The Lake

by Natasha Preston

  “Ugh, my cabin is terrible for whispering until eleven at night.”

  “Mine too, but they usually quiet down before ten. I think all the physical activity wears them out.”

  “Whatever happens, we have to keep them safe,” Mary says, wrapping her arms around herself.

  “Of course.”

  The campers, the kids, are awesome. Some are cocky and full of attitude, but under the pretense, they’re children. I won’t let Lillian harm a single one of them.

  I’d gladly expose my own secret before that happened.

  And that could well be what she wants. The whole point of this is to make Kayla and me so paranoid we reach a breaking point, to watch us suffer before she forces us to speak up.

  We can’t even leave now.

  We’re completely at her mercy.

  35

  Mary walks along the beach. I watch her make eye contact with Catalina as she comes out of the cabin. Without a word, Catalina follows her. They said everything with a glance like some freaky Powerpuff juju.

  They go into the multiuse cabin and close the door.

  Okay.

  “Esme!” Rebekah shouts, waving from the dock.

  I plaster on a smile like the one Kayla used at school when talking to the popular kids. She was very good at their game. Sometimes a little too good.

  Kayla stands and walks to meet me. “What were you doing?”

  “Just talking to Mary.”

  “What about?”

  “Three guesses, Kayla!”

  “You look obsessed and soon people are going to be asking why.”

  “Don’t worry about me, I have it under control.”

  “Do you?” she asks, her eyebrows lifting.

  “I’m fine, Kayla.”

  “Maybe you should have an early night.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s not good for you to be out here. You look pale and you’re biting your nails again.”

  I hide my hands behind my back. “I told you I’m okay.”

  “And I’m telling you that you’re not. I’m your best friend, Esme, and I can see what’s going on. You’re losing it.” She steps even closer even though we’re far enough from everyone else that they can’t hear us.

  I take a step back.

  “People are going to get suspicious,” she says. “You’re constantly getting in the middle of every creepy situation and it’s all you talk about to anyone.”

  “It’s not all I talk about.”

  “It might as well be. Rebekah asked if you’re okay. She said she’s worried that you’re not coping.”

  I bet she did.

  “When did Rebekah say this?”

  “Just now, while you were sulking over there.”

  My eyes slide over Kayla’s shoulder. Rebekah and Olly are sitting together chatting. He throws a stick into the lake.

  “Esme, I’ll tell them you got too much sun and need to rest.”

  Kayla’s hands are on her hips when I look back at her.

  Am I unwelcome now? She’s not really leaving me much choice. Not that I want to hang out with them right now. Not when Rebekah is analyzing me.

  “Fine,” I say through my teeth. “I’ll go.”

  She sighs. “Don’t be like that. I’m protecting us both.”

  “Night, Kayla,” I say, and turn away from her.

  No one calls my name as I head for my cabin.

  * * *

  Dinner has been served after a day of baking, den building, dodgeball and tennis. The campers chat happily as they feast on Mexican food.

  Taco Tuesday is the best day in camp.

  But not for me.

  Olly is finishing his fourth taco. The cooks here have to respect his and Jake’s appetites.

  Everyone’s spirits are raised ever so slightly when we have a good meal. I pretend like mine are, too. This evening’s conversation is about what we would do in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Half my table would go to the city and the other half would set up camp in a remote forest.

  I’m Team Forest. Fewer humans to turn zombie and eat me. But I definitely wouldn’t camp. I’d strap myself high up in a tree to sleep, like Katniss in The Hunger Games.

  After dinner and music around the campfire, the kids go to bed.

  It’s my night off tonight, but Kayla and I have been asked to help tidy the outside area before we turn in. Cora is inside with the girls until we switch. I don’t want to be outside; I’d rather be tucked up in bed.

  It’s not particularly messy out here, but I think Andy wants the creeper to see numbers. The more adults that Lillian and her cronies see, the less likely she is to follow through on any threats.

  That’s what I think, anyway.

  I pick up a couple of tennis balls that have been hit over the fence.

  As I turn to take them to the multiuse cabin, I see Olly walking toward me.

  “Hey, Esme, you need a hand?” he asks.

  I smile as he approaches. If I didn’t need my friends right now, I would be pissed at them for how they treated me last night. “Yeah, can you grab those rackets, please?”

  He picks them up and we walk back to the cabin.

  “You shouldn’t be out that far alone, especially not at night,” he says.

  “It’s not too dark yet and I didn’t go into the woods. There might be some balls in there, but hell no am I checking tonight.”

  “I’ll take a look in the morning,” he says.

  We pass Mary, Catalina and a few others in canoes, letting off some steam.

  They look so carefree.

  I wonder what message that’s sending to Lillian? We’re still having fun. You don’t scare us. Do your worst.

  But how bad is her worst?

  Olly holds the cabin door for me and I flick the light on. “Thanks.”

