2.2 I feel so free. I turned in my last real essay yesterday. It was a wonderful feeling, especially with the warm weather. Now I only have one more final next Wednesday and then I am graduating! How are your finals going? Why not take a break from studying and enjoy this chilling snippet that will make you think twice about going for a swim in a lake. Photographer: Unknown, found on mobay.vn. BTW...this picture may very well be a real place in Vietnam...the lake sirens are real, just saying.Koran and the Molara Flower
Koran stared out at the lake and the rickety bridge that scaled its entire length. The cloudy water was a light blue and contrasted sharply with the orange sky as the sun set, elongating the shadows around him. Nothing moved under or above the lake; no biting mosquitoes, buzzing flies, or shimmering fish. The unnatural silence made the hairs on the back of Koran’s neck stand up. Koran knew he needed to cross the lake if he was to find the Molara flower that would restore his powers, but he was afraid. The lake sirens lived here, and they weren’t very friendly. They didn’t sing their victims into a trance like their cousins in the sea. Their song was paralyzing. It sapped the strength from the limbs of a person, immobilizing you so they could simply reach up and slowly pull you under, completely aware of your lungs filling with water but unable to do anything about it. Koran shuddered. Of all the deaths he most feared, drowning was among his top three.
“Are you going or not, little manling? I’m growing bored.” The sun sprite next to him pulsed gently absorbing the energy of the setting sun and storing it for the coming night.
“Don’t rush me, Sharra! I will cross when I am ready. Besides it would be madness to cross at night.”
“It is madness to cross at any time, manling. I think you are scared and are dragging your feet. Oh well, it isn’t my future that depends on your finding that flower. My kingdom isn’t facing war without its strongest fighter.” Despite her words of indifference, Sharra absorbed as much extra energy as she could. She had a feeling she would need it to fight the sirens.
Koran felt heat rush through his chest and face at her insults. How dare she call him a coward! His left hand curled and he tried to draw on his power before he remembered it was gone. His anger puffed out like a snuffed candle. The sprite was right. His people needed him. They were depending on him to return with his power so that he could defend them against the Bloodwalkers. He didn’t have time to waste. Koran drew himself up to his full height, drawing on all his courage and strength. If he ran across with no breaks, he just might be able to outrun them and avoid a fight.
“You are right, Sharra. I will cross now.” And with that, Koran took a deep breath, stuffed wax in his ears and took off at a dead run across Paralysis Lake, sending vibrations through the water with each pounding step he took. Deep below the surface, something stirred and began to swim upward only to be joined by another and another until dozens of shadows crept closer to the foolish traveler.
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