As the day passed, what began as a well needed break for Kai's mind, a carefree afternoon at the river changed. The splashes, laughter, and chatter that filled the air started to shift. Kai watched as the group of guy friends—once unified by the thrill of the cliff jumps—began to break apart towards the girls, drawn by the pull of their adolescent desires. One by one, the pairs drifted off, leaving Kai standing awkwardly by the riverbank, watching as the playful, innocent energy of the group dissolved into something far more complicated.
Amid her peers' fading innocence, Kai grappled with the unsettling realization that perhaps she wasn't the ideal teenager. The discomfiting moans emanating from every corner left her feeling like a stranger in her age group, prompting reflection on the stark differences between her values and adolescent impulses.
Besides Kai, two others remained in the disbanding group; Taylor and Jessica emerged as steadfast companions. They were most familiar with Kai and the ones bent on inviting her in the first place and now again invited her away from the uncomfortable scenario. Taylor, star of the high school wrestling team, possessed an ordinary facade that misrepresented the baffling charm he oozed. The rumors surrounding his charm puzzled onlookers; his rise to popularity wasn't because of his athletic prowess but because of his appearance, and to most, that was debatable. His victories, adorned with a legion of followers, notably Jessica, one of the school's most captivating figures, boosted Taylors ego even more.
Jessica's eyes seemed to linger on Taylor more than they should, her admiration for him veering into something more obsessive. Even now, to Kai, it didn't make sense how much Jessica's gaze followed every movement Taylor made, how she hung on his every word. It was the kind of attention that, in a way, made Kai feel invisible, like an afterthought in their unfolding drama. Taylor, for his part, seemed oblivious, his confidence growing with each passing moment as if he were a magnet for all the attention in the world.
The look on the trio's face showed they all wanted to seek privacy and comfort away from the uncomfortable noise, so Taylor and Jessica extended yet another invitation to Kai. Offering an escape and exploration to a waterfall, only they knew. The decision to venture towards the cascading waters became another fun hangout in Kai's mind. Amid the soothing sounds of water meeting earth, Jessica's spontaneous leap into the water's cool embrace marked the beginning of an unexpected journey. Taylor smiled at Kai as she reacted and waited for Jessica to return, but she never did. He removed his clothing again before jumping into the water, prompting Kai to do the same and follow. Kai excited about the new scenery rolled her eyes and smiled as she removed her jacket and clothing.
Their clothing had barely dried from jumping from the cliffs earlier; now, they are jumping back into the water. This time, discovering a hidden sanctuary behind the veil of falling water surprised Kai. There was graffiti on the cave walls; they had radios, flashlights, speakers, headphones, empty soda cans and snacks, even blankets and sleeping bags.
"So why were you so nervous back there," Taylor asked, helping Kai out of the water.
"I don't know. Everyone just started to move so fast. The leaves shifting and the moaning. I… I don't know. I just thought we would hang out, talk, and swim, nothing more."
"Yeah, that's always the original plan, but sometimes those things happen. Wait, you do have a boyfriend, don't you?" Kai looked at Taylor disgusted, causing him to recover the conversation quickly. "No, I'm not making fun of you. You know almost everyone at school; I just thought someone would have asked you out. So does that mean you never had your first kiss?"
"No, I haven't." Kai replied, as she brushed past him showing more interest in the wall paintings.
"Wow, that's a bomber. You don't know what you're missing. That's why it bothers you," Jessica said, butting in the conversation as she kicked trash into the water.
Kai quickly got upset, stoping in her tracks to glance a jessica before walking back to the entrance of the cave. Immediately, Taylor's eyes stared into Jessica's soul, and with a tilt of his head, he demanded Jessica fix her mistake. "Hey, no need to get upset," Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "I was throwing out there. How about you experience your first time with us if it's such a big deal? I mean, I know you have a crush on Taylor anyway."
Kai's private thoughts whispered under her breath. "Actutually I dont, but go off sis."
