The Lake

by Natasha Preston

  “Whoever it is, they can’t get into the cabins,” Rebekah adds.

  Untrue. Lillian carved her damn initials into the wall by my freaking pillow.

  I bite my tongue. Rebekah doesn’t need to be worrying about the very real fact that our resident stalker can get inside the buildings we sleep in.

  “You sure about that?” Olly says. “I don’t think it would take much.”

  My jaw drops as I twist my head toward him. “Can we not? How would someone sneak into a cabin of twenty people? Also, the doors are locked at night.”

  “If it was an ex-counselor, they might have a key,” he replies.

  Groaning, I close my eyes. But then I’m hit with a thought…how did Lillian get a key?

  Was she a CIT?

  She must have been about a year or two older than us. She might have worked here last year in order to get a key, to learn the layout and routines of the camp.

  My rapidly thudding heart is making my head spin.

  Andy has staff files in his office. Which is a locked filing cabinet inside the staff cabin.

  I have to get into the files and find out if Lillian was here in the past couple of years.

  “Andy!” Tia calls, standing up.

  Silence falls. A sea of heads whip her way, mine included.

  Andy, frowning, says, “Yes?”

  “Your theory about it being someone who worked here is right. Only, they might not have been a ‘bad’ one. Which means they could have a key to the cabins.”

  “CITs aren’t given keys, Tia,” Andy says.

  “That doesn’t mean he couldn’t have gotten one when he was working here!”

  Andy chews his lip.

  I glance at every member of cops and no-cops. They’re all thinking the same thing, that this person might be able to get to us. Even the doubters have frown lines.

  “I think we should go to the police now!” Mary says. She stands and folds her arms, her pursed lips and darkening eyes a warning to Andy: You go, or I will.

  “Shh! We don’t actually know anything for sure,” I say. “All we have is a lot of speculation.”

  “And we should let the cops find out if there’s anything behind this threat!” Mary throws her hands up in the air, exasperated with all of us. “What’s wrong with you people?”

  “Mary,” Andy says softly, “let’s calm down so we don’t wake the campers. I understand you’re worried, but there is nothing to suggest that we’re in danger.”

  “This guy tried to get a group lost, graffitied a cabin, watched us from the forest and left threatening notes stabbed and axed into doors. What more do you need, Andy?”

  Well, when you put it that way…

  No one actually moves, but a few on the no-cops side nod. The balance is shifting. We were about even, but Mary’s little speech has them spooked.

  “There has been nothing that’s an actual threat to our safety,” Andy says.

  “All right,” Jake says. “What if a few of us go into the forest and check it out, see if there’s anything suspicious? Would that make you feel better, Mary?”

  “Are you crazy?” Kayla snaps. “You can’t go out there in the dark.”

  “I’ll take a flashlight,” he says. “A group of us guys will have a look.”

  “I’ll go,” Olly says. Marcus and Lorenzo offer too.

  “In a world of evolving equality, I’ll be going with you,” I tell them.

  Olly shakes his head, but I raise my hand.

  “I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m going. We have kids here and I won’t figure anything out just sitting around.” And if Lillian is out there, I need to get to her before they do.

  Andy nods. “All right. I want you to have radios…and pepper spray. Actually, I’m going to come; I should be with you. Cora, I need you in charge here. Have your radio on and we’ll keep in constant contact.”

  “What about weapons?” Mary asks.

  I side-eye her. “We’re not taking weapons!”

  “We don’t need any,” Jake says.

  “Pepper spray is all we’ll take,” Andy says sternly. “All right, everyone who is coming wait by the staff cabin. I’ll get the supplies.”

  Cora walks with Andy and they chat in hushed tones.

  I start to follow Olly, Jake, Marcus and Lorenzo, when Kayla catches my wrist.

  Her eyes are wild, freaked. “You can’t go out there, Esme.”

  “Yes, I can. I’ll be fine.”

  “What if she’s out there?” Kayla whispers, her eyes wide.

  “Maybe that’s a good thing. If I can talk to her, find out what she wants and apologize for not making sure she was okay that night, maybe this will all be over,” I reply in a hushed voice.

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Not exactly wanting to sing from the rooftops either, Kayla, but I have to try something.”

  “You’re absolutely, one hundred percent sure it’s her?”

  “Yes. Absolutely,” I say. “I’ll be with the others. It’s fine.”

  She drops her arm. “Please, please stay safe.”

  Kayla would never come. She won’t do anything remotely dangerous.

  “You sure you’re coming?” Olly asks.

  I turn to him and smile. I probably look like that cringing emoji. “I’m sure.”

  “All right, let’s head out,” Andy says. “We stick close together. Cora, stay with Tia and Rebekah, watch the cabins, make sure no one gets near the campers. Mary and Catalina, watch the forest but don’t go into it.”

  Olly holds my hand tight and we follow Andy.

  I take a breath as we step into the dark woods.

  The temperature drops.

  Goose bumps raise along my arms.

