Chapter 1

Wet Curiosity

Pouring rain fell heavily against the windowsill outside, while I sat quietly lost in thought. I listen to the silence of the wind and the birds, smiling at the thought of having a look at where they might be. Past the back fence was the small lake I have always adored at such a young age, but I'd never had the chance to swim underneath its clear blue surface. Ever since the age of five my parents had always thought I was fanatical, telling them stories about something in that lake I swear I saw when I was little. I remember them scolding me a thousand times, 'Anna, you silly girl. Can't you see I'm busy, I don't have time to listen to your crazy stories, now please leave me alone!' Usually the next day I would find myself gazing into the unbelieving eyes of a psychologist, being told that I'm not 'social' enough and that 'I must stay out of that lake.' However since they got divorced and moved away to the city I got this house to myself and now I was my own self.

I stand up slowly trying not to kill my cramped knees on the way, trying to remember how long I've been sitting in that one spot for with my cold cup of coffee. I guess I knew it would be cold outside, but it didn't seem to cross my mind at that present time. I straitened my dress, which was spaghetti strapped and was yellow with white spots. I picked up the nearest jumper I had touched with my searching fingers, which was white and looked more like a coat to me. I hesitated wondering if what I was about to do something I was actually going to achieve. Pulling on some thongs while tugging at my hair-tie, allowing my long brown hair to fall around my shoulders. Grasping the door handle I opened the door, which led to the overgrown backyard of mine.

At first it wasn't so cold, but as soon as I made it to the weeping willows just against the edge of the clear lake, I started to feel the chills running up and down my spine. My long brown hair stuck to my cheeks and neck as the rain poured down on me. I had soon discarded the coat, gasping as the frosty air touched my exposed skin. Breathing in deep breaths, I shivered at the thought of how cold the water must be. I stepped unwillingly into the freezing clear water that almost seemed to call for me. Each step I took seemed to lead me closer to the time I would have to dive, while my legs numbed in response of giving up, threatening me that they would collapse on me soon.

I took one last needed breath and then dived into my own curiosity. At first it didn't seem like I was under water, but as I opened my eyes I could feel the flush of warmth in my cheeks disappear. My blood seemed to stop and freeze in place, as I screamed and swallowed mouthfuls of water, while never-ending eruptions of bubbles escaped my frozen lips. I swam towards the light, hoping that I would find myself surface at a beach of a tropical island of 35 degrees. Unfortunately I found myself gasping and spluttering water like a drowning cat, using unnecessary energy to stay afloat. At first I was still shocked cold, but after I while I found myself bubbling with laughter. Forgetting about the cold I dived once again into the darkness beneath me.

This time I opened my eyes as soon as I was under, finding it really clear and bright. Little fish swam around pebbles and reeds at the bottom; their scales shimmered and glittered from the sunlight above. I swam deeper towards the rocks and picked up something that looked like a thin piece of a weed. I don't know why I picked it up but something in my head was telling me it was special. I held it until I got to the surface where I floated and had a better look at it. I realized after a few seconds that it wasn't a small reed at all; instead I found out that it shone in the sun and were hints of gold beneath the dirt and mud of the river. I pulled it through the water with my hands and wiped it with my yellow dress, while trying to stay afloat at the same time. To be holding in my hand a golden necklace. On the end of the necklace was a fragile gold heart, which I immediately fell in love with. I kicked franticly while attaching the necklace around my neck. After pulling my eyes away from my newly found treasure, I dived into the lake once again. To my astonishment, the water felt almost warm now. I swam towards the other side of the lake where I hadn't been yet. The rocks began to get bigger and the reeds started to get longer. I pushed a piece of hair out of my eyes looking around me in awe. Something brushed my leg, as I screamed, I found out that the scream I produced didn't sound muffled or uncoordinated. Instead I found that it sounded almost clear, like an invisible field of air surrounded me.

I turned around with my flailing arms, finding my self to be looking into the eyes of a person. He looked my age, or maybe a little older, seventeen maybe. He floated in the water without moving, wearing only some shorts, while smiling at me with perfect teeth.

I gasped, 'Oh. My. God!'

He looked at me up and down through curious eyes.

'Are you okay? I haven't seen you for ages, where have you been?' he asked. His hair swayed with the little currents of the water, while his green eyes looked patiently back into mine.

'What? I, I, don't understand.' I stuttered. 'I don't remember you at all. I'm sorry.'

A flash of sadness was exposed in his eyes for a moment, but then he smiled.

