"That Black lake"

Jake sat on the bench, staring at the lake. The morning was cold and the wind made it worse. He sat there, still, like a gargoyle on top of an ancient church.

"Jake?" That was Jake's best friend, Rob, "I knew I'll find you here." Jake kept staring at the lake. "Jake, please, let's go home, you haven't had any sleep you need to rest. This is insane"

No response from Jake.

"Jake, please. you have to..."

"That black lake." Whispered Jake.

Rob sighed.

Jake kept staring at the lake, "It was here, this very lake, this is where it happened..."

About three months earlier...

It was the afternoon of a hot summer. Rob and Jake were at this same lake -Lake Watkins- accompanied by Lisa and Gracie; having fun, since it was a long weekend, their plan was to party. The night before, Rob had borrow uncle's Mark fishing boat. A nice boat; perfect size. It was not a luxurious boat, but it was comfortable. There was only one condition from uncle Mark, to clean the boat after they were done with it. Rob agreed.

The afternoon was going well. They were having fun. As Jake sat drinking his beer, Gracie came to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I feel like swimming." she said. Jake could smell the alcohol, "How many drinks have you had?" Gracie laughed, "relax, I know when to stop." Jake shook his head. "Come on, Jake. Let's jump in. It would be fun." "No, it is cold, and you are almost drunk." "You're a party pooper. Right, guys?" Rob and Lisa were busy, kissing, didn't reply. Gracie grabbed some peanuts from the bowl and threw them at Rob and Lisa. "Hey!" "Do you want to jump in?" asked Gracie. "Sure!" Said Rob he stood up and took off his shirt. Lisa grabbed his arm, "Rob." "It's all right, guys. We go in, then we get out, what you say, Jake?" Jake hesitated. Gracie jumped and stood on the port. "Gracie, get down!" called Jake.

"Look what I can do."

"Gracie, No!" Called Jake, Gracie fell off board. Not concerned, indeed, she was laughing. "Wait there, we're going to get a rope." Gracie kept laughing, "Come and join me." Said she, then she started swing inwards. "It is nice and warm."

"Gracie, come back!!!"

The next morning the units searched the lake, her body was not found...

Jake kept staring at the lake. Rob grasped Jake's shoulder, "I know it is hard, but you have to let go." Jake turned to Rob. Perhaps that was the first time Jake had looked into someone's eye, since the incident. "Come on man we need to go. It is cold." Jake smiled. walked towards the lake. "Jake?"

"Do you think she still loves me?"

Rob walked towards Jake, "She always did."

"I know she does, she still loves me." Said Jake with a smile. "I talked to her, she said I can still fix it."

Rob said nothing, deep inside he was crying. No...Jake...What has...how could, Rob's thoughts shuffled inside his head. No, Jake, no.

Jake kept staring at the lake, "today is the day," he said.

Rob's heartbeat sped up, "What do you mean?" he moved closer to Jake, "Jake it wasn't your fault."

Jake kept staring at the lake, "I feel like swimming."

"It is cold, you could catch a...Jake, please don't do it."

Jake's feet were now in the lake.

"Jake, please, come back," Rob's words were unheard. "Jake?" Tears escaped from the side of Rob's eyes.

Jake turned to Rob, smiling, "look what I can do."

The water around Jake turned black, like if he had dropped an oil barrel. So did his eyes, black like the darkest night.

"Jake, no."

Jake started laughing, "Come and join me." he turned around and started walking to the deep side of the lake. As he walked, he left a black-oily trail.

"Jake, please, come back."

The next morning, the units searched for Jake's body, it was never found...

Three months later...

Rob stood at the edge of Lake Watkins. Felt that someone grasped his shoulder. It was Lisa. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Rob asked Lisa. Lisa nodded. Rob grabbed Lisa's hand. "Es una fiesta 'bajo 'el agua." Said Rob.

"What does that mean?" Asked Lisa.

"I don't know. To me it sounds like, 'you are heading the right way'."

Lisa smiled, "are you ready?" she asked Rob.

Rob nodded, then guided Lisa to the center of the lake. They sank in that black lake.

The next morning the units searched the lake, 'their' bodies were never found.