Chapter 3: Resonance in the Lake Bed
For a moment, time stood still for Duncan. The figure that emerged completely naked from the water caused him to remain kneeling on the shore, stunned, holding his breath, unable to look away. It wasn't just any girl's figure; it was a carved vision that was exalted by the light of the forest. Her hair, the color of autumn flames, dripped over her pale shoulders, and her eyes, an amber hue that seemed to capture the sun, looked at him not with deep curiosity but with a strange sense of emotion, as if she had found something she was looking for.
"Fascinating," she said to herself, then spoke to him. "How did you get here?" Her voice was so soft and tender, not like someone bothered by being seen naked, but a question laden with curiosity and expectation, clear and melodious despite the roar of the waterfall. "Although you shouldn't be here. It's supposed to be impossible," she said to herself, murmuring again with a smile, "It's impossible. Hehe, what a beautiful day it is today."
Her words, like a command, snapped him out of his trance. Duncan swallowed, feeling the rough sand beneath his knees. "I-I-I'm... I'm so sorry," he stammered, the words almost unwilling to leave his mouth despite the fact that he had drunk a large amount of water; this image of her made him thirsty again. "I didn't know anyone was here. I got lost, I was wandering around and I heard the sound of water..." A trembling sigh escaped his lips. "I'm sorry."
The girl looked at him more closely, and suddenly, something changed in her expression. Understanding gave way to a state of happiness, almost calculating. Without any shame, she came out of the water.
Duncan held his breath. Her figure was athletic, as if sculpted by the gods themselves. Well-defined thighs, long legs, and hips that supported a round, firm butt. Her skin was luminously white, and from his position, Duncan could see, with a clarity that made his blood boil and rush faster through his veins to his brain, the soft triangle of her pubic hair, the same intense orange as her hair, carefully trimmed. The water slid down her small but perfectly formed breasts, with pale pink, delicate nipples. "IT'S BEAUTIFUL," Duncan shouted in his mind.
"So beautiful," Duncan murmured, in a whisper that did not go unnoticed by her.
A slow smile, full of natural mischief, spread across her lips. "Thank you," she thought for a moment and said, "It's all my mother's legacy," she said, in a casual tone, as if commenting on the weather. Then she added, "Although I would have liked to have her breast size. Mine aren't as good as I would like them to be."
Duncan, his mind a whirlwind of hormones and confusion, tried to say something. "Of course not, they're... perfect. Really, ha ha ha." His laugh sounded sincere and nervous.
She laughed, a clear, bubbly sound that sent Duncan into ecstasy. "What a beautiful laugh. A human voice—it feels so heavenly," he thought, before logic tried to break through. "No, wait. Why isn't she angry? Why isn't she yelling at me? My God, I'm looking at her naked! Doesn't she care?"
Then his insecurity hit him like a raging bull, followed by humiliating clarity. "Well, I'm a weakling. And from what I can see, I'm shorter than her. Not only that, but I'm sure she could kick my ass. She looks really strong. My God, she has defined abs. How incredible is that?"
He was so lost in that whirlwind of self-critical and admiring thoughts that he didn't notice that she, with disconcerting calm, had been walking back and forth in front of him. Seeing that he wasn't reacting, she began to walk toward the rock where her clothes were carefully folded. After picking them up, she began to get dressed right in front of him. She put on jeans that fit her curves like a glove and a short jacket that covered the lower part of her perfect breasts, leaving them exposed and offering a tempting and refreshing view of her cleavage.
Then she approached him. Duncan remained kneeling, paralyzed. She crouched down in front of him, her breasts level with his head. Her jacket revealed her breasts and those pink nipples that were now only inches from his face. Duncan felt dizzy.
"Do you like the view?" she asked, with a smile and that same mischief in her voice.
Duncan, mesmerized, nodded slightly. In his mind, a scream: "What's wrong with me?! Away with impure thoughts!"
The girl smiled, watching the changing expressions on his face. "Hahaha, you make very funny faces. You're cute. I'm so lucky," she licked her lips and said, "I like you."
Her words snapped him out of his stupor. "Cute? You like me? Are you kidding me?" he asked, a spark of wounded pride showing.
She shook her head, her smile softening into something more genuine. Then, without warning, she leaned toward him. Slowly, closing the distance inch by inch. Duncan couldn't move, captivated by her amber eyes.
Without warning, when her lips were only a breath away, she closed the space.
"She kisses him."
The kiss was soft at first, a warm, wet pressure. But for Duncan, it was like an electric shock. A gasp caught in his throat, and he lost his balance, falling backward onto the soft earth. She didn't pull away. She followed him, pressing her lips against his more firmly, and now she was on top of him, her weight light but present, her bare chest under her open jacket brushing against his T-shirt.
The world was reduced to that contact, to the taste of fresh water and something wild on his lips, to the heat of her skin. Duncan, after a moment of utter shock, responded awkwardly, his hands rising and then remaining suspended in the air, not knowing where to put them.
The kiss lingered, intensifying, exploring. Duncan lost track of time. It could have been seconds or hours.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity (about twenty minutes in reality), she pulled her lips away. With a deliberately slow and sensual movement, she ran the tip of her tongue over Duncan's lower lip, gathering the shared taste.
Both were breathing heavily. Duncan's eyes were clouded with confusion and desire; hers were bright and clear, but with a layer of satisfied curiosity.
"I can't understand how this hot feeling inside me happened so fast," Duncan said, his voice hoarse.
