Thwack. Slosh. Whoosh. Splash.

I rowed my boat down the sedate river. Nature had been my friend today- I had escaped the rapids that usually troubled these waters. The tip of my yellow canoe was barely discernible against the backdrop of the purple night sky. A million stars seemed beaded into the river bed below me- they twinkled in the shimmery water I was cutting through. Deep below, I could make out the outlines of pebbles and rocks- glittering in the starlight. Little fish swam alongside me, a particularly frivolous one occasionally popping out of the water and diving back in. A gentle breeze caressed my skin and tickled my neck. The rustling of leaves, hooting of owls and rhythmic sounds of my oar lulled me into a trance. I set down my paddle soon after, and laid down. I could feel the splinters breaking skin, but the tranquility had soaked in so deep that I hardly cared. I closed my eyes.

Swish. Thud. Crack. Growl.

I bolted upright, a shiver running down my spine. Looking about frantically, I hurriedly reached for my weapons-pepper spray, a baton and a scythe. I’d had to scare away animals and cut down obstacles in the form of weeds before. As a thorough boatwoman, I’d gotten used to the occasional scare. I was utterly bemused by my jitteriness. Peering into the clear waters below, I could make out the outline of a fin rocketing away. I silently laughed at my overreaction. Nevertheless, I breathed a sigh of relief. Ordinarily, I would have laid back down, idyllic air restored. Maybe even dozed off for a short, blissful while. But I was too high-strung to relax. Reluctantly, I picked up my oar and prepared to paddle away. I cursed myself for my blind fear.

Snap. Grind. Screech. Gush.

I know not whether I screamed aloud or stood frozen in shocked silence as I felt my oar snatched away from me. I do know that the second I heard the snapping of wood and the gnashing of teeth, my mind exhorted me to flee. In desperation, I reached down and used my hands to attempt to paddle myself to the shore. I know I screamed when I heard an ungodly shriek and felt my finger snap off. I picked up my hand, bleeding heavily, blood gushing down my arm. The water had been stained a deep scarlet, slowly dissipating. I felt my boat sink- the monster had cracked it. My eyes widened as I saw a long serpentine form shoot up into the air. I was drenched by the spray, and in those moments, I relished the delicate coolness of those cursed droplets.

My mother always told me that I’d been born in the river. That she’d pushed and struggled amidst the very whistling dolphins and hooting owls and glooms trees that lamented my fate today. That I’d wailed louder than the rushing current, and that my discordant cries blended quite harmoniously into the sounds of nature around us. There was nothing harmonious about my unnatural screams anymore. I guess it was only fitting that I met my end by the lake.

Crunch. Slurp. Splash.

Silence.