"I mean, I can see why," Jessica continued. "He's smart like you, the best wrestler in the school, and the most handsome man in the world. Taylor's guaranteed to be rich, and you know it; it only proves you're not stupid. And hello, I am the hottest female. No offense, you're somewhere in the brackets, and at least you're on it, right?"
"Jessica!" Taylor shouted as he turned on lights within the cave.
"What? That was motivation and one of the best ones I came up with today. Seriously, think. Your first kiss with the two most popular people in the world. That's badass!"
Taylor turned his back on Jessica, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips as he scratched the back of his head. "Kai, don't go, please," he said softly, his fingers curling around her hand. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I just... I want to help break the awkwardness and get back to having fun."
He glanced over his shoulder at Jessica, then leaned closer to Kai, his thumb gently stroking her hand as he swayed it back and forth. "You know, I used to be just like you—shy, unsure, feeling like the moment is going too fast. It's totally normal to feel that way. In fact, it was Jessica who taught me how to kiss at my first party. At first, I didn't want to. I thought it was too much... maybe I wasn't good enough, and I didn't have anyone showing me what to do. But, lucky for you..." He flashed her a smile as if he knew exactly what she was going through.
"Anyway, I couldn't back out," Taylor continued. "It was a dare playing a game of spin the bottle and all eyes were on me. If I had run, I would've been the joke for the rest of the year. So, I took a deep breath and remembered what I used to watch on TV all the time, and then, when it was my turn, I was surprised. Jessica took the lead, I followed before taking over. I didn't even know I had it in me. Let's say I made quite the impression." Taylor's eyes softened, and he gave a little chuckle. "I'm not saying you'll be perfect, but trust me, once you let go of the fear, it'll feel way better than you expect. Ten seconds—all a kiss takes, and once it's done, we can enjoy the rest of the night listening to music, drawing on the walls, or... if you'd rather, I can walk you home afterward." He quickly put a shine to his lips and stared into her eyes, and his voice was gentle, now, warm, inviting. "It's your call. But you don't have to."
As Kai glanced around the cave, Taylor and Jessica waiting for an answer, it didn't take her long to put two and two together. Her eyes flicked between their expectant faces, her mind already working through the angles.
"One wrong move and this could spiral fast," she thought to herself. "Taylor's persistent, always pushing boundaries until he gets what he wants. And Jessica? She's just egging him on, making him bolder. Great." She tried to keep her surroundings in mind for she didnt want them seeing her gaze slide to the water nearby. "I could make a break for it, dive in and swim off. I can out pace them swimming for sure, but then what? I still have to see them at school tomorrow. And the last thing I need is for my school life to be a mess too."
The thought made her jaw clench. If she was going to handle this, she needed to do it on her terms. Keep things calm. Keep control. Kai drew in a slow breath, her expression carefully composed before speaking. "Alright, you caught me off guard for a second. That's all. I'm not shy, just... surprised, nervous even. This will be my first after all," she forced a shrug. "Ten seconds," she stressed! No funny business. I mean it. After that, I'm drawing on the wall and heading home. It's getting dark anyway."
"Yeah, sure, afterward you can even create a tag for yourself, but look," Taylor waved Jessica over. We will do it first so you can see up close, then we'll try." Taylor grabbed Jessica by the waist to share a kiss. Kai immediately started counting to ten. She tried to ignore it at first, but Tayor still had her hand, and as she looked away, he wiggled it.
Taylor smiled, "so how did it look," he laughed.
Kai coughed nervously. "Intense," Kai expressed, lifting her eyebrows.
"It's cool. Come here and show me what you learned." Taylor grabbed Kai by the chin. With the other hand, he tried gripping her waist, but Kai blocked it. This experience began to take a turn when Jessica noticed a bulge in Taylor's swim trunks as he kissed Kai.
"Uhh, so how was it?" Jessica asked. "It must have really made your blood rise, huh, Taylor?"