She, straddling his crotch, licked her own lips with that same feline gesture. A triumphant and satisfied smile lit up her face.
"I like it. I've been waiting for someone like you, someone special," she declared confidently. "Mom will be happy. You're like us, but a little different. I can't quite put my finger on it. I know, come with me."
Duncan, his heart racing as if it were about to burst out of his chest and his mind clouded, could only stammer, "W-what? Where?"
The cold air of the forest hit Duncan's face, bringing him back to his senses with a jolt. With a groan, he struggled to his feet, the damp earth sticking to his clothes. His clouded eyes searched for the orange-haired girl. He saw her walking away, her silhouette blending into the darkness of the forest that began just where the alley ended.
A primitive panic rose up inside him, squeezing his chest.
"Hey, wait!" he managed to shout, his voice hoarse. "Don't leave me here!"
The figure didn't stop. With an effort that burned his muscles, Duncan stood up and stumbled after her. He ran, ignoring the stabbing pain in his side and the confusion clouding his mind. The fog was thicker among the trees, but the orange glow of her hair was a beacon.
"Hey, wait!" he repeated, closer now.
Finally, when he thought the air would burst his lungs, he caught up with her. Without thinking, he reached out and took her hand. It was an electric touch, warm and firm. She finally stopped, turning around.
"Stop! Can we... talk for a second?" he said, more like a plea than a question, panting.
She looked at him, and a playful smile lit up her face.
"No. Hurry up, or you'll be late," she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And it's dangerous to be out this late at night around here." Her smile widened, revealing perfect teeth and a mischievous twinkle in her amber eyes. "You'll get eaten! Hehehe."
Duncan looked at her, trying to figure out if she was joking. The seriousness of the forest around them, the mist that moved as if it were alive, and the intensity with which she was watching him told him no, it was not a joke. Even so, a part of his rational mind clung to normality.
"At least tell me your name," he asked, letting go of her hand with some embarrassment.
She paused for a moment, tilting her head like a curious bird. She seemed to think about it.
"You're right," she conceded. "I don't even know your name yet."
Duncan blinked.
"Are you kidding? We literally just kissed a few minutes ago. Do you just kiss anyone, or what?"
"Of course not!" she protested, with a genuinely offended expression. "That only happened because I was attracted to you the moment I saw you."
Duncan was speechless. A heat that had nothing to do with the race rose from his neck to his ears, which were surely red as tomatoes. He stammered, but couldn't form any coherent words.
She seemed to enjoy his embarrassment.
"My name is Megan," she said, extending her hand formally, though her smile was pure mischief. "Nice to meet you."
Duncan took her hand automatically, still dazed.
"I'm... Duncan. Duncan Grey."
"What a lovely name! I like it," said Megan, without letting go of his hand.
"T-thank you," Duncan managed to reply, feeling as if the world had spun on its axis and not settled back into place.
"Well, now that we've been introduced," she continued, turning around and gently pulling him along, "follow me. We need to get to the bottom of this."
Duncan, forced to walk beside her, looked at the dense forest that opened up before them.
"Get to the bottom of what?"
"The enigma that is you," she replied, as if it were obvious. "Your smell is strange. You're a humanoid. You don't smell like a human." You smell... like me, but at the same time you're not like me." She frowned, an adorable expression of concentration. "I'm confused," she confessed innocently, bringing a finger to her chin in a thoughtful pose that made her look even more adorable. "But what I do know is that I like you. So I marked you, and now we're a couple."
Duncan stopped dead in his tracks, causing Megan to jerk forward.
"W-what? P-partners?" he stammered, his voice breaking. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, part of him inexplicably excited by the idea, while the larger part screamed that this was an elaborate joke or collective madness.
She stopped again and turned to look him in the eyes. Her expression was completely serious now, with no trace of the mischief from before.
"That I'll always be with you. From now on, and forever."
Duncan felt his stomach tighten.
"How... I don't understand, Megan."
She smiled at him, a sweet gesture full of unshakeable certainty.
"You'll understand. Come with me, quickly. We have to meet my mother and sister. They know more about this than I do."
The rest of the way was confusing for Duncan. He followed Megan like a machine, deep into the forest along paths he had never seen before, passing twisted trees and clearings bathed in sunlight that seemed stronger than normal. Finally, after what felt like hours, they emerged from the forest.
There, on a high mountainside, with a breathtaking view of the valley shrouded in darkness, stood a house. Not a cabin, but a large, two-story house with windows lit by warm light and a wide porch. It was immaculately maintained, surrounded by terraced gardens where plants and flowers bloomed, giving off intense and unfamiliar fragrances. Duncan was speechless. He had never imagined that something like this existed there, hidden deep in the forest that bordered the village.
Megan turned around, proud, sensing his amazement.
"Pretty, isn't it? Hehe."
The house wasn't just pretty; it was impossible. The air here was calmer, denser. Duncan could feel something different, something magical.
When they reached the front door, carved from dark, sturdy wood, it opened before Megan could knock. A young woman appeared in the doorway. Duncan held his breath. It was like seeing Megan in a slightly distorted mirror. She had the same curly, orange hair, though pulled back into a messy bun, the same amber eyes and freckles. But her face was a little rounder, her stature a little shorter, and her figure... well, it was clear that the family genes were generous in that regard, and they were even more generous in their expressions. She wore loose-fitting shorts and a large T-shirt, clearly comfortable in her home.
End of chapter...