The lake was eerily silent under the cover of night, its surface smooth as glass, reflecting the pale light of the full moon. A dense fog rolled in from the forest, shrouding the world in an ethereal mist. The air was thick with the scent of pine and the faint, metallic tang of fear. Somewhere in the distance, I heard an owl hoot, its call echoing through the stillness.

I didn't really want to go out, but somehow, I found myself standing at the edge of the lake, my heart pounding in my chest. I heard my twin sister Amelia giggle, the sound bright and carefree, a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded us. We had just snuck out of the cabin for an adventure, a game of tag under the moon and stars.

It had been Amelia's plan since we got here to our family's summer lake house. Our mother didn't want us running inside the house, so Amelia came up with the plan to sneak out once our parents were asleep and play tag. I wanted to stay inside the room and read my books or play on the swing on the nearby tree, but Amelia would have none of it.

"I can't believe you convinced me to come out here," I muttered, kicking a small pebble into the lake. "I hate this place."

"Oh, come on, Mandy!" Amelia twirled around, her arms spread wide. "It's an adventure! We get to explore without anyone telling us what to do. Doesn't that sound amazing?"

"No, it sounds terrifying. We're going to get caught, and then we'll be in big trouble."

"Not if we're careful. Plus, you need to loosen up a bit. Live a little! It's just one night."

I sighed, trying to mask my unease. "I just don't think this is the best idea, Amelia. What if Mom and Dad wake up?"

"They won't. They're out like a light. Besides, look around! This place is beautiful at night." Amelia gestured towards the moonlit lake. "Don't you feel that rush? The excitement of being out here all by ourselves?"

"No, I feel cold and scared. I'd rather be reading my book," I admitted, hugging myself as a breeze sent shivers down my spine.

Amelia rolled her eyes. "You're always such a bookworm. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, this is going to be fun!"

I could already hear Amelia taunting me if I refused. "Don't be such a chicken, Mandy. Live a little!" she'd say. So, against my better judgment, I followed her.

It was Amelia's turn to catch me. I ran like crazy, my breath coming in short gasps, my eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and unease. I could hear Amelia slowly creeping up behind me, her footsteps quick and light, gaining ground. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Amelia's silhouette emerging from the fog.

"Got you!" Amelia cried, lunging forward. Her hand brushed my shoulder, a playful shove that sent me stumbling.

Time seemed to slow as I reached out instinctively, my fingers closing around empty air. I felt myself falling, the world tilting as I lost my balance. I landed hard on the rocky shore, pain jolting through my body. I looked up just in time to see Amelia's expression change from triumph to terror.

"Amanda!" Amelia's voice was high-pitched, panicked.

I tried to scramble to my feet, but my legs felt like lead. The corner of Amelia's mouth curled up into a snicker.

"Get up, Amanda! You're such a weakling!" she teased, but there was a slight tremor in her voice that made me pause.

I grabbed her muddy shoe and she stepped back. I watched in horror as Amelia's foot slipped on the wet rocks. Her arms flailed, and then she was gone, disappearing into the black waters of the lake.

"Amelia!" I screamed, my voice breaking. I crawled to the edge, peering into the depths. The water was dark, impenetrable, swallowing my sister whole. Panic surged through my body, freezing me in place. I wanted to dive in, to save Amelia, but my body wouldn't obey.

Seconds stretched into an eternity as the lake remained silent, its surface unbroken. Tears streamed down my face. I called out again and again, until my voice grew hoarse, but there was no answer.

Amelia was gone.

And then I woke up.

It was all just a bad dream. But something didn't feel right.

I jolted upright and scanned the empty room. I heard the raindrops softly tapping against the windowpane, their rhythmic patter blending with the distant rumble of thunder. The soft glow of the lamppost outside cast eerie shadows across the room, painting everything in shades of gray.

I looked at Amelia's side of the bed and saw that it was empty. The door to our room was slightly ajar. I stood up, carefully treading my feet against the old wooden floor. I heard my dad snoring from the room across.

I tiptoed until I reached the door and pulled it open.

"Amelia, where are you?" I whispered.

Light filtered through the windows, casting long, ghostly shadows across the room. I fumbled for the light switch at the wall near the bottom of the stairs and flicked it on, then made my way to the sink. I opened the fridge and filled a glass with water.

But before I could take a sip, I heard a shriek from outside.

My heart leaped into my throat, my pulse racing as I stumbled backward, the glass slipping from my fingers and shattering on the floor.

