What Lurks Below

The day is hot, you are tired from exhaustion as beads of salty sweat drip down your forehead. You see the nice cool water of the lake that seems almost too tempting. Testing the water by dipping your fingers in as the small fish in the shallow area swim away. You make your way into the water, the deeper you get, the more refreshing it is. You get to a point towards the the middle of the lake that only your toes are touching the sandy ground. The tiny ripples tickle your chin. You are completely relaxed, not thinking about anything, without a care in the world. If you were were actually aware of the large black shape that swam right past you, you would have been rather startled No, you have failed to realize that you are in danger. You close your eyes and slowly float but, the water touches your nose uncomfortably and you awaken. As soon as that happens, something smooth and slimy but, rather hard brushes against your ankles. Now that you have drifted a little farther from shore you need to swim a bit to keep your head above water. The unknown creature bumps into you again but this time just a little harder. You see its black, menacing figure swim away, its body shape blurred from the murky water. Unsure of what to do, you start to swim away. As soon as your legs kick something grabs of one of them. This monster of the lake has you in its razor sharp jaws. the pain flows throughout your entire body. It has been watching you since your fingers disturbed the water. It was far too big to be satisfied with all the other small fish that shared its home. You were an easy target away from your main element, land. Even an Olympic swimmer could not have gotten away. Its structure is a perfect design for a predator of water. You want to scream but you are dragged under water so fast you do not even have time to catch a breath. You can't see, can't feel, can't hear, can't breath. No smell, and no taste. All your senses are useless and all that's left to do is die. You have heard the stories and now you are about to become one. The creatures grip is impossible to get away from, and even if you did part of your leg would be gone and you would bleed to death. You never even had the chance to say good bye to the people you have loved. The jaws dig deeper into your flesh. All your strength is gone and your life is soon to be gone also. It drags you down even farther, your head compressed with the water surrounding. Life seems to have rushed passed you. Mind racing just wishing it would end. Finally everything slows down as the darkness takes over.

-THE END-

-By Ariel Pennetti

Age 12