All That Glitters

Chapter One

"That's not scientifically possible!"

Cassandra takes off their glasses, squinting in the daylight.

"Niko back me up here. It's not- I mean considering- The lake- And the population, especially over the years-"

Niko does not register that Cassandra is talking. Over the last four days, she's grown pretty used to blocking them out.

They tended to ramble quite a bit.

"Holy hell"

Cody looks at her cabin mates, checking, making sure that this wasn't just a trick of the light. That she's not going crazy.

"Holy HELL" she repeats.

"It's day four," Rajini mutters, shooting a quick glance at Fish "Fucking day four and this shit is being pulled."

Fish, apathetic in a way no one else there was, rolls her eyes.

She's seen this before.

She wordlesslessly starts rowing, trying to turn her canoe around. Despite her lack of skill when it comes to steering, she's confident in her actions. Unsure is Cody would join her.

Or if Cassandra, Rajini, and Niko could get their shit together.

Rajini seems to pick up the memo. She smacks Cassandra, still rambling, with her paddle, and shoots a look towards Niko. "Look, idiots, there's stickball tomorrow. I do not intend to get killed before I can show both of you up in stickball, you hear me?"

Neither Cassandra nor Niko respond.

She sighs, rolling her eyes. "Stop being such nerds and start fucking paddling."

Cassandra picks up their paddle. Tentatively starts paddling, growing more confident in each stroke. But just as the shore draws them in, just as they can feel their paddle brushing against the silt at the bottom of the lake, just as the cypress by the water starts calling them in, they take one look back.

Finds it looking them in the eye.

The monster in the lake is framed by emerald green trees, a pale shade against them. Its small eyes, inlaid on its wide and broad head, glitter black with a certain intelligence. Its gleaming long neck is implanted with short, diamond-shaped ridges that ran down its submerged back.

Perhaps the most uncanny thing about it is how it stays still. Not a muscle moves as its eyes scan over the two canoes. It waits, only signs that this is a living, breathing creature was its periodic blinking. It looks once again.

Eyes lock onto a kid who looks if they've seen a ghost. (Not yet, it thinks, but soon enough)

Who does not break eye contact with it despite their utter fear of this.

Who knows nothing about what goes on at this summer camp.

This kid is intriguing- certainly going to be the next, but not what it's looking for. Not yet, at least. There is still another road out. It will have to wait a little longer.

See which way the wind blows.