  He’s acting normal. I’m not sure if they really were talking about me last night or if Kayla was just trying to make me feel bad.

  We take the rackets and balls into the storage closet. It’s full of sports equipment and smells like rubber and sweat. I turn to leave, but Olly steps in front of the door, blocking my exit.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, my smile dropping.

  “I’ve wanted to do something for a while.”

  Strangle me?

  My eyes widen as he steps closer.

  I brace myself for a fight.

  Why aren’t you running?

  He looms over me. My mouth goes dry.

  He is the one in on it with Lillian.

  Fab time to find out that when it comes to fight or flight, I’m not a flight.

  I’ve always had a lot of respect for the fighters. Turns out we’re just stupid.

  My heart races, and I clench my hands into fists.

  I’ve taken self-defense classes, and I’m going to kick his ass.

  His hands never reach my neck, though. They slide around my back.

  What is happening?

  It takes me a second later to really get it—I am that stupid—Olly doesn’t want to hurt me. His lips touch mine.

  Oh.

  Code red! Code red! You’re fraternizing with the enemy!

  I relax into the kiss a second later and feel his smile against my mouth. He tastes like Dr Pepper and smells like a campfire.

  Olly pulls back for a second. “I didn’t expect complete shock, Esme. I thought I made it kinda obvious that I like you.”

  Do not tell him the shock is because he isn’t choking the life out of you.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head to try to get a little clarity.

  “I’ll stop if you want me to?” He looks at me, his eyes soft.

  I don’t swoon easily, but I am right n
ow.

  “You may continue.”

  He laughs and brings his lips down on mine again.

  I step closer, closing any distance between us. I snuggle into him as he kisses us both breathless.

  “We should get back,” he says, minutes, hours later, I don’t know.

  He’s taken my mind off last night and that’s all that matters right now.

  “Right. We have a job to do here and all that.”

  His mouth curls. “We should go and do that.”

  Neither of us moves. “Olly,” I say. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Go on.”

  “The other day when we were talking about where we’d like to live after college…”

  If we’re going to start something, and it feels like we are, I want to be as honest as I can.

  “Yeah?” he prompts.

  “Well, you said you want to live anywhere but here, and for a second I thought you meant you lived here. In Texas. In this town.”

  “I’m not sure I’m following.”

  “We said that the person who could be watching…um…”

  Lowering his arms, he breaks all contact and steps back. “Me?” He turns and runs his hands through his hair. “Wow. You thought I was messing with camp?”

  “No. Well, I’m sorry, but just think about how it sounded.”

  “I don’t care how it sounded! Why didn’t you just ask? I would have told you I just don’t want to end up in a dead-end town like this. Jesus, Esme.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Disappointment fills his eyes. “You actually thought I could threaten you all? That I would put children in danger?”

  “No!” I say, but it doesn’t mean anything because that is totally what I thought.

  We haven’t known each other long, but I really don’t think Olly would be part of something as terrifying as this. Lillian wants to turn us against each other.

  And I did exactly that.

  “Please, can we just talk about this?” I plead. “I’ve been paranoid and scared. I like you and it was dumb. Like really dumb, but I haven’t exactly been thinking straight.”

  He takes a step toward the door.

  “Olly, don’t leave, please?”

  “I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

  “I believe you.”

  He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “The first girl I’ve liked since my ex thinks I’m a deranged stalker.”

  I dip my head, wincing. I’ve made a huge mess of this.

  “Olly,” I whisper.

  “Why didn’t you just ask?” He sounds defeated, like this is all over and he’s telling me it’s my fault. I could have avoided this by talking to him. He huffs, his eyes flashing to mine. “That’s why you were going through my stuff.”

  Crap.

  “I was looking for your driver’s license,” I say. “I wanted so badly to prove my dumb theory wrong. The last couple of weeks with you have been awesome, and I was terrified that you might be the one doing this and that you hated me.”

  He tilts his head. “Why would that make me hate you?”

  Oh God.

  “No, I mean all of us. Whoever is out there clearly doesn’t have warm and fuzzy feelings for any of us.”

  His sneakers thud on the floor as he walks closer to me.

  “Why are you lying to me?” he growls.

  I gulp. “I’m not lying.”

  “Then tell me what you meant by that. Why would this person hate you?”

  I press my lips together.

  “You acted weird when we were in the forest,” he presses. “Sometimes you’re off in your own world, and I can see the panic you’re holding in. Last night you bailed on us and today you’ve been jumpy as hell.”

  “You’re wrong,” I tell him. But my words hold no weight because my voice cracks and betrays me.

  “I’m not wrong. What’s going on? You know more than you’re telling me. Is someone threatening you?”

  “Olly, no.”

  He shakes his head. “We’re not leaving this damn closet until you tell me the truth.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t tell. I’ve never told anyone, ever.

  “I can’t,” I whisper.

  I keep my eyes closed, but I feel him getting closer. His breath cascades over my head and then I’m in his strong, warm arms.

