The Water Lilie's

Just breathe

"So Jack, why were you sleeping?" I asked. "Don't we have scheduled plans?"

"After you incident yesterday, Ms. Erendale gave us the day off to recoup and relax."

"Oh... wow. I didn't want to ruin the trip for everyone." I sighed.

"Oh no, Em you didn't. She just wanted us to de-stress and remember accidents can happen but after today we are continuing our schedule just more cautiously. " He smiled. "Don't you worry. She still gave us something to do, she wants us to explore the small beach just down the road in groups, so we're not alone and write in our journals about the environment, and of course about the Water Lillies for our paper."

"Ok... Well, I might just stay here and take a nap. You and the others go on ahead ok."

"Okay, if that's what you want." He smiled and gave me a hug before heading off.

Jackson met up with Colton and Natasha and Eliza, they were already out on their own exploring. None of them except Jackson new I was back so I took advantage of that and went to go discover some things on my own. There's no rest for the wicked, I had to go do this exploring on my own.

Before I left I had straightened my hair and pulled a few strands to the sides so it wouldn't get so knotted in the strong winds, I changed into some new clothes and put on a pair of comfier walking shoes before sneaking off.

I left the cabin and I followed a little trail path somewhere off the hiking trail we had been on the other day. I soon approached a small pound, it was quite deep and I could tell it somehow connected with the ocean beneath the wetland marsh on the other side. I sat on a rock and stared at the Lilly pads that lay upon the water. I saw something move way below the water causing the Lilly pads to swivel and move around. It had to be something large to have done that. I decided to lean over the pound and reach my hand in when something wet and slimy grabbed it, a blueish, webbed hand came up and grabbed my wrist pulling me into the water the creature looked at me as I flailed around to get away from it but this time it seemed to have no intentions of hurting me, or at least not yet...

Her bony hand reached out and handed me a piece of seaweed and motioned me to eat it, she gave me a small smirk but not one that made me feel uncomfortable.

I lifted my head above the water and took in a deep breath. I could see her from beneath the water motioning for me to eat it. For some reason I trusted her, I put the seaweed in my mouth and began to chew, the taste made me gag. Once I swallowed a took another deep breath and lowered my head back under the water.

She grabbed my wrist and began dragging me down deeper into the small lagoon. She turned to face me again, and motioned for me to breath...and so I did. I'm not even sure why I did, after all, they did try to hurt me, more than once.

As soon as I breathed in I realized no water had entered my lungs but a small bubble formed around my mouth covering it. It allowed me to breathe, I was breathing underwater. I couldn't believe what was happening but I began to wonder why she wanted me to do this and what she wanted to show me.

Her sharp, shark-like teeth grinned.

"You're only one step closing to being like me now."

She spoke but her mouth didn't move, her words rang in my head. She pointed to my necklace and began to swim closer to me.

That belongs to us....someone has something that does not belong to her....!

Again her words rang through my head, her voice began to give me a screeching headache. It was a raspy voice, a gargled voice, it sent shivers down my spine. My hand grabbed the necklace and I began to kick my legs back and swim away. I swam further down, no longer having to hold my breath made everything so much easier.

What did she mean I'm one step closer to being like them?

Of course, she was a faster swimmer then I was, but she was still behind me, she looked as though she was taking her time.

Was this some kind of trap?

I scanned the area and suddenly realized just above me two more were swimming my way. I had nowhere to go. Two in front of me and one behind me. I am royally screwed at this point.

I stopped, I looked at them and smiled. I unclasped my necklace and waved it around in front of them.

"Here." I said, " take it."

All three of them swam towards me at full speed and I quickly dodged them and swam to the bottom of the rocks and seaweed. They were swimming around each other confused to where I had gone.

SHE LIED.

That's OURS.

I have no tolerance for this.

That was the final straw.

What has to be done, must be done.

I watched silently as they swam away. Every time I saw these creatures they looked worse and worse as if they were deteriorating; any day now they would just completely disappear.

Once the area was clear I quickly struggled to swim up to the surface. The gauze wrapped around my leg had fallen off and the water stung the claw marks in my leg which were slowly healing. It was completely bruised and any pressure placed on it was painful, but I'll live.

Once I took in my first breath above the water the bubble broke and I was able to breathe normally again.

I heard crunches of leaves and footsteps coming my way.

There is no way I can be caught like this.

I quickly held my breath and laid underneath the Lilly pads. The voices coming from the bushes were familiar. I heard Eliza talking to someone who's voice with quite hard to hear.

"I'm sure she's around here somewhere, she's going to be late for curfew. Don't worry Jack we'll find her." Eliza's soft voice spoke.

Their footsteps became closer.

I sat up from under the water and shook the Lilly pads off me which had gotten caught in my tangled hair.

"Emzy, What the hell?" Eliza yelled as she ran over to me. "Are you okay, did you fall in?" She placed her hands on my arms and helped me up out of the water.

I laid on the ground for a moment and squeezed out my hair and dress allowing the water to drip down onto the dry soil.

"Emzy, what's going on?" Jack asked.

"I have so much to tell you guys."

"Let's get you back to the cabin and dried off first, ok?" Eliza said and she helped me off the ground. I stood up and gave her a smile. She's such a wonderful friend.

Jack looked at me, his expression full of concern. I gave him a reassuring smile and placed the necklace back around my neck and re-clamped it.

We started walking down the trail, I quickly glanced back at the water too see the Lilly pads swooshing back and forth. Dark black eyes and a mop of black hair stared back at me. I picked up my pace and made my way out of the forest as quick as possible. That was enough for one day.