Isolophobia

I

Picture Credit: theinspirationgrid.com

Haiden pulled himself out of the pool, tracing the walls with his eyes. It was

a labyrinth of strange architecture. The ceiling, floors, and walls were all covered

in little white pool tiles. The pool itself was the same, filled with crystal,

emerald green water. The smell of chlorine stung his nose. He shivered, walking along

the labyrinth. His clothes were all wet. The windows by the pools were rectangle,

sunlight alluring through them. Some of the walls had circle windows that led to more

pools. The place was full of different shaped pools. Haiden walked into a small area

full of windows, shining down on a small pool. Next to the pool was a clothes line

with white swim trunks on it. A light breeze flowed through the windows. Haiden

tiptoed over, hesitantly taking the trunks off the line. He looked through every inch

of the swim trunks, making sure there was no trick, no monster, no threat. The trunks

seemed clear, but what about the pool? What if it was poison on his skin. What if the

sun burned him so bad he looked unreal. Haiden took a deep breath, deciding to trust

the strange pool. He slowly pulled his clothes off, putting the swim trunks on. The

wind hummed as he hung his clothes up to dry on the clothing line. He walked into the

pool, floating anxiously. The water gave him goosebumps, his whole body felt

freezing. He sat down in the pool, in front of one of the many wide windows. The sun

glowed brightly, almost blinding him. Its light became more powerful, filling the

whole area with golden, warm light. The pool filled with bubbles, boiling the water.

Haiden felt soothed by the warmth. Sinking deeper into the pool. He winced, grabbing

his arm. He held it as the pain vanished. The pool was healing him. "How can such a

beautiful place exist, when the last one was a nightmare?" Haiden whispered, basking

in the sunlight. He smiled softly, drifting into a state of sleep. He closed his

eyes, letting the warmth consume him. The area was quiet, the only sound was the

water bubbling around him. "Ack!" A voice yelled. Haiden jolted out of his rest,

turning to look behind him. There was another pool, filling up with red liquid.

Haiden quickly got out, investigating the red water. There was someone floating in

the pool. It was the boy from earlier, the one who ran from the monster. Haiden

swiftly jumped into the pool, grabbing the boy. "Hey! Can you hear me? Did it get

you?" Haiden shouted, a sense of panic washing over him. He picked him up, bringing

him to the other pool. He laid the boy into the bubbling pool, praying the pool would

heal his wounds. The boy winced, the bubbles taking effect. Haiden jumped into the

pool, holding onto him. He tried to keep him steady and comfort him as he groaned in