Lake of Secrets

by Shay Lee Giertz

  The officer nods and says, “Three minutes. That’s it.”

  Cassie tries to stay behind, but Barbara asks her to leave. “Just Ginnie, please.”

  Once everyone leaves, I say, “I know this has to be hard, Ms. Blackstone, and I never meant for all of this to happen. Tomorrow, I’ll be gone, and it’ll all go back to normal.”

  “Everything happens for a reason, Ginnie. I’m not sorry for any of this. Watching Mitch realize he has family has opened my eyes to how much I’ve kept from him. Then there’s Sam. I’ve watched him from a distance for years. All at once, I’m given a chance to get to know him…and my granddaughter.”

  I stare at the floor, keeping my emotions in check. “Well, I’m sorry I have to leave and won’t be able to get to know you, but it’s for the best.”

  “I don’t think it is.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t think it’s for the best. I didn’t know she was bothering you this much, but it’s a sign she’s desperate. She identifies with you the most, probably because you are a teenage Blackstone.”

  “What does she want?”

  “I can’t be entirely sure, but it sounds like she wants to reincarnate herself in you.”

  My blood goes cold. I remember the pain and anguish I felt when I touched her hand. Then Ian’s words, She’s manipulating you.

  “I’ve had nightmares of those beetles consuming me, and then, after the accident, they were inside of me, pouring out.”

  “From what I gather, those bugs are her reincarnated. You have to destroy them, or they’ll never go away. And what happens when you come back? Are you going to never visit your grandmother’s house again?”

  I think of Dad’s decision to move back to the states. It’s already determined that he’s to inherit the house and Aunt Sue is to inherit the acre attached to the east side of the property. That meant my family is here and will be for the foreseeable future. “What do I do?”

  “Enough of those bugs have to be destroyed. Her essence must be burned, and those bugs are the manifestation of her essence.”

  “Go to the source?” I ask.

  “Yes. Do you know where that is?”

  “Unfortunately, I do.”

  35

  “Are you sure you want to stay back?” Dad sounds surprised.

  I stand over my bed, folding laundry. I’ve already texted Alisa and Mum to let them know the time of my arrival. Dad’s giving me the keys to our townhouse, saying that he trusts me to not burn it to the ground. Cassie has been quiet all afternoon, even though we emailed the University of Michigan and filled out the necessary paperwork to be roommates. Gran has stayed in her room for the last three hours. There’s a heavy blanket of unspoken words. I wonder if Dad is going to Mr. Fulton’s for none other reason than to get out of the house for a little while. But being near Isaac is the last thing I want. He wants space, so I need to give him space. “I’ve got another load of laundry in the dryer, and I need to finish packing.”

  “Want some help? I can call Ted and cancel.”

  “I thought you said Laura would be here any minute?” Before he could answer, I continue, “Go and have a good time. I’ll be here when you’re done with the barbeque.”

  He pauses at the door, “I’m going out for breakfast tomorrow with Barbara. She was released and called, asking if I’d like to meet.”

  “Good.”

  “I thought we could go and meet up with her before I drive you to the airport.”

  “Fine.”

  “You sure?”

  I stop folding a pair of shorts to smile at him. “Yes. Fine. Now go.”

  He steps into the room, kisses my bandaged forehead, then leaves. “I won’t be gone long.”

  I wait for him to leave the house before I release the breath I’ve been holding. Gran and Cassie are around somewhere, so I’ll have to be sneaky. But it is time to get rid of this ghost, and I refuse for anyone else to be hurt. I make a mental list with what I’ll need to take with me. A lighter, some paper for kindling, a water bottle, my cell phone, and of course, my Nikon.

  Slipping into my tennis shoes, I pull my hair back into a messy ponytail and slide my cell phone into my front pocket. Now to get the rest of the stuff and sneak out of the house. Cassie would want to come, but just thinking of Ian’s injuries is enough to have me scratch that idea. Barbara told me I am the one who can stop the ghost. That means everyone else is safer away from me.

