The frozen pond

Long Thaw.

It had been a lot more cold this season. Incessant snowfall and the whole town was covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow. Trees had already lost their leaves to autumn, so they were looking like barren wooden poles with stems shooting towards all sides. They looked a bit scary when seen at night under the fascinating moonlight. The scene used to be a bit spooky yet mesmerising. 

There was a pond in between the town. During summers, the water was blue like ocean, and used to look mesmerising with lush green trees surrounding clear blue water body. But during winters, the pond used to freeze and become a center of attraction for kids all around the town. They used to play and ski on its frozen surface. The town looked amazing during day time, but a bit scary at night. There were various stories that made rounds and most of the people believed the stories with their eyes closed. One of the story was about the frozen pond. 

A new couple, Stuart and Amelia shifted to the town as they wanted to start life afresh after having faced huge losses in their business. This was a good decision to take, during such hard times. They had two kids Jena and Ross. The kids were almost the same age, with just one year gap. Jena being the elder sister, was very protective and caring towards her kid brother. They liked it here. People around seemed friendly and helpful. Within a day or two, the whole family had made friends with the locals. Kids too, had made some new friends. 

Jena and Ross wanted to look around the town with their new friends, so they took permission from their parents  and went out. They were accompanied by three local kids. But they didn't know that the kids had some scary intentions. There was a story about the frozen pond, that whoever stays out of the house after 8, was consumed by the pond forever, never to be found again. This was never confirmed by anyone and no one knew, how this story started, or who all had been taken in by the pond. But the fable was there and people knew about it. They never questioned it and followed it blindly. And the naughty kids wanted to confirm this story by testing it. They planned to leave Jena and Ross on the frozen pond telling them that they'll be back in a minute, and won't return. They wanted to see how the frozen pond shall consume the gullible siblings. 

Jena and Ross were happy, being accepted by the town kids so soon. They really were innocent and credulous. They had always believed in goodness of people. It was getting dark and the five kids reached near the frozen pond. They all started walking and running on the surface of the cold frozen water body. Suddenly the three kids looked at each other and decided , it was time to leave. One of the kid said to Jane," You wait here, we'll come back in a jiffy." Jane and Ross were ignorant of the fact that the three kids were going to leave them there. Jane asked," Where are you going? If you say, we can accompany you." The other kid started," No, no, it's not needed. We just want to get some eatables from my house across the road. You wait here, we will be back soon." Jane and Ross agreed and asked them to come back as early as possible. The three kids left. 

Looking here and there, Jane and Ross started walking on the frozen pond. Oblivious of the stories associated with the pond, the two over trusting kids didn't know that their trust had been smothered. The leafless trees around the pond looked petrifying. They were big trees with their stems looking like a number of witches, with their thin fingers pointing in all directions. Ross was getting frightened. He asked" Jane, why are the trees looking so weird. Why are they having no green leaves and only brown trunk and stems?" Jane was trying to act as if she was not scared, but the truth was, she too was feeling scared of the surroundings. She said, with a fake confident look on her face," Don't worry, it's because of the winters. And I'm with you, so why are you scared. " Ross was in no mood to be cajoled. He said," Jane, I think we should go home. Mom and dad must be waiting for us." Jane replied," Sure we'll go home. Let's wait for our new friends, they must be on their way. If we leave without telling them, they might feel offended and then, might not talk to us." Ross agreed. 

It was getting colder and colder. Wind had started blowing with snowfall as well. It had been more than an hour, since the kids left Jane and Ross. The scared siblings decided to go back home. They started walking fast on the frozen pond surface. They could hear footsteps following them. They got scared and stopped to see, who was following them. Jane decided to look back but as she looked back, she couldn't find anyone. They started walking again, but again could hear footsteps. Both the kids were getting scared and started running. Being dark and gloomy, they were unable to find the right path, and were going round and round on the frozen pond surface, but couldn't find their way out. Ross had started crying out of fear now. Their breaths had become heavy because of running. Jena was trying her best to calm down Ross, but he was crying inconsolably. 

