Following the Odd Behavior
Daniel had enough. After days of watching Rex repeatedly jump into the neighbor's pool, he couldn’t stand it any longer. Deciding to follow him, Daniel watched as Rex dove to the pool's bottom. But this time, something unusual caught his eye under the water.
Everything around him seemed to stop as he realized what he saw. He couldn’t ignore it. He needed to call the police.
Reaching His Breaking Point
Daniel had finally reached his limit. After yet another visit from his neighbor Gus, complaining about Rex's behavior, Daniel couldn’t handle it anymore. Rex had been acting strange, and Daniel knew something had to be done about it.
He watched through the window as his dog bounded across the yard and leaped over the short fence. "Rex," he muttered, resigned.
Unsettling Realization
Daniel stepped toward the door, bitterness clouding his thoughts. He knew Gus wouldn’t be far behind, ready to scold his dog as usual. But today felt different. There had to be more to Rex’s strange behavior than just Gus’s complaints.
What was pulling his dog toward the pool? Daniel had to find out.
At the Poolside
Daniel’s boots crunched on the grass as he crossed into Gus’s yard. He kept an eye on the fence, half expecting Gus to emerge in his usual worn attire. But today, there was no sound. Just a thick, suffocating silence.
Rex was already by the pool, pacing the edge, his paws skimming the water. Daniel's chest tightened. Rex had never cared for water before—now it seemed like something was drawing him in.
A Growing Concern
"Rex, get away from there!" Daniel called, his voice sharper than he’d intended. But Rex didn’t move. He stood there, whining quietly, eyes fixed on the water.
Daniel’s instincts told him this wasn’t just about a dog’s harmless curiosity. Something wasn’t right.
A Flicker in the Water
As Daniel stepped closer, the concrete under his shoes felt slippery. He noticed a subtle movement in the water, a dark shape shifting beneath the surface. His heart raced.
The water rippled in an unnatural way, as if pulling inward, like the pool itself was alive.
Drawn to the Unseen
"Rex, move," Daniel whispered, crouching next to his dog. But Rex didn’t budge, his focus unwavering. His body was tense, ears flat against his head.
Daniel couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. Stepping closer to the water’s edge, he looked down, his stomach sinking as he saw something that made him stagger backward. "No... this can’t be real."
The Ordinary Man
Daniel had always been an ordinary guy. He lived a quiet life, avoided drama, and spent evenings relaxing with a book and a glass of tea. His routine was simple, predictable—exactly how he liked it.
Then Rex entered his life. A loyal companion who made his days brighter and his nights warmer. But now, Daniel was standing at the edge of something dark and mysterious, and it felt like his peaceful world was slipping away.
The First Encounter
He still remembered the day he found Rex at the shelter. The noise, the barking, and the smell of disinfectant overwhelmed him, but in the midst of the chaos, Rex’s calm gaze stood out. Other dogs jumped and barked, but Rex simply watched, as if waiting for Daniel.
When their eyes met, Daniel felt an immediate connection. He knelt down, and Rex gently placed his paw against the bars, like a silent greeting. That was the moment Daniel knew—Rex was the one
Unbreakable Bond
From that moment on, Daniel and Rex were inseparable. Whether it was running in the mornings or taking quiet evening walks, Rex was always by his side. People often joked that Rex was more like Daniel’s shadow than a pet, but Daniel didn’t mind. He was content with the quiet companionship.
But now, seeing Rex so fixated on the pool, something was off. Rex wasn’t himself. Daniel clenched his fists, his mind racing. What was calling to his dog from that pool?
The Pool
It hadn’t started right away. For months, the pool next door was just another part of the landscape, a turquoise square behind Gus’s leaning fence. Rex never cared for it. In fact, Daniel used to laugh about how his dog avoided puddles after the rain, stepping around them like they were traps.
But then one night, Rex froze mid-walk in the yard. His ears twitched, his head tilted sharply toward the pool. Daniel followed his gaze but saw nothing except the dim reflection of the moon on the water. Rex growled—a low, unfamiliar rumble that made the hairs on Daniel’s arms rise. The next morning, Rex was back at the fence, staring. And that was the beginning.
A Phase
At first, Daniel thought it was a phase. Dogs got curious about strange smells, about critters that came and went. Maybe Gus had spilled something near the pool, or maybe a raccoon had drowned in it. But days passed, and Rex’s fixation only deepened.
He wouldn’t chase his favorite toy if Daniel threw it across the yard—he’d only glance, then return to his post by the fence. Sometimes, he’d whine softly, tail low, as if torn between fear and fascination. Daniel tried scolding him, even bringing him inside to distract him. But the moment the door opened, Rex would sprint back outside, nose pointed at that still water, waiting.
He Gave In
One evening, Daniel finally gave in to his own curiosity. He let Rex lead him, watching as his dog trotted straight to the pool and stopped at the same spot as always. Daniel leaned over the fence, peering into the water. Nothing. Just a perfect reflection of the sky.
Then he noticed Rex’s posture—ears back, body tense, as though he were in the presence of something alive. Daniel’s throat went dry. It wasn’t just an obsession. It was recognition. And that was when Daniel realized—whatever was in that pool, Rex had already seen it.
Backing Away
Daniel backed away slowly. There was no way he was getting any closer. But as he looked up, he noticed something. Gus, his neighbor, was looking at them through the window, his usual grumpy expression on his face, but then he moved away.
