The Smiling Man in the Water

Before me stood a forest shrouded in a gray sky, the trees frowning back at me. The ground beneath my feet emitted dampness, making each step sink deeper. The river always flowed quickly, but suddenly its current redirected itself, and I felt a choking sensation as I watched it flow from the corner of my eye. Warnings of legends had already planted the seeds of unease in my heart before my arrival.

A strange sound brushed past my ear, like someone whistling softly from nearby. At that moment, the sound of the water below faded away, creating an illusion that time itself had come to a halt. Colder droplets than usual soaked my toes. In this unavoidable place, I felt an inexplicable urge to move forward.

Suddenly, as the ground beneath my feet sank, a chill traveled through my toes, paralyzing me with a shiver. The legend passed down here whispered a faint laughter as if some unseen presence was drawing near. It seemed there was something here that lured people to the spot where the water’s flow could cease.

Minutes passed, yet I felt trapped in place, unable to move. Within the waves lay remnants of the past, as the hands of a clock slowly turned. Gradually, a man's face materialized in that shape. He was known through tales as the 'Smiling Man.' His face warped like numerous shadows submerged in water.

It exerted an unseen pull, slowly rising above the water, while my body trembled as if to resist it. Instinctively, I felt the urge to flee, yet for some reason my body felt glued to the ground, immovable. His movements, surreal yet tangible, weren't of this world.

Our eyes met. He was not just a stranger; he was looking at me. The moment his icy hand brushed my arm, a chill emanated from it, consciously pulling me beneath the water.

I instinctively pushed him away. Suddenly, the air around me grew lighter, and my body regained its freedom. In that moment, I swam madly towards the riverbank. My toes had slipped out of my shoes, treading on grass and mud. As I dashed between the trees, a mix of unfamiliar scents of water and blood filled my nostrils. My ears rang under pressure, and gravity felt absolute.

Finally, sunlight began to filter through the trees, offering a slight relief. This was the only way to escape. The flashlight flickered, casting a gentle light to guide me through the dark. I felt like I was gradually breaking free from this consciousness.

Escaping the forest unscathed, I could finally catch my breath. I reviewed the moments I had recorded with the camera. What echoed from the footage were strange laughter symbiotically layered over my roar.

It remained as mere evidence in the recorded video, yet the laughter still echoed in my ears. It created a void in my mind that seemed forever trapped in a moment from the past, unsettling me. In the following moments, I knew the smiling man in the water would never come to an end.