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Lakewood is a quiet, unassuming town tucked away in a valley surrounded by dense forests and rolling hills. It's the kind of place where time seems to move slower, and the early 2000's feel more like the late 90s—where modern technology is starting to trickle in, but the town remains mostly untouched by the frenzy of urban life.
At the heart of Lakewood lies Silver Pine Lake, a sprawling, serene body of water that the town was built around. The lake's crystal-clear surface mirrors the tall, majestic pine trees that line its shores, casting long shadows across the water. The air is always fresh, carrying the earthy scent of pine needles and the distant, calming sound of birds calling from the forest. In the mornings, a thin veil of mist clings to the water, making the lake look almost otherworldly. Locals often speak of the lake as a source of quiet beauty and reverence, a place where nature and calm meet.
Lakewood itself is a place where everyone knows everyone, and life moves at an easy pace. Main Street is lined with a handful of small businesses—an old diner with checkerboard floors and red vinyl booths, a family-owned grocery store, a bait-and-tackle shop that's been around for decades, and a town library with creaky wooden floors. There's a park just a few blocks away from the main drag, where kids play on rusted swing sets and elderly couples take their morning walks along the winding trail that leads toward the lake.
The town is mostly quiet, with little in the way of nightlife or entertainment. Teens gather at the lake's edge to skip stones or sit on the shore, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Some locals fish on the weekends, casting their lines in hopes of catching something good, though most just use it as an excuse to relax and soak in the stillness.
As the early 2000's creep in, Lakewood feels a slight shift—cell phones begin to appear in the hands of high schoolers, and there's talk of a new development being built on the edge of town. But for now, it remains mostly untouched, a place where the outside world feels far away and life carries on quietly beside the ever-watchful Silver Pine Lake. The horror of Lakewoods past remains forgotten as time moves forward.
Clara sits in her mother's old rocking chair, staring out the window at the waves as memories from her childhood continue to flood the forefront of her mind. It's raining outside and the sound of a thunderstorm always causes her to reminisce.
She reaches down and grasps her coffee taking a sip.
"Where has the time gone."
Clara stands up and walks to the kitchen to re fill her cup. She looks up at the fridge which is covered in family photos. She approaches and focuses on the photo of her and her brother.
"We went through so much, I miss him."
"We had a rough childhood, dad was always gone and when he was home was a tyrant who used force to get his way. He was emotionally distant, and didn't show a lot of compassion or empathy towards the rest of our family. Mom was anxious, and always tried to do what was best for us keeping dad at bay when he had his outbursts. When I was 13 they separated for a while but ultimately got back together. Mom regrets that to this day and apologizes for it saying that it probably did more bad than good. Dad moved away, and is remarried. Mom still lives in town and has a new husband. My brother does security work, is engaged and has a toddler. He struggles with his mental health and always has."
Clara walks to the living room and grabs the remote turning on the TV. She flips over to the local news, where they were playing an old story about young women going missing on the lakefront:
Dateline, July 1977:
A growing sense of fear has gripped the small town of Lakewood as authorities search for answers in the mysterious disappearances of several young women from the area surrounding Silver Pines Lake. Since May, three women-each in their early 20s-have vanished without a trace during visits to the popular lakeside spot. The first disappearance occurred on May 18, when 22-year-old Linda Harper was last seen picnicking with friends before wandering off alone. Two weeks later, Susan Miller, 19, failed to return home after an afternoon swim. Most recently, 21-year-old Karen Blake went missing after a late evening walk near the lake's edge on July 4. Local police have launched a full investigation, but so far, no clues have surfaced to explain the vanishings. Despite extensive searches of the surrounding woods and dive teams scouring the lake, no evidence has been found linking the cases. Sheriff Tom Andrews stated, "We're doing everything in our power to find these young women, but at this point, we have no leads." The disappearances have left the town on edge, with many residents choosing to avoid the lake altogether. Speculation runs rampant, with some locals pointing to strange occurrences near the lake over the years, while others fear a more sinister human element is involved. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, and locals are being advised to avoid isolated areas around the lake until further notice. Meanwhile, the families of the missing women continue their agonizing wait, hoping for any news that could bring them answers.
That was 30 years ago and a disappearance hasn't happened since, what ever was happening seems to have calmed down for now. Was it a serial killer or perhaps a mythological beast? Clara looks out of her living room window at the lake, and a shiver crawls down her spine as she thinks about the women who went missing. Goosebumps cover her body.