Secrets of the Lake House (A Short Story) | LET'S MAKE A COLLAGE: ROUND #112

My name is Audrey. And I'm here to tell you that some things you just can't explain. I learned early on that it was no use trying. I was only eight when it first happened. The cabin on the lake was where it happened. Why the lake? I guess because fate or karma, whatever you want to call it, knew that I was paranoid of water. It wasn't that I couldn't swim or was afraid to be near the water. It was just that unique things occurred when I was close to it. I dared not call them what they really were for fear of being taken by my parents for a "wellness" checkup.

So, I acquiesced and accompanied my family to their favorite summer vacation camping resort. Staying home alone was not an option anyway.

Fun with my siblings during the daylight hours busied my thoughts from the curtains that would waffle in the calm breeze. Once twilight settled on the windowsill of our bedroom, the stickiness enveloping me space took shape as a thin veil hovered over, gently whispering my name. No other explanation except it had to be dream.

Why didn't my older siblings, Anthony and Thelsia, see the image or hear the lullaby enticing me to follow, you ask? I already vaguely inquired. Blank stares and wide eyes, as though I wasn't ready for middle school, were their responses. Also, I feared my reputation would precede me if Thelsia had anything newsworthy to report.

When I think of the feeling that came over me after hearing the illusive voice, being intoxicated would be the best description I could envision. Remembering my uncle swaying back and forth and talking nonsense at the family gatherings readily came to mind. I wanted to avoid people comparing us!

Besides, my uncle had options. Whether to obey the strange voice and exotic feeling didn't leave me with a choice. If being intoxicated, as my parents warned us not to indulge in, gave one the feelings I experienced each visit to the cabin, then they never had to worry about me on that score.

This summer during the trip, I concentrated on the upcoming year and meeting new friends. Three hours later, I didn't even notice we'd arrived early. Once we unpacked, I did notice the other rental cabins weren't yet occupied.

For me, exploring the lush forest on the other side near the camping trails was always a delight. Something else to take my mind off the lake.

The first few days were pleasant. However, I prayed extra hard each night. But I knew it was only a matter of time. The nights were long, and the days left were five.

I waited.

Night five. We readied for bed. I thoroughly enjoyed, but was exhausted from, the bike trail ride. Lights off, I quickly fell asleep. Wasn't two hours later, something touched my arm. Chills formed rapidly as I pulled the coverlet around my neck. Startled, I could see out the corner of my eye the curtain waving in my direction.

Hand over mouth, I muffled a scream. That left uncovered my heart, which skipped several beats. My head felt dizzy. I sensed my body slowly descend from the twin bed and float toward the window.

The lake. It was situated in the forest several feet from the cabin. Its shallow, calm but murky water cast a somewhat dark green, almost black shadow. Suddenly, spots of deep red mixed with gray and black clustered to create a small hole. It looked as if the moon had abandoned its post. I desperately wanted to return to the safety of the cabin. My legs kept moving forward.

Forcefully, my head dove in. I surrendered and allowed my body to follow. Sinking deeper, familiar pajamas no longer hugged me. Instead, a glistening, green outfit I'd never be allowed to wear as an almost teen covered my entire frame. Absolutely beautiful how the lake transfigured itself with an illuminated shelf floor.

^{Collage No. 1 "The Tarot Cards" created by me in Canva utilizing images set forth below}

I glanced to the right. There was uncle Horace looking foolishly with something tied to his head. I laughed. This wasn't at all what I expected. Besides, I was breathing underwater. I chided myself for lack of confidence. Then, a bright glow from the most beautiful crystal bubble resting on the floor caught my attention.

I couldn't believe my eyes as our cabin appeared within the ball. A tiredness spread over me. I wanted to return home. I attempted to burst the bubble. I figured I'd get home quicker this route. The friction from the bubble tossed me backward. I didn't understand. I thought surely this magical place would cooperate.

Confused, I glanced at Uncle Horace, beseeching him for advice. That's when I noticed his eyes were shut. I screamed. No, they weren't shut, they were plucked out. His head was partially submerged in another body of water. Half was colored brown, the other half, bluish black. But if I was in the lake; then where was Uncle Horace? I cried, as I shook my head violently.

The gull atop his head chirped loudly as if laughing, "tarot, tarot." I quickly looked up past the bubble to see a deck of tarot cards floating just beneath the surface. I didn't understand what I was supposed to do. I tore at my clothes. I screamed, then gathered several rocks to break the bubble. Nothing worked.

I moved toward the tarot cards. What did it all mean? Was I never returning to our cabin? Did my fate lie in those cards? I wouldn't know which one to choose. I began to sob and tear at my clothing. I wanted to be free. I prayed and asked God what did I do to deserve this?

