Doomsday, USA, Part 1, Volume 1

By Nate Feldman

Chapter 1

It was a bright, clear June afternoon at Camp Doomsday.  The sun was sparkling off the lake, and the sound of birds chirping was heard throughout the lush green leaves of trees on the campgrounds.  It was the perfect afternoon for Josh and Ghazel to do a promotional video about their camp.

The cameraman had been walking around the area taking videos of the scenic landscape as well as capturing footage of campers in a variety of activities.  Now, he was prepared to interview the two co-directors about their work.  They were back in the cabin used as the main office.  Josh and Ghazel were standing beside their desk as they waited for the cameraman to give them the signal to begin.  Once they got the OK, the recording began.

"Howdy campers!" Josh said enthusiastically.  "Welcome to Camp Doomsday!  The only place in the world where humans and monsters interact with one another and form lifelong relationships!  My name is Josh, and this is my co-founder and co-director, Ghazel."

Ghazel smiled and waved for the camera.  Josh continued.  

"You know, every time you put on some program, it's about the zombie apocalypse or humans having to fight off some terrifying creature or creatures.  But, we at Camp Doomsday don't believe it has to be that way.  Our campers are humans and monsters that learn one another's traditions while breaking down stereotypes.  Our staff is made up of humans and monsters alike in a variety of positions, showing we can learn to live together with one another when given an opportunity."

Josh went silent and Ghazel began speaking.

"Growing up as a young witch, I heard awful stories of humans putting ancestors of mine on trial and hanging them.  Most people I encountered viewed me as a horrible threat to their safety.  But, when I came to this camp, I learned that through knowing people, we could understand one another better."

"So, whether you're a human," Josh stated.

"Or a monster," Ghazel added in.

"And you have a young child," Josh said.  "Enroll them in Camp Doomsday this summer."

"The place where humans and monsters co-exist!" they said emphatically together.

The camera continued for a couple of seconds and then stopped.

"Great!" shouted the cameraman.  "You guys are naturals!"

Josh and Ghazel turned to one another, smiled, and high-fived the other.  

"I think I've got enough footage and soundbites to make a great promo video for this place."

"Great!" Josh said.  "Before you go, you should join us for dinner in the food hall.  And after that, we'll be doing some singing around a campfire tonight.  We have a special song we've composed.  It would be great to add this to the video as well."

"Sounds great!" said the cameraman.  

All three exited the cabin to meet the campers and other staff for dinner.  

Meanwhile, when everyone was gone, a menacing creature appeared from the woods behind the building and peered inside to the room where they had just been filming.  It was filled with malice and hatred towards the place on what it felt was its land.  It took out its hands with razor-sharp claws and scraped across the side of the cabin, leaving visible horizontal line marks.

Tales From Doomsday

By Nate Feldman

Part 1:

Josh, a human, and Ghazel, a witch, are idealists that have opened a summer camp, Camp Doomsday, where young humans and monsters interact with one another and form lifelong relationships.  Although they do not discuss it openly, they are in a romantic relationship.  

Their camp, long viewed suspiciously by the general community, faces a huge challenge when two longtime staff members, also a male human and witch, are attacked by a creature in the woods and vanish without a trace.  

Josh and Ghazel decide to shut down the camp for the summer in order to get campers and staff home safely.  However, when two human intruders to the camp, who are intent on burning the place to the ground, are killed by the monster in the woods, the Mayor of the town vows to do all they can to destroy this menacing creature.  

Josh, fearing an all-out war between humans and monsters, pleas with the local city council to reconsider aggressive measures, but they send a group of law enforcement into the woods to fight the monster.  However, they are no match for it, and it eliminates the entire police force.  

At this point, war has begun between humans and monsters in town. Josh, heartbroken and disillusioned, finds what humans and monsters are still loyal to his vision and decides to remain at camp, waiting for the monster to confront them with the hope of somehow convincing it to stop its rampage, or at the very least understand its motives.

The monster arrives at camp, and Josh attempts to reason with it.  However, the creature ruthlessly attacks him and leaves him mortally wounded.  Horrified by the needless attack on Josh, Ghazel and the remaining staff, both humans and monsters, join forces and kill the monster.  

Ghazel, embracing her dying lover, assures him that humans and monsters can co-exist as the fact that they fought the monster together showed what is possible.

Ghazel becomes the leader of co-existence efforts in the community and has a son, half-human and half-warlock, who she names after his father, Josh.