Daniel stood frozen, not sure what to do until he heard the old man's front door open. "Hey! You!" he yelled as he approached Daniel and Rex.
Private Property
"This is private property! Get yourself and this dog off of my yard!" the man yelled. Rex backed away slowly, frightened by the man's loud voice.
"I'm so sorry," Daniel apologized, slowly backing away. "I don't know why he's so interested in your pool. I will make sure he stays away." But little did he know how hard that would be.
It Didn't Stop
But it didn't stop. Every morning, like clockwork, Rex bolted across the yard with an energy Daniel couldn’t control. His paws barely touched the grass before he vaulted the fence and headed straight for Gus’s pool. It wasn’t hesitation or curiosity anymore; it was routine, a ritual that seemed etched into the dog’s bones.
Daniel would follow, sometimes shouting after him, but it didn’t matter. Rex’s world narrowed to that pool. Watching his dog obsess day after day made Daniel’s stomach twist with unease.
The Jumps
The obsession grew bolder. Rex no longer just circled the edge of the pool; he leapt straight into the water. The splash echoed across the quiet neighborhood, drawing startled looks from anyone nearby. Once inside, Rex swam furiously, nose dipping below the surface, as if he was looking for something.
Daniel’s heart pounded each time. His dog had never been a swimmer, never shown interest in water. Now it was as though he’d been born to it, thrashing in frantic circles, diving deeper each day. It was no game. Something beneath that surface had caught Rex’s attention.
Gus’s Anger
Gus, of course, noticed. The old man stormed out of his back door almost every time, veins popping in his neck as he shouted. “Get your mutt out of my pool!” he roared, waving his arms wildly. Sometimes he hurled rocks or garden tools into the grass, furious at the intrusion.
Rex always scrambled back home eventually, dripping wet and panting, but the damage was done. Gus’s glare followed Daniel over the fence, a silent warning. This wasn’t just a nuisance anymore; it was becoming dangerous, and Daniel knew it.
Daniel’s Worry
At first, Daniel convinced himself it was just a quirk. Dogs had strange phases; some chewed furniture, others barked at shadows. Maybe Rex would get over it. But the more Daniel looked into his dog’s eyes, the less he believed that. This wasn’t playful mischief. It was an obsession.
Rex had grown restless, distracted, and stubborn. No toy, no treat, not even Daniel’s voice could pull him away from that water once he’d seen it. Whatever force had gripped him, it was stronger than Daniel’s bond. And that realization cut deep.
Growing Concern
By evening, Daniel sat on his porch, staring at the glimmering water just beyond the fence. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the pool was more than it seemed. It wasn’t just drawing Rex in; it was holding him. Calling him. Daniel had no other way to explain the dog’s sudden change.
A quiet dread began to creep in. If Rex kept diving into that pool, if Gus’s fury didn’t end it first, something else might.
The Next Morning
That next morning felt different. The air was heavy, the kind that pressed on your chest, and Daniel had a knot in his stomach before he even stepped outside. He didn’t see Rex at first, but then the dog bolted past him, faster than ever, straight for the fence. Daniel’s heart sank. This time, he knew it wasn’t going to end like the others.
He ran after him, calling his name, but Rex ignored every command. His paws hit the concrete beside the pool, claws scraping against the wet edge. His body quivered with anticipation as though he knew something was waiting beneath the surface. Daniel could feel it too.
Standing Guard
For once, Daniel didn’t shout. He slowed, crouching beside Rex as the dog leaned over the edge of the pool, staring down with a quiet whine. Daniel could see the tension in his shoulders, his tail stiff, ears pinned back flat against his head.
“Rex, move,” Daniel whispered, reaching out as if he could coax him back. But Rex didn’t budge. His gaze was locked on the rippling water, body trembling as though caught between fear and duty. Daniel’s chest tightened. He didn’t have a good feeling about this.
The Glimpse
Daniel leaned closer, his own reflection warping on the shimmering surface. His breath caught in his throat as something shifted below the water. At first, he thought it was just light bending strangely, but then he saw it.
A flash of pale hair. A small body, floating, tangled in the deep. Daniel staggered back, horror crashing into him all at once. “Oh, no,” he muttered, his legs nearly giving way beneath him.
The Dive
There was no time to think. Daniel kicked off his shoes and threw himself into the water, the cold biting into his skin as he plunged downward. His arms cut through the heavy stillness until his fingers brushed against the strands of hair drifting like seaweed.
His chest burned, panic surging as he pulled the small body into his arms. It was lighter than he expected, but limp, unmoving. With a desperate kick, he pushed off the bottom, dragging it back toward the surface.
The Truth
Daniel gasped as he broke through the water, clutching the figure tight against his chest. But as he looked down, ready for the worst, a stunned laugh burst from his throat. It wasn’t a child. It wasn’t even human.
Floating in his arms was a doll; Gus's granddaughter’s lost doll, the one they had searched for weeks ago. Its pale hair clung to his wet shirt, its button eyes staring blankly up at him. Rex barked once, tail wagging furiously, as if proud of his discovery. Daniel climbed out of the pool, dripping and shaking with adrenaline, but this time he couldn’t stop laughing. The nightmare had been nothing more than a mystery solved, a child’s toy at the bottom of Gus’s pool.