That time at Shadow Lake (Part 2)
Read Part 1 here I searched for Ruby for three days straight. It had started to feel claustrophobic, staring at the world outside of Shadow Lake butknowing I couldn’t leave. I continuously prayed that somehow, Ruby had escaped the barrier andwhatever doom awaited everyone who came to this town. I was awoken on the fourth day of the search not by the sun, but by a buzzing from myphone. My heartbeat sped up and I groped for it hopefully, my eyes still closed. When I finallymanaged to yank the device free from its charger and put the screen in front of my face, I pausedbefore opening my eyes and checking the notification. In the brief respite, I could believe that themessage was from Ruby, finally replying to all of my unanswered messages. Another part of mewas certain that it was Rowan, miraculously getting up early and starting the search. In thisblissful moment, he had found her. Tears started to fill my eyes until finally I had to blink andbreak the illusion. Event: Rowan Kingston’s Birthday. July 20 th . Place: Home. I threw my phone at the end of my bed irritably, subconsciously ensuring it would onlyhit the soft blanket that I had kicked to the end of the bed during the night. I thumped back downonto the flat pillow, wishing I could restart the day. I wanted Ruby to barge in and chastiseRowan and I for skipping out on so many camp activities for a prank, throwing away her perfectschedule for a fruitless search. I wanted to actually eat a meal and not just the countless proteinbars I smuggled in my backpack every day before I left. As I laid face-down on my bed,brooding and trying to decide where to go to make sure I retread my own steps as little as possible, a thought struck me. David, the disgruntled worker of Callaghan’s Candy, had saidsomething about today. “Now they don’t even search when people go missing on the 20 th of July.” I jolted upright, then swore as I smacked my head against the ceiling of the room. Mymind was easily distracted from the pain by my racing thoughts. Rowan’s birthday was the sameday someone was meant to go missing. After seeing the gravestone labeled Kingston with Laura,I had a feeling that it wasn’t a coincidence. The only thing I didn’t understand was why Rubyhad disappeared before the day someone was supposed to. What was different about her than theothers? I dropped to the floor, the thud waking Rowan who, predictably, had not started thesearch early as I’d dreamed. “Where are we looking today?” He mumbled. With his reason forbeing here gone, my brother had joined me every day of the search. I felt a little guilty for beingirritated at him, especially on his birthday. Rowan had been the one who had spoken with theYouth Group Pastor leading the trip while I was grieving in our room and had convinced him tolet us skip camp activities and search for Ruby so long as we didn’t get into trouble. I relaxed myfists, which were balled with a tense determination. “I’m going to Callaghan’s Candy today. Iwant to talk with one of the workers there. What do you want for your birthday?” “You remembered! I’m flattered.” He brought a hand to his chest with palpably fakegratitude. I rolled my eyes. “My phone told me.” Rowan laughed. “What can I say? I’m socharming I even have robotic admirers.” I could tell he was trying to cheer me up, and while Iappreciated it, it made me worry he was attempting to hide how he was really doing. He couldn’tleave Shadow Lake, either. He must feel as trapped and scared as I was. “Right. Well, the storedoesn’t open for a little while, so I’m going to have breakfast.” An actual meal sounded amazing, and I was too distracted by my own hunger to realize Laura had followed me down the stairsbefore she spoke. “I want to help.” I jumped and turned around. Laura’s long red hair was tied back in a tight bun, and thenormal summer attire she had been wearing was replaced with knee-length brown boots and afitted raincoat. She was clearly not interested in what I thought about her joining in our search,and I felt a stab of indignation that it had taken her so long to want to help. “Conscious get thebetter of you?” I snapped. “Don’t be an ass,” she retorted, glaring at me for a moment before taking a deep breath.