Page 34 of The Last De Loughrey Dynasty

“Astonishing,” Dottie finished for me.

The lake was frozen, its surface covered in snow, with even more flakes gently falling. The trees surroundingthe water were also coated in white, just like the bridge. Dottie and I had spent so many afternoons sitting on it, talking about the thoughts that kept us awake at night and making up stories to drift off to sleep.

I wanted to rush ahead, but Dottie stopped me, holding my hand. “What are you up to?”

“I want to dance on the frozen lake, like one of those figure skaters Mum watches during the holidays,” I answered, my voice bubbling with excitement. I couldn’t wait to twirl over the slippery surface like a real ballerina. But Dottie just pulled her hand from mine, slowly shaking her head.

“That’s too dangerous, Gwyn. I brought you here just to admire the view.”

“Then I’m going to dance alone,” I said, “but you’ll have to sing, or I won’t be able to sway to the sound of your voice.”

Without waiting for an answer, I took off my shoes. They weren’t suitable for dancing, and I knew my socks would make a much better substitute for ballet slippers. Well, not technically the same, but it was easier to balance on my toes without the stiff boots my dad had bought for me.

“No! Gwyn, get back here, you’re scaring me!” Dottie cried as I stepped onto the ice.

I turned back to face her, “The ground’s solid. It’s been cold for weeks. You don’t need to worry. I’m just like the fox in one of your stories—the one who finds joy in the risky moments of life,” I said, laughing softly as I glided further out on the ice, my arms stretched out to help me balance. It was harder than I had imagined, but not impossible. And I hated the idea of taking risks.

My Nanna always used to say, no risks, no fun.

“That’s not what I—get off the ice, Gwyneth!” Dottie shouted in a shrill voice, and I heard the ice crack beneath me. I froze in my tracks.

“Don’t move!” Dottie commanded, and I obeyed. My heart was pounding, my breath shallow as I tried to think of a solution.

“I’ll get a teacher! I’ll get help—”

“It’s ten minutes back to school, twenty until someone gets here!” I whispered, regret flooding me. I should have stayed safe, stayed in my comfort zone. Why had I been so reckless?

Tears began to fall down my cheeks. This was so foolish of me.

“Don’t cry, Gwynnie!” my best friend shouted. She was rushing around, wrapping herself around the branch of an old tree.

I heard the branch crack and Dottie cried out as she crashed to the ground, the branch still in her arms.

“Are you okay?” I called, but I saw her stand up, clutching the heavy branch. “I’m fine, I’ll fix this. I promise. Everything will be all right.” Dottie joined me, tears in her eyes as she pushed the branch out onto the frozen lake towards me.

“You need to hold on to it and lie on your stomach to balance your weight. I’ll pull you to me. Everything will be fine,” Dottie said, kneeling to get a better grip. “But you have to promise me, Gwyn, that you’ll always listen to me and never do anything like this again.”

“I promise.”

I was shaking with fear, but I trusted her more than anyone else in the world.

My entire body was trembling as I slowly tried to kneel, but my foot slipped, and I crashed to the ice. My knee slammed against the frozen surface. I felt the ice begin to crack beneath me, but all I could focus on was the branch. I reached for it, but my fingers couldn’t grasp it.

“Gwyn!”

I cried out in desperation, crawling along the ice, trying to find something, anything to hold onto.

But it was too late.

The lake swallowed me whole.

Water filled my lungs, and I fought to swim, but the cold paralysed my limbs. It was so dark beneath the surface. I felt panic rising, but I couldn’t breathe. More icy water filled my chest, and I coughed, struggling for air when there was none. I was terrified of being lost in this darkness forever.

And then, the heart of the lake silenced my fear.

All my strength faded.

I couldn’t move.

---