On the road to lake

The party had fizzled out, leaving Emily and Chloe to clean up the empty bottles and bags of snacks that cluttered the living room. Everyone else had left, leaving the two girls alone. As they tossed the last of the trash into a bag, Chloe glanced at Emily, who was scrolling through her phone.

"So, where are we staying for this lake trip?" Chloe asked, sitting down on the edge of the couch.

Emily looked up, still tapping away on her phone. "I've been searching for motels near the lake. We need something cheap but not totally sketchy."

Chloe leaned over, peering at the screen as Emily scrolled through options. "How about that one?" she pointed at a listing that showed a rundown-looking place with faded brick walls and a sign that flickered with the words Lakeview Motel.

Emily clicked on it, noting that it was the closest motel to the lake and the cheapest by far. The reviews weren't great, but they weren't awful either—just people complaining about thin walls and outdated decor. "Well, it's not exactly the Ritz, but it's close to the lake, and it's not gonna kill our wallets. Should we book it?"

Chloe shrugged. "We're not gonna be spending much time there anyway, right? Let's do it."

With a quick tap, Emily booked two rooms at the Lakeview Motel. As she closed the booking app, she stood up and grabbed her bag from the floor. "All right, I'm heading home now. We've still got a few days to get everything sorted."

Chloe nodded, giving a mock salute. "Got it. See you in a few days."

The next morning, Emily sat at the kitchen table across from her mom, Natalie, who was pouring herself a cup of coffee. Emily casually mentioned their plans while picking at a piece of toast. "So, we're going to the lake for the weekend. It's been reopened, and it's supposed to be safe now."

The mug paused midway to Natalie's lips, her expression tightening for a brief moment. "The lake?" she repeated, the words coming out slower than usual. Her mind flashed back to those haunting memories that never quite left her.

Emily nodded. "Yeah, the one that's been closed off for years. It's all good now—they checked everything, and there's even a little church there now." She shrugged, as if trying to convince herself as much as her mother.

Natalie forced a smile, pushing aside the nagging sense of dread. "If they say it's safe, then it probably is," she replied, but her voice wavered slightly. "Just… be careful, all right?"

"Of course, Mom," Emily said with a reassuring smile, though she could tell her mother was still uneasy. She finished her breakfast and went upstairs to start packing for the trip.

Three days later, Emily zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder before heading outside. The morning air was crisp, and her breath formed small clouds as she exhaled. She spotted a car idling at the curb, Tyler was in the driver's seat, and Derek was in the passenger's side. The backseat was packed with Kyle, Chloe, and Jake, who were crammed together but still in good spirits, laughing and joking about the upcoming trip.

Tyler honked the horn twice, and Derek leaned out of the window. "Hey, let's get a move on! The lake isn't gonna come to us!"

Emily waved as she jogged toward the car, opening the back door and squeezing in beside Chloe. She could feel the energy buzzing in the air—excitement mixed with a hint of unease. But it was the kind of unease that came with any adventure, wasn't it?

"Ready to roll?" Tyler asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

"Yeah," Emily said, settling into the seat. "Let's go."

As they drove off, Natalie watched from the living room window, the same knot tightening in her chest that had been there for years.