“I’ve known Ruby for a long time as a part of this group. We played together in children’schurch before she ever met you.” I had no idea when kids started children’s church, so I took herat her word and relaxed my shoulders. “Thank you,” I replied. “I’m sorry for what I said. I knowyou and Rowan-“ She held up her hand. “It’s fine. You’re right that I was being petty. Ishould’ve helped from the start but I just… couldn’t.” I nodded in understanding, and togetherwe descended the rest of the staircase. The spread of pre-packaged donuts and muffins haddwindled as the week wore on, so in order to get a full meal we had to cook it ourselves. I hadvery little experience in the kitchen and was grateful when Laura placed a pan on the stove andbegan lightly smearing butter across it. I grabbed the eggs from the fridge and cracked one in.Doing this reminded me of assisting my mother in the kitchen when I was young, and I felt arock fall in my stomach as I imagined her sick with worry when the Youth Pastor told her aboutRuby. I hadn’t called her since that first night when Rowan and I were unable to leave Shadow Lake. We had been consumed with our investigation the past few days, and before that I wasunwilling to hear her lie to my face and say that she hadn’t tried to send us here to get rid of us. “So where are you searching today?” Laura asked, cutting through the awkward silencethat had developed as I’d thought. Once I explained what I had discovered, she scoffed teasingly.“Some detective. You really didn’t realize it was the same day before?” I shook my head,embarrassed. I knew Rowan’s birthday, of course, but the event had taken on a life of its own,and the actual date had become secondary to celebrating my brother, which didn’t always happenon his birthday. “I got him a game for his birthday, but I’m not giving it to him now,” Lauraasserted bitterly. “I’ll keep it for myself and just play co-op with Ruby.” Her confidence that wewould find her made me smile for the first time in days, hope rising in my chest like the dawnsunrays outside. After breakfast, Rowan and I headed to Callaghan’s Candy while Laura searched outsidethe town, riding her bike from Rose Trail to the neighboring town of Belview. As theoverwhelming odor of chocolate and taffy drifted into my nostrils, I glanced hopefully at thecounter for David. Instead, looming over the counter with the authority of a military general, wasan old man, his scowl contrasting with the bright pink and purple smock that all employees wore. “G-Good afternoon sir,” I stammered as the man marched over to us and looked us upand down. Rowan subconsciously shifted his arm as he was examined, hiding the long scar he’dgotten a few years ago from cutting his arm on a basketball hoop. “You boys here for the camp?”The man asked stiffly. “Yes, sir!” Rowan chimed in cheerfully, rolling back his shoulders and casually turningto look at the wall of taffy. “My brother here told me that you sell the best candy by the lake, and I wanted to see for myself.” I was grateful that Rowan had spoken for me, his movementbreaking the confining feeling of the old man’s gaze. But the man was unimpressed. “What’re your names?” This I could answer. “I’m Elijah, and that’s Rowan.” I replied, leaning against a candycounter so I didn’t look as intimidating. “You two are Kingston’s, aren’t you?” The old man’svoice was low and raspy, and his hand began to shake. I nodded nervously, glancing at hisnametag. It read Earl Newmaker. So, he’s not related to us… I thought, only to shout as my armwas pulled in a firm, shaking grip. In an instant Rowan was there, shoving his way in between usand forcing Earl to let me go. “Don’t touch my brother, asshole!” He may not have been as tallas me, but he was still taller than the old man, and he was muscular from the multiple sports heplayed, his shoulders broad and defined as he set them back. “Don’t bother Rowan,” I mutteredonce I was upright again. ”Ruby isn’t here, and neither is David. Let’s just get out of here.”Rowan turned to me with an indignant expression, opening his mouth to say more, but Earl beathim to it. “Your brother’s right, you little bastard. Get out of my shop and don’t come back!You’re a curse on this town and I won’t stand for it here!” Rowan snorted, snatched a bag ofchocolate-covered almonds, and stormed out the door. I reached for my wallet to pay, but the oldman shoved me out the door after my brother, and I didn’t look back. I could hear Rowan smacking loudly on the thick chocolate exterior of an