This was the fourth day of the excursion. Today everyone moved down to the lake to spend the afternoon. The multitude of them were swimming, sunbathing and grilling freshly caught fish. I sat a bit away from the crowd, watching my fishing rod. Jess sat beside me, she helped me find a hook this morning and I supplied a nice long stick and string.
We gazed patiently at the water, I would get a bit soon. I picked the spot with the highest density of fish and took my time picking the fattest, longest worms for bait. At least I had company as I waited.
Jess and I had gotten close over the last 4 days. We spent most of the days together, talking, debating and sharing our interests. We didn't really have much in common, my lack of hobbies finally took a toll on me. I enjoyed her view on thing though, she always had something interesting to say and I provided my insight.
I had another friend now. It felt strange welcoming someone else, I'd gotten comfortable with the people I already knew and I felt no need to interact with other. Now I understood, friendship itself wasn't so much about the quantity but the quality. I had no plans to go about befriend everyone I came across, but Jess was special, she was pleasant to be around.
"What do you think we are going to catch?" Jess was very excited about the camping trip and she wanted to experience it to it's fullest. Today's fishing expedition was her idea to begin with. I wasn't opposed, I actually craved some fish stew. "There's mostly catfish in the water, but there is some bass and trout." There was little variety in the lake, but I made sense considering if was the off-season.
"Really, you're quite good at this, how do you know which fish are in the lake?" Oops, I couldn't really tell her that I could sense every lifeform in the lake within my radius, that's why I chose this spot in the first place. "Ohh I just inferred, see the ones they caught" I said pointing at another, well equipped ground further away. They came well prepared with actual fishing rods and colorful bait hooks. "And I studied a bit about the location." She nodded in agreement.
"Hmm I don't really like bass that much, I prefer catfish. What about you?" Good question, "I'm not very peculiar, but catfish is the easiest to cook and season. There's little you can get wrong with it." Just then I felt a small wrangler get close to my bait, with a small shove I sent it away. I wasn't inclined to waste my carefully chosen bait on smaller fish.
The day was going great, it would have been even better if I didn't have to fight off that malignant stare. Jonathan had gotten more abundant in his provocation. He seemed determined to tick me off. Unfortunately I had already promised to ignore him and enjoy myself this week and subsequent weeks after. He would have to find someone else to have fun with.
["Lukehiem"]. My pulse quickened, my heart took off. No, please no, I had not felt this afraid, this small in weeks. That was Jonathan's voice, it resonated within my mind. I felt no pressure, it simply slid in without notice, without obstruction. ["I was hoping we could talk. I won't take too much of your time."] How was he doing this, why couldn't I sense anything. I reeled the veil back into myself, morphing it hoping to find the source. I stared at Jonathan's figure in the distance, he was gazing at the water undisturbed.
["Oh don't fret Luke, I can promise you I have no influence over you. I can do you no harm like this."]. I wanted to say something back, but I couldn't. I didn't know how he was even doing this, how he breached my mind so effortlessly. "Are you alright Luke, your sweating. Is the heat getting to you?" Jess' voice paused my inner turmoil. "I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." My voice cracked at the end, I was in fact not fine. "I'll be right back, watch the rod while I'm gone." I stood up and walked and watched Jonathan as he approached me.
He chose a spot still by the lake, but shrouded by trees. We would not be hard to spot if anyone payed attention. He sat down on a log and patted the spot beside him. I didn't protest, I sat quietly and waited for him to talk. "Have you noticed a anything strange since you got here?" He most likely meant the mist, but I couldn't be sure. "No not really, I've been enjoying a perfectly normal camping trip." He smirked and threw a rock into the water. "Something tells me you have. It would be in our best interest if you didn't lie to me." What did he mean by 'our'.
"The mist on the lake. That all I saw." It was stupid to give in that easily, but did I have a choice. I knew nothing about the situation and I had a feeling that lying would not benefit me. I had no plans to tell him about the girl I encountered, I felt strangely bothered to reveal that fact. "Is that all you saw." I nodded. "Okay, now I want to know how much did you see." Again I felt bothered to tell him. "Not much the mist was unnaturally dense. Though, and I might be mistaken, it looked like it was cloaking something." "Good very good. The situation is still salvageable." He was smiling brightly now. "And what would have happened if I saw any more."
He didn't respond, he just stood up and squated in front of the water. He beckoned to me, and I joined him standing beside him. He placed his palm on the water, "To gaze at what was within the mist is to welcome harrowing madness." The water beneath his palm bubbled briefly. "I cannot let that happen Luke. We still have much to do. You can't be broken now." He stared at me and rose, "That previledge is mine alone. I have to protect you in the meantime, until you can be of use."
Before I could retort with an appropriate insult he suddenly kicked me into the water. I know I made a promise, but the anger and irritation I had been holding back exploded. I grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him down with me. That was a bad idea, as soon as he landed in the water, I was manhandled. He pushed me below the surface and I struggled to draw breath. How was he so strong, 'To hell with you, I'm not giving up until you gulp down as much water as I have.'. I reached and struggled, strangely he wasn't as resistant as I was expecting.
I pulled him into the water with me and gripped his head as hard as I could. He flailed his arms around and kicked up water. But keeping him down has never been easier. I was ecstatic, I finally had an outlet to vent all my frustration. Suddenly I felt multiple hands on me, I was pulled off Jonathan, carried out the water and tossed roughly to the side.
I coughed up the water that remained in my lungs and looked up at the group surroundings Jonathan. They crowded around him, patting him in the back and trying to help him recover. "What were you trying to do. Were you planning to kill him." No, I just planned to let him choke a bit.
Delan, Jonathan ever faithful built athletic friend was seething. He clenched his fist so hard, he was itching to hit me. He had already snuck in a punch while they pulled me out the water. I looked behind me and saw the growing crowd craning their necks to get a good look at us. That insidious bastard, he knew the trees would hide him, no one saw him push me into the water. But they bore witness to every moment we trashed and tussled. 'He got me and I was to engrossed to notice.' I could not blame anyone but myself.
Delan stormed over angry and lifted me by my collars. The delicate shirt turned slack under his enraged grip. Jonathan stood up and gently rested his palm on Delan's arm. Jonathan held him back. "It's okay leave him. It's not his fault."
I stood and took my leave, leaving their hateful glares behind. I dusted of the sand that clung to me and made my way back to Jess. Everyone was giving me strange looks, they didn't bother to mask their anger. Jess stood where I'd left her. She looked worried, but even now there was no resentment, no doubt. She barely knew me, did make sense for her to trust me over the friend she knew for years. She was holding the rod, a small catfish snagged on the hook.
I sat beside her and took the rod from her. "We still have more bait, let's have a feast." She sat down, she had a lot to say but she postponed it. We still had time to chat later, right now I would rather maul over my foolishness. Maybe I wasn't as smart as I thought I was. I tried to focus on fishing while bearing the weight of multiple eyes.