  27

  A thick white blanket coats the ground ahead of us.

  “Mist,” I say, swallowing a lump of fear. Well, that’s not at all ominous.

  I wrap my free arm around my tummy and squeeze Olly’s hand.

  “Do you want to go back, Esme?” Andy asks.

  “No, I want to keep going.”

  Want isn’t quite the right word.

  You are fine.

  “Where are we going?” I ask.

  “We’ll check this area and see if there’s anything suspicious. I don’t think we’ll find anything, but it will make everyone back at camp sleep much easier.”

  Does he think that the stalker dropped their driver’s license in the forest?

  Our feet disappear as we walk into the mist.

  “If I was terrorizing a camp, I’d be very careful about leaving Scooby-Doo clues everywhere,” Olly says.

  I smile at his Scooby reference.

  “If this asshole has left anything, we’re going to find it and catch him,” Jake says.

  “I’d like to get my hands on him,” Olly agrees.

  Andy looks over his shoulder. “I’d like that too, but we have to be careful with this.”

  I can’t imagine Andy in a fight. Not winning one, anyway.

  Snap.

  We all turn to the left at the sound. My long hair whips against my face.

  “What was that?” Olly mutters.

  I blink as a sudden flash of light blinds me.

  Pictures.

  This time the flash is brighter, like our stalker is much closer.

  Flash.

  Not again.

  I spin around. This one came from the opposite direction.

  Flash, flash, flash.

  I slap my hand over my eyes. The onslaught of light from both directions makes it almost impossible to see. The fraction of a second between each one isn’t enough for my eyes to adjust.

  There are orbs of red behind my eyelids.

  “Back t
o camp!” Andy shouts.

  I let go of Olly’s hand and we all turn around.

  I blink again, wincing at the light. How is it possible that it’s this bright? The flashes are constant.

  Without thinking, I take off. My feet thud against the ground as I sprint, the wind whipping at my face.

  I can’t see, and I don’t know where the others are.

  My stomach coils around and around.

  What is she doing?

  Does she want to get to me?

  The air is cold, and I can barely see between each painfully bright flash of light.

  Flash, flash.

  Flash, flash, flash.

  They’re nonstop now, one after the other, like a rave without music or fun.

  “Olly!”

  Where is everyone?

  “Olly! Andy!”

  I cover my eyes with one hand, leaving a small gap at the bottom so I can see the ground a little. My other hand is stretched out in case I hit a tree.

  “Where are you?” I call.

  Whimpering, I push forward and shout, “Answer me! Olly! Jake!”

  Flash, flash, flash, flash, flash.

  My head hurts from the bright light, and I cry out.

  Biting my lip, I stumble forward.

  I can’t hear anything but my own heavy breathing and my own heavy footsteps.

  “Andy?”

  Where are they?

  The light stops.

  I gasp and squeeze my eyes shut. When I open them again, all I can make out is the outline of trees and dancing circles of light.

  Turning around, I look for the others.

  But no one is here.

  A chill travels down my back.

  Where am I?

  I turn my head and crouch on the ground. Fear claws my throat.

  Where is everyone?

  Where is camp?

  I’m lost.

  Digging my fingernails into a tree, I say a silent prayer. I’ve never thought much about whether I believe in God, but I will start if I can just get out of here.

  In the distance, a sharp crack sends goose bumps up my arms. I turn my head and strain to see into the forest.

  My heart stutters.

  I don’t know which direction the noise came from.

  Whoever is out there, they could be anywhere.

  I want to go home.

  I flatten myself against the tree when another crack comes closer. Pressing my palm against my mouth to stifle a scream, I slowly lean my head to one side to look around the tree. I stay close to it, my forehead touching the rough bark.

  In front of me is someone dressed head to toe in black, with a hood pulled over their head.

  I press my lips together as my stomach bottoms out.

  Please don’t see me. Please, please, please.

  “Esme!” Olly calls in the distance.

  “Where are you?” Jake shouts.

  Their voices echo through the forest.

  My heart leaps. They’re not too far away.

  The figure—I’m fairly certain it’s Lillian, even though I can’t make out her face—turns in the direction of their voices.

  “Call out, Esme!” Andy orders.

  I can’t!

  I don’t know how far away they are. I can’t hear their footsteps and their voices aren’t close yet. Lillian is maybe twenty feet away. I can’t move an inch in case I make a noise.

  Lillian looks around, the hood still obscuring her face. She doesn’t appear to have a weapon, but there is no way I’m taking that chance. Just like there is no way I’m making a run for it. Stupid people run through a forest when their assailant is just feet away. Then they fall and we all know how that ends.

  I don’t need to outrun her, I need to outsmart her. And I will do that by pretending I’m not here.

  “Esme?” Olly shouts again.

  My eyes widen. His voice is much fainter than before.

  No, this way! Come back. I wince, willing myself to breathe quietly. Please come back.

  Lillian moves very slowly in my direction.

  Ice-cold fear slithers down my spine.

