Chapter Text
2:12 AM
Sunday, July 21, 1996
Cleveland, Ohio
The dark waters of the Cuyahoga River lap gently against the cement promenade. It’s a calm night, the summer air cool and still. There’s no moon, and not a cloud in the sky, but the orange haze of light pollution obscures any stars that might otherwise be visible.
Broad swaths of colored light shimmer the surface of the water, reflecting off the surrounding bridges. They've been illuminated in vivid hues for the city’s bicentennial celebration–bright blues and purples and reds that give the riverfront a whimsical look. The bars have just let out, and revelers can be heard in the background, the sound of their laughter and loud voices spilling out into the streets.
A young couple comes stumbling into view from a nearby bar, giggling and clutching one another. It’s clear that they’re drunk, and possibly high as well. The woman’s thick, curly red hair, pulled into large pigtails on either side of her head, bounces in time with her steps.
“Oooh, the lights are so pretty,” she coos as they weave unsteadily towards the water.
“Told you it’d be nice down here,” her scruffy blond companion replies. A few seconds later, he whines, “Man, I jus’ wish we had somethin’ else to smoke.”
They stop when they reach the water's edge and turn to face one another. For a moment, they silently gaze at each other; then the man leans in closer. They’re about to kiss—
Suddenly, there’s a disturbance in the water, and they both turn to look. There are ripples on the surface, then splashing. Slowly, a massive creature begins to rise from the river. The woman grabs onto her partner’s arm, making him jump, and all the hair on the back of her neck stands on end.
They look on in horror as a serpentine head emerges above the surface. A long, thick body follows, covered in smooth, dark scales that glisten in the moonlight. It continues to rise, blotting out the view of the bridge and the opposite shore, and everything else in the background as it towers over them.
They begin to scream, drawing the attention of the serpent-like creature. It turns towards them, shaking its head in alarm before gliding towards the shore. The terrified humans scramble to get away, running back the way they came.
The beast calls out after them and he speaks, inexplicably, with a British accent. He doesn’t sound entirely sober, either.
“Nononooo, s’okay, just having a little sssswim, nothing to—For Sssomeone’s sake, do you have to scream so bloody loud? Oh, bollocksss…”
The huge creature steps slowly out of the river, the water pouring off him as he shrinks and morphs, shivering, into something decidedly more man-shaped.
Cue Opening Credits: