A Job For Police?

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. It wasn't abnormal for teenagers to hook up at the cabin, but it was abnormal that they would light a candle.

Elyse wiped the rain from her forehead as she slogged up the sodden hill. Her torch flickered in the dark and she swore as it finally gave out, leaving her bathed in the moonlight. "Stupid gear," she grumbled as she whacked the side of the torch. Her police badge glinted in the moonlight and she glimpsed at the sky, eyes squinting as droplets landed on her lashes. The rainclouds were gathering and she knew it wouldn't be long before the moon also disappeared.

Elyse glanced up at the dilapidated cabin and rolled her eyes as the candle was snuffed out. "Bloody teenagers." She tried hitting the torch again but the light didn't come back. She tucked the torch into the vest pocket and gripped her radio. "Teenagers in the cabin again. Torch is out, moon about to disappear, requesting backup."

The radio crackled. Elyse frowned and spoke into the radio again. "Sergeant Myers requesting backup."

She was met with static. She swore again and glanced at the cabin. "Screw it," she muttered before trudging back down the hill. "I'm sure there'll be more teenagers tomorrow."

The patrol car was within sight as the rain started to pour. Elyse sprinted back to the car and hurriedly flung herself in, shaking her head to rid herself of the rain dripping down. "What a great freaking shift," she grumbled.

"Sergeant Myers, please respond."

Elyse jerked as the voice boomed from her radio. "I'm here," she said into the radio. "I was trying to reach you a few minutes ago."

"We couldn't get through to you. Must have been in a black spot. We have an incident at the mall, teenagers gone wild, officers are requesting backup."

"I'm on my way."

She sped away from the cabin, oblivious to the candle that was reignited as she drove away. Confusion bubbled in her mind as she pulled up to the mall. It was dark and there wasn't a single person in sight. "Dispatch, what's going on at the mall?"

Static.

"Dispatch?"

Static.

Elyse rubbed her forehead in frustration. This was her first night shift in months and it had to be the worst shift of her life. Her eyebrows raised as she saw a flicker of light near the back of the car park. "Doubt you can hear me but I'm going to go check out something in the mall car park," she muttered into the radio. Only static responded.

The door of the car flung open and she stormed out. Frustration piled on her as she kicked the door shut and stormed towards the small light. As she drew closer, it grew dimmer. Suddenly, it was gone. Elyse swore. This was not her night. As she turned to go back to her car, the lights in the car park suddenly flickered and turned black. A cold chill rushed over her. She wasn't easily scared, but a flicker of fear ignited within her. This was just strange. She fiddled with the torch in her pocket, relief flooding over her as it worked.

She spun around, taking a half-step backwards as the torchlight fell on a girl standing directly behind her. Her hair was wet, hanging limply over her shoulders. The white dress she was wearing was also drenched and she had no shoes.

"Hey honey, are you okay?"

The girl stared at Elyse, dark eyes piercing into her. She opened her mouth to speak, but only water surged from within. Elyse took a step toward the girl, but she shook her head and ran away. The rain washed away any sign of where the girl had been standing, almost as if she was never there. Elyse rubbed her eyes, briefly pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm too tired for this," she complained. "And too wet."

She sloshed back to the car, pushing her drenched hair off her face. The patrol car was going to be soaked inside, but that wasn't her problem. She had no choice about that. Her radio crackled for a moment and she rolled her eyes. So much for top-of-the-line gear. She started the car and began driving back to the station, only to stop as she went to pass the old cabin. That damn candle was burning again.

Elyse stared at it for a moment. It was peculiar and she couldn't put a finger on why it made her feel anxious. It was just a candle in a well-known teenage hangout spot. Her torch was working again, but she was drenched and needed to replace the radio with one that actually worked.

She jumped slightly as a figure walked by the car. It was the girl again. She stood between the car and the cabin, staring at Elyse. She opened her mouth again, but once again no words came forth. Gurgles echoed in Elyse's ears as she tried to speak, but the girl couldn't talk through the copious amounts of water emerging. Elyse swiftly locked her car, unable to tear her eyes from the girl. She didn't know what was going on.

The girl motioned towards the cabin and shook her head before walking towards it, disappearing in the darkness beyond. Elyse let out a deep sigh and reached for her radio once again. "Dispatch, please come in."

Static.

"Dispatch, there's a young girl by the old cabin. Looks around 16. Can't believe I'm saying this but possibly a drowning victim, or rather attempted downing since she's walking. I don't really know what's going on, but I need some backup here."

Static.

Elyse swore. This was not the time for equipment to fail. Another expletive left her mouth as the car suddenly stalled. "Great, just great."

The candle in the cabin flickered and Elyse stared up at it. She felt pulled towards it - she needed to check this out. At the very least she needed to kick those stupid teenagers out. She unlocked the doors and left the car. Rain trickled down her cheeks as she stood for a moment, watching the candle for any signs of life within the cabin.

The torch was still working. She kept it close as she climbed the hill once again. As if on cue, once she reached the top her torch flickered and turned off. The clouds had covered the moon now and she was left in darkness. This time, however, the candle still burned brightly in the cabin ahead. She carefully drew her weapon, unease settling over her as she headed to the door. She kicked it in, straining her eyes to see who was responsible for the candle.

The girl stood beside it, alone. She looked at Elyse, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her mouth opened again and finally, words emerged. "Run," she gurgled. "Run."

Dread filled Elyse and she stumbled backwards, She turned to run and slammed into a dark figure. Strong hands gripped her tightly and she felt something hard hit her head as she welcomed the darkness.

"I tried to warn you."

"I know." Elyse stood beside the girl, alone in the old cabin. Her brown hair was wet, hanging limply over her shoulders. Water that would never dry coated her face and hands. "We have to stop him."

The girl shook her head. "No one can understand us. The water... the water never stops."

"We have to try. I won't let another person fall victim to this."

"Maybe..."

Elyse's eyes narrowed as thunder clapped around them. Her hand gently passed over the candle, anger ebbing through her as it passed through the object. She was a police officer. How did this happen to her? She was meant to protect the victims, not become one. She was dead. Drowned in the river, never to be found. She had to do everything she could to stop another person from falling victim to this man. She had to.