CHAPTER 5
Ishiver as the frigid cold, murky lake water engulfs my body from the shoulders down.
Ever since I was a little brownie in Girl Scouts, swimming first thing in the morning has been something that always calms me.
It wakes me up and gets me going for the day.
I make it a point to do it every day the weather allows when camping.
The water and early morning air helps me feel more connected with nature and reset my biological clock.
I always feel ten pounds lighter after a week in nature, and I hope this week isn’t any different.
The distinctive feeling of eyes on me draws me to search the shoreline for anyone watching me, but I can’t make anyone out this far out into the lake.
I shouldn’t be out here alone. I know that.
But Annie wanted to stay back at camp to read her book next to the fire, and the others are still sleeping.
Something splashes in the water not even ten feet away from me, sending a ripple in my direction.
“Oh, hell no,” I yell out.
I refuse to be bait for whatever creature that can be.
I paddle my way back to the dock, using the ladder to pull myself up.
The whole time I still can’t help but gaze around to see if there really is anyone watching me.
This place is full of people, transit people of all kinds, any one of them can have a fascination for young blonde girls in a bikini top and shorts.
One thing my daddy taught me was to never underestimate anyone regardless of size or age. He always made it clear to me that monsters don’t lie under your bed. They shake your hand and smile in your face, preying on the weak and gullible. I refuse to be either.
I toss back on my zip-up hoodie, leaving the hood up, before heading back in the direction of our campsite.
The smell of campfire lingers in the thick morning air, and I love it.
An elderly man walking his little brown fluff ball of a dog waves to me, and I wave back, loving how much nicer the people are here.
Back home in Maple Brook Falls most people are kind and community-driven, but the city people who visit on weekends in the fall or winter, not so much.
“You’re back early,” Annie says as I plop down into the empty folding chair next to hers.
I don’t bother to change out of my wetsuit or sweatshirt, knowing most of the day will be spent in or near the water anyway.
“Something in the water moved. I had to get out.”
I leave out that I felt like I was being watched, and that I might know who it could be.
She chuckles at me as she flips the page in her dark romance novel.
“Babe, what could it really be? A fish? Maybe a turtle…a snake?”
I stop hearing her words the instant the word babe rolls off her tongue.
“Call me that again.” Her cheeks flush pink as embarrassment courses through her veins. “Come on, Annie, we both know you want this.”
I gesture between us, trying like hell to not sound so fucking desperate. A twig snaps behind us, causing us to glance in the direction of the sound.
“What was that?” Annie says, holding her book over her face as if whatever created the sound can’t see her if she hides her face from it.
“It’s probably nothing, maybe just a squirrel.”
I try to rationalize the sound to her, but the sinking feeling in my gut tells me I know better than that. What if it’s him? What if he followed us here and is watching us from in the tree line somewhere? If it is him, why doesn’t he just show himself… but what if it isn’t?