A Collection of Stories

10 Feet Deep

There was once a hole in the ground. It's surely still there, although no poor soul has ever stumbled upon it after what happened so many years ago.

So yes, there is a hole, 10 feet deep, with a diameter of around 10 feet wide, the earth rotting away at the sides, folding into itself as the murky water lying inside lapped around the edges.

It lied deep within the woods, perfectly preserved for years. Undisturbed, the woods went on without it. The birds chirped and the grasshoppers stretched their green legs as each spring rolled around. But all the animals and insects stayed far away from the hole. They knew. It lied this way for many moon cycles, the wheels of time turning around it.

Until the boy took a walk through the woods and fell through. Fell down deeper and deeper. He tried to get out, of course, they all do, but what good does it?

None.

That boy was never seen again. Sucked down, the water pushing through his lungs, the murky substance squeezing all the air from his throat and he slid down into the darkness.

He didn't struggle.

But the girl just wouldn't give up. My brother, she would say, I have to find my brother. And off she went, her slick rubber boots slapping the cold branches on the bottom of the musty forest floor.

She was a naive little creature, her mind filled with stories and what ifs and the possibility her sweet brother would waltz out of the woods looking brand new. Her good spirit always disappeared as the sun went down though, the black trees clouding her mind as the thorns dug at her tender skin. She ran quickly, feeling the shadows breathing down her neck.

It wasn't until the 424th day of looking did she find him. He sat at the edge of the hole, a bright grin stretched across his face. Her body went rigid with fear; he hadn't aged. The hands of time had seemed to stop for him; not even a shadow was casted over his jaw.

Her mind was exploding with questions, but her focus suddenly snapped towards the hole, the grey water sloshing as her brothers calves swished through it. He gestured for her to sit, his warm hand encasing hers. She did as he did. Her legs slid into the water, the milky warmness filling her worn rubber boots.

Transfixed, she followed her beloved brother into the water. Curls of blood floated on top of the opening like oil, and she could feel the water was heavy, pulling her slender body towards the bottom.

And it did.

Hand in hand, they sank lower and lower. A smile was still resting on his face as their heads submerged in water, their souls being sucked down 10 feet deep.

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I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I know I'm overdue for an update but I really hope this made up for it! Votes and comments are appreciated! :))

Green's next!

Red