Uncertain Waters

Everything is still except for my own movements and the constant rippling of the water. The light refracted from the water casts eerie shadows in some areas, almost giving the impression that they are underwater as well.
Level 37 — the Poolrooms — is peaceful and tranquil, yet the ever-present uncertainty of what might lurk just beyond view remains.
I remind myself over and over that I have nothing to fear aside from the potential risks of starvation or dehydration. No one has ever seen or heard entities or even other wanderers here. The greatest risk in the Poolrooms is the Hydrolitis Plague, and even so, I know how to best avoid it.
And yet... the apprehension and fear does not go away.
No one knows for sure if there are no entities in Level 37; there are simply no recorded instances of such encounters.
I continue to wade through the water, searching for an exit. I know I cannot stay here for long. Soon, my food and bottled water will run out, leaving me stranded in the endless pools with nothing to sustain me for long.
I turn right into one of the passages that lines the hallway I'm in, avoiding the darkness at the end of the hallway. I want to avoid darkness for two reasons: the Hydrolitis Plague is likely to infest the waters there, and, despite everything, I'm afraid that some unknowable terror might be lurking there.
As I wander further still, I come across a small room with the same white tiling and blue-green water; there are multiple hallways of the same material and texture leading from it. I am suddenly struck with an irrational indecision, as if choosing one of these hallways will lead me to an exit and the others won't. I almost feel reluctant to leave the room at all.
Regardless of this strange intuition, I know that it doesn't matter which hallway I choose. All of them will probably just lead to more white-tiled, slightly submerged poolrooms.
I choose one of them, and while it is the brightest of them, it is still unnervingly dark.
As I wade through the hallway, I take a quick glance behind me. Of course, nothing is there.
I remember reading an attached note on the Database page about Level 37 and not entirely understanding it. How can anyone be so paranoid of lurking dangers in a place as safe as Level 37?
But now I understand that it doesn't matter how safe a level is; if it is unnerving enough, even the most informed people can become wary for no reason other than the level's sheer eeriness.
But there are no entities here in the Poolrooms. Nothing lurks behind the tiled corners and walls. It's only me, and while the isolation is daunting, it is not nearly as much so as the idea that entities might be here with me.
I emerge into another poolroom, this one much bigger than the last. Two circular, half-submerged tunnels lead from the space into pure darkness, while a brighter, floor-to-ceiling tunnel seems to lead somewhere else. I approach this last tunnel and pass through it; beyond are more white-tiled rooms slightly submerged in water.
As I enter the next poolroom I become aware of something odd: the water is colder than before.
According to the Database page, all water within Level 37 always stays at the same lukewarm temperature. And yet, it's noticeably different this time.
I can't think of any good reason for this. Maybe the Hydrolitis Plague has somehow mutated and caused the water here to become colder? I've heard about mutations of the Hydrolitis Plague before, so that seems likely.
I continue my aimless wandering through Level 37 and feel the water growing colder still. As I do, I continue to wonder what's causing this.
I hear the sound of low splashing behind me and turn around — a large black shape, moving; a maw of shark-like teeth.
The thing roars and I turn and splash away in the other direction, desperately trying to go as fast as the water will allow. I hear the giant creature wading swiftly after me.
What is that thing!? From what I had seen, it's quadrupedal, eyeless, and has a sharp-toothed mouth big enough to bite someone's entire head off.
Doesn't matter; I have to run.
I run as fast as I can, the water dragging at my feet. I'm unconsciously retracing my path from earlier, but right now, I don't notice. Fear and desperation dominate my mind, lending me strength.
The thing — whatever it is — isn't far behind me. I have no doubt that it catching me would mean my demise.
I push forward, but I can still hear the monster slowly gaining on me. It's too fast.
Then I emerge into a room with dark window-like openings and tiled pathways on either side. I take a gamble and scramble onto one of the paths and run toward the opening I can see at the end of the room. Not far. The darkness in the opening seems unnatural; maybe an exit?
Hopefully. Otherwise I definitely won't make it out alive.
The sounds of splashing behind me change to those of heavy feet and claws on tiles as the giant creature reaches the same stretch of unsubmerged floor as me. It's moving much faster now, unimpeded by the water. I hear it roar and images of its giant, toothed maw chomping down and biting me in half flood my mind, spurring me on.
The creature is quickly gaining, but I'm not far from the exit now. Not far.
The path ends and I jump into the water, wading as fast as possible toward the pitch-black opening that may or may not be an exit.
The monster is right behind me, centimeters away and about to finish me off-
-and I pass through the exit, seconds before death can claim me.
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Category:Taleszh:未知水域