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So as we do every night, we share pieces of information, a trust building exercise that allows for testing the waters.

“I found these tapes; they were so weird—” I can’t help the disgust that shows on my face. “And bodies, there’s bodies down there.”

“I hate to break it to you; there’s bodies all around this town. But that’s interesting that you tell me this now.”

“What’s interesting? The lab or the bodies?”

“It’s interesting that it was easy for you.” His eyes flicker to me then return to the road. “Every time I’ve searched that shoreline, the passage has been blocked.”

“By what?” It was easy to traverse for me.

“It’s inaccessible. It never existed for me…after I arrived here…” he trails off as he scans our surroundings.

My shadow seems a bit on edge.

“Arrived here?” I ask. Hadn’t he been here all along?

You made us lose our memories. The conversation between Christian and Kieran comes back to me.

“It means, the confusing, ridiculous mechanisms of this place respond accordingly to no one,” he replies.

“Wait, you’re not mad at me?”

“For...what?” He arches an eyebrow.

“For not telling you earlier?”

“Open your eyes Marisa, this investigation is yours.”

I nod in response, allowing his words to sink. Silence settles between us as we pass a familiar narrow dirt road hidden by trees. The lake. Didn’t Kieran’s tapes say something about there being a cavern below it? A chamber tethered?

“Turn around, I have to show you this lake I found.” My hand is already on his forearm, squeezing.

“Why? We don’t have much time.”

“Please. Just go back. I want to see if it’s still there.”

He studies me, then exhales turning the vehicle around. “Five minutes.”

The pond waits exactly where I remember it. Stagnant and emitting rot. Even behind glass windows, the scent hits me first and I stifle the incoming gag, covering my nose with the lapels of my coat. The vehicle’s headlights stretch across the surface, revealing those same shapes beneath the water. I slip out before Christian can come to a full stop.

This lake is another graveyard.

Something plops softly against the gravel embankment. Crouching closer, Christian steps behind me, his dark presence casting a long shadow across the bobbing objects on the water’s surface. Peering over my shoulder, Christian stares expectantly. Turning back, I study the bobbing object in the water. It floats slowly turning toward me.

A sinking feeling settles in my stomach.

Using a branch, I hook it gently and tug it toward the embankment. It rolls into the mud with a slosh.

A human head.

“Glad to know this is all still here,” I remark using the branch to point to the head laying next to my foot. An item winks a shimmer of silver. It floats close to the head.

It’s a key.

Filthy water laps at my feet as I stick my hand in to grab the key. My fingers wrap around its curved head, tugging once. Twice. Christian sidles up beside me and pulls. It doesn’t budge. I pull on it again.

“Look.” Christian points to a thick chain of silver that skims the surface. Skinny enough to wade freely in the lake.