The Drowned Ones

The sun hung low over Silverdeep Lake, painting the still water with streaks of orange and crimson. A group of friends had arrived that morning, eager to spend their summer vacation far from the noise and stress of the city. The lakefront cabin they rented stood in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dense forest and a heavy quietness that felt peaceful—at first.

“This is going to be epic!” Marco declared as he tossed a cooler full of drinks onto the wooden dock. “We’ve got the whole lake to ourselves.”

“It’s almost too quiet,” Olivia murmured, glancing around. The air was still, and not a single bird or insect made a sound.

“That’s the whole point, Liv,” said Danielle, rolling her eyes. “No distractions, no drama. Just us, the lake, and good vibes.”

The five friends—Marco, Olivia, Danielle, Chris, and Sarah—spent the first day swimming, grilling, and laughing. But as night fell, a dense fog rolled in across the lake, and with it came an oppressive sense of unease.

Day Two

Olivia awoke to the sound of splashing. She sat up, peering out the window. The fog had not lifted, and the lake was shrouded in a pale, ghostly mist. She could barely make out a figure standing at the edge of the dock.

“Marco?” she called out.

The figure didn’t respond.

“Hey, are you okay?” she asked, stepping outside. The fog swirled around her as she walked toward the dock. By the time she reached it, the figure was gone. Only ripples disturbed the water.

The others found her there minutes later, shivering and staring into the lake.

“What’s wrong?” Chris asked.

“There was someone here,” Olivia whispered. “Standing on the dock. I saw them.”

“You probably just imagined it,” Danielle said, though her voice lacked conviction. “This fog messes with your senses.”

But Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone.

Day Three

By the third day, tensions had risen among the group. Marco was unusually quiet, staring off into the lake for hours at a time. Sarah complained of hearing whispers at night, voices just beyond the edge of comprehension. Chris tried to lighten the mood, but even he seemed spooked by the strange atmosphere.

It wasn’t until dusk that things escalated.

They had gathered around a firepit near the cabin, trying to enjoy their last night despite the eerie fog that refused to dissipate. Marco, who had been silent for most of the day, suddenly stood up.

“We should leave. Tonight,” he said.

“What are you talking about?” Danielle asked. “Our booking isn’t over until tomorrow.”

“Something’s wrong with this place,” he insisted. “I’ve seen… things in the water. Faces. They’re watching us.”

“Oh, come on,” Chris scoffed. “You’re just letting the fog get to you.”

“He’s not lying,” Olivia said quietly. “I saw someone on the dock two nights ago. And last night, I heard footsteps outside my window.”

Sarah’s face paled. “I heard them too. And whispers. They were saying… something about the lake.”

Before anyone could respond, a loud splash echoed from the water. They all turned to see a dark figure emerging from the lake, its soaked, skeletal form glistening under the moonlight. More figures followed, their hollow eyes glowing faintly in the mist.

“Run!” Marco shouted.

The group scattered, sprinting toward the cabin. The fog thickened around them, making it nearly impossible to see. Olivia could hear the wet, sloshing footsteps of the figures pursuing them, along with the faint whispers growing louder.

You cannot leave.

They burst into the cabin and locked the doors. Chris barricaded the windows with furniture while Danielle fumbled with her phone.

“No signal,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“What the hell are those things?” Sarah cried.

“They’re the drowned ones,” Marco said, his eyes wide with terror. “I heard the locals talking about it when I picked up supplies. They said the lake is cursed. Every few years, people disappear here. They drown, and their spirits become part of the lake.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?!” Chris shouted.

“I didn’t think it was real!” Marco shot back.

The whispers grew louder, echoing through the cabin walls. The friends huddled together, fear tightening their throats. The figures outside circled the cabin, their footsteps unnervingly slow and deliberate.

“We need to get out of here,” Olivia said. “There has to be a way.”

“We’re trapped,” Danielle whispered. “The fog… it’s not natural. It’s like the lake doesn’t want us to leave.”

“We’re not staying here to die,” Marco said firmly. “We’ll make a break for the cars. We stick together, no matter what.”

The Final Escape

They waited until the figures momentarily disappeared into the fog, then bolted from the cabin. The path to the cars felt impossibly long, every step muffled by the dense, otherworldly mist. The whispers followed them, growing more urgent and hostile.

“Don’t look back,” Olivia gasped, her lungs burning. “Just keep going!”

One by one, the friends reached the clearing where their cars were parked. But as they approached, they saw the vehicles submerged in water that hadn’t been there before. The lake had expanded, swallowing the entire lot.

The drowned ones emerged from the water, blocking their path. The friends were surrounded.

"Join us…" the spirits whispered in unison.

Desperation gripped them. Olivia spotted a rowboat tied to a nearby tree and shouted, “Over here!” They scrambled into the boat, pushing off just as the spirits closed in. Marco and Chris rowed furiously, aiming for the far shore.

The whispers turned into screams. Hands reached out from the water, clawing at the boat. The fog thickened again, disorienting them. Just when it seemed they would be pulled under, the boat lurched forward, propelled by an unseen force.

They reached the opposite shore as dawn broke. The fog dissolved with the first rays of sunlight, and the lake became calm once more. The drowned ones vanished beneath the surface, leaving only ripples in their wake.

Breathless and soaked, the friends collapsed on the shore. They had survived—but Silverdeep Lake had marked them. They knew they could never return.

As they made their way back to civilization, Olivia glanced over her shoulder one last time. The lake lay still and serene, but she could still hear the faintest whisper carried on the wind.

"You will never forget."