It was the previous summer when this eerie incident unfolded. Home alone and bored as my friends were all out of town, I decided to venture to a nearby park for some diversion. Upon arrival, I noticed the absence of sports practices and playtime in the park, leaving me with an uncanny sense of solitude. An idea struck me: I’d explore the river that ran alongside the street opposite the park.
While it was common knowledge that people weren’t supposed to venture down there, kids often defied the rules. So, I braved the steep descent down the hill, eventually perching on a solitary rock by the river’s edge. With my eyes closed, I tried to unwind, but then I heard an unsettling sound—splashing akin to someone desperately struggling in the water.
Startled, I opened my eyes, only to feel an icy grip clasp my ankles, forcefully dragging me into the frigid river. Panic surged as the fast-flowing water engulfed me, and I involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of water before everything went dark. As I fought to regain consciousness, my eyes flickered open, revealing a surreal scene.
I found myself floating in the center of a circle formed by lifeless bodies. Their skin bore a sickly grayish-blue hue, and they appeared in an advanced state of decay. I attempted to scream, but my voice failed me. Terror gripped me as I tried to comprehend the macabre tableau surrounding me.
Suddenly, as if awakening from a nightmare, I sat back on the same rock by the river’s edge. It was as though the horrifying encounter had been nothing more than a dream. Yet, as I began coughing up water, reality set in, and the chilling memory remained all too real.
A disembodied voice echoed from the river’s center, urging me to leave. Without hesitation, I scrambled up the steep hill, crossed the street, and pedaled my bike home with all the speed I could muster.
Later, I uncovered a grim history related to the river. It had once been level with the road, claiming countless cars and at least a dozen lives. I shuddered at the thought of my experience’s connection to the river’s tragic past and the potential ties to the Native culture in the area.