Lake Tiburon

2019 – Lake Tiburon.

A golden glow lit up the sky as the sun set. The night was peaceful, silent.

A small rowboat was out in the middle of the abandoned lake.

“Hand me one of those beers will you, Carl?” James placed the oars down as he leant back, gazed at the sky, and took a deep breath. Carl pulled three cold beers from an ice bucket, popped off the caps and passed them out to James, and Carl’s girlfriend Georgia who sat beside him.

Georgia held her bottle “What should we drink to?” she questioned. They all looked at each other and thought.

“How about to us?” Carl raised his bottle, “For always looking out for each other.”

“Perfect.” Georgia said. James nodded in agreement, they raised their bottles to one another, there was a sly look between Georgia and James that went unnoticed. All three relaxed, beers in hand, there was a quiet calm as they all enjoyed the peaceful lake.

Georgia took in the scene, “It’s so beautiful here…why would anyone close it down?”

James looked at Carl, “People disappeared, right?”.

“What?” a shocked Georgia shouted, “When were you going to tell us that, Carl?”.

Carl placed his empty bottle down, “Relax, just stay out of the water and you’ll be fine” he smirked.

Scared, Georgia shifted into the middle of the boat, “I want to go back”.

Carl put his arm round Georgia, “I’m kidding”. She batted him away.

James eyed the empty bottle beside Carl “Why don’t you slow down; I’m not fishing you out if you fall in.” He warned.

Carl waved him off, “I can handle myself”.

Georgia spat out her drink “Handle yourself, forgotten last weekend, James carried you home?”.

“I haven’t forgotten” spoke Carl.

With a sudden look of concern on her face, “You remember?” she asked with caution.

Carl pulled out another beer, “I remember my drinks had an odd taste and whenever I finished one, another appeared in its place.”

Georgia crossed her arms, “Who would be spiking you?”.

Carl turned to Georgia, “Who said anything about being spiked?”, an awkward hush followed.

With a subtle look towards James, she changed the subject, “So, why did you bring us here?”, a question directed to Carl.

Carl sat back and recalled the time he was 12…

2004

A family sized car pulled up outside of a large rustic wooden lodge, a young, excited Carl jumped out, he wasted no time in exploring his surroundings. Carls mother Helen got out and watched Carl run towards the lodge.

She closed the car door, “Carl!” Helen shouted annoyed, she turned to her husband Frank who shrugged his shoulders and sighed,

“Alright I’ll get him.” But Just as Frank left, a window flew open, they spun around and saw Carl’s head.

“This is my room” Carl smiled.

“Is that with or without your clothes? Helen frowned.

The smile wiped from his face, “With.”

As the week went on, Carl went swimming, fished with his dad, and explored. However, something was missing, Carl felt lonely and while sat on the porch one day he watched a group of kids playing. He wished his friends were there with him, it passed however with the sound of a young voice from the side of the lodge.

Jenny kicked stones along the shore, “Hi.” Carl turned and stared at the long flowing red hair and beautiful clear skin; he was mesmerised. With sweaty palms and butterflies in his stomach, he’d never seen someone so beautiful.

Jenny approached, “Are you ok?”.

“Yeah…” He cleared his throat “Sorry.” He finished with a smile.

2019

“After that meeting my parents rarely saw me but for mealtimes and when I slept. We were inseparable…”

Carl looked dreamy “One afternoon we were on the paddle boats, and we shared a kiss”, Carl looked out on the lake “It was my first, I’ve never forgotten that feeling”.

He paused and composed himself and said, “I was in love”.

“You loved her?” Georgia said with a hint of jealousy.

With sadness in his voice, “It was a long time ago”.

James patted Georgia’s leg “I don’t think you have anything to worry about”. She brushed his hand off and Carl pretended not to notice before he continued…

“Things went well, and it seemed nothing could come between us…However it was short lived”

2004

The arrival of a new family and Kevin also 12, things changed. At first the threesome seemed the best of friends, but as the week progressed it became clear Carl & Kevin were competing for Jenny’s attention.

On one day Carl didn’t see either of them, he wandered the lake and on seeing the paddle boats, was reminded of how just days ago it was just Jenny and him. The two of them against the world. Now, completely different. Carl cursed the arrival of Kevin.

2019

“Can’t take a little competition hey mate?” James looked at Georgia and laughed. Georgia felt awkward. Carl looked to James, said nothing, and continued… “I walked halfway around the lake and heard Jenny’s voice…”

2004

Not wanting to be seen, he stayed low. He saw two figures sitting very close on the shore. He moved nearer and hid behind the nearest tree and watched. They were both laughing, then Kevin laid his arm around Jenny. Carl’s blood boiled, he badly wanted to go over but his nerves held him back. Kevin pulled Jenny closer, and they kissed. Carl’s heart sank at the sight, he turned away, closed his eyes and imagined all the things he would do to Kevin. On returning to reality, he felt a warm liquid in his left hand, his fist was clenched, and blood dripped to the floor. He looked again, Jenny and Kevin were getting up to leave. He didn’t want them to know he’d seen and began to run back. The image of them kissing permanently fixed into his mind.

