Deep Betrayal

believe Pavati would intentionally put Sophie in danger. I only hoped I wasn’t too late.
    In less than two minutes I found Jack’s van pulled off the county road. I slammed on the brakes and turned sharply into the drive. The car behind me laid on the horn.
    The dirt road ended abruptly after the spot where Jack had parked. I skidded to a stop, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfed the car. I couldn’t believe Sophie would have got in a van with Jack Pettit, but every fiber of my being knew I was fooling myself.
    The road narrowed to a footpath that twisted its way through the woods toward the lake. I raced down its length. With each footstep pounding the hard-packed ground, my muscles ached, my lungs burned. The wind pulled tears from my eyes. Please, no. Oh, please, no. She wouldn’t be so stupid .
    I followed the path east, until I saw them.
    For half a second, I forgot my fear. The beauty of the scene overtook my senses. I could see why Pavati and Jack had made this their place . A sentry of pine trees, their branches heavy and drooping with long, hair-like needles, shielded the spot from boats and errant hikers. Spiderwebs hung like wedding veils from the smaller trees, their silver threads shimmering with mist from the lake. The ground—a flat plate of brownstone—soaked up the heat of the sun and ran smoothly into the lake, barely six inches above the water level. Thick spongy patches of moss grew under the trees and made soft places to lay one’s head.The sky opened before me, the gray water deep and choppy beyond.
    Where the brownstone met the water, two bodies stood at the edge. One tall, one small. The smaller figure leaned away from the other, her face turned away from the despair that only she could see.
    “Jack, no,” I said, but neither of them flinched. Maybe I hadn’t actually spoken. Maybe the wind drove my voice back into the trees. By Jack’s feet was another chain and cinder block—just like the anchor he kept in his boat.
    “What are you doing?” I said, this time louder. I searched the water for any heads breaking the surface, but there was no one out there.
    Sophie twisted around to look at me, but Jack did not.
    “The mermaids are dangerous,” Jack said, his voice eerily calm. “I need people to believe me.”
    “The mermaids aren’t killing anyone,” I said, closing the gap between us.
    “They have before,” he said. “They will again.”
    “Tell me what you want. Just let Sophie go.”
    Jack tightened his grip on her wrist, but Sophie said, “Stay away, Lily. Pavati needs to talk to Jack. I’m helping. I don’t need you.”
    “I want the lake searched,” Jack said. “I want her found. I want her to suffer for what she’s done to me.” He reached down for the chain and turned to face me. His face was sunken, his skin red and splotchy. “She promised she’d come back.”
    I took ten steps closer and Sophie said, “She did. And she’s here again. Under the water.” She pointed with her freearm down at the lake. I couldn’t see the spot because their bodies blocked my view. Was Sophie trying to distract him, or was Pavati really there, using the lake as a filter so she could better look at Jack?
    “If Pavati promised you,” I said, holding my hands out, moving closer, “you know she’ll make good on that.”
    “Then where is she?” His voice cracked, the pain cutting through as a dark head broke the waves. It was only a silhouette. I couldn’t tell who it was, but whoever it was, he or she was listening. I was sure of that.
    “She couldn’t come before. You wouldn’t let her come,” said Sophie.
    Jack jerked in surprise and let go of Sophie’s wrist. “I’ve begged her to come!” he said as I silently pleaded with Sophie to run, but she stayed by his side.
    “You’ve been too angry. She can’t get close to you when you’re like that,” Sophie said, squinting at the ground. “Even now you’re making it hard. Please look. She’s there. She’s trying her best.”
    He raised the chain toward Sophie’s neck while I ran toward them.
    “Run, Sophie!” I slammed into Jack and shoved Sophie out of the way, but Jack lunged for me. One second later, I was in a choke hold, staring out at the lake.
    “Let me go! This isn’t going to help.” Jack yanked me closer to the edge. I struggled and he tightened his grip. “Even if you convince someone the mermaids exist, even if they search the whole lake, what is catching Pavati going to do?