I don’t want to be out in the boat, on this lake, but Olly thought it would be romantic. He’s sitting back, enjoying the sun. I try not to look at the water, but it seizes my gaze and forces me to look. I see flashes of something below – it can’t be, but it is. Right there below the boat. A dark red 1972 Dodge Charger. Rust spots the hood like automotive acne. I briefly catch sight of the Barbie doll head hung from the rear view mirror. The blonde hair floats in dark green water, caught in listless currents. A white hand still grips the steering wheel, swollen flesh pocked with fish bites. The rope binding the arms to the seat is almost rotted away.
A motorboat blasts by, making Olly sit up and yell curses after its pilot. The wake rocks our little rowboat, sending splashes of cold water over my legs that make me squeal in surprise. The force of the wake stirs the Charger. The rope gives way and a body slumps forwards. Bill’s bloated face gazes up at me, through the water and across the months, his eyes open and accusing. The skin around his mouth hangs in strips, his jaw contorted in a grin. I scream while Bill laughs.
You can never keep a bad man down.
I really, really liked this. The concept, the description, the imagery and the atmosphere all generated by it.
Loved the line Rust spots the hood like automotive acne.
One of my favourites of yours for sure. Great stuff
Really glad you enjoyed it!
Ouch. That’s how it goes, always coming face-to-face with ghosts of the past.
Love the blog header, by the way.
Thanks! My new blog theme is on its way but I figured I’d start using WordPress now.
Oh, I didn’t see that coming! Truly horrific. Well done!
Thanks!
It started so innocently, nicely done! Nothing at all what I expected at the beginning, but just perfectly horrific!
Thanks!
Oh he’s come back to haunt her! A nice dark story Icy.
They always do 😉
Looks like her past is about to catch up with her.
As it always does!
I like how compact the tale is, a lot of interesting stuff in so short a word count. I must admit the car underwater made me think of the Malcolm in the Middle episode where Hal and Lois nick a guys muscle car and end up ditching it in a river/lake lol. Even with that in mind your story was nice and creepy so well done :).
I’ve never seen that programme but I’m glad you found the story creepy!
The blog header looks great! Very suitable.
What a situation! Brilliant.
Olly better stop being a selfish git if he knows what’s good for him.
I’m not sure I’d call Olly a selfish git, he just wanted to do something nice for her – he didn’t know her ex was dead at the bottom of the lake, making her less than keen to be out there.
Made me think of people – snowmobile riders, anglers, skiers – who go through the frozen lake, not to be seen again until the spring thaw. Or may not until the height of summer, when they come bobbing back up…
I always liked the part in the World War Z novel where the zombies freeze in the winter…and thaw out in the spring…