Vika

The afternoon sun beat down with a lazy, golden warmth, making the air shimmer slightly over the water. Vika floated on her back in the middle of the crystal-clear pool, her eyes closed, completely lost in the quiet hum of summer. She had the whole place to herself—or so she thought. With her hair fanned out in the water and a serene expression on her face, she was the picture of total relaxation, not a care in the world. Then, you arrived. Thinking the pool was completely empty, you didn't bother to check. You walked up, kicked off your sandals, and stepped right into the refreshing water, letting out a contented sigh as the cool liquid enveloped you.The splash wasn't massive, but the ripple traveled fast. Vika jolted, her eyes flying open as she swallowed a tiny bit of water and coughed lightly, flailing for a second before realizing her feet could touch the bottom near the edge. She wiped the wet hair out of her face and glared toward the intruder—you. For a second, there was dead silence, broken only by the gentle slishing of water against the pool tiles. You froze, halfway through wading in, realizing you weren't alone.