The Reflection in the Creek

Stephanie decided to go fishing at Bailey’s Bend on Upshaw Creek, even though everyone always said to avoid Bailey’s Bend. The rumor mill had it that this area of Upshaw Creek was cursed. Some said that many an unfortunate fisherman had come up missing after fishing an afternoon here.

Stephanie figured she’d be okay by fishing at Bailey’s for a couple of reasons. The first and foremost reason was she was a girl, and all the ones rumored to have disappeared here were all males. So, for that reason, Stephanie knew she’d be safe. But just in case, Stephanie also decided to go fishing in the morning. Since all the boys and men had turned up missing in the afternoon, she figured this would doubly ensure her chances of safe fishing.

Thinking she had everything figured out, she set out to Bailey’s and had her hook baited and in the water by the time the sun was up. The bait hit the water, and she had a bite on her line as soon as the hook hit the water. She dragged the fish in and put another cricket on her gear. Casting her line, she expected to wait for another bite but was immediately surprised with another nibble and a trout.

This easy fishing continued for another thirty minutes, and Stephanie couldn’t believe her luck. She leaned over and looked into the waters, hoping to see the bottom, but the surface reflected her reflection like a mirror.

As she stared at the water, she was hypnotized by a swirling in her reflection. Suddenly, she saw a swirling light in the water. Stephanie leaned in to get a better look; her nose was almost touching the water when suddenly, hands shot up out of the water and grabbed hold of her. The hands dragged her to the bottom of the creek, to a lair at the bottom where the bones of other fishermen were littering the floor.

You wonder how anyone could know what happened to Stephanie when she didn’t survive to tell the tale. I’ll let you know. I’m the Water Nymph that picked her bones clean.