The year was 2005, me and my best friend, Andrew, were hanging out on the staircase. As usual, I was putting on my vibrant blue contacts since I hate my eye's natural color. I rushed to put my books in my backpack as the bell rang for the first period.

“Hey, Domingo, do you think my Metalica shirt looks dumb with these pants?” Questioned Andrew. 

“No, dude, you look great. Maybe next time you could wear a different jacket though.” I voiced “Well I have to get to class.”

“Okay, I am skipping, want to join me?” Questioned Andrew looking at his jacket, as he pulled it off to shove it into his backpack. 

“I guess I could, depending on where we are going,” I said as I lunged on my pack. 

“Oh, it’s this cool place me and my friends discovered over summer break!”

“Who are your other friends anyways?”

“Oh, they don’t necessarily go here,” pleaded Andrew “but you’ll love it!”

“I hope we don’t have to walk far. I am not wearing my running shoes.”

“You don’t have running shoes.”

“I do now, I got some yesterday, my mom hates boots so she made me buy sneakers.”

“Okay, just don’t fall, my friend fell once. I still laugh about it, it was hilarious!” Giggled Andrew.

“Bet, I have good balance and I don't see myself falling.” I replied as I ran down the stairs, almost flying, it was a cool sensation.  As I hit the floor my feet burned and my ankles were so sore but I am way too excited to care. 

On the path to this cool place I felt a cool breeze pass by and the crunch of the sticks under my feet sounded louder than normal. Forward to the right I see a large pipe, Andrew runs over to it and I start running.

“Hey! Wait up!”

“What, are you scared?” snickers Andrew.

“No– in fact I am not,” I remarked, “where are you anyways?” 

No response, that's weird. I run to the huge pipe and look around for any signs of human interaction. Still nothing, not even a footprint in the mud. I hear a russell in the distance but the pounding of fear fills my ears as I frantically search for my best friend.

  “Don’t be scared,” a voice states, “I love it here, do you?” 

“Uh, sure! Where are you?”

“Right in front of you silly!” 

“All I see is a snail and a tree, Where are you!?” I insist.

“Oh, I am the snail, if that's what you call me.” 

“Where's Andrew? What did you do with him?” I note as I look around for his backpack or hat that he was holding.

“He’s gone and if you keep standing there so will you.” 

“Okay, well bye!” I run over to the pipe and run across it. My foot slips. I am now on the floor, eye to eye with the snail.

“You should have listened to me!”

“Nope, you should have listened to me!” I say as I pull out one of my books from my pack so I can squash him. His eyes are gleaming with joy, he wanted me to hurt him. I probably shouldn’t, who knows what will happen if I do?

“Hey, dude over here.” Andrew pronounced while waving his hands in the air.

I blink and the snail is gone, my book has a wet trail on it but it looks years old. Picking my legs up and flinging my pack over my shoulder I cross the creek that is under the pipe. The rocks are slippery but it's the only way I can cross. Some rocks move, one in particular moves a lot. I look down and see the rock has eyes. Not the usual pet rock eyes though, no, these were the eyes of a killer.

“Hey, buddy!” Andrew adds, “Don’t go in the creek, that's how my other friends cross but it isn’t safe.” 

“Oh, don’t worry, I will be okay!” I responded, “The rocks are stable.” I lifted up one foot as I put the other down on the least stable rock. Bubbles tickle my foot and I am now face first in the water with the fish, that gleam in the light as the ripples disappear.