  “There you are,” Cassie says, entering the room and jumping onto her bed.

  Wonderful. How am I to escape her?

  “Remember how we were supposed to go in on a gift for Gran, and we never did?”

  “Yes. We got a little busy.” I notice a wrapped package in her hands. “Did you get her something? That’s so thoughtful.”

  “From both of us.”

  “It’s from you. I’ve been consumed lately with other things, but this gift is all you.”

  “Not a big deal. I put both our names on the card. Mom brought the card with her that I had bought while home.”

  “So, what is it?” I indicated the package.

  “Oh, this one’s for you. Gran has a duplicate.”

  “You bought me a present?”

  Cassie reaches over and hands me the package. “It’s not a big deal. Just a keepsake to take with you.”

  I open the gift wrap and inspect the framed picture. It’s the two of us on the second night of Cassie’s arrival. We sit on the floor of the bedroom, surrounded by pillows and a variety of magazines and nail polish. Her arm is around me, and we’re both showing off dazzling smiles at her phone’s camera. As an added touch, Cassie stuck little bug stickers all over the frame. “I adore it.”

  “We look awesome, right? Mom printed off the photos, and we framed three. One for Gran, one for me, and one for you. I thought we could give Gran hers before you leave tomorrow.”

  I hug Cassie, completely touched by her thoughtfulness. “Thank you. And I like the bug stickers. Nice touch.”

  “You can take them off the frame. I was being silly. I didn’t want you to forget.”

  “Ha, I doubt I could forget even if I wanted to, but I like the stickers. They stay.” Now I feel really bad about my decision to sneak across the lake without her. But if Bonnie Blackstone is as maleficent as they say, then I don’t want anyone I care about going near her. I release Cassie and set the framed picture down. “Want to watch a movie downstairs? We can make lots of popcorn.”

  “You’re not going to the barbeque?”

  “No, it’s better I stay here.”

  Cassie nods in understanding. “Say no more. We will gorge ourselves on junk food and watch some action movies with no romance.”

  “Deal. I’ll make the popcorn. You choose the movie.”

  Together, we head downstairs, Cassie chatting about all the movies we could watch. “There’s John Wick. We could watch all of them. Plus, Keanu Reeves is kind of hot…for an old guy. Or, we could watch any of the Fast and Furious movies. Then again, all the guys are hot in that, too. But nothing wrong with eye candy.”

  “I’ll meet you in the home theater. Do you want extra butter popcorn or kettle popcorn?”

  “Yes, to both. And hurry.”

  I wait until I heard Cassie down in the basement before I search for the candle lighter. With that and some wadded up newspaper, I figure I have what I need. I set a bag of popcorn in the microwave and turn it on.

  Once I open the door and tiptoe outside, I run to the docks. I get in Gran’s boat and untie the ropes. After I’ve pushed away from the dock, I check one more time to see if anyone has noticed. But I don’t see Cassie or Gran, so I exhale in relief and start rowing the boat to the other side of the lake. Several rows in, I see the ripples around the boat and pause. Sure enough, a strong force pulls me in the direction I’m already headed. “She’s waiting for me.” I shouldn’t be surprised, but a cold dread fills my stomach, and I question if I know what I’m doing.

>   Not quite to shore, a beetle crawls over the boat’s edge and moves toward me. “Go away.”

  I fumble for the candle lighter, but I lose my grip and it falls to the bottom of the boat. After I retrieve it and sit back up, my heart freezes in my chest. A mass of beetles crawls from the water and into the boat. I scream and try to set the lighter, but it’s not working, and my hands are too shaky to hold it steady.

  The beetles swarm toward me with purpose as more and more pour into the boat. I scream and use the oar to swing at them, but I’m no match. They move from my shoes to my legs as I swipe at them like a crazed madwoman.

  The boat rocks back and forth as I continue to maneuver away from them. “You can’t have me!”

