Page 90 of Amnesia

“Sit down, Eddie!” Sadie cried, grabbing the sides of the canoe.

“That’s coming from underneath us!” I exclaimed. “The light!” I demanded.

Sadie shined the beam into the water all around us. There was nothing there. Nothing at all.

“Again,” I said, thinking we missed something. Bringing the oar up over my shoulder like a bat, I prepared to swing at whatever it was that made that sound.

“Maybe it was just a big fish,” Sadie whispered.

“Maybe,” I whispered back.

BOOM! Another loud crack sounded. This time it was accompanied by splintering wood. The boat tipped instantly, and we both screamed.

I fell into the dark, cold water, and it pulled at my clothes, stole my hat, and robbed my breath. In shock, I tried to suck in some air but got a mouthful of water. My lungs and nose burned, and I fought to find the surface.

The water was dark, its tentacles sticky and greedy.

Sadie! I had to find Sadie.

I fought against the current, and eventually my head broke the surface. I coughed and sputtered. Blinking, I searched the area around me. It was so dark, so very dark.

I was alone.

No boat. No Sadie. Nothing.

“Sadie!” I screamed, treading water and scanning the surface for any movement. “Sadie!” I yelled.

She didn’t call out. She didn’t answer.

Filling my lungs with a deep breath, I dove beneath the inky surface. Forcing my eyes open, I could barely see a thing, but I searched and searched. Up ahead, I saw a blink of light. I swam toward it, my arms and legs burning with the effort, but I forced my way through.

The light continued to sink, to fade out until there was nothing at all. It disappeared just as my hope was beginning to. Once more, I broke the surface. Sputtering and gulping for breath, I yelled her name again.

And again.

And again.

She didn’t answer. Not even once.

I treaded water for what felt like hours. I searched for her. I cried.

She wasn’t there. She was just gone.

Eventually, I found the boat. It was still upside down. It took every last bit of energy I had to flip it over and crawl inside.

I woke up in the morning, several yards from shore. People were standing on the beach, yelling and screaming at me. Police lights filled the early morning light with harsh red and blue flashes.

My first thought was of Sadie. I sat up and started screaming her name again. Frantically, I searched the shore, hoping she’d swam there last night.

I didn’t see her.

I never saw her again.

“Eleven years ago, a girl falls into the lake and is never seen again,” I repeated, reeling from the tale Eddie just told me.

I believed him. I believed every word. The horror and regret on his face could never be faked. The way he spoke about that night pulled me in. I felt I was there in that moment, reliving it all with him.

Or maybe I just felt that way because Ihadbeen there.

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