The ultimate monster, continued…

A bloodthirsty concrete and metal monster, epic in scale, with hundreds or even thousands of lives lost beneath its span, possessing a dark and deadly history, stands as the gateway to a summer resort town. This sinister bridge selects and dispatches its prey with brutal efficiency, trapping and killing unwitting victims as they attempt to make the crossing. A monster that would happily accept the random willing victim, but is well prepared to capture and slay the unwilling as well. But how might this concrete beast locate, catch and kill its victims? And for what reason? The monster’s history would begin with our seaside town, tiny in scope and with far fewer summer visitors. A ferry service brings vacationers to the town, but that service is slow and time consuming, and is becoming overwhelmed by increased traffic. Worse yet was a recent disaster when a freak storm capsized a ferry which led to the deaths of many people. So the state decides to study the feasibility of building a bridge to ease congestion and speed travel time. Eventually, the construction of the monster begins, and some workers die while building it. These deaths set off rumors and tales of a worker who falls into freshly poured concrete and is buried alive, his body forever trapped in one of the bridge piers. Also, it is noted that the state chose the designer and builder of the bridge because it would be made from a special kind of concrete and steel that would need little if any major maintenance for well over one hundred years. But there is a catch – a huge caveat to be reckoned with for having such a low maintenance bridge.

This newly built monster opens to much fanfare, complete with a parade, politicians and other dignitaries, and the opportunity for all to walk the span before it opens to vehicle traffic. It looms high across the water and its seven hundred foot tall towers can be seen from many miles away, day or night. The road deck lies some two hundred and sixty five feet above the water, and its main span is almost three thousand feet long. Total length is more than five miles, not including the portions over land. Everything goes according to plan, and the newly built bridge is a success. The more easily accessible land becomes a boom town, and its economy flourishes. Trade increases dramatically between the once separated regions, and, it appears, everyone benefits in some ways. Well, everyone except for the few unlucky individuals selected by the monster ever so often. This monster lies in wait, like a crocodile lurking in a river, patiently anticipating the arrival of potential prey. Then the herds arrive, thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and other hoofed animals, nervously approach the crossing. Some seem well aware of the danger, while others just blindly blunder into the water. And likewise come the summer tourists, some approaching the bridge with trepidation, or even outright fear, while most just make the crossing without a thought of what lies beneath them. And once the herds begin crossing the river in masses, the crocodiles begin their feast. The vast majority of the herd will make it to the other side, but there will be a few animals that will face a grisly death in the jaws of a scaly monster.