Those Summer Nights |Sidon x Reader|

2. Urban Legends

Your lunch that day was one of the carps that this lake creature had caught for you. While you sat in the cabin and ate your food, you racked your brain for ideas and plans and ways to figure out just what exactly it was that was living in the water.

You decided that you'd head over to the town just outside the forest, ask around and talk to the locals. Maybe they'd seen something, or even someone, hanging in and around the lake or any of the rivers that came from this lake.

After lunch, you grabbed your phone and put on some sneakers before dashing out to your car, too curious to want to waste any time. As soon as you got to the driver's side door, a subtle shiver went down your spine. You were being watched again.

You glanced around, focusing your attention on the lake. When you didn't see anything though, you simply shrugged your shoulders and got into the car. The drive into town was quick and non-eventful, the music from your car radio dipping in and out since the airway reception was spotty in the forest.

The roads in this small town were bumpy, beaten, and hadn't been maintained in quite some time. You were careful to avoid potholes and bumps and eventually pulled into a parking spot outside of a general store. Stepping out of your car, you lock your door behind you and kick some rocks aside as you make your way up the porch steps and into the store.

Once inside, you find yourself looking around curiously. The shop is a mix of an antique store and a corner store, one side of it being lined with old trinkets and handcrafted toys and decorations, while the other side had the necessities of a camping trip with food, medical supplies, drinks, and other little things.

"Hello there dearie, looking for anything specific today?"

You whip your head around and see an older lady sitting behind the register. She's a bit short though fit for her age, her hair is grey and tied up in a bun atop her head, and she wears a baby pink cardigan to keep warm since you finally notice that the air conditioning is being blasted inside.

"Oh, hi," you reply a bit awkwardly, waving a hand (to which she returns the gesture by waving her own frail hand), "I don't need anything I guess... I'm, uh, I'm staying in that old cabin out by the lake, renting it out for the next few weeks. I was wondering if anyone here knew anything about the area... maybe, um, about any interesting animals that might be living here?"

The sudden sound of wood slamming down on something makes you jump. You turn once more and see an older man standing in the back of the store, tightly holding a wooden cane in his hands. "Bah! That old cabin, they should've torn that thing down decades ago. Us folk warned them about that lake, and they didn't wanna listen," he ranted, his voice gruff and loud, "You're the first person I've seen rent it in two years! No one wants to stay there, and I assume you weren't told about what's living in that lake, huh?"

"Oh George, you're going to scare the young girl," the woman behind the register sighs, chastising who you can only assume is her husband while shaking her head, "he's over exaggerating dear, you have nothing to worry about. Now, what have you seen that's got you asking questions?" she continues, turning to look at you as she asks the question.

You thought about it for a moment before answering. "Well, I've heard something big splashing in the water, bigger than any native fish in the area, and I know birds can't be making that much noise either. I keep feeling like I'm being watched, and I think something's chasing away the fish as well," you explain to the couple.

George walks past some of the display stands, his cane clunking on the wooden floor with every other step he takes towards you. "Have you seen... the golden eyes?" he asks, narrowing his gaze.

You don't say yes but just nod your head. George curses under his breath, "goddammit. That means Big Red's watching you."

"Big Red?" you immediately ask, confused by the name.