Maple Park

Koi Pond

Laurel

      It was chilly night and I was doing what I usually did in my free time, filming an old friend. Her name was Cecilia and she was determined to prove that there was something unnatural happening at the one-hundred year old park in town.
      "Today is October 23. Day one of project Maple Park. I have been researching Maple Park and found every five years four kids disappear. It is always two boys and two girls at the age of 16. It happens the same way every time, last seen here and gone without a trace." She said to the camera as her amazingly curly blonde hair bounced while we walked the worn dirt path. "Today was the exact date of the last disappearance. It never happens on the same day two times in a row but I do know that it will be very soon when the kids disappear. I am out of school for fall break this week and will be staking out here with my lovely camera girl Laurel." She winked at me. I smiled at the complement, and rolled my eyes. Cecilia was always the one for showmanship, mysteries, and adventure. She's the kind of girl you would expect to be a ghost hunter for Discovery.
      "Looking more into our town's archives I have found more than four of the disappearance specifically by Koi Pond." She held back a branch of a tree as we walked the small path. She smiled at the camera and raised her eyebrows to stop and explain. "Koi Pond isn't officially a landmark at Maple Park but it is within the boundaries of the park and has been here for a hundred years, which is as long as the disappearances have occurred. Coincidence? Unlikely."
      Cecilia was slightly breathless from all of the oral information, however she continued to walk again. "Teenagers have come to this spot for decades as a hangout. Hell, it was a hangout when my grandmother was my born."
      She smiled at the familiar break in the woods. "Now we have finally reached our destination." She smirked and bit her lip slightly. "Brace yourself. This place is defiantly supernatural."
      We entered a clearing with a large circler pond. Short benches sat on the grass and red plastic cups littered the ground. Five teenagers were setting up speakers and were getting ready for the annual fall break party held here every year. There is parting, alcohol, and sex. (you know "normal" teenager things) What could go wrong with teens getting drunk in 40 degree wether with a huge deep pond in the middle of the woods of an old park? It was overrated popular bullshit.
     "As our classmates set up for the annual fall break party we are going to set up our tent for later tonight." Cecilia said dropping her huge hiking bag and rolling her sore shoulders.
      I set down my own and electronic bag. Including a 35 pack of batteries, laptop, three other cameras, my phone, and second laptop. I was a very prepared person, and I guess I was set for a couple days out here.
      "Hey Cecilia you need some help over here?" A peer of ours, Berry Vesco, asked. He was a dumb "funny" guy at school. He makes fun of people to make himself seem amazing and hilarious, however I see him as quite the opposite, sense I am a victim of his.
      Cecilia, although she is one of the prettiest girls in school, hates arrogant men, and taking help from boys. I think she must have been raised by Amazons, she dislikes the presents of boys that much. She's not a lesbian, I know she is attracted to guys she just thinks that boys are too immature and stupid at this age. Who can blame her?
      "No Berry I can handle this by myself." She said hammering an anchor into the ground, not making any effort to even look at him. I snickered at Cecilia's coldness to him.
      Berry gave me a glare and crossing his arms defensively. "What are you two doing anyways?" He questioned glancing at me again and looking at my camera draped around my neck. "What is Laurel filming?"
      Cecilia stopped hammering to rolled her eyes. He heavily sighed and turned around to look at Berry. "At some point this week there is going to be a disappearance of two boys and two girls our age. I believe it is something supernatural and plan on getting it all on tape, so perhaps we can stop it from happening again in another five years."
      "No wonder why boys only want to screw you." He mumbled to himself rolling his eyes. "Too fuckin' mental." I saw it on Cecilia's face that she heard. It's been a sensitive subject sense the rumors around school started up last week. Berry not realizing that her hurt her went back to his four friends.
