Don't do this

"Yes, can we go now?" I asked, trying to steer her away from the idea of bathing in the lake. But I failed.

"Go where? First, we have to take a bath," she insisted.

I sighed, feeling a sense of foreboding. "But I don't know where it is."

"You don't have to know, just follow me," Arina said, holding my hand and dragging me along. "Arina, slow down. It's dark," I pleaded.

She ignored my words, her excitement palpable as she quickened her pace. "What's up with the lake? Why are you so eager to bathe there?" I wondered aloud, trying to keep up with her.

As we walked deeper into the woods, the path became more obscure. The moonlight provided some illumination, but the shadows cast by the trees made it difficult to see clearly. My mind raced with thoughts of the rumors I had heard about this place. But I pushed them aside, focusing on Arina's hand in mine.

After what felt like an eternity, we reached a clearing. In the center was a small, serene lake, its surface reflecting the moonlight like a mirror. Arina's eyes sparkled as she looked at it.

And after a while, we finally arrived at the lake in the middle of the woods. The moonlight shimmered on its transparent waters, casting an ethereal glow around us.

"Zoe," Arina called softly, her voice carrying a hint of urgency. She took my hand and slowly stepped into the water. I followed, feeling the cool embrace of the lake against my skin. Arina stopped and turned to face me, her hands wrapping gently around my neck.

"Say you won't leave me," she pleaded, her eyes searching mine with a mixture of vulnerability and determination.

I felt myself drawn into her gaze, captivated by the intensity of her presence. "I won't leave you," I assured her, my voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions swirling inside me.

Arina's expression softened, a faint smile playing on her lips. She leaned closer, her breath mingling with mine. In that moment, the world around us faded into insignificance, leaving only the two of us standing in the embrace of the tranquil lake.

"If I demand your precious thing, will you give me?" Arina's voice cut through the calm of the night, her eyes searching mine intensely.

"Yes, I will give you everything you want," I replied without hesitation, caught in the intensity of her gaze and the allure of the moment.

Arina's fingers tightened around my neck, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "So, from now on, is your body mine?" Her voice took on a deeper, more probing tone, challenging me to confront the implications of her words.

"Yes, I'm all yours," I murmured, feeling a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability.

Arina leaned in closer, her breath warm against my skin. "And what about your soul?" 

 Her question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. I hesitated, sensing a shift in the atmosphere around us.

I looked into her eyes, searching for clarity amidst the swirling emotions. The moonlight danced on the surface of the lake, casting shadows that mirrored the uncertainty within me.

"My soul..." I began slowly, grappling with the weight of her inquiry. 

"Say Honey, I have no time," Arina's voice drifted like a fleeting melody, sweet yet urgent. 

A sweet fragrance, like jasmine mixed with something deeper, wafted around us, intensifying the surreal moment. The moonlight danced on her face, casting shadows that seemed to shift with every gust of wind.

"Yes, even my soul is yours," I replied, my voice barely a whisper in the silence of the woods.

Arina's smile widened, but it was tinged with a strange melancholy. The wind picked up, swirling around us with a sudden forcefulness. Petals from nearby flowers fluttered down, brushing against my skin as we leaned in to kiss. The world around us faded into a blur of sensation—the softness of her lips, the cool touch of the petals, the scent of her hair mingling with the night air.

But as quickly as it began, it ended. When I opened my eyes, Arina was gone. Panic surged through me, and I called out her name, my voice echoing through the trees.

"Arina! Where are you?"

The sharp laugh echoed in my ears, sending a chill down my spine as I hurriedly made my way back to shore from the eerie depths of the lake. Panic surged through me as I realized how far I had unwittingly ventured into the water. Arina had been with me moments ago, but I couldn't fathom how she had disappeared or where she could be.

Arina couldn't swim, and the fear gripped me tighter as I recalled her vulnerability in the water. The laughter persisted, haunting me from behind, and a sudden searing pain shot through my leg as if something had bitten me. I kicked instinctively and heard a splash behind me, but I dared not look back. Instead, I sprinted as fast as my trembling legs could carry me, my mind racing with thoughts of Arina and the mysterious presence that seemed to stalk us.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally slowed down, my breath ragged and heart pounding in my chest. I turned around, scanning the surroundings desperately for any sign of Arina. "Arina!" I called out, my voice trembling with both fear and urgency.

"Zoe," her voice came from somewhere ahead, and relief flooded through me like a wave crashing against the shore. I followed the sound, staggering from the pain in my leg which now bled profusely.

"Arina, where have you been?" I gasped as I reached her, my worry turning to frustration. "I told you this place is cursed, but you didn't believe me."

Arina's demeanor remained calm, almost unnervingly so, as she checked on my injury. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, concern flickering in her eyes.

No, I'm not. Something bit my leg," I winced, looking down at the wound that throbbed with pain.

"Let me see," Arina leaned closer, her hand reaching for my leg, but I instinctively pulled back. The urgency to leave the cursed woods overwhelmed me; I couldn't afford to stay a moment longer.

"Arina, let's get into the car. We'll go to my place," I urged, my voice tinged with urgency.

Arina's smile was serene despite the strange events of the night. She nodded in agreement, her gaze unwavering. We hurried to the car, my mind racing with thoughts of what had just transpired. The eerie laughter, the biting pain, and Arina's inexplicable disappearance—all of it played like a surreal nightmare in my mind.

I settled into the driver's seat, ready to start the car and put the haunting woods behind us. But as I reached for the ignition, I froze. Arina was beside me, her face unnaturally calm as she knelt down beside my wounded leg.

"Arina, what are you doing?" I asked incredulously, watching in disbelief as she gently licked and then began sucking on the wound.

"Arina, stop!" I protested urgently, pulling my leg away.

"This wound could be toxin. You shouldn't be doing this."

She looked up at me, her eyes intense and determined. "Trust me, Zoe," she murmured, her voice oddly soothing despite the bizarre situation.

I hesitated, torn between concern for my own safety and the inexplicable trust I felt for Arina. The fear and confusion of the night had clouded my judgment, but I couldn't deny the strange bond that seemed to draw me closer to her, even in moments of uncertainty.

"Arina," I groaned, unsure of what to do next. Her actions defied reason, yet a part of me wanted to believe that she knew what she was doing.

She continued with unwavering focus, her lips pressed against the wound. A strange sensation washed over me—a mix of discomfort and a peculiar warmth that seemed to radiate from her touch.