Lethal Lake

Chapter 1: Awakening

I woke up with a start. Images of creatures that would make grown men pee themselves flashed through my mind. Images of creatures I've never ever seen before. I try to calm my breathing as I look around frantically, seeing my red and black room finding comfort in my posters and pictures hanging neatly and proudly on my wall in nice rows. I let out a breath and blinked, still breathing heavily. I reach for my glasses, that I remembered to set on my nightstand last night, so I could find them. I ran my tired, limp hand through my red, thick hair. I stretch my arms, trying to fully wake myself up. I look down at my oversized men’s shirt and black shorts and roll out of my bed. Careful to not trip over anything in the obstacle course that is my bedroom, I find my dad and older brothers waiting in the kitchen.

I guess I’m late to the party.

“Today is mom’s birthday.” I call quietly, to no one in particular, unclear if we were going to talk or ignore it right now. 

My brother Jay nodded his head nonchalantly, but I knew better. Mom was Jay’s favorite person in the world. A true mama’s boy in every sense of the word. Mom was murdered 2 years ago, her case remained unsolved. This family lived life since then filled with questions of why? Why would anybody wanna harm her. She was the sweetest woman in the world. I shook all the possibilities off quickly and kissed my brothers and my dad sweetly. I ran up the stairs to dress in my favorite clothes, branded with the names of all my favorite rock bands and quickly ate my breakfast of W.E.B that consisted of waffles, egg and bacon, and then I took off for school. I passed the same lake by my house, the same lake that’s been there for as long as I can remember. Dad always said mom loved this house partially because of the lake, she thought it was beautiful. I was indeed, but today it felt different. I felt a strong urge to stay far away from that lake. I dismissed it instantly. I’ve been reading too many fantasy books.

School was okay. I saw my best friends Carey and Devann instantly. We walked to math together, which was okay, because I got an A+ on my math test, I got kicked out of Mr.Fairey’s history class, as usual, with Devann for laughing while he made suggestive noise everytime Mr.Fairey talked. I almost blew my brains out in my french class because my teacher is the worse teacher to ever be hired here and they served what i’m not sure is even sure is edible food in the lunchroom. Failed a science test because my teacher isn’t good at her job but played matball in gym so it balanced out. But 9th period computer science, I was beyond ready to go home.

Once the bell rang, and I hugged my friends goodbye. I started my walk home. On my way, I decided to get some Wendy’s. Their Frosty’s were $0.50 again and that was a good deal. I ate my frosty on the way and continued. A few blocks from my house, I almost got hit by some douchebag in his car. He rolled down his windows to reveal that it was Jaice Thompson from my school. One of the biggest asshats enrolled at Saint Jevernce High School.

“Sorry Princess, I didn’t see you there. But now I wonder how I could have missed you, especially with you wearing those jeans. Wanna ride?”

“One, don’t you have a girlfriend. I doubt Arianna will appreciate those comments towards me. Second, almost 99% sure you don’t mean by car, I’m gonna pass regardless.”

“Oh come on, Arianna will survive it. She isn’t as loyally mine either, so it’s fair” he said, “Hey, what’s your name? Really, come on, I’ll drop you home. No jokes.”

“My name is ‘I’m capable of walking all by myself home’ , and my last is ‘please get lost Jaice.’ Anyways, I appreciate your concern for me getting home, but I’m sure there are probably more than enough girls who go to our school want and need your concern more than me, heck maybe even some who don’t go to our school. Goodbye, Jaice.”

Shaking his head in disbelief and scoffing, he sped past me, I’m sure with his ego a little hurt. Not my issue, I continued to walk until I came up towards the lake again. Once again, I felt that strange feeling. That run feeling. But I didn’t. I wanted to run, something in my body told me to leave it alone, continue home. It’s just a lake Izzy. Relax.

But, for some reason, I couldn’t help myself. The water looked so pretty, so relaxing. Something begging to be seen. I wanted to touch it. I had to. Sticking my hand into the lake, it felt nice. Accepting. Calm and cool. Suddenly, it heated a little and I tried to pull my hand out, but I couldn’t. I dropped my bag and glasses to try to pull my hand out of the water but I couldn't. It was almost as if it was pulling me in more and more. I tried to scream, do anything but before anything could happen, I was completely submerged in the water, I panicked and started to thrash around in the water trying to break free from whatever weight was dragging me to swim my way to the surface but it was as if a force stronger than me wanted me in that lake. I shook my head in the water and thought of my dad, my brother's. They were losing someone else.

I felt my chest start to burn as well as my eyes, and soon I was greeted by a calming darkness that spread over my body like sunshine spreads over a beach. I surrendered myself to that beautiful darkness.