Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished Read Free Page B

reeds passing close enough. Blood
started to drip into the water as the leaves cut into his
flesh.
    Horrified by the sudden attack and all
his efforts to break loose failed. Fear paralyzed his mind and
thoughts. He released a scream as his head rose above the
water.
    A crushing water sound echoed from
behind as Tom rushed forward. He grabbed Martins hands and pulled
him back to the shore. The force that had Martin's feet released
him with such force that Tom burst backward ending on his back in
knee-deep water. Something splashed and dove into deeper water then
vanished.
    “ Sheriff, are you okay,
what happened?” Tom called out of breath.
    “ Yes I'm fine. I just lost
my footing.” Martin assured coughing and spitting.
    “ It's good I heard you
screaming or I might’ve fished you out of the lake.”
    Martin got up slowly. “Don't worry.
The slip caught me by surprise. Thanks for coming back. I'm sure I
would've gotten up myself. Some reeds caught my foot that’s
all.”
    “ It looked like something
was dragging you.”
    “ Don't be ridiculous. What
on earth would’ve dragged me? I slipped that's all.” Martin
remarked and felt shook as he stomped to the bank. ‘The darkness
won’t catch me that easily. I better leave before…’ He
mumbled.
    Martin dried his clothes and took the
wet cigarette pack out of his pocket and threw it down near the
reeds.
    “ I hope you're going to
pick that up.”
    “ Sue me.”
    Martin found some dry clothes in the
trunk, among blankets and other items. Clearly he had slept in the
vehicle at times.
    “ You can moor the boat at
the pier. I doubt that it'll give us any more clues. I don't want
it clogging up space.” Martin sounded angry.
    “ Are you sure sheriff?”
Tom asked surprised.
    “ Does it look like I'm
playing with you?”
    “ Sure whatever you
say.”
    Tom collected the wet cigarette pack,
got into the pick-up and pulled the boat to the pier. Martin got
into his vehicle and paused before starting the engine.
    ‘ What’s happening, I need
to stop this now and leave. Yesterday’s too late.’
    *~*~*
    *VI*
     
    Beyond the far side of the lake, to
the North was a large untamed forest bursting with large trees and
thick vegetation. Moss and creepers grew wildly, large rock
formations peaked out of the water, making a stretch inaccessible
by vehicle and difficult on foot. Beyond the rock face pine, oak
and yellow wood trees grew.
    Andrew reached the edge of the forest,
where a large group of volunteers had gathered. They checked
climbing gear and ropes, issuing fresh Flashlight batteries,
raincoats and flare guns.
    Andrew put on a heavy jacket and
checked his own gear. He noticed drag marks not too far from where
he was standing. On closer inspection he noticed spots and stripes
from an unusual liquid stained on roots and rocks.
    Andrew whispered in thought. ‘Is this
blood, maybe human blood? If it's old enough, maybe it’ll explain
events around the lake.’
    Andrew pulled a cylinder out of his
backpack and filled it with scrapings. He marked the label before
replacing it. He photographed the drag marks with his cell phone. A
few feet from him an object, halve buried under leaves and dirt
drew his attention. He carefully lifted a child's shoe and placed
it into a large bag. He completed the label and placed it in his
backpack.
    “ What's that, evidence?”
Someone asked and stepped out of the crowd.
    Andrew slipped his backpack onto his
back. “I don’t know. It's too old to be evidence of the child we're
looking for. It's possibly a lost shoe from a camper, hunting
party, anything really.”
    The unconvinced bystander looked hard
at Andrew. “You’re collecting it for some reason, something we
should know?”
    “ Of course not, I'm only
collecting odd stuff for my personal collection. I'm studying
forensics. It's just a hobby.”
    “ Should you be tampering
with it just in case it's evidence?” Another bystander
asked.
    “ I'm not. I assure you
it's