The Lochlan Beast
On the North-East coast of Scotland, there was an old, forgotten town named Lachland. Amid the cobbled streets and moss-covered stones, secrets whispered among the roofs of the dilapidated houses, particularly one on the cliff overlooking the turbulent sea: the house of the former mayor, Mr. Alistair McAllister.
Mr. McAllister had been a stern man, leading Lachland with an iron fist. But one day, he vanished without a trace, and his house stood deserted, shrouded in mystery. His disappearance had reportedly linked to the legendary sea creature, the Lochlan Beast, a story passed from generation to generation among the people of Lachland.
A young journalist named Foster arrived in town, his curiosity piqued by the legend. He rented a small room overlooking the sea and began piecing together the puzzle of Mr. McAllister's mysterious disappearance.
Walking the empty streets, he visited the local pub and introduced himself to the patrons, who, wary of strangers, shared the well-known story of McAllister's disappearance and the Lochlan Beast. The story illustrated how the Beast had been sighted each time before something tragic happened to Lachland or its people. The sighting of the Beast was considered a foul omen. They recounted McAllister last seen arguing with the Beast, according to witnesses.
Foster grew more interested and decided to visit McAllister's house. On his exploration, he found the former mayor's journal in the dusty study. The journal was filled with sketches, notes, and articles about the Beast. The last entry held Foster spellbound - it spoke of McAllister's decision to confront the Beast, believing it to be the cause of Lachland's problems.
The following morning, Foster mentioned the journal entry to the patrons, who reacted with a mix of disbelief and fear. They urged Foster to let the past rest and to not stir up old seafolk tales. Respecting their sentiment, Foster decided to investigate discreetly, raising his own stakes in solving the mystery.
The quiet beaches of Lachland soon became his most frequent haunt. He often stayed late into the night, hoping to sight the Beast. His patience bore fruit one stormy night.
In the middle of thunder and lightning, he saw the Beast rising from the water. To his disbelief, it was not a monster but a colossal statue submerged under the waves. A sense of profound understanding dawned on Foster. The 'Beast' had been nothing but an illusion, seen and feared by the people of Lachland due to a combination of terror, myth, and natural phenomena.
Equipped with this knowledge, Foster decided to lay the legend to rest. He convened a town meeting and revealed his findings, offering the proof through photographs and sketches of the harmless statue during high tide.
Initially met with surprise and disbelief, the people of Lachland soon accepted the truth and felt a load lifted off their shoulders. The fear-filled tales of the 'Lochlan Beast' were silenced, and hopeful whispers started to fill the streets of Lachland.
By dispelling the legend, Foster had not only solved the mystery of Mr. McAllister's disappearance, but had also breathed a sense of newfound freedom into the people of Lachland. The oppression of the legend was finally lifted, and the town started rebuilding, hopeful for a brighter future.