The Cursed Lake

Chapter Three// Myths

I took a sip of my tea, allowing it to burn the roof of my mouth, I knew it would be too hot to drink as yet.

But I needed a reason to avoid making eye contact with my mother

The whole event of breakfast was spent in silence, my farther to distracted with his work to share discussions. Which I was fine with, I appreciated the quiet. 

I don’t understand why we need to fill a room with mindless chatter, when we can just sit in our own mind, accompanied by others. 

After the morning ritual of washing and drying myself, I grabbed my coat and headed to the lake with my bucket. 

Walking through town to get there around this time of morning was always a difficulty, everyone was on their way trying to get somewhere and the streets were crowded.

The poultry, meat, dairy and fruit sellers screamed out at all of us travelling past, hoping to score a new customer.

Then there were the noises from the blacksmith’s workshop of banging metal and the faint one of wheels from carriages along the stones.

But the hustle and bustle didn’t bother me, I was used to it. In fact, I rather enjoyed it.

I followed the long dirt track which lead out of town to the ever so green forest which you had to travel through to get to the lake.

On the way down to the lake, I always check the bottom of the pine trees to see if there are any edible mushrooms growing. 

Luckily for me, there was three perfectly shaped ones that I plucked from their spot under the pine trees and into my coat. 

I noticed by the lake the sound of children, laughing and playing. It was the towns baker’s children. 

I smiled at them and crouched down on the river bank, scooping up the water with my bucket and placing it beside me.

I then cupped my hands, placing them in the cool flowing water, then splashing it onto my face, in attempt to freshen myself up.

‘Don’t follow the lake that way. Its cursed, you could die.’ I heard the little boy tell the other two.

I scoffed, moving away from the bank to where they were. 

‘Oh no. that’s not true.’ I told them, trying to hold back my laughter when seeing the surprise on their faces, they mustn’t of realized I could hear them.

'The lake is perfectly fine, everyone goes swimming with it in summer and they all come back out perfectly normal.' I continued with a warm smile, assuring them nothing was going to happen.

They all stared at me for a moment, pondering what I had said till the smallest one out of the group spoke. 'Well then how come Miss Pollyanna went travelling down the left of the lake and was never seen again.'

The rest of the group nodded at this, waiting for my response.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing. 'What happened to Pollyanna was a tragedy. But I doubt it was the result of being gobbled up by a sea monster.' I then tugged the side of my lip into a smirk. 'Now if you all don't go home now I will be your greatest fear and gobble you up myself.'

With loud playful screams escaping out of each one of their tiny throats, they all ran away, back towards the village., which was only just visible through the trees in the distance.

I giggled at this image, shaking my head. 

The innocence of children never failed to amuse me.

Then the idea of having children with Peter crossed my mind and my smile widened.

Actually, who was I kidding? I doubt he would even want to get married let alone have kids, Peter hated conforming to society normalities.

I grabbed my filled bucket of water from the bank, catching a glimpse of the light hitting the water perfectly.

The stories don’t frighten me of the lake. They never have and probably never will. 

But I also wasn't the type to go stray from the path I usually traveled, I would go get water and see Peter, then go home. 

Looking around the woods was just looking for trouble, especially since we live in the North mountain, shared by wolves and other vicious animals. 

Even though I love walking through the woods, I do know that I have to keep a keen eye open. 

I turned away, heading on the path leading me back towards the village.

The start of spring - to me - is the best time to walk around the wood. The trees started to blossom, more creatures started to appear out of the green shrubbery and I found the song birds chirping got louder

I had been warned of course, over and over and over again. I's been warned by her father and mother and the village elders...and even by Peter. Always by him. 

To never go off path in the woods, to go straight there and to come straight home. It was like everyone was scared of the forest for some reason and I just didn't understand why.

I remember my farther telling me. 'You my dear, are sweet and soft... wonderful even. The prettiest rose in the garden, the sweetest peach, Such a darling little thing! Which is why you must be safe in the woods, anything would just want to snatch you up.' 

However, I just brushed this off as drunk talk.

I soon arrived home, finding both my mother and farther waiting out the front for me. This was unusual, they never did that. 

I hesitated as i approached.

'Alice, my dear.' My dad spoke softly, almost apologetically. 'Now I know Peter is a nice boy.'

'Farther..' I breathed.

He put up his hands in surrender. 'Now now, let me finish. Peter is a nice boy, but he just isn't fit for you. Alice you need a man who can look after you, the boy doesn't even have enough money to look after himself.'

Tears began to just flood down my face uncontrollably.

'We forbid you from seeing that boy.' My mother spat. 'Do you understand?'

I ran into my fathers arms, hysterically crying. 'But father I love him.'

'I know darling.' He cooed, stroking the back of my head. 'But sometimes we have to let the things we love go, in order to be happy ourselves.'