The Destiny City Reservoir opened about two years ago and is an easy escape from the big city. It’s a five minute drive outside of the Eastern side of town and features clear water and sandy beaches--although, the sand here is notorious for squeaking when you step on it. It’s a hot spot for all fun summer activities, but it’s been in the news for mysterious reports of some strange, aquatic monster. Some accounts say they’ve spotted a twenty foot long, snake like creature capable of rearing a long neck high above the water. It’s hard to tell if the videos are doctored, but there are too many rumors to dismiss easily. Something strange might be lurking deep in the water. Or it’s just a hoax to get people out to the Reservoir!
But…Sometimes, people feel like something is grabbing their ankle, even if they are just wading in the shallow end. In the deeper parts of the water, it gets a little more intense: something has been said to grab onto ankles and pull. People have been warned about dangerous pranks, but so far no one has been caught. In the shallow end, anyone unfortunate enough to be targeted may feel themselves being knocked off their feet and tugged into the water; anyone in deep water may feel a firm grip on their ankle, tugging them lower and lower. Somehow, anyone it targets is freed--either by wriggling and fighting, or because someone intervenes and pulls the would-be victim up. No one has drowned in the lake. Yet. It's impossible to see who, or what, is doing this, but it usually gives up after one failed attempt. Usually.
While you may find yourself harassed by the supposed cryptid, or see something visibly odd in the distance, you cannot take any pictures of the creature. Who knows if you’re even being attacked by the cryptid–or just another youma?
But…Sometimes, people feel like something is grabbing their ankle, even if they are just wading in the shallow end. In the deeper parts of the water, it gets a little more intense: something has been said to grab onto ankles and pull. People have been warned about dangerous pranks, but so far no one has been caught. In the shallow end, anyone unfortunate enough to be targeted may feel themselves being knocked off their feet and tugged into the water; anyone in deep water may feel a firm grip on their ankle, tugging them lower and lower. Somehow, anyone it targets is freed--either by wriggling and fighting, or because someone intervenes and pulls the would-be victim up. No one has drowned in the lake. Yet. It's impossible to see who, or what, is doing this, but it usually gives up after one failed attempt. Usually.
While you may find yourself harassed by the supposed cryptid, or see something visibly odd in the distance, you cannot take any pictures of the creature. Who knows if you’re even being attacked by the cryptid–or just another youma?
The night was hot and sticky, like a wet blanket around Beta Leporis. The sensation was only made worse this close to the water, where mosquitos buzzed and moisture rolled off of the water like a fog further covering Beta and coaxing sweat from her pores. It was the same as every night before that, but at least it was marginally better than the day, when the sun was beating down on her. The cicadas were even singing that night, filling the air with the white noise of their call.
When Beta had last seen her sister, there had been nothing aquatic about her. In fact, she had looked distinctly leporid. A cruel joke of chaos, Beta had always assumed, to make her sister more closely resemble her sphere when it took her. Off and on she wondered if she wouldn't be made into some monstrous bowl of mochi if it had taken her. But no. Alpha had taken the form of a rabbit when Beta had last seen her, but that was six months ago now. She had no idea what chaos was capable of once it had someone in it's grasp. She had no idea how many times it twisted its victims or what shapes it make them into. No matter what her sister looked like when she lost her, there was no telling what Alpha looked like now. Chaos could have twisted and warped her further as she'd been steeped in it.
She was also not certain what Alpha's abilities had been when she was twisted. She knew youma had different abilities, and while Alpha had grown nasty little claws, there could have been other abilities. Alpha could… for all intents and purposes… be anything.
There was nothing saying that this thing in the water couldn't be her. Except for the thousand and one dead ends she'd hit before.
Beta was beginning to wonder what the point of even looking was anymore. There was no way for her to know if Senshi who had been totally youmafied could even be saved. So even if she could find her sister... was there any hope? And what if she found her sister and found out that there truly was no hope at all? What would that do to her? How would Beta go on? Beta herself had been saved, but she hadn’t been fully given over to the chaos at the time. Alpha was a whole different story. What if… what if it was too late?
She couldn't dwell on that. If she dwelled on that then she'd be giving up. So she pushed the worry and the doubt from her mind and kicked off her boots instead. She waded, barefoot, into the water, quietly whispering her sister's name.
"Alpha? Alpha, is that you? Alpha, it's me."
There was no answer. There never was. Only the droning cry of the cicadas and the gentle sound of the water lapping against her legs. Above her, the endless black sky stretched and kept its silence. From her pocket she drew the bright blue star charm that reminded her so much of her sister’s fuku and rubbed her finger across the shining surface.
“I… I got you a gift… Imagi…”
