Inconceivable

The Lake

Sometimes just sitting in front of the lake, being alone, is the best part about being here.

Everywhere else, except the lake was absolute chaos. It was my safe haven.

All around the lake, were bushes and trees. It was hidden, and I pray for no one to ever come across it one day.

Inside the lake there were fishes. Well i think thats what they're called.

I can spend all day watching them, such odd creatures those things are, and before finding this lake I have never seen a live fish in my life. They're beautiful.

___

I had to get back to the camp, I hated leaving this luxiorious place, wishing i could sit here all day, but knowing i cannot, i slowly stood up, grabbed my supplies, and started walking back to camp.

The sun was just about to set.

You don't want to be out here all alone in the dark. It isn't safe.

I searched my pockets looking for my knife, I usually kept it in my back pocket.

It wasn't there.

I stopped to think. I've been walking for about 15 minutes now and i couldn't turn back to check and see if i had left the knife back at the lake.

The sun seemed to be setting faster, I couldn't do anything else but run to camp instead.

The Sun and I were racing.

It seemed to get darker by the second, i had to pick up my pace.

Noises of strange creatures were getting louder, it seemed they were getting closer like the sun was closer to setting.

___

I ran for about another 15 minutes until I was able to see lit torches and men keeping watch in front of the gates.

It was nearly pitch black by now. If i had stayed any longer in the forest i'd be goner.

Once the sun is all the way down and the moon has awaken from its daily sleep, is when the strange creatures come out.

___

I walked through the gates, looked up and was surprised to see Rover helping guard. Now he wasn't on Danger Shift like the two men in front of the gates but on Pre-Shift.

A few weeks from now he'd be taking Danger Shift.

The worst shift of all.

"Hey Rove, I didn't know you were logged into taking Pre-Shift, did you actually volunteer?" I said with a semi-shocked expression.

He glared at me, as if i said something i wasn't supposed to.

As they closed the gates Rover said quietly "Get outta here man," he paused for a few moments and looked around to see if anyone was listening "I didn't volunteer, now thats for damn right sure, you know how Tim and Mike always be tellin us how bad these shifts are, why the hell would i volunteer man?" His voice was getting louder, "I don't wanna be takin this shift! Now get outta here before anyone sees ya and decides to give you the shift!" He turned away acting like he said nothing at all.

Shocked, I looked down and gave him one last stare before I headed to the bunks.

What was that supposed to mean anyway? I didn't really stay much at camp because i spent most of my time at the lake so i don't know what goes on during the day except that everyone has to do the shifts they are logged to do. Only certain shifts that no one wants to do are the ones you can volunteer for.

One of the officials must have logged Rover to do the shift. But why?

Rover was a good kid, and getting logged into one of the bad shifts was a punishment for someone who did something wrong.

Did the rules change? Or did Rover disobey?

___

When i walked inside the bunks everyone was quiet, just staring, until annoying Sare broke the silence, "Oh hey Caleb."

I looked up and smiled, not wanting to say hi back, knowing if i did she'd be blabbing her mouth to me about random things she did that day for hours.

"Caleb," she said sounding worried.

I ignored her.

"Caleb, Caleb-CALEB," she started singing my name.

"What?!" I said ending with a sigh, turning around to face her.

"Why do you always come back so late? And like why are you hardly here? Don't you have a shift to take during the day?"

"Yes, everyone does" i said annoyed.

"Well then why don't i ever see you?"

"Because you don't," i turned back around and started to unpack my supplies from the bag "why does it matter anyway" i took a quick glance at her then back to my supplies.

"Well i..."

"What?"

"Um"

"What?!"

"Nevermind."

"Why do you bring up this giant thing and then end it with 'Nevermind'?"

She giggled, "Haha giant thing,"

"Can you just leave me alone, you're extremely annoying Sare and now isn't the time." I shrugged.

About to get in my bed Sare decided the conversation wasn't over, "What is your shift?"

I smushed my face into the pillow and stayed like that for a few moments, mumbling to myself "how can one person be so annoying,"

Finally taking my head out of the pillow i said,

"I'm a hunter."