For a moment, I stood there, paralyzed with fear, the sound echoing in my ears. Then I bolted toward the door.

I threw it open, the cold night air hitting me like a wall. Rain poured down in sheets, soaking me instantly as I ran out onto the porch. Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark, tumultuous lake. The storm had come out of nowhere, adding to the sense of dread that clung to me.

"Amelia!" I screamed into the night, my voice barely audible over the howling wind and pounding rain. I dashed down the steps and onto the narrow path leading to the lake, the mud and roots making every step treacherous.

"Amelia!" I called again, my voice cracking. I reached the water's edge, my eyes straining to see through the rain and darkness. The lake was a roiling mass of black water, completely different from the calm, reflective surface I remembered. Panic clawed at my chest as I scanned the shoreline, desperate for any sign of my sister.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the storm began to recede. The rain softened to a drizzle, and the wind died down to a whisper. I stood there, drenched and shivering, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. The lake was silent once more, its surface eerily still.

"Amelia..." I whispered, sinking to my knees. My vision blurred with tears, and the world around me began to fade.

Then I saw it.

A shadow. A figure standing on the shore of the lake, watching me with eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. The figure was indistinct, shrouded in fog and shadow, but its presence was undeniably there, looming over the scene. Fear gripped me as I tried to make out its features, but everything went black before I could see more.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up again.

But this time, I wasn't in the lake house.

I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my mind. The room around me was stark and clinical, with white walls and a large window letting in the harsh midday light. The couch I lay on was plush and comfortable, upholstered in soft, beige fabric that contrasted with the cool, hard lines of the modern furnitures around me.

Directly across from me sat a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile. Her hair was a shade of chestnut, neatly tied back in a low bun, and she wore a simple yet elegant outfit ~ a soft blue blouse paired with a charcoal grey skirt.

The room itself exuded a sense of calm and order. To my right, there was a tall bookshelf filled with psychology texts, their spines neatly aligned, interspersed with a few decorative items like a small goble and a ceramic sculpture of a serene figure in a meditative pose. A potted plant ~ a vibrant green ficus ~ sat in the corner, its leaves glossy and well-tended, adding a touch of nature to the otherwise clinical space.

On the opposite wall hung several framed diplomas and certificates, their golden lettering catching the light from the large window. Below them was a small table with a glass top, on which sat a neatly arranged stack of magazines and a crystal vase holding fresh lilies, their subtle fragrance just detectable in the cool, air-conditioned room.

The light filtering through the window was soft, diffused by sheer white curtains that fluttered slightly in the breeze from a vent. Outside, the view was partially obscured by the curtains, but I could make out tops of trees swaying gently, their leaves a lush green against the backdrop of a clear blue sky.

A large desk sat to my left, its surface organized and uncluttered. A sleek laptop sat in the center, flanked by a notepad and a set of pens in a stylish holder. A small, framed photo faced Dr. Carnegie, its image turned away from me, and a digital clock displayed the time in quiet, glowing numbers.

"Welcome back, Amanda," she said softly, her voice soothing. "You were having quite a vivid dream."

I sat up slowly, my heart still pounding. "Where am I?"

"You're in my office," she replied, her tone calm and reassuring. "I'm Dr. Carnegie. We've been exploring some of your past memories in our session today."

I looked around the office, the memories of the dream still fresh and raw.

"It felt so real," I murmured, rubbing my temples. "The lake, the storm, Amelia..."

Dr. Carnegie nodded. "Dreams can often feel very real, especially when they're tied to powerful emotions and memories. Would you like to talk about it?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "It was about the night Amelia disappeared. We were playing by the lake... and then she was gone. But there was something else... I saw someone else there."

Dr. Carnegie's eyebrows raised slightly. "Someone else? This is the first time you've mentioned that, Amanda. Can you describe them?"

I frowned, trying to recall the details. "I'm not sure. It was just a shadow, a figure I couldn't make out. But they were there, watching us. It felt like they were waiting for something."

Dr. Carnegie leaned forward, her expression intent. "This is significant. Sometimes our minds hide details that are too painful or confusing to process. This figure, whoever they are, might be a key to understanding what happened that night."

I shook my head, feeling a mix of frustration and fear. "But it doesn't make sense. I don't remember anyone being there, not clearly."

"It's possible this figure is a manifestation of your subconscious, representing something you've repressed or forgotten," Dr. Carnegie suggested gently. "We'll need to explore this further in our sessions."

***