  I steady myself against the tree.

  Branches and sticks snap beneath Lillian’s feet.

  We must be in the publicly owned section of the forest. The camp’s section is kept somewhat maintained. Now I’m out of bounds, away from any kind of safety.

  I press my side against the tree and place one foot a step to the left. Lillian is going to pass me, and I have to make sure she doesn’t see me.

  It’s too dark to make out her face. She’s tall and slim. I can still only just make her out. She’s like an evil paranormal presence in a horror flick. If she began to float and disappeared in a puff of black smoke it wouldn’t surprise me. In fact, I would love that.

  I want her gone.

  Her footsteps are light, but I feel each one vibrate through me.

  Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

  I curl smaller inside myself and say another silent prayer.

  My grandparents would love to know that I’m praying.

  Will I get a chance to tell them?

  Flattening myself against the tree, I wait.

  Please leave.

  Her footsteps slowly get fainter and fainter.

  I let out a quiet breath and swipe a single tear from my cheek.

  Crouching in the mist, I count in my head.

  She must be gone now.

  I’m alone again.

  My heart thumps.

  It’s scarier to be alone than it should be. I’d rather be on my own than have Lillian near.

  How did she get away just now?

  When I reach one hundred, I rise to my feet. The lingering orbs are gone. I can see normally now, despite the fact that it’s dark.

  I look around and decide to walk forward. I’m sure that’s the way back to camp.

  You can do this, Esme. Keep moving.

  I clench my hands and run to the beat of my thudding pulse.

  28

  My feet hurt from running on uneven ground. Sharp pains shoot along my shins. I round a thick bush and whimper, but I can’t stop. If I stop now Lillian might catch me.

  I run as if she’s barely a foot behind me, as if she can reach an arm out and touch me.

  Oh God.

  “Olly!” I shout, spotting him up ahead.

  He spins around and his eyes widen. A fraction of a second later, he’s sprinting toward me.

  “Esme!”

  I’m vaguely aware of the others calling my name and saying how relieved they are, but all I can focus on is Olly.

  His arms shoot out to catch me as I run straight into him. My legs give out and he’s all that’s stopping me from hitting the ground. I lean into him, feeling his warmth seep into my clammy skin. I sob, the relief of being safe drenching me.

  The static from Andy’s radio crackles as he makes a call to Cora to tell her we’re almost back.

  “What happened? Are you okay?” Olly asks.

  You can’t be a big baby now after insisting on coming.

  I stand. “I don’t know. One minute you guys were there, and the next I—I couldn’t find you.”

  Should I tell them what happened?

  No. No, I can’t.

  “We’re so sorry, Esme, we thought you were with us,” Andy says, stopping beside me.

  I wipe my hands on my shorts and take a ragged breath. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault, and I’m fine.”

  “You sure about that?” Jake asks.

  “Yeah.”

  “Did you see anything?”

  My body turns cold. “Just a whole lot of trees after the lights.”

  And the dark
figure of Lillian.

  “Us too.” Andy takes a big breath. “Looks like this person isn’t done with their pranks, though.”

  I nod. “What do we do now?”

  “We remain vigilant, stick together and make sure the children are safe,” he says.

  If I can’t get my heart rate under control, I won’t be doing anything at all.

  “I agree,” I whisper. But do I?

  Jake scowls. “We ride this out, let this freak have his fun and keep the campers safe. The day they leave, we find out who’s taking pictures and leaving notes.”

  Andy says, “That’s settled, then. Let’s get back to camp and have a hot drink and let everyone know there’s nothing out here.”

  I look behind me. Somewhere in the distance, Lillian is probably livid because I made it back to the others. She was right near me. I shudder at the thought of her being so close. What would she have done if she’d found me?

  I keep a small smile on my face and walk beside Olly, his hand in mine, trying not to crush his bones as I hold on.

  “That was eventful,” Jake says, his voice brimming with sarcasm.

  I wish my evening had been as uneventful as his.

  God, I wish I could speak with Kayla right now. She’s the only person I can talk to about what just happened. Only I can’t really, can I? I was supposed to talk to Lillian and clear this up. I was going to tell her how sorry we were that she got hurt and ask her to forgive us. But when it came down to it, when I was separated from the others, I was scared and hid rather than confronting her. I. Was. Scared.

  There, I’ve admitted it to myself. Esme is a big chicken.

  I pretended to be tough and unafraid, but I’m a phony.

  Kayla can’t find out what happened. She was counting on me to make this stop. I don’t know how much more she can take if she knows that Lillian stalked me through the forest like she was stalking her prey.

  No, this I have to keep to myself.

  We walk into the clearing and the first thing I see is the bright-white reflection of the moon on the lake. Small ripples in the water make it look jagged, like it could cut into you.

  The second thing I see is the remaining group of counselors running toward the staff cabin.

  “Shit!” Andy mutters.

  What’s going on?

  We sprint around the lake.

  “What is it?” Andy calls when we get close enough that he won’t wake the campers up.