Nicky and her sister were on the beach, watching the water, like they'd done all those years ago. There was a moment of calm, and everything was quiet. Then a wave came, crashing against the sands, and Nicky turned to Rosie. "Do you think the lake remembers?"
Rosie shrugged. "Does it matter?"
Nicky turned toward the lake. "I think it does. I think that's why people come here... they want to remember, even though they know they can't."
Rosie nodded. It was as though she knew what Nicky was thinking.
Then a gust of wind made Rosie's hair whip around her face. "I better get going," she said.
No.Nicky didn't want her to go. She reached out for her.
"Please, stay," Nicky said.
Rosie's eyes softened on hers. Behind her was an expanse of blue.
"I will, on one condition," Rosie said.
"What is it?"
"Nicky..." Rosie's eyes crinkled when she smiled. "Those girls, Nicky. You have to..."
Then the wind picked up, and the rain was coming down. Nicky turned back to the lake and she saw a dozen bodies floating in the water.
And they all had Rosie's face.
Nicky jerked awake. Her breaths were short and heavy. She was drenched in sweat. She sat up on her couch and looked around the living room. Everything was dark and quiet. Nicky closed her eyes, and she could still see the bodies in the lake. And the face of all the missing girls.
Her heart was thumping. She couldn't get that image out of her mind.
She needed another drink.
Instead, she sat up and rubbed her eyes, haunted by memories of the past.
It pained her heart to remember what had happened, but as she sat there, alone in the dark, she couldn't stop the onslaught of memories.
Thirteen years ago, Nicky was sixteen years old, and Rosie was fifteen. They had been at the mall in their hometown in West Virginia when they'd noticed a man had been following them for some time. A man they'd never seen before, which was odd considering their town was quite small and close knit.
They left the mall near sunset and walked home beneath an orange sky, feeling the summer air warm on their faces.
The man walked far behind Nicky and Rosie, but the girls kept walking, ignoring him. Rosie glanced over her shoulder, clearly anxious. Nicky was growing apprehensive too, but she tried to just look forward, never looking back.
"That guy is still following us," Rosie whispered as they walked.
"Just don't look at him," Nicky said. "We can't cause a scene. And we'll be home soon."
Nicky was sure they could make it just fine. They grew up on these streets; they knew them. This was a safe town, and maybe the man following them just happened to be on the same path. Nicky's instincts told her otherwise, but she didn't want to scare Rosie. She was the big sister. It was her job to be strong.
They crossed into a park behind the mall and kept walking, even though the man was still behind them.
That was when Nicky realized they were alone.
It was a Sunday, and not many people were out.
Then Nicky heard something.
She turned.
The man had a gun.