The Old Orphic Lake

It was a rare thing for a visitor to step foot within the quaint town of Old Orphic. Long forgotten was the actual name that the town was founded with so many years ago. The locals had never preferred nor cared about it, just continued to call it after the lake in which their lives surrounded. If you asked anyone how to get there, they might look at you like you were crazy; tell you that it didn’t exist. Before long, you would start to believe it too. For the people that do find it, some might just be redirected and not really remember where they were going. Others may never be seen again by the outside world, but no one ever comes looking. Because Old Orphic doesn’t really exist- so neither do they.

That’s why the day a silver blonde girl by the name of Mercy wandered into the village, people whispered. A girl appeared out of the fog, seeming lost on her hike. She must have conducted altitude sickness, for there couldn’t have been this civilization up high in the mountains she had spent her weekend scouring. Yet as she looked around, there it was. A main stone street lined with log buildings laid out in front of her. Fog laid like a blanket over everything, framing the street to the view at the end: Monstrous mountains, covered in snow and pine, though it wasn't cold. It was welcoming, beautiful in fact. She felt relaxed just by being there. Men, women, and children floated about, all gray-pale with oil black hair. She made her way to a duo of two teenage girls that looked around her age, passing a group of children singing while seemingly playing ring-around-the-rosies.

“Don’t be entranced by the old Orphic Lake

The mists will constrict, oh you’ll meet your fate.

Don’t get too close to the slick water’s edge

Or you might just dive deep down.”

As she approached the girls, their heads turned in unison. She noticed they were wearing matching white slip dresses. Now that she focused, she could see all people opted for the same simple garments. The townsfolk must have just preferred it that way.

“Hello there, I’ve been on a hiking trip and I think I’m los-” The words dissipated in her mouth at the girls’ friendly smiles.

“Oh you’re not lost.” The first girl said sweetly.

“Yes.” The other girl agreed softly. “You’re exactly where you’ve been searching for.”

At the look in the girls’ eyes, Mercy found herself overcome with a feeling of ecstasy. They were right, hadn’t she been searching for this place throughout her hike? How strange of her to forget it.

“We’ve been waiting for you, isn’t that right, Arabella?” The first girl said to the second. The other girl nodded smoothly, slipping her cool arm through Mercy’s.

Arabella smiled. “She’s right, Mercy. Arcadia and I have been so excited for you to come visit.” Without even meaning to, Mercy had realized that she also was excited to visit. She hadn’t even realized that she hadn’t revealed her name. She was just captivated by the friendship she found herself longing to secure with Arcadia and Arabella.

Arcadia slipped her arm through on Mercy’s other side, her dark hair tickling Mercy. The girls led her around the village, introducing her to all of the townsfolk. She danced with the children and exchanged formalities with the adults. She fit right in, and everyone she met was inclined to tell her. In fact, Arabella’s mother had even sewn her a new personal slip dress, which she changed into eagerly.

She spent so many hours melding into the small town of Old Orphic, that she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving, though she knew she must.

“I really must be going now.” She sighed sadly, causing all the people sitting in the Old Orphic Cafe to snap their heads toward her.

Arcadia jumped up immediately from her seat, running over. “Oh you just can’t leave yet!” She exclaimed. “We’re having so much fun.”

“I know, Arcadia, but I cannot stay forever.”

Arcadia exchanged a look with Arabella, who walked over with two steaming cups in her hand. She handed one to Mercy, keeping the other for herself. Mercy immediately sipped from the cup, thankful for the kind gesture.

“Well if you insist.” Arabella said with sad eyes. They quickly lit up as an idea hit her. She grabbed Arcadia’s hand. “Wait! It’s almost sunset. You must come see the lake for yourself before you leave! After all, it is what our town is known for.”

A smile broke across Arcadia’s face. “Oh what a wonderful idea, Bella!”

“Is this the lake I'm supposed to not be entranced by?” Mercy asked half-teasing, thinking back to the children’s song from earlier.

Arcadia rolled her eyes. “Oh that’s just an old folktale.” She assured. “Oh won’t you come, Mercy? For us?”

Mercy went to take another sip of her tea and realized she had drained the mug dry. It was a pity. The tea had made her feel more relaxed. She wanted more of it.

“Oh, why not.” She decided. Her friends jumped up and down with glee. They immediately grabbed her and headed toward the path at the bottom of the mountain.

As they walked, the girls chatted idly.

“Mercy, do you know what my name means?” Arabella asked, trudging ahead.

“No I don't’. Will you tell me?” Mercy inquired.

“It means answered prayer.” Arabella explained. “Don’t you feel like it was an answered prayer that you came here, Mercy?”

“Oh yes, Bella.” Mercy replied. “I really do.”

“Well what about my name? Do you know what my name means?” Arcadia questioned.

Mercy quickly shook her head, waiting to be told the answer.

“It means a region offering peace and contentment. Don’t you feel content here with us Mercy?”

Mercy felt tears well up in her eyes. “Oh of course I do, Cady! Of course I do.”

Arcadia stroked Mercy’s hair, her eyes loving and open. “Then oh Mercy, why do you want to leave us? I mean, look at this view.” She spread out her arms, gesturing that they had arrived at the lake.

Mercy couldn’t believe her eyes. It was stunning. Vast and gray- smooth as glass. She felt as though she could walk out upon the mist-shrouded water. Her bare toes dug into the translucent pebbles on the outskirts, and the dark trees and dominating mountains just added to the captivation.

“It’s okay, Mercy.” Arabella whispered behind her. “You can get a closer look.”

She practically jumped at the chance, skirting down to the water’s edge. Dropping to her knees, she ran her fingers through the glass-like surface, causing ripples to skirt out around her. She never wanted to leave.

She saw Arcadia and Arabella sit down on either side of her. She looked at the three reflections in the water. They were all smiling.

Mercy leaned closer. Something was off about her friends’ smiles. While Mercy’s was happy, theirs were sharp. She was about to ask them what was wrong when they each placed a hand on her shoulders.

“It’s okay, Mercy. You can stay with us.” Arcadia’s reflection said.

Mercy realized too late what was happening. She opened her mouth to scream, the landscape suddenly looking more poisonous than beautiful, but no sound came out before she was shoved below the water.

She thrashed and flailed, trying to scream but only bubbles escaping below the water. She pleaded, begging for the mercy that her name implied. As she approached her final moments, the nursery rhyme played through her head.

“Don’t be entranced by the old Orphic Lake

The mists will constrict, oh you’ll meet your fate.

Don’t get too close to the slick water’s edge

Or you might just dive deep down.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“That was a horrible story, Mercy!” You exclaim. “Are you trying to freak me out on my first day visiting?”

Mercy smiles, running her fingers through her long black hair. You have to shake your head to get the story out of your mind because for a second, it looks like she’s wearing a white slip dress.

“Oh I just had to have a little fun.” She explained. She reached her hand out and grasped your fingers in her cool ones. Her eyes light up with a gleam. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

You look around at the lake that inspired Mercy’s gruesome tale. The one she had insisted you sat beside while she told the story. It doesn’t seem as beautiful anymore, but maybe that was just the story talking.

“Yeah.” You say nervously. “It is.” You don’t turn around, hoping she won’t see the lie on your face.

You feel Mercy move behind you. “It’s okay.” She whispers. “You can take a closer look.”