Short Stories

The Black Lake

The clouds hung low and thick. Clumping like congealed blood in the sky, blanketing the earth in cold chills and dim light; only a slim pocket of sunlight shone through the layer of grey and stippled white.

The mountains stood rigid and tall above the lake, the only source of colour overpowering the grey above and the abyss below. Surrounding the lake in silent protection. Birds danced around their sharp peaks and rabbits leapt a ping the moss and grass and flowers. The breeze that disturbed the waters' thin surface blew cold and cutting, slicing through the mountains rocky bodies. All wildlife felt like microbes against the mighty.

The opaque, black water gently slapped the earth's edge and the bases of each towering mountain, gradually becoming still, calm and silent at the centre, an equilibrium of all life seemed to swirl around the waters middle. It seemed to invite all that crossed its path to swim in its icy grip.

A thin line of silver sun rippled over its surface before coming to rest upon the ancient jetty long forgotten with time. The sun's pilgrimage through the threatening sky ceased in a even circle on that jetty. That circle was where I sat.

I sat absorbing what little warmth the sun could offer me, resting my head against my knees I tucked my body deeper into myself. The desire to become invisible poisoned my thoughts.

The ragged hood of my jumper closed off part of my peripheral vision, my own body heat swirling around my ears unable to escape. My hands glided my long fingers across the planks of the jetty, the wood slick with water leaving slimy residue on the tips of my skin. I inhaled deeply, my lungs filling themselves to explode with cold oxygen that stile my throat of moisture, leaving it dry to be stung by hot saliva that came tumbling past as I swallowed. The air burnt my chest before quickly relieving itself as I exhaled. The rhythmic breaths and distraction of the pain cooled my grief stricken heart.

My eyes gazed unblinking upon the calm water and the longer I gazed at it the more I pined to swim below its surface. I wanted to forget everything for a few moments. Stop time. To endure more passing memories of the love I've lost.

Eventually, I gave into that temptation.

I unzipped my hoodie and slipped out of my trainers and socks. Biting back the urge to cry out as the breeze cascaded across my bare feet, freezing my toes together. I tiptoed to the edge of the jetty and sat, swinging my legs above the beckoning water, centimetres below me. I tentatively poked my toes into the abyss.

Pain shot through my legs and back. Sending shock waves pirouetting around my skull. I withdrew my feet in an instant and clutched my head to regain my thoughts. The pain subsided and I eased myself into the water, inch by inch. Letting out a sharp gasp as my body was swallowed by the open mouth of black water. Once I was in up to my torso I attempted to breath again, finding my breath clogging my lungs. I pushed off of the jetty's safety and kicked my legs up and down under the waters grasp, moving my body along the surface.

I aimed for the centre most part of the lake. It was a place I had never been before and it sung to me like sirens singing to sailors. It was no more exciting than that image. It was still the same old water I had been swimming through moments ago.
However, I felt the welcoming warmth of the sun gleams against my pale cheeks, breathing life back into them. Before a second thought I plunged my head beneath the icy surface. My air I held was ripped from me as the full extent of the waters temperature hit my brain. I quickly forced my head back from the depths and found my vision swirling as my brain recovered.

I didn't know where I was.

I couldn't see the jetty, and the mountains offered no familiarity to me, they all look the same, had I come from the left of the right or had I Come from in front or behind where I was now. Panic gripped my guts and spun them around my insides before squeezing it tightly. I felt hot bile rising through my throat as my fingers and toes went numb of feeling.
In my panic I swum forward. Breathing fast and slapping the waters surface with my arms, panic causing my limbs to move in a way I had never anticipated they would. The sky around darken and the mountains glared menacingly down at me, threatening me like a guard to an intruder. Underneath my feet I felt the slimy bodies of millions of fish and struggled not to scream, it felt as if they were attacking my desperate toes although I did not know what was happening I knew I had to get out. And fast.

Suddenly my hand slapped itself down hard on wet mud and grass, I pulled myself free of the waters grip with what remaining energy I could and lay there on the earth. My clothes soaked and ruined, my limbs numb and somehow sore, my body shivering violently. I lay there for what felt like forever.

As the night rolled in to claim me for its own I heard fear laced calling come from the tree line ahead of me. I watched as my father and two older brothers come tearing out of the looming forest. Father held my shoes and hoodie in his arms. I tried to call out to them but no words could muster themselves from my water clogged voice box. And I watched  them run on past me. I felt nothing beneath my waist but, the knowledge my family were looking for me gave energy to my arms. I crawled and crawled and crawled until I could crawl no more. I could hear footsteps running but my imagination deceived me. I clung to what little I had as my eyes began to close.

I felt hot arms grab me close and lift me from the ground. My eyes wouldn't open but tears fell from them still. I heard voices but could understand the tongue used. I just gripped at their clothes and prayed I would be safe.

Never swim in the black lake. Nature has no desire for you there.