  Suddenly the boat upends, projecting me into the water. I break the water’s surface, coughing and sputtering. I’m close to the shoreline where she wants me to go. I feel it. This is what Bonnie Blackstone wanted all along.

  Me. Alone.

  I have no paper or lighter. My cell phone is submerged and ruined. It’s just me and her.

  A part of me considers staying in the disgusting water. The seaweed is thick, but the beetles get lost in it. If I could swim out to the middle and call for help, maybe I could get away. At least until I can bring back some other fire starter.

  But the water pulls me to shore. Her essence is evidently stronger the closer to where her body was. I look in both directions, remembering Mrs. Fulton saying something about a boat launch being close by. If I could stick to the shoreline, I may be able to find it and get help.

  Ginnie…

  “You can’t have me!” I shout and turn to swim as far from shore as possible, but it’s no use. She’s strong, and the water pushes me the rest of the way.

  For a second, I feel myself panic. I shouldn’t have come here alone. I’m no match for a ghost who uses nasty beetles to do her bidding. Seeing no other option, as soon as I can stand, I do so. Instead of going to the shore, I sprint across the shoreline, not quite coming to shore. But the lake’s floor is uneven and murky, and my feet get sucked up into mud holes, throwing me forward into a patch of seaweed and surrounding beetles.

  I push myself to shore, my only option being the root wall that leads up the tree edge. I run out of the water, past the bugs, past the yellow tape, and practically throw myself against the cliff’s bottom. I grab for roots and pull myself up, ignoring the rustling sound of a swarm of beetles approaching.

  With each step closer to the tree edge, I say a prayer, begging God to send someone to my rescue. “I’m not picky,” I cry. “Anyone will do.”

  Ginnie…

  “No! Leave me alone!” I grab another tree root and pull myself up. “I know who you are, and you can’t have me.”

  But the beetles are there, and they’re moving faster. Around the tree root, up my arm.

  I grit my teeth, but they’re now all over my torso, under my shirt, through my shorts. My hand slips…and I fall with a thud, smacking my already injured head.

  Just like in my nightmare, the beetles have buried me, and I lose consciousness.

  ***

  When I come to, I sit up and find myself right where I fell. I jump up quickly, shaking my hair and hitting my body until I’ve expended all my energy.

  “They’re gone. For now.”

  She has a quiet and familiar voice, but it now has an edge to it.

  I search for a place to climb.

  “There’s nowhere to go. You’re with me now.”

  I pause and slowly turn toward her voice.

  “I’ve waited for you to be alone. I kept calling to you. Over and over. And here you are.”

  She stands, no longer faint or ghostly, but not necessarily alive. A heavy fog moves between us. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I quickly cross myself.

  “Don’t do that.” She’s at the other side of the brush where I found her body. I sense her displeasure. “I need you to let me in. I keep trying to get in on my own, but I’m not powerful enough. You keep resisting.”

  I still haven’t found my voice again, so I fervently shake my head.

  “Let me in.”

  I’ve yet to stop shaking my head. I close my eyes and begin the Lord’s Prayer.

  “They killed me. And I’ve been stuck here…waiting.”

  When I open my eyes, she’s in front of me. Her eyes show anger, her mouth curves in a jeer.

  “Together, we can live again.”

  My stomach rolls as understanding takes hold. Finding my voice, a strength from within me shouts, “No!”

  The sound of my voice blasts like a trumpet and throws her across the clearing.

  I hear my name being called from a distance. “I’m here!”

  “They can’t hear you,” she says.

  “I’m over here! Follow my voice!”

  But they keep calling for me as if they can’t hear.

  “I told you. They can’t hear you.”

  “Why?” I demand.

  “Because I’m suffocating you. Now let me in or die.”

  But the voices are closer. My family and friends. They’re coming for me. I feel the strength from within, the same strength that threw her from me, bubble inside and course through me. “You have no power over me,” I say, finally understanding. “All this time, you’ve been trying to force yourself on me, but it hasn’t worked.”

  “Let me in!” she screams.

