A lake in the distance shines brightly as I walk. The closer I get, the farther back it goes as if rejecting my touch. I continue to try and stroke the lake’s cool, lapping surface but only to get the same result. Why I’m unable to get close to this lake is a mystery to me, since for all I know there was no harm in it. As I tire out from the chase and slow to a stop thinking that, for some unknown reason, I wasn’t meant to get close to the lake.

"Should I just give up and stop here? Was it impossible to begin with, if so what have I been doing this entire time?" I ask myself, scratching my head and coming to a slow stop. The moment my feet pause, the water sharply rushes to my feet in a blur; all the while draining out, revealing a murky yellow bottom as the last drop recedes. Gazing at the once beautiful scene, I feel a tug. Frightened, I turn to escape and see a figure. It pulls at me, desperately trying to keep me from falling into the pit and straying too far. Pointing to the pit, it shakes its head.

‘One step and who knows what would have happened to you. Stay away from there or else.’ it states as it shifts its face (or what I assumed was its face)to attempt a smile. Slowly it succeeded in setting me down somewhere off the coast of the pit where we then sat.

“Wait, a minute!” I suddenly screeched aloud,” why did you help me? For all I know, you may just want to put me in even more danger. Why should I tru-?” as I said that as the figure stopped smiling and gestured again to the lake.

‘You are not ready for what is to come from jumping in that lake. Rest assured. I mean no ill intent, I just wished to help you out of the kindness of my heart,"tilting its head, it proceeded to walk towards me. 

"On another note, why were you chasing that dark pit? Did you not see that you were in danger?" it asked with a smug, yet worried demeanor.

Having said that, I could do nothing but stare off into space as I thought about it. What was so special about the lake that I just had to chase it? I truthfully couldn’t even understand what caused me to want to go to the lake. Especially now, as I look at its bubbly surface slowly turning darker with the passing second. As if it's agitated for some reason.

Wait a minute…

“WHAT THE HE-!” I started until the figure clasped a cold, clammy hand over my mouth. It brought a finger to where its lip should be and signaled for me to be quiet. Slowly out of nowhere, the once murky pit was turning dark as it turned into a glowing burgundy. At this point, I begin to realize that this possibly wasn’t even reality but a dream, though be that as it may, I don’t recall ever being a person to have dreams as weird as this. It feels all too real. Taking the figure's hand away from my face I give it a soft glare since I felt it was a little unnecessary for it to have done such an act, but before I could do anything further I saw its head turn back to the lake.

it said with a despondent tone," Be careful of what is to come. It appears you’re getting closer to being able to take the next step, huh? See you around" 

Finishing its little speech, the figure faded into the misty backdrop and left me in complete silence. Confused and with a blank expression,  I turn to see what had caused it to make that remark. Suddenly, with a soundless splash, a glowing ball rose from the pit and zoomed toward me. Horrified by its sudden movement, I try scooting back but stop due to the feeling of something pressing into my back. The ball flew straight at my chest when I heard a loud bang. Allowing a rush of ice-cold numbness to envelop my mind.