  “You’re scaring me,” he says into my hair. “If someone is harassing you, I can help. I won’t let anyone hurt you, Esme. I promise.”

  After a mere two weeks, if something happened to me, he would get over it fast. We’re not even together. I barely know the guy.

  “Hey,” Olly presses. “Please tell me.”

  His body is rigid.

  I sink into him and feel my tears seeping into his T-shirt.

  “You’ll hate me,” I mutter against his collarbone.

  “Tell me.” He pulls back. “It’s bad?”

  I nod. “I didn’t mean it, though.”

  “What didn’t you mean?”

  “I lied about when I was last here as a camper,” I whisper. “It was the year of the fire…and I was there that night.”

  36

  The weight of the secret is heavy, but rather than feeling lighter now that I’ve told Olly, I want to crawl under a rock.

  Realization hits and his jaw drops. “You were responsible for the fire?”

  “It wasn’t entirely my fault. I mean, it was, but it was an accident.”

  “What happened?”

  “I—I was eight. The older kids had been sneaking out and bragging about it. I thought it would be cool if I did the same. It was so stupid.”

  Olly takes my hands in his and a glimmer of hope settles in my chest. Maybe he won’t hate me. “What happened?” he asks.

  “They used to sneak out the back window in the cabins and go down that trail. I didn’t know it led into town back then. I went one night, past the camp’s border and onto public land. I was a little scared but kept thinking about how the older kids would react the next day when I told them.”

  Meeting Olly’s eyes, I wince. “I came to the clearing where people camp and no one was there. I lit a fire and it got out of hand.”

  Tell him what you and Kayla did to Lillian, you chicken!

  “Whoa,” he breathes. “Okay. Well, that was bad, but it was an accident.”

  “I never meant for it to happen. I added too many sticks to the fire. It collapsed as the sticks under the new ones gave way and the whole thing toppled sideways and hit that small group of trees.” I gulp. “It was almost like adding gasoline, the trees caught fire that fast. It had barely rained all summer.”

  Olly squeezes my hands, telling me it’s okay.

  Nothing about that night was okay, though. He doesn’t understand that because I can’t find the words or the strength to tell him the rest.

  We’re new friends. What if he doesn’t keep my secret?

  “I hated myself for a long time after that,” I say.

  “What did you do once the fire spread?” he asks.

  “I ran. Like a little coward, I ran back to camp and slipped through the window. By the time I heard sirens, I was back in bed. The whole forest didn’t catch fire purely because of the number of rocks around the trees and the lack of debris. Any longer, though, and one of the trees could have fallen over and reached the others.”

  “Who called nine-one-one?”

  “I don’t know. There was a lot of smoke, so it could have been anyone. I heard a rumor that it was some people outside a bar who noticed the fire.”

  “You never told anyone?”

  “No, never. In the morning there were a couple of cops at camp. I thought they’d come for me, but it turned out they were just asking the counselors if
they’d noticed anything. Over breakfast we were all told there had been a fire off-site.”

  “And you decided not to tell.”

  Olly isn’t asking me a question.

  “I was so scared of what would happen. It was an accident, so there was no point in getting myself into trouble, getting kicked out of camp and giving the camp a bad name. How would it look when the counselors didn’t know the campers were sneaking out at night?”

  He frowns. “Do you think they’re doing that now?”

  “There never used to be locks on the windows. Now the only window you can get out of in their room is a fire escape with an alarm on it.”

  “Jesus,” Olly mutters, dropping my hands.

  “I regret it. Every day I’ve regretted what I did that night. I wish I could go back and stop it from happening. I was so stupid.”

  “You were eight.”

  “I still knew right from wrong.”

  “Damn, Esme.” He rubs his jaw. “All this time…”

  “I think whoever is doing this might know it was me that night,” I whisper.

  Olly’s eyes snap to me and widen like an inflating balloon. “Why would you think that?”

  “ ‘The lake never forgets’? What other crap has happened here besides the forest almost being burned to the ground?” And someone getting hurt.

  “Probably lots of things.”

  I arch an eyebrow. “Such as?”

  “I don’t know, but I doubt you’re the only one who has ever gotten themselves into trouble here.” Olly blows out a long breath, as if there’s something else he wants to say but won’t.

  I tilt my head, my eyes piercing into his as if I’ll actually be able to read his mind. He looks away.

  When he remains silent, I sigh. “Maybe we should go to bed.”

  “Are you for real? You think I’m hiding something again. You search my room because you think I’m a stalker, then you off-load your secret onto me, and still you think I’m hiding something.”

  “I can see that you are!”

  “How?”

  “Because you can barely look me in the eye!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  I reach for him, but he backs up, shaking his head. “Please tell me if there’s something, Olly,” I say. “All of this is driving me insane and if we know for sure, once and for all, what this craziness is about, then we might be able to stop it.”