      "What a dick." I clenched my fists and grit my teeth trying to control myself so I didn't go over to him and punch him in the face.
      Cecilia tried to blink the water away that was pooling in her baby blue eyes."He's right!" A person could easily hurt her feelings if they said something slightly mean. "Hell! You are only following me because I'm paying you!"
      I rushed to her side and looked into her eyes. "No way!" I crouched down and hugged her. "You're the only friend I have have. I'm just a nerdy chick who records everything to just get money to buy more things to record with. An ugly cycle you know." Cecilia smiled trough her tears. "You have always been nice to me and we know almost everything about each other. I have always considered you my friend. Don't listen to that son of a bitch, okay?"
      She breathed deeply and we both stood up. She agreed that he was just a mean guy and not worth her time. I looked at the navy blue tent and asked if the tent finished. I stood up wiping the dirt off that got on my jeans.
      "I just have to put on the tarp." Cecilia answered as she dug it out of her huge bag. I looked around as the sky darkened. The joys of fall, the sun sets at five twenty.
      "I'm going to put all of our stuff in the tent. Feel free to go around and get some more footage without me." Cecilia said as she finished the tarp.
      I agreed and walked to the benches beside the fire pit. Branches and logs were piled atop of one another for tonight's fire. Ashes from previous parties lied at the bottom. I sat down tired of standing for so long and filmed Koi Pond from a distance. It was peaceful. The party didn't start till six so it was just us seven kids here. The almost full moon was already in the sky and shined brightly. The pond was smooth like glass and reflected the sunsets colors. It was be-
     "Boo!" A voice said in my ear. I screamed and tried to run away but tripped over my own Converse instead. "Don't kill me! I'm only 16 and I'm still a virgin!"
      Laughter filled the air. The laughs of people that I hate. The laughs of Berry Vesco and Henry Pivot. "You're still a virgin! That is priceless! I'm glad you got it all on video!" Henry laughed clutching his stomach as he overreacted the humor of my scare. Cecilia had gotten me too paranoid about this place.
      "You should probably get started on your virgin problem soon." Berry said helping me up. No matter how much of a jerk Berry can be, he still helps me up every time. "You might be the first to disappear."
     I slapped his hand away angrily. "What do I have to do to make you shut up?"
     He smirked at me. "Be my date tonight." He winked and smiled as he saw the reaction on my face.
      I changed my shock into laughter. "You want me to be your date." I shook my head as I laughed. "That's he joke of a century, Henry." I walk passed him and headed towards the pond.
     "You might be a nerd," Henry yelled after me. "But you are still one of the hottest girls in school."
      I stopped. That infuriated me. I couldn't stand how guys rated girls at school by their looks. Who the hottest chick is. Who every guy wanted to 'fuck the brains out of.' It down right pisses me off. leading me to the action of turning around and marching right up to Henry and slapping him. (Not forgetting to capture it all on tape of course.)
      Berry covered his mouth, trying to stifle his laugh. "I forgot something." Henry bit his lip and looked at me with his large brown eyes. "All the guys at our school voted you second hottest girl in school. Sense no one can get anywhere with the hottest girl in school, Cecilia - any guy that goes with you is going to look very impressive."
      "Wow." I rolled my eyes. "Cecilia was right. Guys this age are fucking idiots."
       "Please, Laurel." Berry begged doing the stupidest puppy dog face in the world. "For your old buddy Berry?"
       I scoffed at his words. "Buddy?" I laughed dryly. "Berry you're the biggest bully."
       "Just one favor and I will leave you alone for a week." He pleaded knowing that I wasn't very willing.
      "No." I said sharply, walking towards the pond again.
      Berry followed me. "Two weeks! A month!"
      I was at the edge of the pond an had no where else to go. I turned around. "I'm not going to do it Berry! I'm not going to let you make a fool of me!"
      I saw fear flood his brown eyes as he looked at something right behind my shoulder. "Laurel behind you!" He screamed loudly pointing.
      I didn't even have a chance to turn around as a tentacle like thing, made me drop my camera and pulled me into the murky water of Koi pond...