Lady of the Pond

Eureka Springs, Arkansas. 5:00 p.m. Emily sat down at a table in the quaint cafe located in the middle of the historic little town she had just arrived in. She was a city girl in much need of some relaxation and decided where better than in the middle of nowhere. "What can I get ya' hun?" Emily looked up at the middle-aged woman that was dressed in slacks and an apron. "Um, what's something quick? I need to check into the Full Moon Hotel soon." Worry crossed the woman's face, "Honey, I can get you anything. That hotel allows outside food. They take orders from us all of the time. We can always pack up your left-overs for you. But I recommend the bacon grilled cheese with a side of baked potato soup for someone who's been traveling all day." Emily smiled, "That sounds perfect! I'll have that please." The woman smiled and walked off to the kitchen. Emily took her phone out to Google the directions to her hotel and was pleased to see it was only ten minutes away. She continued to google the quaint little town while she ate her food. "May I interest you in dessert hun?" Emily shook her head no and paid for her food. "You stay safe now okay hun?" Emily said her goodbyes and headed over to the hotel. Once she was checked in and her luggage was in her room, she decided to go roam the grounds. She thought the area was beautiful with its old oak and pine trees , the even older Victorian three story building towering over her, the way the winter breeze hit her cheeks, and the owls calling out to her. Everything was perfect except for the frozen pond. The way the fog danced over the ice and slithered its way towards her creeped her out. She felt goosebumps make residence all over her body and a shiver ran down her spine. Just as she turned to head back she let out a scream as she almost ran right into the bellhop. "I'm sorry ma'am but you shouldn't be out here all alone once evening hits. Please come inside." She apologized and followed him inside, turning around to look at the pond once more. Back in her room she laid down and stared at the ceiling, still thinking of the frozen pond. Before long she drifted off to sleep and was entangled in the most vivid nightmare she's ever had. She heard her name being called from the pond and before she knew it she was chasing her name, barefoot across the grass and sticks. Thorns were poking her from the branches that scratched her arms and face. She felt a pull to the pond, mesmerized by the call of her name. She couldn't stop no matter how hard she tried, she just kept moving towards the treacherous pond. She felt like it had only been seconds since she started her journey but she was already standing on the cold ice looking down. She carefully knelt down and placed her palms on the cloudy ice. Emily knew whoever was calling her was in the water, trapped under the ice. The ice began crackling, splitting beneath her fingers, just as a hand came thundering out shooting ice in all directions. The hand grabbed her by the throat, gripping her so tightly she couldn't get away. She didn't have time to think before another hand shot out and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her down. Emily tried to scream, tried to pull away but she just couldn't, the hands were so much stronger than she was. The more she tried to push herself up and away from the hands the more the ice broke. After what seemed like decades of time had passed she finally woke up from her dream, sweating and scared but freezing at the same time. She opened her eyes and looked around only to realize she was laying upon the ice. Was that really a nightmare? Frightened beyond believe, she scuttled to try to get off the ice as fast as she could. She grabbed hold of the dirt, clawing the rest of her way off of the ice and ran barefoot back to the hotel. She slammed her room door behind her as her back slid down landing her with a thud on her rear end. She began to hyperventilate as she shook uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face like a rainstorm on a summer's day. Her thoughts ran wild as she wondered if her nightmare was truly a dream or reality. She ran to the bathroom to check her throat. She fell backwards in fear as she saw the sight in the mirror; her throat was bruised and purple. She jumped and squealed in fright as she heard a knock on the door. "Ma'am, breakfast is served. Would you like me to leave the cart at the door?" The voice was familiar, she realized it was the bellhop from yesterday. "Y-ye-y-yes. P-pl-please," was all she was able to stammer out. She composed herself and convinced herself that she had to have been sleep walking and that she caused the bruising somehow. She ate breakfast, took an extremely hot shower, and decided not to think of the nightmare again. She wandered out of her room, paranoid stricken, slinky around the halls. Something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. She turned the corner to her left to enter an empty dance hall. Emily was confused as she could've