almond beforeI fully caught up to him. “Well, that proves one thing,” I began once as we reached the lakeshore,staying as far back as possible while Rowan took off his sandals and stepped in. “This curse isdefinitely connected to us.” “Yeah…” Rowan grunted, his stomping making a cacophony of splashing. “I tried to callmom, but she hasn’t answered. Not that she’d be any help, considering she has never told us anyof this.” I mumbled agreement, then glanced farther down the lakeshore. “I’m going to head forRose Trail. Maybe Laura will be back soon, and she’ll be able to point us in the right direction.”Rowan bid me good luck, and I quickly made my way away from the endless water and onto thefamiliar forested trail. As I returned to the garden, I looked over each plaque carefully, decidingto google information about each of them as I waited. There were short missing person articleson each of the victims posted online, except for the victim related to Rowan and me. I decided todo a search of the local paper for anything related to other missing people the year before thedisappearances began. I inhaled sharply when I saw the first headline. Accompanying it was aphoto of a missing man, sitting next to a woman who was unmistakably my mother, a largecardigan nearly concealing a noticeable baby bump. Engagement party ends in tragedy. The engagement party for Dawn Louise Kingston and Bartholomew (Barry) JamesNewmaker ended in tragedy today when Barry drowned in the lake after being submerged in thebelow freezing water. This prank was a tradition that had been implemented by students at theUniversity in Belview. Barry is the son of the local pastor, Matthew Newmaker. Kingston andNewmaker were set to get married later this year. Kingston gave us this statement earlier today. “Barry was my whole world. Without him, I don’t know what I’ll do.” I reached numbly for the nearest bench, sinking onto the dirty surface. Things wereslowly starting to fall into place. My surroundings blurring around me, I shot my way out of the clearing and down the trail, stumbling over roots the same way I had as a child. When I finallymade my way to the shore, I screamed Rowan’s name. But my half-brother had vanished. Unable to bring myself to touch the water, I raced along the shore, calling frantically forRowan. My throat began to burn, and as time dragged on, I lost the fragile, naive hope I’d hadthat Rowan was just playing a trick on me. I slumped to the ground, numbly scanning the lake.The sun was high in the sky by now, and a thin hum from the many bugs overwhelmed theserene rhythm of the waves. Sweat coated my back after my run, cooling me somewhat, though Icould feel my face blister with what would surely be a harsh sunburn. Tears stung the mostaffected areas as I began to cry, which slowly developed into sobs. I sat up and hid my faceagainst my knees, letting despair consume me. A few moments later, however, I was startled tofeel a hand resting on my shoulder. It was Laura. “What’s happened?” I opened my mouth to respond but froze as I heard shouting behind us and turned to seeEarl blocking our path, pointing a gun straight at me. “’Git up!” Laura and I obeyed, holding our hands up. “What the hell is going on?” She demandedagain. I swallowed, letting saliva soothe my hoarse throat so I could be heard. “They killed Rowan’s dad. His real dad. They drowned him in the lake when they found out my mom waspregnant with Rowan.” My gaze snapped to Earl’s. “Isn’t that right?” “I didn’t kill him!” The old man wheezed. “I thought they were just going to scare himinto leaving town and never coming back. I couldn’t have him disgracing our family’s namehere. That woman was a low-born-” I cut him off. “Don’t you dare talk about my mother,” I choked out. I glanced at Laura.