Moondrop lake
Every full moon she is said to be there at Moondrop lake. I had plenty of time to ask questions at nearby villages, "Teardrop lake", "Banshee's pond", "Lake of the drowned", i only got ominous names. They say going there at night is extremely dangerous and nobody that went there during a full moon has ever returned.
Of course i went there. Day and night without any result. Its a lake surrounded by a small forest, you can walk around it in a day. I had no success with finding any banshees or drowned. The bottom of the lake seems normal as well, wet and filled with dirt and mud. Its covered by trees on all sides and the flora and fauna dont seem to be affected by any undeath in the area either. It seems i'm starting to reach a dead end.
But tonight, is a full moon. So i sat near lake, and waited. It is clouded and the moon only peeks through ocassionally, the lake is so calm it looks like a giant mirror. And then, when clouds opened up she was there in the distance standing on the reflection of the moon.
Standing on the water her head slightly tilted she stares unblinking into at the moon. Her dress clings to her body as water trickle from the corner of her mouth.
When she noticed me her head twisted to be locked in place and unblinking eyes now focused on me. Her steps send ripples through the surface of the lake. I felt a cold sweat rising up as she slowly steps closer, but couldn't seem to focus on the danger of the situation.
Not until she was closer could i see she that she was spectral, her hair moving as if flowing through water. Holes in her body show her skin is hanging onto a spectral body with nothing inside.
Once i locked eyes i could see her night blue eyes as deep as the night sky high, her irises contracted to pins, her left iris is torn and you could see water flowing from her eyes as well, "tears? why are you crying?"
Only when she was within arms reach did i realize how close she had actually gotten. But a weird emptyness within me kept me frozen in place as she slowly embraced me, pulling my head into her bosom, her hands are freezing, her chest cold and wet on my face, no heartbeat or warmth to be found. The water running from her mouth is trickling onto my head and down my body.
I reciprocated her embrace as she guided me into the lake, i knew i had to resist but my strength had already left me.
I felt numb, i dont know when the cold in my heart got exchanged by a cold on my skin, the moonlight is beautiful down here unveiling the lake in its entirety plants, fish and the bottom is- my gaze is pulled away from the sight and i feel as if i am floating in an abyss staring while into her eyes.
Bubbles pass my lips and my body convulces in an attempt to resist the water entering my lungs.
As i feel my body hitting the bottom of the lake, i am greeted by the sight of the bones and skulls of those who came before me. The last thing my eyes take in is her face, her sorrow. "Why are you crying?"
Story written for spooktober(moon) 2021.
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