Mia
Hey babe? I think something’s going on at the lake…
Mia
The water is really dark.
Nico
Isn’t it normally clear?
Mia
Yeah, that’s why it’s weird.
Nico
I don’t like this…especially since I’m not there.
Nico
Is anyone else at the cabin yet?
Mia
Nope, I’m the first one.
Mia
Hang on, let me show you.
Mia sends Nico a picture of large circular ripples in the water.
Mia
What do you think is making the water move like that?
Nico
Looks like some kind of monster fish or something…
Nico
It seems really big, Mia, like a shark.
Mia
Okay, this is going to sound crazy but…
Mia
Have you ever heard of the Siren of Lake?
Nico
Wait, doesn’t siren mean evil mermaid?
Mia
Yeah. People here have told stories about this one for centuries.
Mia
And Walter’s dad swore he saw her here last year.
Mia
How cool would it be to come face to face with her?
Mia
I think I’m gonna take the kayak out to investigate.
Nico
Are you sure that’s safe?
Mia
Nico, I’ve been coming up here since I was three.
Mia
I can handle anything in that lake.
Mia
Even if it’s a siren.
Nico
I didn’t say you couldn’t handle it. It’s just…
Nico
I don’t like the idea of you going out on the lake by yourself.
Nico
Please? I’m your boyfriend. It’s my job to worry about you.
Mia
If you’re so worried, why don’t you come up here?
Mia
Then you can be my knight in shining armor or whatever.
Nico
You know I’d be there if I could.
Mia
I thought you said Marcus would cover your shift?
Nico
I asked him, but he flaked on me.
Mia
Haven’t you covered for him like five times?
Nico
Yeah, I’m not exactly pleased about it.
Nico
I’m stuck here until ten.
Nico
Don’t worry. As soon as I’m off of work, I’ll drive right up.
Mia
The ripples are back…
Mia
Yeah. And there are bubbles in the middle of them.
Mia
I need to check it out.
Mia
This is so incredibly creepy.
Nico
Please head back to the cabin.
Mia
It’s only like twenty feet out.
Mia
Listen, if you wanted to date some defenseless little princess, you chose the wrong girl.
Nico
I know, it’s just…I hate that you’re up there alone.
Nico
If something were to happen, you wouldn’t have any back up.
Mia
I don’t need back up.
Nico
There’s no winning this one, huh?
Nico
At least wear a life jacket?
Mia
Nico! I’m a certified lifeguard. I can swim.
Nico
Alright, then can you bring your pepper spray keychain?
Nico
That way you can spray this thing if it’s dangerous?
Mia
Sure, honey. I’ll bring it.
Nico
You know that, right?
Nico
But seriously, if you see something dangerous…
Nico
Just please get back to the shore as quickly as possible.
Nico
We can go out together tonight. I promise.
Nico
Do you still see the bubbles?
Mia
I think I’m right about where they were…
Mia
But I think someone else is out here.
Mia
I can’t see anyone. But I can hear someone singing.
Mia
It sounds sad. Like…mournful.
Nico
Mia…don’t sirens sing?
Mia
Omg, that’s right! It must be around the bend in the lake.
Nico
Mia please don’t go there.
But Mia doesn’t even read Nico’s text.
Because just then, something stirs in the middle of the lake.
She dips her paddle into the water and furiously, rows to the spot.
Her muscles ache. She stops.
Mia
But the water is so murky. I can’t see anything.
Mia
I just stuck my hand in it and can’t even see a few inches down.
Nico
Wasn’t there a really bad flood by the cabin last month?
Nico
Maybe that dumped a bunch of silt in the river?
Mia
Oh! I see more ripples now.
Mia
They’re a little further out now.
Nico
Praying it’s just a big turtle…
Mia
I’ve never seen anything this big in the lake.
Nico
Babe, you’re making me really nervous.
Nico
Please head back to shore.
Nico
Are you still there?
Mia
You’re never going to believe this…
Mia
It was like five feet long!
Nico
What?! Are you exaggerating?
Mia
No. The tail alone is almost as big my whole body.
Mia
I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Mia
It was covered in iridescent scales.
Mia
How do you think it got in here? Maybe through the river.
Nico
I don’t care how it got in there!
Mia opens her camera, but before she can get a picture…
The creature disappears into the murky water.
Nico
I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Mia.
Nico
Just head back to the shore.
Mia rolls her eyes as she reads Nico’s text messages.
Ignoring her boyfriend, she leans over the edge of the kayak.
She stares into the murky water.
Mia
Every time I try to take a picture, it disappears.
Mia
Think I should jump into the water?
Mia
To get a closer look?
Just then, the scaled tail surfaces a foot away.
It slaps loudly at the water.
Mia
It’s back! Omg, it’s inches away.
Shivers snake down Mia’s spine.
But there’s a knot in her stomach.
Now, even she thinks there’s something wrong.
This thing in the water, it’s…strange.
Nico
Get out of the water!
A beautiful, sorrow-filled song fills the air.
An odd sensation pulls at Mia.
Ignoring her boyfriend’s pleas, she leans toward the creature’s beautiful tail.
Just as she gets close, the tail disappears.
But then it reappears near a bend in shore.
As Mia follows it, she sees an abandoned canoe.
The eerie song floats through the air, mesmerizing her.
The singing suddenly stops.
Shaking her head, Mia comes back to reality.
She looks closely at the canoe.
It has deep scratches down its side.
There’s a bloody handprint.
The hair on the back of Mia’s neck stands on end.
She searches the lake for the canoe’s passengers.
Mia
There’s a canoe here with scratches and a bloody handprint on it.
Mia
I don’t see or hear anyone though…
Nico
Mia, get back to shore and call 911!
Mia
Nico, I’m a lifeguard. I have to try to help.
Mia
You call the cops — okay?
The water stirs fifty feet away.
A girl surfaces and screams.
Mia
Nico, did you call the cops?
Mia
Tell them she’s wiry, in her 20s…
Mia
Ugh, I can’t really make out much more…
Mia
I’m going to help her.
Nico
Okay, dialing 911 now. Please be careful.
Nico
This is why I wanted you to take your life jacket!
Mia frantically paddles toward the girl.
She calls out to her flailing form as it bobs in and out of the water.
The girl thrashes her arms in the water. Her head dips below the surface.
Mia’s eyes go wide. She’s still ten feet away.
Going against Nico’s words of warning…
Mia stands up, and then dives into the water.
She opens her eyes, but is met with darkness.
Grabbing her waterproof phone, she turns on the flashlight.
She desperately searches the water for the girl.
And then, her eyes land on a lifeless body.
Reaching forward, she grabs a hold of the girl’s arm.
She starts to swim toward the surface.
As they break through the water, Mia gasps for air.
Mia
It’s okay, I’ve got you!
The girl’s head snaps up.
Her wild eyes focus on Mia.
Mia
Can you hear me? Let’s get you to safety.
Mia starts to swim for the shore.
Mia
Don’t worry, we’re almost there.
But then, a wicked smile crosses the girl’s face.
Shivers snake down Mia’s back.
The song renders her limbs frozen.
The girl wraps her fingers around Mia’s arm.
It feels like icicles puncture Mia’s skin.
Girl
I can’t go on shore.
The beautiful girl lets go of Mia’s arm.
Immobile, Mia slips beneath the water, unable to swim to the surface.
The girl dips down beside her, under the freezing cold water.
Her long black hair billows in the water as she parts her lips…
Revealing a mouthful of razor sharp, jagged teeth.
Still frozen, Mia can’t scream.
And even if she could, no one would hear her.
The siren cackles as she wraps her hands around Mia’s neck.
To a violent and watery death.
