Lauren Poltorak ‘26
Cryptozoologist
When you think of Holy Cross, what comes to mind? Is it the ivy-covered buildings? Is it the long nights studying at Dinand? Perhaps it’s the many famous alumni who have passed through these halls. There are plenty of things that could come to mind, though something that I’m sure you didn’t think of is the supernatural. A lesser known aspect of Holy Cross lore are the numerous mythical beasts that roam our fine campus. Some are benevolent protectors of our community, others are quite sinister, and a few remain shrouded in pure mystery. In order to raise awareness of these fine creatures that bless this sacred campus, I have taken it upon myself to investigate the true nature of a select few beings that leave their mark in unexpected, yet important ways.
Creature that Gives Students Energy to Complete their Assignments Last Minute
Our first creature is a kind and generous being that I’m sure all of us have felt the effects of at some point during our time at Holy Cross. It has not been observed to have a physical form. Instead it roams through the libraries as a sort of miasma, taking hold of stressed students who are struggling to come up with a thesis for an essay they had a month to complete. Those who are blessed by these beings are given a burst of motivation to complete all of their last-minute assignments right before the deadline. Unfortunately, some unlucky students are not visited by the creature, leading to missed deadlines and extreme burnout. It is unknown why it chooses to avoid certain students. Despite its unpredictable and invasive nature, this creature is much beloved by all students–whether they realize it or not.
Queen of the Night Demons
The Night Demons who roam the shadowy corners of campus do not exist without a ruler. The Queen of the Night Demons is a horrifying, yet glorious creature who holds command over all of the Night Demons. She takes a more abstract form, with geometric patterns that form her main body. Her head is crowned with one singular eye that immediately vaporizes anyone who looks into it. She is the last link between the ancient Shadow Folk who once dominated the land that would become Holy Cross. All offerings gifted to subservient Night Demons are ultimately gifted to her to satisfy the ancient treaty the Shadow Folk have with the college. Failure to comply with her demands would only lead to catastrophic consequences for us all. Something far beyond the mere destruction of our campus.
Garrett, Kimball Chef
In the bowels of Kimball dwells a humanoid beast with a bizarre affinity for cooking. Dubbed “Garrett” by the Kimball staff, this creature can be either the backbone of the Holy Cross community or a senseless monster who enjoys torturing students through its vile cuisine. It is reported that Garrett loosely resembles a human man, looming at about 8 feet tall with unnaturally long fingers and hands that are constantly attending to grills. It commands all of the cooks in Kimball and also creates the menus, resulting in horrors such as Hawaiian night. We don’t know the origins of Garrett
Tomo
There are few who know about the true nature of our beloved therapy dog, Tomo. Indeed, under his huggable, teddy-bear like appearance lies a beast far more terrifying than our mere human comprehension. As students run their hands through his thick coat, this foul beast steals vital life force from students, fueling his power so that he can achieve his ultimate goal: the destruction of mankind. Behind his adorable, black eyes lies an inextinguishable rage and hatred for any and all humans who cross his path. Experts are unsure as to how much more life force Tomo requires to unleash his fiery wrath, but there is reason to believe that our doom at his fuzzy hands is rapidly approaching. Next time you go up to give him his pets, you may want to think about the potential doom that you are bringing ever closer. Truly Tomo is a beast to be feared.
Image courtesy of Pexels Free Photos
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