The Voice

The lake was glistening in the early morning light as if it was covered in a thin layer of ice. The cool fall air breathed life into me as I sat on the dock reading my book.

I do this every day after school to avoid the chaos that my home is until sun down. This was the only place I could think for myself and hear no other voice but my own. I don’t even talk aloud so the silence engulfs me in waves. As bad as that sounds, it’s quite wonderful when all you hear at home is: “Do this!”, “Do that!”, “You’re not worth anything!”. Nothing soothes my broken mind more than sitting at this lake.

The silence broke for a few seconds when a deer walked upon the dock. He looked curious and anxious all at the same time. Reminded me of myself and how I came upon this space. He faulted for a second before looking in all directions, scurrying away as quickly as he had come. It wasn’t until I turned back around to know exactly what had spooked him.

I felt a chill race down my spine and I froze like ice. Not a thing was in front of me that I could see, but a voice like glass broke my silence.

“Do you wish to know what the water holds?”

I couldn’t answer, I was in such a state of shock that the voice repeated themselves.

“Do you wish to know what the water holdssss?” Holding the /s/ sound much longer this time. I jumped up from my reading spot and looked in all directions. I looked for other people or cameras or really anything that could explain what I was hearing. When I couldn’t figure out where or what the voice was, I ran as fast as I could to my house.

Busting through the door in a heated panic my family looked at me in disbelief which then turned to anger. My anxiety went through the roof.

“And where the HELL where you?” said my stepmom.

My sister chimed in under her breath, “Probably at that stupid lake spot of hers, reading her stupid books.”

“Oh really now, is that true? If so, you will be cleaning the garage until dawn,” She scoffed.

“I had a late drama practice and didn’t realize the time. I’m really sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.” I walked down the hallway to my room before I could hear her answer. I wanted nothing to do with that devil woman and more so I need some time to think.

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My alarm went off at 6am on the dot. I needed to pack my school bag and make breakfast for the family before heading off to school.

I dreaded making breakfast so I always woke up early to have it done before the rest of them woke up. I refused to listen to their ridiculous demands that early in the morning. I woke everyone up and ran to catch my bus, which waited for me every single morning. My bus driver knew my situation and had a soft heart for me.

“You know, if I could I’d adopt you,” Breathed my driver.

“I know, I have this year left and good riddance to them,” I said.

“Keep ya head up so I can too,” My driver said.

The school day drudged on as if it knew my anticipation to get back to the lake. I left my favorite book there and I needed to speak to the voice. Mainly to find out what it meant but to also see if I was just crazy.

When the dismissal bell rang, I ran as fast as I could to the lake. Luckily, I found my book unharmed but the voice was another matter.

I called out to the voice, “Are you here?”

I waited a solid two minutes before asking another question. “What did you mean yesterday when you asked me about the water?”

The voice was still silent. I was getting pretty frustrated and decided to give it one more try. I repeated the phrase the voice did. “I want to know what the water holds!”

The voice did not respond back. I started to walk away when I heard a noise coming from beneath the dock. I turned around to see a ghost like woman snaking her fingers in the dock’s cracks. I froze. She just looked at me as I stared back. Then everything went black.

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I awoke to the sound of the eerie voice I was calling out to. “Do you really wish to know what the water holds?”

“Yes,” I demanded. She then grabbed my arm and directed me through a cave like tunnel. It took me a few minutes to even realize I was under water! I was breathing just fine as if I was back on land.

The tunnel opened into a ceremonial like cavern with a lectern in the middle. She positioned me at the lectern and told me to repeat after her.

“I would like the answers to the what the water holds.” Upon saying this phrase a sea of creatures swam into the cavern. My breath caught and I was instantly surrounded by siren like people. A glowing orb was thrown at me and a golden light engulfed my being.

When the light was gone, I screamed.

The End.