> **The Beginning**
> There was still a coolness in the air as Thomas walked through the park. The warming sun was about to break over the old maples by the playground, a golden gradient emanating from behind the treetops into the azure skies above him. Beautiful, he thought. He strolled on with the energy only a morning person could muster and made his way to the poolside locker rooms.
> Once inside, he changed into his usual bathing suit and crammed his gym bag into one of the lockers. They were cramped and who knows how old, the sort designed for longevity over function. But Thomas quickly moved on, shivering slightly from stepping on the cold tile.
> Now on the marginally warmer concrete, he examined the area before diving in. You never know with a community pool, he remembered. Pretty soon he’d have fallen leaves to contend with, but for now the water was actually fairly clean. Past the little fence around the pool deck Thomas saw someone walking their dog a little farther in the park. Not exactly private, he conceded, but at least it’s quiet.
> by @zeldacroft

## The Continuation- My part!
![images (4).jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPuQ79BAgvj9VkHg65cdX4fonH45jMJo5KEwZcvHvCLBK/images%20(4).jpeg)
<center>[Image source](https://images.app.goo.gl/8nDpE6THiiWvgpW79)</center>
Thomas took a dive. Olympic style. Both arm and feet causing the still water a slight disturbance. He’s had to maneuver his way to the pool surface more than once to catch his breath. On one of such count, the figure he’d seen earlier in the distance appeared right before him. Standing on the concrete floor of the pool side, but this time without the dog, a blonde in probably her mid-thirties. She had a pink jumpy swimsuit on. Something tells Thomas that the blonde stranger’s found custodian for her dog. The breeze was supercool and the atmosphere quiet. 

He mused within. 

_“Just the two of us, what could possibly go wrong?”_

She cat-walked the pool perimeter in slow motion as if to make an exotic impression. Her smile was definitely contagious. Thomas appeared totally mesmerized by this new found presence. He continued to glide gracefully on his back till his nostril submerge completely in the waters. He’s been in that same posture for more than five minutes and he just realized that. He tilted his weight back to the top for fresh air.

He wheezed for some time. 

The blonde lady stood transfixed.

Thomas was sure he saw her blush even though it only lasted few seconds. Three seconds maybe. He was pretty good at arithmetic and has always manage to give precise estimates which most times turn out to be correct. She did three backward stride then dashed into the pool causing the water a major splash. Thomas’s reaction was like that of an adventurer who’s had his eye fixed on the sought treasure. He wasted no time in throwing his weight forward and towards her.

His sixth sense suddenly gained momentum and the after-scenario played to the finish in his mind. 

“If Thomas had been asked what he was thinking at the moment,” he could swear it was _paradise._ 

As he approached, he stopped two-arms away. It was strictly impulsive, but a third-party would have a hard time believing Thomas wasn’t under a very powerful compulsion.

Thomas muttered under his breath three words, _“who are you?”_

She maneuvered close. 

Thomas was already freezing in the waters. There was definitely something different about the blonde.

He’s had a fair share of sweet ladies in the past. A man with experience such as his, could definitely tell when something is not right.

_“But what could that be?"_ He mumbled.

She positioned her head to level up with Thomas’s and kissed him.

His heartbeat skipped three-fold for some seconds. Now he was sure of his plight. The water was freezing all around him, and what he found ironic is that the sun was fully out in the sky.

He was freezing fast. His teeth clattered against one another. It was like in a fiction series, everything was going on well at first but then took a sudden turn. 

_“That was the peak of it,” he was scared._

More confusing was the feeling after the plummet. He wanted so bad to escape the grasp of the strange lady but the pool water won’t let him. Maybe she did something to the water. His current state transcended that of despair. He felt so small. The last time he felt that way was age four. That feeling of helplessness, like a scared little boy in the dark afraid of the darkness and everything that comes with it.

He began to sink but showed a lot of struggle. After rigorous flapping of his weight in the hostile water-body, his leg hit the metallic arm of the living room couch he crashed into the night before. 

His leg hurts.

Thomas jerked awake sweating profusely.

_Stupid!_ He murmured under a very tired breath.

Just another nightmare, he added and went to sleep the second time.

**The End!**


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