Trembling With Fear 11-10-24

The Pool, by Christopher Bustamante

“Hurry up, Angela, or we’ll be late!” Caitlin shouted as she rode her bike past Angela, nearly knocking her off. 

Angela rolled her eyes, maintaining her speed. She looked back a few times, frowning as her house faded into the horizon. She pictured herself in front of the television, playing video games and eating pizza with her siblings. Right now, everyone was probably sitting at the table enjoying her mother’s rice pudding, thinking Angela was going to a sleepover. It wasn’t Angela’s first lie, but the first orchestrated one. After all, her parents would never have let her attend the annual lock-in at Uncle Cheddar’s Pizza. Too many boys, not enough supervision, as they would say. That’s what worried Angela the most. 

It was Caitlin’s first date with Michael, and since she was a nervous wreck, Caitlin proposed a double date. Angela didn’t like being included (especially after being paired with belching Brent) but didn’t want Caitlin to get hurt. Michael was too daring, which didn’t match Caitlin’s conforming nature.  

As they approached Lincoln Avenue, Angela noticed Caitlin turned right. She raised her brow. They had only been to Uncle Cheddars about a hundred times, so there was no mistaking the location. Besides, there was only the park and a few developing houses down that stretch of road.  

“Caitlin, where are you going?” Angela shouted. 

Caitlin looked back as if she wanted to reply but stayed quiet, rebuffing all other questions until, after three turns, they stopped before a large round building. 

“We’re here,” said Caitlin cheerfully. 

Angela raised her brow. “The Aquatic Center? What are we doing here?”

“About time you two showed up!” Michael said as he and Brent emerged from around the building with two large duffle bags. 

“Yeah, I was worried this pool party was going to turn into a real sausage fest,” Brent commented, taking a punch on the arm from Michael. 

“Pool party? I thought we were going to the lock-in?”

“We are. This is the lock-in,” Caitlin laughed nervously. 

Angela crossed her arms. It was one thing to have lied about the sleepover. At least if they got caught at Uncle Cheddars, the worst Angela would get was three weeks grounded, but trespassing would result in her being locked in a tower somewhere with no hope of ever seeing Caitlin again. 

“Hey, in my defense, I never said anything about Uncle Cheddars. Besides, that’s for kids. We’re in high school now! I figured we could all do something thrilling and adventurous! You know, make some memories while we still have each other,” Caitlin said. 

Angela looked at Michael, who shrugged his shoulders. 

“I would love to take credit for this, but this idea was all her.” He rubbed his eyes and sobbed, “They grow up so fast.”

“Fine,” Angela sighed, bearing a half smile. “So, how do we get in? The place doesn’t open for another week.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Brent said, removing a key from his pocket. “My dad cleans the place every other day. Since he just cleaned it today, we don’t have to worry about anyone walking in tonight or in the morning.” 

“Shall we, my friends?” Michael said. 

The four of them started for the side door. Laughing as the soda Brent opened exploded all over him, Michael, and Caitlin. Angela wasn’t sure what made her stop and look back toward town. Maybe she wanted to be sure no one was watching them, or she still felt guilty for lying and wanted to run home. Whatever the case, something felt weird. It was as if she was in town but in the middle of nowhere at the same time.           

*****

Caitlin and Michael were already in the pool when Angela walked in. The entire poolside was wet, as was Brent, who hurriedly searched through his duffle bag.

“Not cool, guys. I didn’t bring extra clothes!”

Caitlin smirked. “Whose fault is that?”

“Serves you right for getting us wet,” Michael laughed as he splashed more water at him. 

“Well, you have all night to dry off,” Angela commented.

 “Angela, I brought a swimsuit for you. It’s in my bag,” Caitlin said, her words passing through Angela’s ears like the adults in a Peanuts cartoon.

Angela stood there, motionless, glaring at the water. There was something off about her reflection. Her head looked long and wide, and her body crooked. Before she could gather further details, the reflection was lost as Caitlin wadded toward her.

“Uh, earth to Angela, did you hear what I said?” Angela shook her head. “Swimsuit, for you, in my bag.” 

“I, uh, don’t feel like swimming right now. Maybe later.” 

“Looks like you won’t be lonely up there, Brent,” Michael said, winking.

“You’re just jealous that the two of us are going to have more fun up here,” Brent said as he wrapped his arm around Angela.  

“On second thought, why not live a little?” Angela said.  

She grabbed the swimsuit from Caitlin’s bag and ran to the dressing room. She blushed after getting a better look at it. “Does she think I’m a stick figure?”

Angela was changing when the door to the locker room opened. She thought it was Caitlin but nearly screamed when it turned out to be Brent. 

“Get out of here, you creep!” Angela exclaimed, tossing a water bottle at the back of his head. He let out a small whimper but didn’t pay her any attention. He was busy keeping the door shut. 

‘What are you-” Angela’s words trailed off when she noticed the blood trickling down in front of Brent. She gasped and slowly backed away. “Brent, what happened to you?”

“I-” He paused as he fought back his tears. “I don’t know. They’re not themselves.” 

 “Did Michael and Caitlin do this to you?” Angela asked. Brent nodded. 

That’s not like her at all. Angela thought. And while she only knew Michael from band class, he didn’t seem the violent type. 

“I’m going to go talk to them.”

“You can’t!” Brent shouted. “They not THEMselves.” 

The locker room door shook as Michael and Caitlin wildly struck it from the other side. 

“In this place, we don’t lock doors. What are you two doing in there?” Caitlin asked, an inhuman growl trailing right behind her words. 

“Not like he would know what to do with that thing of his anyway. Come on, Brent, let us in, and we will show you what to do with it,” Michael said. 

Angela covered her mouth. “Oh, my god.”

“You have to get out of here,” Brent whispered to Angela. 

“You mean both of us.”

“No,” Brent turned his head, revealing a deep, throbbing gash. Angela could see something wormlike creeping out of his wound. “Just you.”

Caitlin and Michael struck the door again, nearly getting it open.

“Wait there,” Brent said, pointing to the corner between the door and the sink. “On three, I’ll open the door, and they will rush at me. When they do, you run!” Angela nodded. Her eyes welled with tears.

Is this really happening? Angela thought as she watched his lips. This has to be a bad dream, but when will I wake up?

She briefly froze as Brent leaped away from the door. Angela smiled, wishfully thinking

they were all going to shout, “We got you!” but as the contorted versions of Michael and Caitlin jumped atop Brent, ripping away at him, it became clear that wasn’t happening. 

 Angela darted for the main entrance but found it chained from the outside. She then went for the side door. “Where’s the knob?”

“Looking for this?” Caitlin said as she dangled the missing knob over her head.

“No, no!” Angela cried as she shoved her body into the door.

“That won’t do you any good. Even if you managed to open it, we wouldn’t let you get far.” 

 Michael was watching Angela from the corner of the pool, poised on all fours like he had undergone some twisted reverse evolution. Fused to his back, from the torso up, was Brent, squirming around like a fleshy inflatable tube man.

“Caitlin…please…let me go.” 

Caitlin pointed to the pool. “There is only one way. Join us or die.”

Angela’s eyes strayed to the small window on the main door, the sunset and birds mocking her from the other side. She pictured herself outside, rushing back to her family and hugging them tight. She cried as this wish faded from her reach.

Angela walked to the pool, stopping at the edge, her toes curling around the cold, wet tiles. Did the water do this to them? What will it do to me? She looked out the window one last time, remembering each of them as they were before they snuck inside. Angela took a deep breath and closed her eyes. There was a splash, then silence.