“He died, and that’s what caused all of this to happen. It’s cursed the town.” “Does that mean we can reverse it somehow? By rectifying what’s happened?” Lauraasked. I was impressed she managed to remain so calm in such a tense situation. “We’ll get the lake dried up one day,” Earl asserted. “Then no more innocent people willhave to suffer because of what those two did!” “You allow innocent people to disappear every year because of a curse that you created!”I exploded. I thought of Rowan and Ruby, two of the people I loved most in this world, and howthey were lost to me forever. My fist curled in rage. “I don’t care if this whole town burns to theground. Everyone who hurt my family deserves to rot here.” “I won’t let that happen.” Earl replied coolly, then pulled the trigger. An explosion of pain hit my right shoulder. I tried to yell with pain but could onlymanage a hoarse squeak as I took a terrified step back, feeling my legs begin to buckle beneathme as I fell into the water. And kept falling. And falling. Just as I’d accepted that I was fated to die the way I’d been so afraid of since my fall intothe creek, I crashed onto soft, mossy ground, and felt the breath pushed roughly out of my body.Instinctively I gasped, and was startled to feel air filling my lungs instead of water. I groaned andblinked open my eyes but could see only shadows. As I studied the everchanging darknessthrough spots in my vision, I came to the realization that my shoulder was not bleeding orthrobbing with pain anymore. Pressing back frantic thoughts about what that meant, I rose to myfeet and took one uncertain step forward at a time, listening for signs of life. But I heard nothingexcept the sound of my own shuffling feet and a soft, whirring breeze. I had nearly convincedmyself that I was roaming around in a circle when my foot hit something solid. Jumping back, Isighed with relief as I made out the shape of a moss-cushioned boulder and settled onto it.Taking slow gulps of the musty air, I was considering what my next move should be when a softgrowl pierced the air. A growl that was getting closer. Panic froze me to the boulder, and I could do nothing as the growl turned into a snufflingsound. Trembling, I slowly began to peel my legs out from underneath me, setting one footcautiously on the ground. As soon as I did, my sneaker squeaked, and the snuffling abruptlystopped. In a heartbeat a loud snarling exploded from behind me, and canine jaws clampedaround my ankle. I screamed as teeth sank into my flesh, and kicked out with my other leg. Itthumped against something solid, and I immediately kicked again, but it didn’t appear to phasemy assailant. I frantically jerked my aching leg in an attempt to get it free of the creature, andwith a tear I was free. I bolted upright and limped forward as fast as I could, hearing the creature howl. A dozen howls responded from all directions, and foreboding filled my chest. The creaturewas hard on my trail, and it didn’t take long for it to catch up. It clamped its jaws down hard onmy injured ankle again, and I toppled to the ground as it began to drag me away. Despair began to overwhelm me, and I fell limp. It all felt like too much. My brother andgirlfriend had vanished somewhere in this horrible place, my mother had lied about whoRowan’s father was, and I was trapped inside a town that hated me, resulting in me being shot.Now I was being dragged away by a shadowy creature, and was struggling to feel any sense ofoptimism. I listened as the distant howls drew closer to my attacker’s location, then gasped inshock. The cacophony had nearly drowned out the sound of a human voice. An achingly familiarvoice. Hope filled me, and I shouted with joy “Rowan?!” The voice went quiet, then I heard the thundering of fast-approaching footsteps beforeRowan crashed into the creature, mounting it and jamming his fingers into its eyes. The shadowyform writhed with a pained croon, then began contorting from its original canine shape into aformless swirl before streaking away. Rowan offered me a hand, grinning. “Eli! Damn it’s goodto see you.” I laughed, feeling a bit manic. Unyielding tears fell for the second time that day as I tookmy brother’s hand and scrambled up. “It’s good to see you too, Rowan. I thought I would neversee you again.” I hugged my brother tightly, then Rowan abruptly pushed me forward as weheard a chorus of angry snarls from nearby. The creature had found its pack. We ran for what felt like ages, until the feral sounds of animals on the hunt faded. Ipanted, collapsing to the ground. My leg was in agony, but adrenaline had kept me from noticingas much. I was grateful my voice seemed to have healed here as well as I turned to Rowan. “Istill can’t believe it’s you.” I wheezed. “What is this place? What happened to you?” “Hell if I know.” Rowan sighed and sat at my side with a shrug. “I think I went throughsome sort of portal once I touched the water. I’ve been trying to find my way back to it for hours,but I can’t make heads or tails of this place.” He paused, then blinked at me, looking concerned.