It was with slight hesitation that he waded into the cold, grey lake. Despite his reluctance, the stinging water graciously accepted his scorched body. He felt a restorative bliss as the water wrapped around his legs and poured into his charred wounds. His body drew him further, reeling him onward into the depths of the lake. Then, a grin of excruciating alleviation formed as his face submerged into the watery basin.

Entranced by relief, he floated. His shiny, bright smile glimmered as he remained under the lake’s powerful hold. He felt as though the heavy weight in his stomach had been nearly lifted. He opened his eyes and took aim at his blurry hands. His once cauterized skin now exuded a foggy glow. His fingers ran across his arm. For the first time in a while, he could feel his own touch. It was this realization that evoked a set of joyous screams from his lips…

The screams echoed beneath the lake, bouncing against the watery basin. They shot across the muffled water and rebounded toward his head. He could feel their shouts cruelly rattling within his skull. He closed his eyes in desperation. Frantically, he tried to rid his mind of the vile thoughts. But as he reached to claw them out, the piercing sounds intensified. The voices shrieked and reminded him of how cold the water had been.

Foolishly, he allowed the screams to pull him toward the shore. His eyes remained closed as his fingers combed through the water. When his arm finally collided with the gravelly base, he lifted himself from the lake. Then, he looked toward the charred pile of ash.

He made his way to the wooden pile, which he had mindfully split for himself. No longer, did he want to feel the lake’s icy chill upon his fueled skin. The kindling logs fell into place as he lit the ill-advised match. In almost an instant, the spirited flames raged. The lake had been brutally cold. So, he made no hesitation. He stuck out his hands in hopes of warming his dripping body, but still he felt a hollow chill. It was taking far too long.

In an irrevocable fit of anguish, he stabbed his arm into the fire. The flames latched onto his hand, singeing the water droplets from his skin. The blazing glow traveled up his shoulder as he let out a shuddering grimace. But he did not wait for the trailing flames to reach his chest. Rather, he took a step into the burning coals. His heaving figure reveled in the overbearing warmth. He could feel his heart thrashing primally through his chest.

The flames tore upward from his legs and linked with the glow that had consumed his chest. He could feel his crawling skin melt into place. A set of thorn-mangled sensations ripped from his forehead. The weight of his head pulled back, lifting his chin. A sharp, sinister grin formed, and he let out an agonized, heaving jeer of satisfaction. Then, he stepped out of the fire to admire his transfigured, maroon skin. A dark, weighty pleasure swelled within him, and he looked to see the lake was gone.