Last Breath
By Madysen Hojnacki
Story based on Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”
Check out the first part of the story!
Don’t miss the first part of “Last Breath” in the new issue of Equinox, “Under The Mistletoe”
“What are you doing in there?” he asked. “It’s not really swimming season.”
She laughed softly as she rose slightly from the incandescent water. Her eyes were a brilliant electric blue, drawing Will forward until he stopped at the edge, waiting for her reply.
“It’s always swimming season, Will,” she said with a half-smile.
Then she turned and slipped beneath the surface, her endless inky black hair trailing behind her.
“Hey! Where are you going? And how do you know my name?” he called.
He sank back onto his rock, refusing to question the bizarre things happening around him. It had been so long since he’d spoken to anyone that the strangeness almost felt welcome. His gaze shot back to the lake as the azure glow returned, brighter this time, bright enough to illuminate the whole forest. A sense of tranquility washed over him, something he hadn’t felt in months.
The woman surfaced again, lifting a hand to lure him closer.
“I’ve known you for a very long time, Will. I know more than just your name.”
Confused, he asked, “How could you possibly know me? I’ve never met you.”
“Oh, but you have,” she said. “You come here and talk to me almost every day. I’m the one listening. Are you feeling any better?”
“What do you mean?”
“Last time you came, the tears wouldn’t stop. You must miss her very much.”
…He forced himself to keep going, brushing off the whispers as his imagination, or maybe even some strange animal call. But when he reached the water, something else caught his attention: an unfamiliar glow pulsing from beneath the surface. Instead of unsettling him, the light intrigued him. Edging closer, he felt as though it were pulling him in, making him stumble toward the lake before he caught himself. He felt oddly heavier, as though something was anchoring him.
Will sat on a rock overlooking the lake. The whispers returned louder this time. Instead of freezing again, he stood and shouted,
“Alright, who’s out there? Is someone messing with me?”
Silence.
“I’m serious! If someone’s out there, show yourself!”
“Hello, Will,” said an unfamiliar but hypnotic voice.
He squinted into the trees but saw nothing.
“Down here, silly!”
He whipped his head toward the water so fast that he nearly snapped his neck. A woman floated there. Most people would have been terrified, but Will was more puzzled than afraid.
Her sad, watchful eyes never left him. A tear slid down his cheek. He was nothing without Penelope, just a hollow shell of a man whose soul had been stolen by tragedy. No family or friend could reach him. He had nothing left.
“I can make it all go away, Will,” the woman said gently. “I can make you feel better.”
He blinked through his blurred vision. “H-how?”
“Come swim with me.”
Her sapphire eyes flashed, pulling him toward her. He would’ve been crazy not to follow, any chance to feel anything at all was something he’d chase. Her voice intoxicated him, and he waded into the bone-chilling water. Another shiver ran down his spine, but the cold felt strangely good. She swam farther into the lake, guiding him away from the shore.
“Alright,” her voice echoed through the quiet forest, “lie on your back and float.”
Will obeyed, letting the water cradle him. The lake filled his ears, dimming the world. The woman began humming an eerie tune, loosening the last bit of tension inside him. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply as his chest rose and fell beneath the cold water. He felt her fingers graze his arm.
“Will,” she whispered, “I need to ask you something important.”
He snapped back, realizing he wasn’t dreaming. “What is it?”
“Do you think you’ll ever be happy again?”
He opened his eyes. Her face hovered just above his, her gaze piercing him. He thought for a long moment. He had never allowed himself to imagine life after the incident.
“I don’t think so…not anytime soon. My whole life flipped upside down. I don’t know if I can start over.”
Her eyes softened. She reached for his hand.
“I can free you from this pain, Will. But only if you let me.”
He nodded and closed his eyes, taking his last breath.
The woman plunged into the depths, the glow bursting brighter than ever. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him under. His eyes opened to see a long scaly tail drifting behind her, the glow intensifying the farther they sank. Even though the water was frigid, Will felt a warmth surging inside him. The place that had been empty for so long was filled with something gentle, whole, something that made him feel like he could breathe again. He didn’t realize he actually couldn’t breathe at all. His lungs filled with icy lake water.
Above him, the woman swam in circles, sapphire eyes casting beams of light as he drifted down. He saw Penelope beside him, gripping his hand, smiling.
“We meet again, my love,” her breathy voice echoed.
But then a mass of shadows spiraled around them. The water vibrated with an unsettling presence. He looked again and Penelope was gone. Her voice reached him from somewhere deeper, farther away.
“Let go, Will. I’ll see you soon.”
The fish closed in, tightening around him like a noose. For the last time, he closed his eyes and let the lake consume him. When the swarm finally dispersed, nothing remained of Will. He was claimed by the lake, just like Penelope had been.
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