The Lake

The Lake

By Sasha McCallum

Copyright © 2017 Sasha McCallum

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, it may not be re-sold or given away to others. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

Table of Contents

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Other titles by Sasha McCallum

Sample of Pretty Ugly Place

Part 1

Her mother’s face was pale and drawn in the Skype window, her expression both worried and guarded. Lauren herself had made an effort to look more presentable for the weekly call—applying make-up, fixing her hair and clothing and pushing her tone to be less mechanical without seeming forcibly cheery. Her mother was a smart woman and she knew Lauren well.

I am glad you are painting again, she said, not looking particularly glad at all. It's good therapy. She sounded helpless, hopeless and another twist of guilt hit Lauren full force. She did not like doing this to her, but it was necessary.

You look terrible, Ma. You look worse than I feel.

No. I am okay, I worry about you out there in the back of beyond by yourself, that's all.

Lauren knew. She knew the only reason her mother wasn't here now was because her father had convinced her that what Lauren needed were time and space. She was grateful to him for that.

I just want to paint. There are things I need to work through. Lauren filled in the silence with unnecessary words.

I know, her mother responded with a momentary expression of pain before she managed to wipe it away. You have the heart of an artist, you should never have stopped. An apologetic glance then; she was uncomfortable telling Lauren what she should or should not have done.

Ma, listen. Don't give anyone else my address, okay? I really need to be left alone for a while. No doubt you will be asked questions.

Leave it to me, her mother nodded slowly. Lauren... she looked like a lost puppy, ...stay warm, she finished awkwardly.

Lauren felt like crying, she struggled to maintain an appropriate outward demeanor.

I will. I love you, Ma.

*

Lauren had been awake for three days. It was four o'clock in morning and she had abandoned her work for the night, having painted solidly for the past twelve hours. She sat in the back porch with the lights off and watched the storm flashing over the lake. It was a rough night, the roughest she'd seen here. She enjoyed the tiny dots of color circling in her peripheral vision, the effect of being awake too long. A contented smile played at the corners of her mouth. She would make this last as long as possible. No sleep for the wicked.

But her head lolled on the back of her chair and she dropped off. She knew it had happened when she woke with a start to a clap of thunder. It was still dark and she still felt delirious so she can't have been out for very long. Something caught her eye—in a flash of light over the lake she spotted a dark figure near the water’s edge.

She felt a surge of fear when she saw it, perhaps because she hadn't regained full consciousness after her mini nap and she briefly wondered if she were still dreaming. Or hallucinating. It struck her though that it didn't really matter. As she watched, her fear was replaced by calm, simple curiosity.

Now she knew where it was she could discern the figure without the aid of lightning. A human certainly—battered by the wind, with loose material billowing violently around it. Lauren watched in silent fascination until the time came when she was sure it wasn't a hallucination, and that the person may be in need of assistance. Far be it from her to interfere with someone's four am bout of eccentricity but a part of her was curious. Maybe she wanted to get in on it herself, she was at that stage of her prolonged wakefulness. She exited the enclosed porch via the ranch slider and raised her head to the angry, wet sky. Yes, she thought, a good night to be alive. A living night if ever there was one. She made her way slowly down the path toward the water line, delighting in the swirling raindrops, wind and darkness around her. Perhaps she would get lost in it, or walk right into the water and never come out again. The wistful smile played at her mouth and she squinted her eyes against the weather.

She searched and dimly picked out the figure, still standing in the same place at the water’s edge. She stopped and observed it from the closer distance. The billowing darkness was a long skirt and long, loose hair. Wild, Lauren thought. A wild woman: untamed. As she watched the figure dropped to the ground, jarring her with its sudden movement. Perhaps she had passed out, or died. She searched the surrounding forest and edges of the lake for any possible companions but found none.

Lauren made her way closer and stood over her, a touch concerned. The woman lay on her back, eyes open, narrowed at the sky. She was obviously conscious. When she saw Lauren a flicker of surprise entered her eyes, then returned to the darkness above her without further reaction. Maybe she was prone to hallucinations as well, Lauren pondered and lay down on at her side trying to figure out what was so interesting about the overhead view.

Ah, yes. It was quite stunning, drops slewing towards them, it was very much like being on a powerful drug. In fact, she thought, perhaps the woman was on drugs. It would explain a lot. Lauren herself was not, she was so far into her sleep deprived state she didn't need them.

Her clothes were soaked through and she was getting cold fast. She turned her head, stole a glance at the woman who lay beside her. She must be freezing, Lauren began to worry. Where was she from? What was she doing this for? Was she trying to kill herself? Under the circumstances, hypothermia was a real possibility. Lauren decided to try to help. She rose and looked at the woman.

You cannot stay there like that, she said, raising her voice above the wild weather. Come up to the house. I'll give you something dry to put on. The woman peered up at her; she was considering the offer. She got up and followed Lauren back to the house in silence.

The unlit house was not visible from the lake, but Lauren knew her way well. She switched the lights on when they were inside the porch and turned to study the woman. She was beautiful, long, black hair—messy and clinging to her rain-slicked skin. Her eyes were a deep blue and her skin was alabaster. She was Lauren's height and, at a guess, around the same age. She peered at Lauren completely expressionless and without saying anything. Was she on something? Lauren looked closely at her pupils, they seemed normal. More normal than Lauren's did, probably.

What's your name? she asked. Is anyone else out there? She would prefer not to talk but certain things demanded answers. The woman continued to look into Lauren's eyes in silence. Do you speak English? Silence. "Do you speak?"

Lauren frowned, but it was probably just as well she didn't speak. She was in no mood to have a conversation and attempt to get to know a stranger tonight anyway. She reached out and touched her arm. The raven-haired woman flinched just slightly but made no other reaction. Her eyes appeared intelligent enough, but who really knew.

You are frozen. Come with me.

Lauren led her into her en suite bathroom and gave her towels, turned the shower on for her. She didn't want a case of hypothermia on her hands. The woman understood, she began undressing before Lauren had even shut the door behind her.

She put the kettle on and checked the Glock 19 in its kitchen drawer was loaded and ready. The woman seemed more afraid of Lauren than any kind of threat, but it was better to be safe. She felt a tiny hysteria rising within her. The woman was afraid of her? She giggled to herself, then quickly sobered when it hit her that she didn't want to be feared. She wasn't a bad person. Not too bad, anyway. Her current sleep deprived state did not allow for strangers with unknown issues entering into the picture and complicating matters.

She sat and peered at the storm raging outside. She nodded off again. Within minutes she came to and went to the bedroom to get some dry clothes for the stranger and for herself. The shower was off, steam still wafting from the bathroom, but the woman was curled up on Lauren's bed, asleep. And stark naked. Lauren was a little shocked.

Make yourself at home, please... She peered down at the sleeping stranger, noting her perfect