Scowling, I slap the paddle down across my lap, again. My so-called friends obviously changed their plans at the very last minute—without notifying me—which means they really are done with me. I’ve been cut out of my own damn social circle like a bruise on an apple. And here I am bobbing about in the dark like an idiot out of pure spite.

There’s no one in sight, not at this hour, in these conditions. Though I know a volunteer ranger mans the Devil’s Island lighthouse. But whoever they are, they can’t possibly see me—not down here. And they wouldn’t expect anyone to be out on the water at Halloween, anyway. It’s just me, the lake, and my misery. I sigh.

A strange, mournful sound echoes around me—sudden and unexpected. I stiffen, frozen in place, eyes wide. What the actual fuck? That doesn’t sound like the surf and wind howling through sea caves… It sounds too poignant. The lamentation itself is rife with emotion. I can tangibly feel it. There is no way that it’s just the elements of nature bouncing and echoing off each other. It’s almost like someone or something is calling out. It sounds lonely, I realize. And somewhere deep down inside of me, the call resonates. The sound could have come from my own damn soul.

I take a steadying breath and try to remain calm, though my rational and educated mind races for an explanation. It’s just nature, Bethany, I tell myself. Just like the scientists say. There are no such things as evil spirits or creatures from the depths. You’ve let the ancient stories get to your head like a kid afraid of the monsters under the bed. Despite my feeble efforts to rationalize the strange sound, my gut isn’t fooled, not by a long shot. I know what I heard. It wasn’t the bloody wind, and it certainly wasn’t fucking human.

Swallowing my fear like a bitter pill, I make the only decision that makes any sense. I’m going to get out of here. This was a stupid idea. But I’ve lost my way, and I can’t remember which direction I entered the cave system from. As quietly as I’m able I scrounge around my legs for a flashlight. Raising it at eye level, up by my shoulder, I press the button, illuminating the sea caves around me. Gold and red sediment glitters in the light’s beam. It’s breathtaking. Then something splashes nearby, painfully distinct from the sloshing of the surf against the smooth rock walls.

Lowering the beam to the water’s surface, I nearly drop the flashlight altogether when I see something move, made visible by the light penetrating the rippling depths. Any precious shred of calm I had remaining evaporates, and I begin to hyperventilate, my heart racing for a finish line that doesn’t exist. My arm trembles and I reach for my throat with my free hand. Panic begins to overwhelm me and suddenly I can’t breathe. I try to draw breath, but it’s like my throat has closed, restricting my airway almost entirely. My chest tightens and burns like fire. The darkness begins to close in all around me.

I feel the flashlight slip from my fingers, lost to the turbulent waters of Lake Superior forever. I can’t breathe! I cry out in my mind. Oh, God. I’m going to die. The devastating realization slams into my chest with the weight of a sledgehammer, and I swoon, gasping in vain as my kayak topples over and oblivion claims me.

A heartbeat later and the shocking cold of Lake Superior embraces me from all sides, jolting me back to consciousness. Inverted, I can’t get free. My legs are firmly stuck. Fuck! My curvy girl ass and chunky thighs are going to be the death of me. For fuck’s sake, you’ve got to be kidding me! I wiggle and squirm, leveraging my weight against the sides of the kayak, all the while upside down. I pull and push, but it’s no use.

This is it. Fear floods me all over again with a fresh wave of equilibrium destroying devastation. I’m going to drown! Someone’s going to find my cold, fat, bloated, and lifeless corpse stuck in my kayak. My parents will be alerted, and I’ll be just another drunken Halloween fatality on the news. My ex-friends will probably laugh when they hear it.

Just as I’m ready to give up and kiss my bombastic ass goodbye, I feel movement in the water around me. Something slick snakes its way around my waist, and in the chaotic darkness of the world below the surface, I make out two glowing yellow eyes. They stare back at me, unblinking and curious. Pure terror takes a dump on my fucking soul, and I open my mouth to scream. The lake rushes in, eager to quench the fire in my burning lungs.