At some point in the night, I doze off, unable to keep my eyes open any longer. I wake up to the sound of my bedroom window slamming open and watch in horror as the breeze whisps the floral curtains to the side.

Before I can think, I run to the window and slam it shut, making sure the lock clicks firmly into place. When I look outside, I see nothing aside from the gentle breeze blowing against the lake, forming miniature waves.

As soon as I step foot outside of the house, the first thing I notice is a soft humming sound coming from the area of the boat house. Something deep inside of me tells me to turn around and march right back to my room.

Against my better judgement, I begin wandering in the direction of the noise. Similar to the previous day, I feel as if I'm in a trance. It's as though my body has lost all control, legs moving unconsciously.

Upon getting near to the boat house, I notice that the humming is actually full-blown singing. The voice is soft and sweet, like cotton candy. The tune is operatic in nature, swinging from note to note beautifully.

Just as I'm about to open the door to the shed, I notice a human silhouette lounging next to the water, the source of the voice. Must be someone staying in one of the nearby cabins.

"Hi, are you staying in one of the houses? I didn't know there was anyone else for miles," I inquire politely.

My voice clearly catches the person off guard and they dive head first into the black water. I wait for them to resurface and begin to get an uneasy feeling when they never do.

"Hello? Are you okay?" I ask, now on the edge of the lake, peering into the glass- like water. No answer. I know it's not long until the person drowns and I must act quick. I don't swim. My fear of swimming is the strongest it has ever been but not strong enough to let a person die.

I push down my anxiety, trying to silence every thought telling me this is a bad idea and begin stripping off my shoes and socks. What happened to Allison is still engraved in the back of my mind, but I decide it's better to take my chances.

Right as I'm about to pinch my nose closed and dive into the lake, I hear a small splash near the surface.

"Do you need help? I'm coming in," I exclaim while straining my eyes to see the person.

It's only then that I notice a pale, of around my age peering out of the water. Purple eyes. This catches me off guard and momentarily I consider running back to the house but it's as if I'm rooted in place.

"Maybe it's you that needs help," she replies. Her voice reminds me of wind chimes, so melodic I hardly process the ominous words she's speaking. She swims closer to me and it's only then that I notice how ethereal she is.

Her dark hair fans out around her in wisps, water droplets sticking to her eyelashes and her lips- her heart shaped lips. She eyes me suspiciously and yet there's something similar to curiosity there as well. I feel stunned into silence, not quite recognizing the feeling blossoming in my chest. I feel a sudden urge to take the rest of my clothes off and jump into the water, but I resist the temptation.

"W-why would I need help?" I ask, hating the quiver in my voice. I clear my throat and straighten my posture, hoping it'll make me sound more self- assured, more confident.

The girl swims even closer until her hands are gripping the sides of the rocks. Webbed fingers. Momentarily I question whether I had ever gotten out of bed at all, if this is one strange dream.

"You and your friends are not safe here, you should get far away from here before it's too late," she answers with a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

"What do you mean? Who are you?" I question, scared of her response.

It's only now that I realize something else in moving in the water near her, down near her feet. I quickly turn on my flash and aim it at the water.

This startles her and before I can stop her, she's plunging herself back under the water.

Not before I catch a glimpse of something I'd never in my life thought I would see.

Shimmery pale blue scales reflect against the moon. The girl in the lake has a tail.