THE RIVER THAT CALLED US HOME

THE RIVER THAT FISHES BACK The river was never supposed to be there after midnight. At least, that was what twelve-year-old Noah Carter had been told. But on a cold Friday night in October, Noah sat beside his father in an old aluminum fishing boat, watching the black water of Blackwater River move beneath them. The moon was hidden behind thick clouds. Only a small lantern hanging from the front of the boat gave them light. “Dad,” Noah whispered, “are we almost there?” His father, Daniel, smiled without looking back. “Almost.” “Grandpa used to fish here, right?” Daniel's smile disappeared. “Yeah.” “What happened to him?” For a moment, the only sound was the quiet splash of the oars. Then Daniel said, “He disappeared.” Noah frowned. “You said he died.” “I said a lot of things when you were little.” The boat moved deeper into the darkness. Blackwater River was surrounded by thick pine forests in rural Maine. During the day, families came there to fish, camp, and swim. But locals avoided the river after sunset. There was an old story about it. People said that sometimes the river called fishermen by name. And if you answered... the river remembered you. Noah had always thought it was just something adults told children to keep them away from dangerous water. Until that night. Daniel stopped rowing. “We're here.” He dropped the anchor. Noah grabbed his fishing rod and smiled. “First fish is mine.” Daniel laughed. “Dream on.” They cast their lines. For nearly twenty minutes, nothing happened. Then Noah felt a tug. “Dad!” He grabbed the rod. Something was pulling hard. Daniel immediately stood up. “Don't pull too hard!” The line suddenly went tight. Whatever was underneath the boat was enormous. “It's a huge fish!” Daniel grabbed the rod with him. “Easy... easy...” Then the thing beneath the water pulled again. The boat tilted violently. Noah screamed. And then— the line snapped. Silence. Daniel stared at the water. “Dad?” He didn't answer. Noah looked over the side. Something pale moved beneath the surface. It looked like a hand. Noah jumped backward. “Dad... there's someone in the water.” Daniel's face went completely white. “Don't look at it.” see “What?” “Don't. Look. At. It.” The pale shape disappeared. Daniel quickly pulled the anchor up. “We're leaving.” “But we just got here!” “Now, Noah.” He started the motor. Nothing happened. He tried again. The engine coughed. Then died. Daniel cursed under his breath. Noah heard something. A whisper. Very faint. “...Noah...” He froze. “Dad?” Daniel looked at him. “What?” “Did you call me?” “No.” The whisper came again. This time, louder. “Noah...” It came from the water. Noah slowly turned. Daniel grabbed his shoulder. “Don't answer.” “Dad...” “Don't.” The river became completely still. Not a single ripple. Then something tapped the bottom of the boat. Knock. Noah's breathing stopped. Knock. Daniel grabbed the flashlight. “Stay behind me.” Knock. The third knock was followed by a voice. A man's voice. Old. Weak. “Daniel...” Daniel dropped the flashlight. Noah stared at him. “Dad... who was that?” Daniel didn't answer. The voice came again. “Daniel... you promised you'd come back.” Daniel stepped away from the edge of the boat. “No.” “Who is it?” Daniel's eyes filled with tears. “It’s your grandfather.” Noah's heart began pounding. “You said Grandpa died.” “I lied.” The water beside the boat began bubbling. Then a face appeared. An old man's face. His skin was gray. His eyes were completely black. Water poured from his mouth as he smiled. “Daniel...” Daniel grabbed Noah. “Don't listen to him.” The old man's head tilted unnaturally. “Why did you bring the boy?” Daniel said nothing. The old man smiled wider. “He belongs to us.” “No!” Daniel pushed Noah toward the back of the boat. The river suddenly erupted. Hands began rising from the water. Dozens of them. Pale hands. Children's hands. Adult hands. Hands covered in mud and weeds. They grabbed the sides of the boat. Noah screamed. “Dad!” Daniel grabbed an oar and struck the hands. “Get away!” But more appeared. Then Noah saw something that made his blood turn cold. One of the hands was wearing a silver wedding ring. He recognized it. His mother's ring. “Mom?” Daniel froze. The hand slowly lifted out of the water. Attached to it was the face of Noah's mother. But her eyes were black. “Noah,” she whispered. “Come to Mommy.” Daniel pulled Noah into his arms. “That isn't your mother!” The thing smiled. “You left me here, Daniel.” Noah looked at his father. “What does she mean?” Daniel couldn't speak. The boat shook violently. Then the engine suddenly started. Daniel didn't hesitate. He pushed the throttle forward. The boat shot through the water. The hands disappeared. The faces vanished. The river became calm again. Daniel kept driving. Noah was crying. “Dad... what happened to Mom?” Daniel stared straight ahead. “She drowned five years ago.” “But you said she died in a car accident.” Daniel's hands tightened around the wheel. “I know.” Noah looked behind them. Something was following the boat. A dark figure walking on the surface of the river. It was getting closer. “Dad!” Daniel looked back. His face changed. “No.” The figure stopped. Then it slowly raised one hand. And waved. Daniel suddenly turned off the engine. “Why did you stop?” Daniel looked at Noah. There were tears in his eyes. “Because we're home.” Noah looked around. They were no longer on the river. The boat was sitting beside their own wooden dock. Their house stood in front of them. Every light was on. But their house had been empty for three years. Noah slowly stood. “Dad...” Daniel whispered, “Don't get out.” A light switched on inside the house. Then another. Then another. Someone was moving from room to room. Noah watched the upstairs window. A figure appeared behind the curtain. It looked exactly like him. The figure lifted its hand. And waved. Noah turned toward his father. “Dad... that's me.” Daniel's face went pale. “No.” The figure in the window smiled. Then the front door opened. A woman's voice drifted across the yard. “Noah... Daniel...” Daniel grabbed Noah's hand. “Run.” They jumped from the boat. Behind them, the river began whispering. Hundreds of voices. All saying the same thing. “You came back.” And as Noah ran toward the forest, he looked over his shoulder one last time. His father was no longer beside him. Only the old fishing boat remained. Floating silently on the black river. And sitting inside it... was Daniel. Smiling. With completely black eyes. The End.