It was so small that he almost didn’t notice it at first. An orb of amber light suspended below the surface of the dark forest pool. He stood at the edge of the water, leaned forward, and watched as the light remained perfectly still. Cold water lapped over his trainers and seeped through the upper mesh, soaking his socks and through to his skin, sending a chill across his body. He shivered, but felt compelled to remain exactly where he was as though the light was reaching out of the water and holding him in place.

A single bubble burst on the surface, making a wet popping noise. It was followed by the sudden frantic flapping of wings as a large, dark-feathered bird left it’s hiding place amongst the leaves and launched itself into the night sky. Another bubble appeared, quickly followed by another and another, until the entire surface of the pool was alive, like water left to boil. A roaring noise overwhelmed the silent night and he covered his ears. The light ascended to the surface, twisting and turning around itself, spreading across the full width of the pool, bathing the shore and the surrounding trees in a fiery glow. The noise grew even louder and transformed into a thunderous rushing sound. The ground shook beneath him. He fell to his knees and gripped handfuls of soil and dead leaves, before closing his eyes and waiting for the world to rip apart.

He came to, lying on his side, curled up in the foetal position. There was grit in his mouth and cool water gently lapping against his face. It was dark again and the sound of roaring water had been replaced by a girl quietly humming a tune that he didn’t recognise. He sat up and watched her, unable to trust what he was seeing. She was in the pool, turned away from him, repeatedly gathering water in her cupped hands and rinsing her long copper hair. Her skin was as pale as porcelain and from what he could tell, she was completely naked beneath the water.

Dirt scratched at the back of his throat and he coughed, startling the girl in the water who spun around and searched the shoreline. Alarmed by his presence, she scrambled to the other side of the pool and stared at him, unblinking. He stood up, still coughing, before raising his right hand and silently telling her that she had nothing to be afraid of. She continued to stare at him, eyes wide, and her hands covering her vulnerability.

‘I…I’m sorry,’ he coughed out, grasping at his throat. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’

‘You shouldn’t be here,’ she warned, barely whispering.

‘I’m sorry,’ he repeated. ‘I was on my way home and got lost.’

‘You didn’t,’ she said, more forcefully this time. ‘You should go.’

He stepped closer to the edge and she tried to move further away. ‘What do you mean, I didn’t get lost?’

‘Just leave,’ she yelled, as six spheres of light suddenly appeared. The girl glided towards the centre of the water as bubbles broke on the surface, forming a ring around her. The ground started to rumble. ‘Run,’ she screamed, pointing towards the density of trees behind him.

‘I can’t,’ he responded. The pull he felt before was now coming from her, as though they were tied together for eternity. He couldn’t explain it.

She closed her eyes and tears ran down her cheeks.

‘I can’t leave you,’ he explained.

‘I know you can’t,’ she admitted.