“Wait, what happened to you? How did you get through the portal? I would have bet my life youwouldn’t have gone into the lake.” As succinctly as I could, I explained everything I had learnedup until then: who Rowan’s true father was, how I had found out, and how Earl had shot mewhile I was searching for him near the lake. “I’m impressed little brother,” Rowan said, patting me on the back. “You figured that allout just while I’ve been away?” I shrugged, embarrassed. “I just got lucky with my searches.” Imumbled, glancing at him with concern. “I’m sorry about your dad, Rowan. I can take him toyour grave once we’re out of here.” Rowan stared out into the unending darkness. “You don’t have to feel sorry for me. I hada dad, and he was great. I do wish I had known my biological father, but-” his voice choked, andI saw him blink away tears. “I can understand why mom did it. Things turned out better this way.But I’m glad I know now. So thank you, Eli.” He smiled at me proudly, and I felt my shouldersrelax, the grief in my chest easing a little. I could only nod in reply to my brother’s words, notwanting to speak and break down into tears for the third time, so Rowan continued. “I can’tbelieve that bastard shot you, though. I’m gonna kick his ass when we’re out of here.” I chuckled. “You’re going to kick your own grandfather’s ass?” Rowan smirked at me.“Absolutely. No one messes with my little brother.” I cleared my throat, attempting to quell the emotion from my voice. “Well for you to dothat, we’re gonna have to get out of here. Have you been able to figure out how this placeoperates at all?” Rowan shook his head. “Not really. I’ve been searching for anything that lookslike the portal I came through but haven’t had any luck. I ran into one of those things not longafter I got here-” He gestured vaguely at the air, indicating the shadowy beasts. “But I’ve beenable to steer clear of them for the most part. I’m more worried about you. I don’t think ourbodies will drown in the lake, but you could be bleeding out.” “I think I may have an idea-” I interrupted before Rowan began speculating. “I told Earlthat your father’s death had cursed the town, and Laura said that we may be able to stop it if wemake things right somehow.” Rowan patted his leg in a thoughtful rhythm. “Maybe. But wecan’t fix what happened all those years ago. ” I shook my head adamantly. “There has to be a way. The curse was placed on the townbecause of what they did, right? But innocent people have been targeted since then, not just thoseinvolved in your dad’s death. Is it the water itself?” My thoughts drifted into aimless theoriesbefore returning to more urgent matters. “I wish Ruby was with us. Have you seen her?” Rowanshook his head. “No. I haven’t seen anyone else since I’ve been here. But I’m sure she’s heresomewhere, Eli. Don’t worry.” I nodded dejectedly. I agreed, but who knew how far she hadtraveled in four days? As I mulled over our problems and the events that had led my brother andI here, a thought struck me so powerfully that I stood up. “I think I’ve got it! Ruby has the key!” Rowan frowned, confused. “How?” “Ruby found a charm as we were walking along the lakeside. It had an ‘R,’ on it, and shesaid it stood for Ruby, but I think it stood for Rowan.” I explained. “That’s what is keeping thecurse alive. Your dad must have been planning on giving it to mom as a present. It’s why Rubyvanished before someone was supposed to. Then it went back into the water, and you went in thelake on the right day. And I-” I paused, considering, then snapped my fingers. “I died, or cameclose to death-” The realization took the excitement out of my discovery, and Rowan stood. “Then I was right. We have to find Ruby and get you out of here before you die for real.”I gulped and nodded, and we made our way into the shadows as quickly as my limp allowed. Our shoes began to squelch as the moss dampened beneath us and became moreinterspersed with swamp grasses and flowers, alongside the occasional tree. Humidity beadedagainst my face and frizzed my short black hair into even wilder waves than usual, the edgescurling upright. My right pant leg was soaked as my injured leg dragged continually fartherbehind me, but the distant sound of flowing water urged me onward. A short while later we found