sworn that she had seen someone. There was another shadow in the corner of her eye, she spun fast but there was nothing but empty space. "Emily." She spun around again and again, no one was there. The entire day went on like this. Every corner she turned she swore she saw a woman. She was chasing ghosts throughout the building until she ran into the bellhop, literally. He fell backwards and landed hard on the ground as she did the same. "I'm so sorry! I just kept hearing my name and was trying to figure out where it was coming from." He nodded, "Well ma'am I was coming to inform all of the guests that dinner is served." She was taken aback by that. "Wait, you mean I missed lunch? I didn't know the day passed so fast." He nodded and informed her of the menu and that he would leave her meal in her room. She thanked him and decided to head back to her room and prepare for her dinner. She had just changed into something comfy when the bellhop knocked on her door. She ate her meal, cleaned up and decided to turn in early. Sleep came fast and easy, it was peaceful. At first. The nightmare returned. The voice took control of her once more and she was in hot pursuit of it. Her bare feet crunching the sticks beneath them as she ran towards the frozen pond again. She paused as she reached the ice, touching it with one toe, testing it to see if it was real. Her dirty foot smeared across the rock hard ice, then her other foot. She left a trail of dirt behind her as she walked towards the hole in the ice. Her pace was slow and steady as she prepared herself for the inevitable. Finally, there she was, standing in front of the hole looking in the water. Waiting. "Where are you?" It was a deafening silence when in the breeze she heard her name again. "Emily." She stared down waiting for something to happen, for someone to appear. "Emily." She dropped down on her knees, "Let's get this over with." Still nothing happened. She was just about to get up when a hand grabbed her wrist. She tried to yank back but couldn't wrench her wrist free. Another hand shot out of the water and grabbed her other wrist, yanking it into the water pulling her down until her face smacked into the ice. She felt the other hand move from her wrist to her shirt collar and yank her again. Her head slid off of the ice and into the frigid water. She was pulled further into the water. Her face and body immediately became numb and it felt as if she had a million needles pricking her. It was becoming harder to fight off the hands when she felt her arm be released. She thought she had a chance for escape when her throat was grabbed once more and she was pulled down further into the water, submerging her whole body. She felt another yank and realized she was now nose to nose with her assailant. She choked in water as she looked into the eyes of the woman who had held her , realizing she was staring back at herself. The attacker suddenly disappeared leaving Emily to slowly drown. She swam upwards knocking into the ice, pounding, trying to break free. She closed her eyes accepting defeat and upon reopening them she looked around seeing she was back on top of the ice. She was gasping for air, freezing, confused and terrified. She struggled to get up as she tried to get away from the frozen pond as fast as she could. Emily fell as soon as she reached dry land, clawing her way back to the hotel. She reached the clearing, turned back to the pond just to see herself standing in the middle of it. Before she could register what she saw she realized she was back on the ice standing in the middle of the frozen pond. Reality hit her as hard as a train. She was the lady of the pond, stuck at the frozen pond, forever. She let out a haunting scream as she faded away.

The bellhop stared out of his window at the pond, a single tear rolled down his cheek. He picked up the picture from his desk and sat on his bed. The tears splattered on the glass of the frame. He rubbed the tears off of the glass and kissed it, holding it to his heart. He fell back on his bed and let the picture slip out of his hand. "Emily," he whispered out, "I miss you so much." The picture was of him and Emily two years prior when they came up to the motel for a romantic get away from the city. He has never gotten over his lost love and couldn't depart with her ghost. He decided to work at the motel so he could see her spirit always. He was just as trapped as she was, neither were able to leave the pond. Sadly, he looked forward to the winter months when the pond would freeze over, knowing he would see her again. He wasn't even sure if she remembered him but he held onto the hope that one day they would be together again. He continued to whisper out her name calling for her as he drifted to sleep.

Emily stood at the foot of his bed and watched her poor Edward sleep throughout the night. She faded away before the bright beams of dawn pierced through his window leaving behind two wet spots where she once stood. This was their fate until they meet again.