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't feel. Water filled my head. I couldn't do anything but watch as my body sank to the shelf floor.

Mom's voice settled in my ear. The worse headache ever surrounded and settled in my head. I sat up on the side of the bed. For several minutes, I swayed trying to gain my balance. I refused to think about last night. Slowly, I placed my feet on the floor trying to find my slippers so I could rise and face the day.

I avoided any deep conversation during breakfast. Then, I decided to stay inside while everyone else enjoyed outdoor activities. I wanted to catch up on suggested summer reading for next grade level.

Taking a short break as usual, I reached for my Entomology book. That butterfly with the strange markings I captured yesterday looked like nothing I'd seen before. I didn't realize I'd fallen asleep. By the time I cleared my thoughts, mom was calling for dinner.

Afterward, the slight thumping in my head signaled it was time to turn in early. I lay examining the ceiling. Clues explaining tarot cards weren't part of the pattern. I decided to drop this line of thinking until I returned home. Sleep came quickly.

Felt as though I was asleep for several hours before moisture trickled down my face. Simultaneously, the smell of rain surrounded my nostrils. Instead of feeling warm, a cold blast rushed past my ears. Oh, no! I thought, not tonight. But I was helpless to stop the soft howl of the wind. The shadowy figure with a blue veil stood holding my hand.

Pitch black was the sky. Shoeless, the soft forest floor seemed to protect my feet as I was hurried toward the lake. I paused. Panic surrounded me like a blanket. The veiled figure guided me into the lake. I glanced down. My nightgown had disappeared. Tonight though, my favorite outfit protected my body. Once at the lake, I noticed purple bubbles rising to the surface. I smiled at my favorite color. My face and right hand were lifted toward the heavens. What was I supposed to see?

I jerked both back, scared of nothingness. Within moments, round white lights that looked like tiny beads of snow descended from the sky. A summer miracle, I thought.

^{Collage No. 2 "Raining Snow and Butterflies" created by me in Canva utilizing images set forth below}

The sensation I experienced as each drop snow opened up was akin to renewal. Then, the sky filled with the most exotic green and blue colors. Instantly, balls emerged from the snow and formed the most beautiful butterflies I'd ever seen.

The forest lit up in the backdrop of the black sky. A strange blob blossomed on the forest bed. Returning my gaze to the sky, I reached out and touched the golden butterfly with the strange markings embedded in its back. The creature's face emerged resembling that of the movie's version of an alien being. But I didn't recoil.

Touching the golden butterfly, my best friend Agnes appeared on the wooden stump beside me. How strange, I thought. I left her at the Pet Boarding House. She purred and watched curiously as one of the butterflies settled on her fur.

The green butterfly gathered Agnes in its massive wings. The golden creature turned and gently grabbed my outstretched arm. Both Agnes and I ascended slowly until the blob caught up and enveloped us. The dark night gathered the mysterious butterflies. The round circle in the center of the sky began to rotate.

We disappeared among the snow balls.

Hello everyone and welcome back to Let's Make a Collage ("LMAC"). This week, I wanted to share with you a short story that incorporates the two themes I created for this Round 112. My themes represent a young girl's summer vacation lake house adventures.

To create the setting, I started with the photograph provided by Hive account@shaka in his contest post: Let's Make a Collage - A Contest for All Creatives on Hive - Round 112 - ✨195 HIVE in the Prize Pool!✨. It was the backdrop for both themes.

^{Image used with permission of contest owner for contest}

For Collage No. 1 "The Tarot Cards", I located a beautiful underwater scene that captured the setting I wanted to portray of a lake adventure. Images included from the LIL to assist in my them were (i) the bird by Hive account@redhedpei that sat on Uncle Horace's head, and (ii) the beautiful cabin by Hive account@seckorama the family rented for their summer vacation.

Here are the images that comprised my theme:

For Collage No. 2 theme: "Butterflies", I wanted to utilize some of my fractal design. I created a unique fractal that resembles a butterfly. This was the first time I was able to accomplish such a feat. I compiled this and the first design in Canva utilizing my Annual Pro Membership Subscription to create a several of the images.

Next, I added another fractal to resemble the skyline. The inspiration for this theme I drew from a photo at a free site of a young girl reaching toward the sky. It was a perfect fit for the night story and butterfly sighting. Hive account@agmoore's brown cat fit perfectly in the story as my young character's pet accompanying her on their journey also.

Here are the images that comprised my "Butterflies" theme:

I appreciate your visit and hope you like my collage themes.