the river I’d heard, and I began calling Ruby’s name. Rowanshouted for her in the brief respite before I tried again, and we took turns yelling for her until weheard a voice from somewhere up ahead. “Eli! Rowan!” Joy burst in my chest, and I lumbered forward on my unsteady legs until the riverwidened into a small, still pond. Silhouetted in blackness in front of it was unmistakably Ruby. I swept my arms around my girlfriend and kissed her, then jolted back as I realized I’ddone it without asking. Dizzy from whiplash, I was relieved when Ruby smiled and kissed me in return, and afterwards I set her back down in front of me. “Ruby, I can’t believe we found you!We were looking for you for days, and all that time you were here.” I sniffled and felt tearscoming, and looked away, embarrassed as I wiped my eyes. “I can’t believe you found me, either!” Ruby replied, bouncing on her toes. “I knew youwould try to find me, but I didn’t think you would be able to get here.” Her eyes widened. “Ithasn’t already been an entire year, has it?” I shook my head. “No. There’s a lot to explain, butfirst we need to get out of here. Do you have the charm you found by the lake?” Puzzled, Rubyquickly searched her pockets and fished out the warped heart-shaped charm, an R emblazonedonto the silvery metal. “You think this’ll get us out of here?” I nodded, but before I could saymore I heard Rowan whisper urgently. “Guys, I think those monsters are coming.” Dread took my breath away as I looked where Rowan was pointing. The shadows werewrithing with the shapeless forms of the beasts, and I swept Ruby behind me with an arm. “Weneed to open that portal! Any ideas?” I called loud enough for Rowan to hear. “I have one!”Ruby chirped. “You think this is what is making people disappear when they touch the water,right?” I nodded, and she beamed mischievously. “How about we try it again?” I glanced at the stagnant pond behind her skeptically, but the growls of the beastssilenced my doubts. I nodded. “Try it.” Ruby didn’t hesitate: she burst from her spot towards the water, her sudden movementsurprising the shadowy creatures so that by the time they charged after her she had already tossedthe charm into the water. It landed with a soft plop, and she dove in after it. She didn’t resurface. Excitement thrumming through my veins, I started to dash after her, only to flinch as myinjured leg caused me to stumble. Not wasting a moment, Rowan began shouting to distract thebeasts, dashing around the pond in a large circle to give me time to escape. Gratefully I startedtowards the water again, taking a calming breath before stepping in. I didn’t go through. Feeling cold, I took another slow step, then began splashing frantically. Rowan’s warningechoed in my mind: We have to get you out of here before you die for real. “Rowan!” I yelled with panic. “I can’t go through!” Rowan’s rhythmic strides faltered for a moment, then he doubled back and made a breakfor me. He stayed at the water’s edge, careful to not step in. “We’ll think of something! Youcan’t be dead, Elijah.” He ran a hand frantically through his hair. I- I need you, little brother.You’ve been there for me as long as I can remember.” His confident facade fracturing was sopainful to watch, I had to close my eyes. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Ruby- Icrushed that thought as soon as it came, then opened my eyes. The creatures were closing in onRowan. “You can do it, Rowan. “ I croaked, forcing a smile. “You’re invincible.” I began to wade out of the water, then hugged my brother for the last time. “Please, go.Be happy. Tell Ruby I love her. And tell mom I’m sorry.” Unable to look at my brother’s pained features, I made my way quickly past him tointercept the shadowy creatures. Behind me I heard the soft splash of water as Rowan wentthrough the portal, leaving me behind. But for once, I didn’t feel afraid. Rowan and Ruby would destroy the charm, and break the curse over Shadow Lakeforever. Rowan would be able to leave the town behind. All of the other innocent people wouldbe free now as well. I hoped that one day they would find me again, and I could be free too. Credit: Bexlapis Copyright Statement: Unless explicitly stated, all stories published on Creepypasta.com are the property of (and under copyright to) their respective authors, and may not be narrated or performed under any circumstance.