Smith Mountain Lake

"I don't know, dad!" Jordan was shaking at this point gripping the wheel of the boat. He didn't know how Emory could have just disappeared.

The twins family owned a lake house in a wealthy community of Smith Mountain Lake, VA. It was like second nature to them, riding up and down the channels and canals of the lake. In and out of the coves their entire lives, they knew the lake better than most adults.

The day started out just like any other, waking up to the sun shining in the window of the game room where they had fallen asleep the night before, Jordan and Emory got up and took a ride on the Jet Ski's. Returning occasionally to check in with their parents and grab a snack, they headed out time after time only to return a little while later. Telling stories of new spots they'd found to park and float or swim. The day moving along like any other, they decided to hang out with friends that evening after dinner. "Don't wait up guys, we'll call if we need you" Jordan shouted to their parents on the way out the door.

It was a chilly night for early September. With the sun setting Jordan was ready to get to the party, they sped up, hoping the trip wouldn't take quite as long. Finally reaching their destination they realized they would have to park the boat at a public dock just around the corner.

The party was already alive and loud with all of their friends that also had the same luxurious life of living part-time on the lake. These friends had access to any and everything, and it was all at this party tonight. Beginning to feel anxious, Emory grabbed a drink from an older, muscular guy they had never met. Introducing himself as Mike, he led them to the beer keg in the kitchen so they could grab another drink. Soon they had no cares in the world, dancing the night away with the hottest guys and prettiest girls, they were having a blast. This would be the last party of the summer before everyone packed up and went back to their main homes, returning to school or college and life as they knew it. This was the last hoorah. It was obvious that everyone at that party wanted to go out with a bang.

With the party coming to an end it was time to leave. A full moon glowed through the thick fog that had fallen across the water. Stumbling over themselves, singing and laughing they finally made it to the boat. The air getting colder and the fog more dense they started back for home. Suddenly the boat came to a complete stop running aground. Shocked and scared Emory yelled at Jordan, "What the hell Jordan, what did you do!" Jordan in a panic didn't understand what happened, trying to figure out where he was through the thick fog, he realized he had run onto the shore of a small island. "Emory,... have you ever noticed this, where did this come from, I've never..." Emory hopping out of the boat said "nah, but it's dark, so maybe". Jordan talking in a low voice said something about the island again but Emory couldn't really hear what he was saying. Tired, cold and frustrated Emory barked back, "I don't know Jordan, I'm just ready to get home!!" Mumbling under her breath Emory said, "but noooo we have to hit a damn island!"

Hearing a faint sound of crying, she stopped pushing the boat, "Jordan ..." The cries getting louder now, she tried to see into the dense fog at what could be making the noise. "It's just an animal Emory" she thought out loud pushing the boat as hard as she could her feet sinking into the thick wet sand on the shore of the island she felt something on her neck. "Oh my God, JORDAN!!!" Hearing the crying again only louder now, she felt the warmth of someone breathing on her neck, she screamed. Trying to jump back onto the boat she realized her feet were no longer touching the ground.

"Emory, what is taking so long?" It was as if he hadn't heard anything she'd said. Yelling her name with no answer, just the chill of the breeze and the blinding fog. Searching for what seemed like hours he called his dad. "Dad ... I don't know what happened... Emory" They returned to the spot where they ran aground but nothing, nothing was there. "It's gone! Dad I swear it was right here".

Hours of searching turned into days and weeks. No one seemed to believe Jordan. "An island that was there then disappeared son, really?", questioned an officer on the search team.

"Dad, look at this", said Jordan. A year had passed, Jordan never stopped looking into the disappearance of his sister, he could feel her with him. He just knew she was still alive, somewhere, he didn't know where, but he couldn't give up looking. "Dad, please, come look at this" Jordan said in a more stern voice. "What, son, I am tired of looking at maps, and articles, I wish you would just stop already." Taking a minute he reluctantly looked at the map of Smith Mountain Lake, he saw it. Where the island appeared that night the map shows a graveyard on the side of a hill. "Dad, Smith Mountain Lake is a town that was flooded to create the lake, right, it's possible...." Jack knew what his son was asking but he stopped him from saying it out loud, "it sounds crazy son, but we have to try".

"Tomorrow is the night Emory was lost one year ago, I'm going back to get her dad", said Jordan. Elaine, Jordan's mom, begging them not to get out of the boat, agreed that they go and just see what's there. "I can't lose you guys too", she cried.

They set out early that evening to make sure to get to the spot before the sun set. They waited for what felt like an eternity just floating in the same spot. Nothing but water all around them. With the sun setting came a brisk breeze, then darkness. A strange silence and fog that thickened with every minute that passed. Unable to see anything, and only able to hear the wind rustling trees they felt an unexplainable coldness. Within seconds of the fog thickening they found themselves on the shore of an island hearing cries and screams of horror. "EMORY!!!" yelled Jordan and Jack, seeing something move through the fog they watched intently. Jumping out of the boat Jordan landed on the wet sandy shore. That's when he heard it. Chills covering his body and the cold of the air stinging his face he yelled again, "Emory". She ran as fast as she could jumping into his arms. She was cold and wet, the clothes from a year ago barely covering her body dirty and torn, Jack wrapped her in towels and got her in the boat. Jack held her tight as if he may lose her again if he let go. Jordan left the island as fast as the boat would go.

Looking back as they drove off, Emory couldn't see the island, "it's gone" she whispered.