'Well then, you'll just have to get to know me again then. My name is Harvey Andrews and I will be escorting you in this underwater world of ours,' He said, bowing his head slightly. I laughed realizing it gave a natural sound to my ears and gazed back at Harvey.

'Well, my name is Anna Barnett. I don't know what is going on, but I feel like I am dreaming. And to be honest…I really don't want to wake up right now.' I gushed. Finding myself blushing immediately and wishing I hadn't just said that there and then. So I quickly said, 'and if you want, you can come back to my house. If you want.'

I pulled my gaze away from my hands and looked up towards where Harvey had just been. However he was now nowhere to be seen. I pulled towards the surface, breaking through the water as I gasped a lung full of air. The sky above me was now a pinky color and I could tell it was about five o'clock in the afternoon and that I should be getting back home soon. It had now stopped raining and the birds in the trees had begun to sing their melodies once again. My thoughts wondered when suddenly my ankle was clasped by something, which pulled me under the surface again. My facial expression must have been pretty funny because Harvey thought it was hilarious.

I didn't actually realize how close he was to me until I actually opened my eyes. My heartbeat started to race and I suddenly froze in place. I could hear my rapid pulse in my ears and I hoped he couldn't hear it too.

'You, you, you scared me!' I chocked.

'I'm sorry Anna.' He chuckled. 'You should have seen your face though.' I could see he was trying to keep a strait face, but his lips started to quiver and then he exploded with bubbles of laughter.

'Well, I didn't find it funny at all. I was just wondering if you wanted to come back to my place for dinner?' I asked frowning a little. I hoped I didn't look too desperate when I asked though. He stared at me in despair and grief, like he was a little kid who just lost the balloon he was determined not to break.

'I can't.'

'Huh? What do you mean you can't?' I gazed into his green eyes, which seemed to look sad and lost.

'Anna listen to me, I can't. You have no idea how many times I have tried, but the surface of the water won't let me escape. Once you take off that necklace you won't be able to see me anymore and if I want to be able to leave the lake, I have to find the other necklace, which is what I search for everyday and every night to find.' He explained with sadness in his voice, but he composed it.

I closed my eyes and listened to the peaceful sounds of my breathing and concentrated on not to touch him. I wanted it so badly to comfort him, but I probably would look like an overly compassionate idiot.

'Anna?'

'Mmmm?' was all I said.

'Are you okay?' his voice was worrying and careful.

So I opened my eyes to see him even closer to me, his beautiful face was just inches away from mine. Okay, so my mind went blank and couldn't focus on anything except his lovely, endless green eyes, it's not my fault. Just because we were underwater doesn't mean I couldn't smell him or feel his breath on my neck. I didn't realize how dreadfully long I had been staring blankly at him until he smiled at me.

'Oh, um, I'm fine.' I whispered. 'Listen I should be getting home now, it's getting late and I have to um, feed Lola.'

'Oh, okay. Will I see tomorrow then Anna?' he asked smiling at me so innocently I almost forgot to breath.

'Sure, but please don't scare me like that.'

' That can easily be arranged,' he agreed swimming around me. Giving me one more dashing smile then he swam swiftly away into the darkness.

As I broke through the surface to my astonishment, was rather close to the edge of the lake to where my jacket and thongs lay there motionless. I smiled and walked out of the lake realizing it was rather warm now and that the rain had suddenly stopped. I swiftly picked up my jacket and put on my thongs and started to run home.

My heart was racing in my chest as I slammed the door shut. Lola came out behind the white leather couch to greet me with multiple meows and purring noises. Curving between my legs, she soon finds out that I am soaking wet and decides to keep her distance from me.

'Come on, Lola. Let's get you some cat food to eat. What will it be?' I coo childishly, walking into the kitchen with Lola following eagerly behind. 'Chicken with Lamb, or, Tuna?' I ask holding up two cans of 'Whiskers' cat food in front of Lola's nose.

She sniffs at them fussily and decides on the tuna by licking the side of the pretty colored can and meowing in satisfaction.

After Lola had been fed, I had a steamy hot shower and crawled exhausted into bed and examined the necklace I had found in the lake. It looked strangely familiar to me and made my fingers tingle when they came into contact with the tiny silver heart.

The chain was silver and thin to touch, giving me the impression of it snapping at the slightest tug. I also thought about Harvey. With his beautiful green eyes that seemed endless to look through and his brown thick hair swaying in the little currents that passed by. I wondered about what he'd meant when he said 'I haven't seen you for ages.' That might explain why I didn't even remember him.