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THE REMAINS IN THE POND
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Winner will be drawn December 20th by Random.org
I didn’t see Matt anywhere. There weren’t any vehicles in
the gravel lot. I parked but didn’t roll down the windows. Something felt
wrong. The night began to feel as opaque as the murky water. If Matt wanted to
see me, where was he?
Backing up,
I shined my headlights a different direction, then I made a small tight circle
and lit up the entire parking area a little at a time. Low mesquites and
spindly live oaks bordered one side of the lot. It was the sort of foliage that
loved a little water now and then but thrived just as well without it. I saw
neither Matt nor Rose.
After a few
minutes, I pulled out of the lot and circled the pond as far as I could go. The
gravel road didn’t loop around the entire thing, only about three quarters of
the way, and then you were forced to turn around in the only remaining wide
spot unless you wanted to get out and have a picnic beneath the single stand of
oaks tall enough to give good shade.
Of course I
didn’t need any shade now. And I really didn’t want to get out of the car. This
seemed too weird. I put the car in reverse and executed a careful turnaround.
When my headlights picked out the figure at the edge of the water, I inhaled
sharply. It was not what I expected to find.
I rolled
down my window. “Rose?” I called. “Is that you?”
A branch
cracked, a shadow moved, and panic slid between my ribs like a blade. The figure turned toward my headlights,
definitely female. She wore her long hair lose and flowing. Under the
moonlight, I couldn’t be certain if the woman’s hair was red or light brown.
“What are
you doing here?” No answer. “Where’s Matt?” I tried to keep my voice steady, to
show her I wasn’t afraid. I put the car in PARK and opened my door tentatively,
putting one foot on the ground.
She stared
into my headlights, one hand shielding her eyes like a sailor looking for land,
and then, like a flash, she ran straight at me. Straight toward my little Honda
with the window rolled down. Her hair flew out behind her and it was all so
surreal that for a moment, I simply sat there, paralyzed. Then she raised her
right hand above her head. In her grip, I caught a glimpse of silver.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Remains-Pond-Ann-Swann-ebook/dp/B076PH5V37
