1 Prologue (1971)

Standing atop the bridge, Kirsten shook like an autumn leaf. The wind whistled between the tree branches and the rain beat down on her back. She didn't want to die, not now, not this way. She loved her three kids and her amazing husband. She would do anything to be in their warm embrace. The rain had soaked through Kirsten's clothing, which clung to her body like plastic wrap, dripping in streams down her body. She glanced down into the turbulent waves below before letting out a yelp and clinging to the tree next to her.

"Kiki…" Kirsten heard a voice call. She peeled herself off the wet bark of the tree and approached the banister of the bridge.

"Kiki… Why won't you join me? I'm here all alone."

Kirsten leaned over the railing, as if trying to toss her words into the water beneath her. "I didn't mean to Lilli. You were so young. Why did you leave me Lil?"

A slow tear ran down her cheek, dangling off the curve of her lip to eventually fall and join the water.

"Kiki…" The waves roared, and Kirsten leaned further and further over the banister to catch her sister's words.

"I didn't leave you, Kiki. I wasn't supposed to be alone. Why did you leave me alone Kiki? Why won't you join me?"

"I… can't" Kirsten uttered faintly, pushing away from the rail.

"Join me, sister." The words echoed now, above the roars of the water, above the whispers of the trees and the distant honking of car horns. Lilli's words rattled the rock formations as she spoke, "Fix us, Kiki. Join me now."

Kirsten raised her head. She looked up at the sky, mouthing incomprehensible words until she raised her hands up and announced, "I'm coming, sister. It'll finally be the two of us again."

There was no response.

Kirsten peeled off her soaking jacket, tossing it to the side. She hoisted herself onto the rail, taking a seated position on the rain-slick molding wood. The bridge creaked under her weight, but she paid no mind, whispering under her breath, "I'm coming sister, I'm coming. Just you wait. The two of us again."

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The hard pattering of rain was pierced by the howling of dogs. Thick beams of light cut through the mist in the air, followed by panicked human voices. The overlapping chatter continued as the party of drenched police officers approached the bridge.

"What's the deal here, lieutenant?"

One of the officers stepped forwards, gripping the shoulders of a broad blond man.

"This here gentleman thinks that his wife wandered up somewhere here. She's been a missing person for a bit now. If we can find her here, I can guarantee all of you boys are up for a promotion. Here's a picture."

The lieutenant turned to his blond companion, who pulled out a spotted polaroid of his wife.

"Her name is Kirsten. I'll pick up the Springs Outpost tab of the person that finds her. Maybe even buy you a drink. Get to searching, boys."

"Yes, lieutenant!"

The officers scattered, pointing their flashlights every which way, the lights dancing around each other in the sky.

"We'll find her, don't you worry. The Lyderwood PD won't leave a stone unturned."

The man sniffled and turned away to peer off the bridge, into the now calm blue of the Lyderwood river. He had grown up here, and still the sight of the river made him uneasy. The locals called in the "Lyderwood spring" to detract from the horrors it contained, but still, he couldn't help but to feel discomfort.

He leaned in, observing the still water. Something darkened the calm scene. He squinted, tapping on the lieutenant.

"Hey, over there. What is that?"

The lieutenant turned around and followed the man's gaze, spotting the dark spot in the water.

"Boys! Go check that out, would ya?"

Within five minutes, the officers all scrambled back.

"Well?" The lieutenant placed his elbows on the wood banister, resting his weight on them.

"Um.. well."

"Speak up," the lieutenant barked.

"We found her, sir." the officer announced sheepishly.

"Good job!" The lieutenant unleashed a hearty laugh, patting the blond giant on the back. "We've found your wife. Didn't I say the LPD would get the job done?"

"Oh, um… Sir?" Another officer stepped up, glancing down uncomfortably. "Sir, she was the unidentified object in the water. She's… she's been dead for at least thirty six hours. Blunt force trauma to the head, it looks like. At least one broken rib. She drowned before she bled out though. Unconscious, of course. So…"

There was a stunned silence. The blond man opened his mouth as if to scream, instead releasing vile choking noises and clawing at his throat.

"I'm so terribly sorry for your loss." The lieutenant spoke lightly. "Bring her body here. And call an ambulance."

"We have her, sir." A few of boys lifted up a limp and dripping corpse, gently placing it in front of her husband, who promptly collapsed on his knees at the sight of his dead wife.

He let out a pained howl. "My wife! Oh god!" He threw his whole body over her torso, sobbing into her. His body shook violently as he cried. "My wife! Oh, her face!"

Kirsten had bloated. There were traces of blood in her hair, which was tangled and matted against her head. Her skin had begun to peel and her body was almost bloodless and a pale blueish-white. Her remaining blood pooled in her stomach, as she had been laying face down for hours, leaving a nasty pocket of bile, blood, and river water. There was a dent in the back of her head from the rocks she had hit herself on falling off the bridge. She resembled the swamp creature of a child's nightmare, and she stank something awful.

The man cried over his wife's body, and the lieutenant collected his men.

"Ugh. The ambulance is on its way. One of you, help this poor man up. The rest, carry the body. We'll wait for the ambulance at the park entrance. I've had enough of this… suicide spot."