Our summer holidays in Slaborough last for two months every year, with the temperature during the day rose at 40°C but at night, the surroundings are so much cooler.
My sister, Em and I decided one day to swim at Montago Bay at night so, during breakfast, I asked Aunt Inara if we could go. "Auntie, can Em and I go for a swim at Montago Bay?"
Aunt Inara, who was chewing on her pancakes, placed her fork down on her plate and gave me a death glare. "No," she said. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RJ9IdKqJt
My eyes widened. "But why?"
"Because I said so," she replied. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0WG7L6Z1h
"Auntie, there must be a legitimate reason why Em and I couldn't go," I protested. "Is it because you're afraid we'll both drown?"
"If I said you both can't go, you both can't go, and that is final."
Em and I sighed and looked at Grandma. "Grandma, why can't we swim at Montago Bay?" Em asked. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTVwceOqN9
"Montago Bay is no place for you at night," answered Grandma. "You two could get yourself hurt."
My head drooped as I glanced at my half-eaten blueberry pancake we just made. It was one night. It's not like I'm loitering at a cybercafe or drinking at some bar. Besides, what's so dangerous about swimming in the reservoir anyways?
As usual, I washed the dishes in the kitchen sink while Em wiped the wet dishes with a plain cloth and placed them inside the cabinet. My mind pondered at Montago Bay, immersing myself inside the ice-cold reservoir. Just imagine, a nocturnal swim underneath the moonlight and billions of stars, watching us from above, pretending to be mermaids and water faeries.
I scrubbed the last plate with a sponge when Em leaned closer to me. "Hey sis," she whispered. "Meet me in our room after this. It's really important."
I nodded as I handed a recently washed plate to Em. "Wipe these last dishes."
I left the kitchen and walked inside our bedroom and lay on my bed. Then, Em came inside and locked our door behind her and peeked through the window, before she closed the curtains. I raised one of my eyebrows. "What's with all the secrecy?"
"You know it, Bugsy," Em gave a mischievous grin. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DR3uDs26X
I shook my head. "I have no clue about you're a plan, Em."622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGJsYd4rJg
She rolled her eyes. "You know, our plans to swim at Montago Bay."
I pouted my lips. So that's what she meant. God, my sister needs to be more direct. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XY99hvj2P
"Aunt Inara and Grandma mustn't know about our plans."
I contained my laughter. "I see we're sneaking off and go to Montago Bay. So what's the plan?"
She took a piece of paper and drew our escape plans with a few crayons. Let's just say my sister's plan involved a lot of climbing. "We both will tie our blankets and curtains together like a rope and slowly climb out," Em explained. "That way, Aunt Inara and Grandma wouldn't notice."
I glanced up at the ceiling and exhaled. Em's plan sounds risky. Not only we'll break our legs, but we could also even be spotted by our neighbours. In a small town, everyone knows each other. You know what happened if the neighbours found out about our plans. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyq5j7xrJ0
"How about we wait until Aunt Inara and Grandma fall asleep, then we both sneak through the back door," I suggested. "That way, no one will know about our trip."
Em stroked her chin for a few seconds and nodded. "If it doesn't get us caught, then I agree with your plans, sis."
In a moment, I heard Aunt Inara calling us from downstairs. "Bugsy, Em, could you please come downstairs and help us set up our shop?"
We both rushed out of our room and went downstairs and saw Aunt Inara, with her hands on both hips. I apologized for being late and made up an excuse. "We were cleaning up."
She rolled her eyes. "I didn't know it took centuries just to wash the dishes," remarked Aunt Inara. "Now get to work. We don't want to keep our customers waiting."
As night fell, we closed the Little Owl Coffeehouse and headed upstairs, tucking our little siblings, Carter, Pearl, and baby Kim to bed and went into our room. We both changed into our swimsuits and stared at the bunny-shaped clock, waiting for Aunt Inara and Grandma to go to bed.
Around half an hour later, I heard a thud outside our bedroom. I opened it and saw their door was shut. Seeing a window of opportunity open for us, we tiptoed towards the back door and made our exit outside. As we took a step outside the house, we raced towards Montago Bay and splashed ourselves into the cooling water.
My head felt light as my hair was soaked into the reservoir, with my eyes closed. My sister and I had a mini water fight with each other as we both chased each other under the iridescent moonlight. We looked up at the night skies, which was encrusted with stars. Em and I were in awe as we counted each stars. "There are 3000 stars up there," stated Em.
I chuckled. "Em, there are billions of stars on Earth."
"I wish I could be up there," she expressed her desire. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS64arfAOSx
I put my arms around her shoulders. "So do I, sis."
After a moment, she glanced at me. "Did you feel that?" she asked. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FGAeL6SMc
"Feel what, sis?" I wondered. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06XJIM6FP3
"I feel something's touching my legs."
I shrugged. "Could be a small fish."
Em grabbed my arms tightly. "I feel it again, sis," she quivered in fear. "Something's pulling my legs."
Then, Em was pulled from my grasp as I watched her being dragged underwater. I took a deep breath and caught her arms, pulling her towards the surface. "Hold on," I shouted. "We're almost there."
She shook her head. "I can't hold on, sis," cried Em. "You have to let go for your own sake."
My eyes widened as I heard Em's pleas. I'm not ready to lose my sister, especially after what happened to Jessie. I managed to reach the surface and yanked my sister out of the water, only to hear a high shriek. I felt goosebumps all over me. Em hugged me and shivered, with tears in her eyes. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLdbkqgAsk
"It's all right," I reassured. "You're safe now, Em."
I examined her legs and saw a disjointed hand, with its claws, nailed to my sister's leg. I hauled the disjointed hand from her skin and threw it back into the reservoir, with disgust. Em hissed in pain as she covered her huge scratch mark with both hands, which temporarily stopped the blood from flowing. What could have done this?
We walked back home and decided to confess to Aunt Inara, much to Em's chagrin. We knocked on her room door and entered. Aunt Inara rubbed her eyes as she switched on the bedside lamp. "Bugsy, Em, what are you doing here?" she asked.
I gulped and took a deep breath, wrapping my arms around my body. "Em and I went swimming in Montago Bay and something grabbed Em's leg."
"It was scary," Em continued. "Thank goodness for Bugsy, otherwise I would've drowned to death."
Aunt Inara's jaws dropped. "How did you survive?"
I raised one of my eyebrows. "What do you mean survive?"
She crossed her legs as she asked us to sit beside her. "That thing that pulled Em's legs was a Reservoir Demon," explained Aunt Inara. "Before you were born, the people of Slaborough used to sacrifice their daughters to the Reservoir Demon for good fortunes and health. When the mayor stopped the sacrifice, Montago Bay became a no-go zone at night, as he feared the demon would pull anyone who dared to swim."
Em and I stared at each other with frozen faces. "Why didn't you told us before, Auntie?" I was in disbelief. "I was trying to protect both of you."
"You would have protected us if you told us the truth," I snapped. "Now because of you, Em almost gotten herself killed."
"Just go to bed," Aunt Inara lamented. "It's late and you two must be tired after a long swim at the reservoir."
I nodded and left her room, with ire in my heart. What was my aunt thinking? She could have told us the truth rather than withholding information from us. Good heavens, why do adults think ignorance is bliss?
I stepped into the bathroom and washed, only to hear the wind whisper in my ears.
"You'll be my next sacrifice."
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