Carl returned to the lodge, ignored his parent’s questions, and headed to his room. Later there was a call from his Mum, Jenny and Kevin were outside. Carl greeted them and tried to act casual. He listened as Kevin and Jenny made their excuses for not being around and Jenny asked if he’d come out on the lake, Kevin had gotten hold of some beers and showed Carl, who reluctantly agreed.

They watched the sun set, talked, and drank the beers the moon reflected in the water’s surface. Everything was fine, Carl had almost forgotten the events of earlier. However, they all came flooding back the moment he saw Kevin reach his arm around Jenny. Jenny looked to Carl; her cheeks red. Carl’s fists were clenched. To make Jenny laugh, Kevin stood up and fooled around. He had had one too many beers. He held an empty bottle in hand and the boat swayed. The bottle hit the boat’s side and smashed, slicing his finger, blood poured from his wound. When the smell of the blood hit, the rage boiled over in Carl. Jenny, who was attempting to sit Kevin down, suddenly turned to Carl. For a moment, she could have sworn that his eyes were completely black. Before she could say, Carl leapt for Kevin, fists flew and with that, the boat tipped. All three were thrown in the water.

2019

“The sun had started to rise when I woke, I was cold and wet and laid on the shore half naked”.

Carl looked deep in thought, “I ached, and my stomach was churning, I felt sick and just managed to pull myself up”.

He fought the tears back, “I looked back in the water and…” Georgia puts a hand on Carl’s leg and the tears rolled.

“I couldn’t find them” Carl sobbed.

Night had fallen and the sky was a blanket of stars. The moon reflected in the water’s surface, just like that night in 2004.

“What happened to Jenny and Kevin?” Georgia asked. Carl was hesitant, then took a deep breath. “They never found the bodies. It was put down to accidental drowning.”

“They never found the bodies?” Georgia repeated slowly “Did they not search the lake?”, Carl closed his eyes.

2004

Carl looked around in horror as he checked himself over and saw that he was covered in red. His stomach churned again but this time he couldn’t prevent being sick. He looked down at the vomit on the shore and noticed, pointing up, was a human finger.

2019

Carl opened his eyes. He swallowed. “Yes, but they never found them”.

“Do you remember anything else?” asked James.

Carl looked at the bottom of the boat, hand on head, “Not after we fell in the water, everything went black, and I woke up on the shore”.

“What do you think happened to them?” James said edging forwards. Carl sat back up and shrugged his shoulders.

“The guilt was unbearable at first, I completely lost control.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I would have felt the same, angry I mean. Especially if that was my girlfriend.” James said.

“Really?” Carl said quietly looking over at James.

“Yeah” James responded.

“I’m sorry Carl,” Georgia said as she pulled him closer, “I’m always here for you, you can talk to me, we shouldn’t have secrets like that between us.”

Carl pulled away from Georgia as he reached for another beer. “Do you think that’s wise?”

“I think Georgia is right, maybe give it a rest?” James agreed. Carl ignored both and popped off the cap and started drinking. He stood up.

“Would have felt the same, huh?” Carl said as James looked up at him, mystified. Carl turned his attention to Georgia “Shouldn’t have secrets?”

“Carl sit down, I’m worried about you falling in!” Georgia exclaimed.

James was on the edge of his seat “Carl come on, listen to Georgia!”

Carl looked at Georgia “I remember last weekend; I know it was you”

“What are you talking about?” Georgia asked.

“As soon as I realised, I stopped drinking, you spiked me, hoping I’d be too drunk to remember”

“That’s ridiculous, what reason would I have?” Georgia defended.

Carl felt a weight lift, it was finally coming out “I saw you too saying goodbye”. Georgia and James looked at each other with fear.

“I watched you both kissing!”. Georgia and James went silent.

“Honestly, it didn’t mean anything” James muttered.

“Save your bullshit” Carl interrupted, he placed one foot on the side of the boat, and it swayed.

“Carl what are you doing?” Georgia says as she held on, Carl’s eyes went black. Georgia saw what was about to happen and reached for Carl’s arm, but it was too late. The boat swayed more heavily, and Carl sank into the lake. Both Georgia and James frantically leant over to help Carl up, but there was no sign of him.

“CARL!!” Georgia screamed. She grabbed James arm and pleaded “You have to help him!” James stood up and jumped into the water. He too, sank below the surface. To Georgia it felt like hours had passed as she watched out over the water for any sign of them. Nothing. It was then, that bubbles disturbed the surface. The worst hit her. They must have drowned. Tears began rolling down her cheeks. Suddenly, something in the water drew her attention, “Carl!?”. As it got closer, she realised it wasn’t human. It raised out of the water and Georgia knew what was approaching. It can’t be she thought, how could it? Georgia’s words failed her. It is the fin of a shark. It approached her rapidly. Before Georgia could move, it hit the boat with force, and she was thrown into the water. She looked around in a panic. Her heart raced and she flapped in the water, when she looked down all she could see was the wide-open mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.