The dense fog skates across the damp forest floor, coating my next steps in mystery. Hints of vanilla still waft in the air, teasing me with her presence. Nightfall is fast approaching, so I instruct 306 and 701 to scout a place to set up camp for the night.
I refuse to go back empty handed.
She’s close. I can feel it like an itch I can’t scratch. We stumbled across a pool, the water seemingly untouched, and I would’ve thought she would have set up here. Maybe she’s smarter—stronger—than we—I—gave her credit for.
The trees offer a nice shelter, but nothing can combat the eerie silence blanketing our surroundings. The temperature continues to drop at a rapid rate, my breath getting easier to see under the glowing moon.
“Are you sure you want to stop here?” 701 asks. His voice sounds far away. My eyes search around the brush, scanning the area until I do a double-take and land on a shadowy figure by theshimmering water.
“It’s as good a spot as any,” I say. A massive splash sounds from where he had been standing, and before I can blink, he disappears beneath the surface. If I hadn’t just seen him there, I would’ve sworn he was never there at all.
“Stop fucking around. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” But 701 doesn’t respond. Instead, 306 chimes in. “We should just keep going. If she’s close, we could be going home in the morning.”
“No. We camp then detain her in the morning. That’s an order.”
306 stands up straight, cocking his head to the side. “Who put you in charge?” For fuck’s sake, I don’t have the energy for this. If I had known I’d be stuck with a bunch of egotistical assholes, I would have opted to come alone.
I sigh. “Put your dick away. This isn’t a pissing contest. If you have a problem with the order, take it up with our commander when we return.” Before he can respond, our focus shifts to the rustling water where 701 had been moments ago.
We rush over, but when the water appears still, both of our brows pinch together in question. Then 701’s head breaches the surface, and he gasps for air, flailing his arms like a godsdamn lunatic.
“Something—” He gasps before being pulled back under.
What the hell?
When he comes back up, 306 and I waste no time, each grabbing one of his arms to pull him to shore. But whatever is latched onto him is strong—reallystrong. 701 screams out in agony when a distinct pop sounds off, echoing off the trees and resulting in both his shoulders resting at an odd angle.
Calling on my shadows, I lasso them around his torso, and finally, with the extra help, we’re able to pull him out and onto solid ground. Long gashes shred down his calves, and bloodflows down the sides. I don’t know why, but I think I’ve…
Could’ve sworn…
No, you haven’t.
Yes, I have.
No, you haven’t.
“Fuck, man. What’s down there?” 306 asks. His previous demeanor quickly vanishes and is replaced with an awful lot of fear. Part of me doesn’t blame him. The reality is we don’t know what kinds of creatures inhabit these woods…or the water, apparently. But our commander sent us because we are the best of the best, and I wonder how he would react to knowing two of his top soldiers are pissing their pants over a little sea monster.
“Pull it together, 306. Whatever is out here, we’re intheirterritory now. However, that isn’t to say we can’t retaliate for the blatant attack.” The suggestion is hidden between the words, and while 701 withers on the muddy ground—no doubt about to get an infection—306 understands the order.
My shadows stir inside me, slithering around like snakes, excited to be set free. I unleash them into the murky abyss, and I feel them searching, hunting, for the creature lurking beyond the depths. A wisp of something catches my inky tentacle’s attention, drawing it to follow. But it disappears just as fast, vanishing into the darkness again.
The water stills, completely unbothered as I lie in wait for movement. Maybe it’s also lying in wait, and I’ve gone from the hunter to the prey. Then out of nowhere, I’m hit with a ball of ice. The shards ricochet off my face and scatter around me—the only reminder I didn’t make it up.
My shadows recede back into me, settling back into my bones. 306 stares in shock, but I’m curious. Before I can say anything, 306 pushes his hands into the soil, and he begins to cover up the glistening water, bit by bit, enclosing whatever is in there along with it.
“Stop!” I yell, but he doesn’t listen. We could use the creature. All we have to do is capture it. Commander will be pleased. If we bring back a new toy, new project, that will prove my worth.
701’s breathing becomes shallow, but he’s the least of my worries. He can die knowing it was due to his own stupidity. Lashing my shadows out, they wrap around 306’s neck. “I said stop.” And he does, needing his hands to give reprieve from the growing noose.
Dropping him, he lands hard, but I don’t care. The water sings with hopes and promises, beckoning me to see what sits on its floor.
An arm abruptly shoots out of the surface, inching toward 701’s foot that rests a few inches from the edge. Lightly colored scales outline its flesh, moving up its arm until the rest slowly fades from sight.
The creature grips around 701’s ankle, hoping to drag him back under to face his demise. But I step on the limb, not allowing it to make any further advances. There’s a muffled cry, causing bubbles to erupt from below the water’s surface. Cocking my head to the side, a head slowly emerges, and I’m stunned when I’m met with glowing yellow eyes. They pulse with intensity, like the brighter they are, the more lethal it becomes. When the face finally comes into full view, the features of the woman’s face are subtle and youthful but, at the same time, looking hard and pained.
The light steadily dims, and when it finally goes out, speckles of amber dot her hazel eyes. I keep my shadows at the ready, keeping them floating as extensions of myself, prepared to unleash them at any moment. If she takes it as a threat, she doesn’t show it. Whether that’s because she’s scared and she knows she won’t win, or if she is unbothered because, to her, we’re not a threat. And that unknown keeps me on edge.
