The House in the Lake

There is no kid in this land who hasn't grown up listening to the story of the God of our lake.

Long, long time ago, when demons and beasts walked freely on the world of the living, a demon ruled over this land. The air became dark and it slowly poisoned the humans. To sickness first, and then to death. The sunlight wouldn't reach the land. The earth became almost barren. The three rivers were polluted, and you could see dead fish floating down the stream. There was no lake then, or so the story says.

Once, while still a young boy, I asked my grandma, "But if all the fish died and flowed down the rivers, then there would be no more dead fish to float. Would there be?"

"It was the evilness of the demon that made the fish giving birth to eggs before dying, so that the people would keep seeing them, and despair."

And she said that as if I had spoken the greatest blasphemy. I didn't really get the explanation, but I got one thing. Or rather, two. Any inconsistency of the story would be "explained" by the evilness of the demon, and that it would be in my best interest not to challenge this.

So, anyway! Where was I? Oh, right! People were praying to the Gods for help, but help wouldn't come. Then a prophet came by. A holy man, as my grandma used to call him. A fucking bastard I would say, and you'll understand why, in just a while.

But before that, I can't help but saying it! According to the story, no human could leave the land. So, how did the "holy man" came and left? Was it the "evilness of the demon" that allowed it? I'm just saying, but I knew better than to have asked.

So, the prophet said, "The Gods have spoken." And he said that for the land to be saved, three young lads and three young girls should be sacrificed to each river. Fucking bastard! Right? And the people did that. If this is an accurate fact, I'm ashamed the same blood runs in my veins!

Anyway! So, at the night of the next full moon, the selected ones were sacrificed in the rivers. Remember the sunlight wouldn't reach the land? How could they see the moon, then? Yes, I know! "The evilness of the demon!"

And then, just before the break of day, a God appeared from the sky, shining bright. A God in the form of a young man, as beautiful as the nine young men and nine young women, who were sacrificed, all together. And where his foot stepped, appeared a small rock. And around the rock the Sacred Lake. And the atmosphere cleared, right away. And the rivers became blue and pure. And trees and flowers sprout from the earth. And everything was good. And everyone was happy. And the demon had gone.

If I were to be happy, I would kill myself in shame!

Right! And on this rock, a house appeared. And the God of the Lake lives in this house from then on, and he oversees us and blesses us with fishes and good crops and every good.

And that's why, on the first full moon of the year, we send small floats with incense and fruits and offerings from the land, in the lake, towards that rock.

"If you look carefully, when the mists aren't that dense, you can still see the rock and the house of the God."

And that's how the story ends. That's what everybody says. But nobody can really see that house. Some, maybe the rock. But not the house.

In my eighteen years, I have heard people who "saw" it describing it, each in their own way. I've seen many drawings and sketches, too. None of them the same with any other.

Some people tried to go to the rock, actually, to take photos of the house of the God. Some, never returned. Most of them, never found the rock. Some tried to take the photos from above. And although they swear they shot the photo while seeing the rock and the house, there is nothing but water in them.

So, most of the people of my age believe, both the rock and the house, are just illusions the mists and our imagination create. It's a rational and convincing explanation. But!

I can see the house, clear as day, and the rock it stands upon. I don't see the mists. I don't need for them to disperse. I don't need to guess if the bloody house is there, because it's there! I don't need to imagine how it looks. I see it as clearly as I see you. Well... you know what I mean.

And not just that!

From time to time, I can see a young guy – beautiful; I won't say he is not – sitting on the porch, looking at our land. I clearly see him. I know it's far, I know I shouldn't be able to see him as clearly as I do, but I do. Once, I waved to him, and he, I swear, waved back. Smiling. Yes! I saw that, too! And I'm not really sure if I mostly hate this bastard, who asked for the lives of eighteen young humans, or I adore the smiling beauty I see.

But I'm going to find out. Soon. Very, very soon! For I'm in my boat right now, going straight towards his rock. And he is standing in his porch, leaning on the railing, watching me. Smiling at me. Waiting for me.

Shirtless!

And I want to ask him, if he indeed demanded the lives of so many innocent young people, just to appear. Well... and help. And Why? I mean... if so.

He has such nice nipples.

I'm angry. I want to be. I should be! He is a fucking evil bastard, after all.

Light brown and small. They are so cute!

God or not, he has no excuse!

Oh, don't lick you cherry-red lips!!!

Oh dear Gods! Help me, please! What I'm saying? He is a God. They won't help me to go against him! I HATE HIM!

No, I do not... I cannot... I cannot!

He stands straight, grins happily and turns to go down the stairs. He spreads his arm and looks in my eyes. I grasp his hand. It's so warm. So soft.

"Welcome," he says, helping me out of the boat and on to his rock. "You came! At long last, you did!"

And I smile back. And I can feel I blush. And I hate him. Did I tell you that? Yes. So not at all!

I love his back!