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The pure conviction in his tone had me looking at the lake with a new light. I thought it was beautiful yesterday, the way the sun reflected the landscape on its surface.
Now, as the sun was dipping low and a fog was rolling into its place, I wasn’t so sure.
Everywhere we turned here, there was a new location to investigate or a new story that sent a cold shiver down our spines.
Yet we hadn’t even done our first night of investigation.
ChapterSeven
Ethan
The water was still as I stepped onto the dock. The small waves lapped at the shore in the quiet of the night.
It was strange being outside here where there wasn’t the sound of cars driving past or the constant thrum of the city around us.
The entire place was peaceful. I was already in love, despite all the spooky shit we’d heard so far.
I couldn’t seem to let the lake go after Logan told us about what he’d seen. I’d been on edge since we arrived at Bellmore Castle. Elizabeth and her fear filled me the first night. After she left, it settled a bit, but the house still felt restless.
You could feel the lingering emotion in the halls. Everywhere we went there was an oppressive quality to the air.
Out here, at least, I could breathe. I settled on the end of the dock, tucking my legs under me. It was too cold to put my feet in.
I glanced out over the water as the sun finished setting. It was painting the sky in gorgeous oranges and pinks that reflected on the water.
It slowly faded away into that strange time of day where the warmth faded but there was still just enough light to see. A time between light and dark.
Rippling water had me tensing before movement caught my eye. I glanced down in time to see something moving through the surface of the water.
It was coming right for me.
My gasp cut off as I scrambled away from the edge of the water and stood. It would have been smarter to run but I couldn’t seem to move. My body was frozen in place and all I could do was stare at the disturbed surface of the lake.
A pale face glared at me through the water. It was sickly pale as if it had been underwater for years. Big, black eyes focused on me as if peering through my very soul. As it continued to rise it revealed a swollen, bloated body.
It wasn’t until the form moved closer that I realized they weren’t eyes, but the opposite. The sockets were empty caverns.
“Holy fuck!” I gasped out, getting ready to turn, nearly knocking into Brea.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, steadying me with her hands and looking up at me. One of her gloved hands went to my cheek, and I leaned into the touch, closing my eyes and trying to recenter myself.
“Do you see anything in the water?” I questioned. She looked past me but shook her head, her curls shifting in the breeze that rolled off the mountains.
I turned as well, relieved to see the figure was gone now.
“No, it’s empty. It’s just a lake,” she said quietly. “There’s not even a ripple in the water. What did you see?”
“A body,” I said. “A monster? I’m not sure.”
The lake should be frozen this time of year but it was just warm enough today that it was more water than ice.
“Hold this,” Brea said gently, taking off her glove before sitting down. She took a breath before placing her palm flat against the weathered wood of the dock.
She didn’t say anything or react outside of her breath catching. Her body was rigid.
I didn’t have to see her reaction to know what she was feeling.
Brea and I were close enough now that her emotions were always stronger than everyone else’s.