At home, Amelia and Stuart were feeling worried for their kids. It was way past 8 and they were still out of house. Stuart said," I will go out and see where Jena and Ross are. You stay at home." Amelia wanted to accompany Stuart as she was equally worried. But Stuart told her that it was very important for someone to be at home in case kids came back home on their own. Amelia agreed and Stuart left to look for Jena and Ross. As he stepped out, he was surprised to see empty roads. It wasn't that late but still there was no one to be seen. He was struggling to move forward as the wind was blowing and he wasn't able to see through the haze around. He had started panicking now. He went to the house adjoining his house to enquire from the kids living there, as they had accompanied Jena and Ross in the evening. As Start rang the bell hysterically, the door was opened by the owner of the house. Seeing Stuart at this time, he was startled, but as Stuart family had recently shifted, they had no idea of the frozen pond story. He asked Stuart to come in. Stuart refused to enter the house and asked hurriedly," In the evening your kids took Jena and Ross to look around the town. But my kids haven't returned. Do you know where the kids are?" Mr Todd was taken a back. He said," But my kids are at home. How come your kids haven't returned? " Stuart was shocked and terrified. He asked Todd to enquire from his kids as all the kids went out together. When the kids were called, they tried to make others believe that Jena and Ross had come back with them and had no idea where they went afterwards. They tried hard but couldn't hide the look of panic dancing on their faces. Todd asked his kids," Don't you guys date lie to me. Tell me the truth. Where is Jena and Ross?". Todd's heavy and authoritative voice made the kids scared like anything. The youngest one couldn't keep it inside anymore. He started," Dad, we are sorry. We just wanted to see if the frozen pond really nibbles someone who is out of house after 8. So we left Jena and Ross on the frozen pond and returned." Everyone was shocked. Stuart couldn't believe his ears. Was there some belief system regarding the pond? Was his kids in danger? He didn't know what to do. Todd on the other hand started shouting at his kids" How could you both do this? How?"

Here Jena and Ross were feeling cold and tired. They didn't know what to do. Even after walking on the frozen pond for more than an hour, they were still not able to find their way out. And the constant sound of footsteps was scaring them. Ross asked Jena," Are we going to die?" Jena didn't want her kid brother to lose heart. She said," No, of course not. We will surely make it. We shall reach home and there mom and dad will be waiting for us with hot dinner. After having food, mom will tuck you up in bed." The more she tried to instill some courage and strength in her kid brother, the more she wanted to cry. 

And then, suddenly there was a soft voice. A woman who took their names. "Jena and Ross, I wang yo help you." Both the kids were terrified as there was no one there except for them, so from where did this woman appear. Was she a witch? Was she a ghost? Was she an alien? Such thoughts started playing in their minds. They were both stuck to each other. With a stammer in her voice, Jena started," Who are you? And how did you come here." The woman, who was dressed up in a white floral dress, had a pale white skin and big blue eyes. She looked at the kids with compassion. She said," I'm the angel of the frozen pond. People here in this town, have made up several stories about this frozen pond. That it eats up whoever is out of house after 8 at night. The truth is, I take care of this pond. But I am not monster, nor do I eat up anyone." Both the kids wanted to believe her, but then, they'd always heard that there is nothing like angels and monsters. The woman said," Come with me, I will show you the way out and take you home." They didn't want to trust her word, but then, they didn't have any other option. They started walking behind her. Within a few minutes, they were on the road towards their home. The lady was walking in front of them. Suddenly they could hear their dad's voice," Jena, Ross, Is that you?" Ross started to run towards him and hugged him tightly. Jena too reached out to him. Mr Todd and a few more men from the neighborhood were with Stuart, and had come out in search of the Jena and Ross. They felt happy and relieved that the kids were fine. Both of the kids were crying. "Where were you, and how did you find your way home?" asked Stuart. "Dad, this angel of the frozen pond lead us out. She helped us" said Jena, pointing towards the woman. But there was no one there. The lady had vanished. Everyone was surprised. Afterall, the frozen pond was not what they all had believed for such a long time. Now the story had changed for good. 

NEHA 🌷