  “No.” Bonnie Blackstone is thrown back once more, so I say the word again. “No. No. No. Not now. Not ever.”

  Her body slumps, and her face contorts into an expression of grief and sadness. “I only wanted another chance to live.”

  Ian’s words resounded inside me. She’s manipulating you.

  Dad leans over the cliff, “Virginia!”

  “I’m here, Dad!” I wave frantically at him, but it’s as if I don’t exist.

  “No one came for me,” she says quietly. “I died here alone. And I’ve been alone ever since then.”

  “You don’t have to stay here,” I tell her. “Go, to where you’re supposed to go. Isn’t there the other side?”

  This time, Bonnie is the one to shake her head. “I don’t want to go there. It’s worse than staying here.”

  “Let them find me.”

  “No. You either let me in, or you die here with me.”

  “I’m not letting you into my body. That will never happen, but this could be your chance to make the right decision. This could change your fate. Show mercy.”

  She watches me. By now, this small area by the shore has several people roaming around. All of them calling my name.

  “Ginnie!” Cassie frantically searches the ground. Isaac and Mitch help her. “She has to be here.”

  “Show mercy,” I plead with Bonnie. “After all, I am your niece.”

  But she no longer looks at me. Instead, she turns and faces the water.

  Dad is now on his hands and knees, shoving the rocks and branches and other debris away. “Virginia? If you can hear me, say something!”

  I feel something stir inside me. It draws me closer to him. I see his tears. I hear the horror in his voice as he calls to me.

  The warmth I feel starts to spread, and I become aware of the steady beating of my heart. It turns to electricity as my pulse vibrates throughout my body. The intensity of it brings me to my knees before it explodes all around me in what seems like thousands of stars.

  The first thing I notice is I’m on the ground. The second thing I notice is the pain. And the more aware I become, the more intense the pain.

  “She’s here,” someone says from far away.

  I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. My head hurts too much.

  “Virginia, stay with us.” It’s Dad. He’s close.

  “I’ve already made the call.” Isaac is talking. “But we need to decide how first responders will get here. It’s a pretty remote location.”

  “Gran’s boat is in the water,” Cassie says. She sounds
like she’s crying. “It’s flipped upside down.”

  No one is saying anything. I want to open my eyes and tell them I’m okay, but my head hurts so much that I can feel the pain down to my toes.

  “We’ve got to do something!” Cassie cries. “She can’t die!”

  “Help is on the way,” Isaac tells her.

  “Can’t we pick her up and carry her?”

  “She’s too injured,” Dad says. I feel his strong hand pick up mine and press into my wrist. “She has a pulse, and she’s breathing on her own, so I don’t need to resuscitate. It might do more harm, considering her injuries. Isaac, call your father and request an airlift. We need her at the hospital immediately. Cassie, use my phone and call Laura. Tell her what’s going on. Have her meet us at the hospital.” Dad must lean down to my ear because I can feel his whiskers against it. “Stay with us, Virginia. You hear me?”

  I hear you, Dad.

  36

  When I’m finally able to open my eyes, I’m in a hospital bed in a darkened room. I hear the beeping of a monitor and see Dad sleeping in a chair beside me. His facial hair is thicker and longer than I remember, and I start to panic. How long have I been out?

  I try to speak, but my voice is all crackly, like an old person who never gave up smoking. “Dad?”

  He stirs, then takes a second to recognize that I’m awake. Right when he sits up, the door to the room opens, and a nurse rushes in. “The monitor alerted us to a change in activity.”

  “She’s awake.” Dad sounds relieved.

  The nurse approaches me. “Do you know who you are?”

  I once again try to speak, but my throat is parched and hurts. Still, I push out the words, “Ginnie Paxton.” She nods, checks the monitor, promises to return with the doctor, then leaves. I turn to Dad, who now sits on the bed, holding my hand. “Water. I’m thirsty.”

  He gets up quickly. “You had your stomach pumped, so I bet your throat is still quite raw. Let me see what I can do.” He goes to leave, then turns and kisses my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”