"I love you, Annie. It'll be ok, really." He fondled her wet bottom, and she gave into his will. Eagerly he peeled off the remaining veils of cloth seperating him from his desire.

Annie stoood a rare beauty. Subtle tenderness clung to her smooth flesh. As dew on a rose blossom.

Allen took her hand and led her back into the water. They waded in waist deep...right to the edge where it dropped off to a place no one ever touched bottom.

Allen cupped a milky white breast, and nuzzled a pouting nipple. While his other hand got busy fishing between Annies thighs.

"Mmm...." She moaned softly running her nimble fingers through her mans wet hair. She looked up casting her gaze beyond the thinning canopy of shedding trees at a ghostly moon hanging high in a star splashed night sky. Red, orange, yellow , brown and green oak and maple leafs float about romancing the couple. Little messengers of a dying time. When nature reveals harsh realities . That cycles of life spin in e'er expanding circles. Until each form no matter how minute, or immense eventually reaches the limit of its self and dies.

A gathering of leaf boats began to spin , and a pair of green eyes surface. An arm knifed up, pale blue fingers stretch out, then close into a tight fist . A link is formed between the spirit of the pool, and the forest . Their thoughts pulsed as a single mind. Each aware of the other.

"Wha' wuz that?"

"What?"

"I thought I heard something ."

"Oh Annie...Your just shy. Aint nobody out there. Not within a mile of this place."

"No! Not the wood. In the water. I heard something."

"Ha ! It was only a catfish. Ole Whiskers aint gonna bother ya' . Not as long as Im here to protect you."

Shwish !
"There ! Hear it ?"

"Yeah ...You swim back to the bank. I'll see what it is."

"No Allen. Lets get out of here."

"Hell Annie! You'd think you wuz a city girl. Just do as I say !"

Annie made for the bank.

{the young are a foolhearted lot}

Allen frog-kicked across the surface testing the water as he went. Once he reached where the disturbance had been. He paddled around, but found nothing amiss. A strong swimmer , he could hold his breath for 3 minutes. Diving he investigates further.

Moonlight beamed shafts of dim illumination. Enough light to see a distance in clear water.

Deeper and deeper he snaked into the liquid heart of Dark Hollow. He came to the main artery that fed the pool. Freezing water pumped from a dark cavern pushing against him. He struggled, but lost the fight.

Nearly out of breath..the diver twisted over and began an ascent.

Out of the gloom It appeared.

Terror in the ghastly form of a boy child dressed in a burial suit. Eyes fixed , and full of malice. The corpse reached out and grabbed hold of Allens ankle.

Startled, now frantic the swimmer looks down at what holds him below the surface. Daggard , long fingernails raked up his naked leg. In pain, horrified and out of breath Allen fought back punching at the rising fright . To no avail. It continued ripping flesh as it clawed up his torso. Face to face, it grimaced , drove scissor like fingers into its victims neck , ripped out his esophagus...then knifed bloody nails into the dying lads chest, and plucked out his beating heart.

The still mantle of death settled over the pool. Annie dressed hastly, and called out to her submerged lover.

"Allen..Allen! Answer me. Dont scare me like this," but no answer came up. Only the quiet still of the pool dotted by the sound of bubbles popping on the surface. Where Allen had dove.

"Oh dear ! What if hes drown ?" Her stomach turned into a writhing ball of worry striking at her wit.

"Allen !" Still no report . Only a faint whisper of wind wafting through the trees.

"Im going for help... " She put her shoes on and ran up the path. It was several country miles to the nearest home. She knew she would have to hurry, and that it was probably too late already.

Bubbles boiled in the center of Blood Creeks evil soul. First just a glimmer of an undiscernable form rose face the face became more distinct.

The Demon Seed rose from its watery grave...hovered above the crimson spot of its first kill, and flew across the pool as a possessed doll being pulled along by the Devil himself.

Annie ran as far as she could. She had to rest. She hadnt reached the clearing . Still in Dark Hollow a sense of dread seeped into every crevice of her being. The moon shone brightly . An owl whoo'ed. Followed by the howl of a hungry wolf.

Oh why did i allow Allen to persuade me to come along this night, she chastised herself. She had lied to her father and said she was spending the night at her cousin Marys . Her deception came to collect its due.

Spooky Tooth flew through dark trees seeking . His large green doll-like eyes searched the path below...there ! There she was limping along.

"Sh-h-h...I see you little girl."

"Oh ! Who said that ?"

"Sh-h-h ...Spooky Tooth might hear you."