I can hardly believe I’m still alive. For the past few days I’ve been walking in the direction I saw the blimp go. The first day of travel was mostly uneventful. However when night rolled around I once again had the uneasy feeling of being watched. It was probably all in my head. I feel tired, not just from the physically demanding conditions but my spirit grows weary as well. Like I mentioned before my financial situation is not great. If I survive this and return to London that will remain unchanged. Whether I find a master to train me in alchemy doesn’t matter anymore. At this point I may not have much of a future to look forward to. Is survival really in best interest? It’s these kinds of thoughts that kept me company in those dark evenings by the fire.

It is probably not that strange that my mind would conjure some animal or beast stalking me. However it’s the events of following two days that really made me question my sanity and all that I know.

On the second day after leaving the abandoned ruins I came upon a large clearing. The trees had been growing less dense for a while so I was certain I was nearing the edge of the forest. The clearing was a large open area with the trees continuing far on the other side. I had thought nothing of it and continued walking forward. Perhaps if had been more experienced I would have questioned why such a large area was devoid of not just trees but any kind of growth. However at the time I did not question things.

I had walked to the middle of the clearing when a sound had reached my ears that at first I did not recognize. I thought it perhaps the trees rubbing together. It was only when I had reached a patch of clear and exposed ice that I realized what I was standing on. There was ice beneath my feet and beneath the layer of ice was blackness. I heard that sound again only this time I realized what it was – the sound of cracking ice. Water stated pooling where my foot had been. I didn’t know what to do. Running was a thought but with a heavy coat and backpack I wasn’t exactly fast. Before I even knew it my legs were in the water. I tried to pull myself out but the ice beneath me broke and I fell face first into ice cold water.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

This is the part where it gets confusing. I was certain I was drowning. No, I think I did drown in that lake. It was cold, my clothes became even heavier as they absorbed water. All this weight was dragging me down. I was not much a swimmer to begin with so I started drowning pretty quickly. I remember looking up at the light where I had fallen in. I must have been delirious but I thought I heard the sound of wings. I thought I saw your face, Eliza. Perhaps I was dead for a moment.

Like I said I’m pretty sure I drowned. However I woke up on the shore opposite of where I had started. Not only was I alive but completely dry. I know not what to think. My clothes and all the items in my bag were dry. Surely if I had been in the water there would be sings of it. The ink on my notes would be all washed out but it’s not. I have no memory of how I made it across that lake. Did I pass out from exhaustion and have a nightmare? Am I losing my mind?

I could barely sleep that night. The strange feeling of paranoia had overcome me. Was I insane or was there really some creature stalking me? Did someone pull me out of that lake or was the whole thing a dream? If I cannot trust my own mind and senses than what can I trust?

I spent the next day in my camp feeling too shaken to carry on. Writing down my thoughts does not seem to help make any sense of it. The more I think about it the certain I feel about what really happened. Perhaps it is best to not think of it anymore and carry on. I saw another blimp. There must be a town close by. I need to focus on what matters the most – getting back to civilization. I can worry for my sanity later.