He quickly looked down at his shorts and turned around, appearing embarrassed. "I don't know what the hell just happened, but I have NEVER felt like that kissing a girl."
As Kai blushed, Jessica turned to jealousy, "My turn, let me see what it does to me. Maybe something in my shorts will rise if she's that damn good."
Jessica faced Kai an suggested to give her ten seconds. Instantly, Jessica began to feel weird inside, and her breasts started to show through her bikini top. A sudden change of attitude with Jessica, and without Kai noticing, she waves for Taylor to get closer, placing his hands into her bikini bottoms. Taylor liked what he felt and joined in on the kissing as Jessica slid her hand inside Taylor's shorts.
Jessica's strange heavy breathing, caught Kai's attention, and her reaction was to quickly back off. Taylor noticed and began to kiss Kai more, trying to get her to focus on the mood. Kai assumed the two was pretending she was a good kisser or maybe she was but whatever it is they felt wasnt doing the same to her. Taylor's unspoken plan cracked when Jessica let out a loud, seductive moan. Kai immediately pushed away from Taylor and grew concerned followed by anger as she saw Taylor and Jessica's hands retreat from each other's bottoms. She grew even more uncomfortable seeing the tip of Taylor's private peek out near his navel and a string-like web connecting two of Taylor's fingers coated with a shine.
"I think I'm going to leave. It's getting late. The kissing lasted slightly over ten seconds, but it was cool. I can see what's comes next and I dont want apart of it," Kai stated as she began to walk toward the cave entrance.
No longer able to feel that spark, the bulge in his shorts went down, and the leak in Jessica's bikini bottoms dried. "Wait, you don't know unless you try it, right? Like the kissing, we will ease into it," Taylor said with a creepy, desperate smile.
"No thanks. I'll see you guys later. I know my way home. Please don't let me ruin a good time for you."
"I told you she wasn't up for it. She's just an attention seeker. If it weren't for her keeping me on the A honor roll, I would walk past her without hesitation. We don't need her, come on baby, I want you-"
"Jessica, can you not! Without whatever it is she did, you are drier than my grandmother. Kai, come back," Taylor angrily shouts, grabbing Kai's arm.
"Taylor!" Kai said, looking him in the eyes. "Before this gets out of hand. Let me go, and never grab me like that again!" Her calm warning mimicked that of her father, indeed a dad's girl.
Jessica then grabs Kai other arm, trying to help Taylor pin her, "Hey, don't act like that! You should be lucky he wants to share himself with you; besides, he's doing you a favor. Nobody likes an inexperienced slut."
"I said get off of me," Kai shouted, snatching her arm away from Taylor and punching Jessica in the nose. That part was not of her father; that was one hundred percent something else.
As Jessica retreated from pain, a haunting fear of a broken nose compelling her, she miscounted her steps and plunged from the cave into the waters. Taylor focused on Jessica's condition and created a split opening in which Kai seized the opportunity, like a creature escaping the jaws of a predator. With a swift and determined leap, Kai joined the water, aiming to outpace the others and secure a speedy exit to the shore.
Unplanned, Taylor, demonstrating the reflexes of a seasoned hunter, jumped right behind her. Kai was taller than them both, and at this moment, her long legs betrayed her. Taylor was able to intercept her mid-stroke. His grasp, firm like the state champion wrestler he is, latched on her foot and halted her progress with a force akin to gravity.
Unseen beneath the rippling surface, Jessica, like a phantom, quickly surfaced for a breath, complaining about her nose. When she catches a glimpse of Kai fighting to swim against Taylor, who is indeed struggling. Angry about her nose, Jessica went back under to execute a stealthy maneuver. She swam under Kai, trapping her by the bra and weighting her down into the aqueous depths.
Panic seized Kai's senses. Limbs flailed with a desperation that echoed through the aquatic arena as Jessica, hidden from Taylor's view, engaged in a submerged struggle for dominance. Oblivious to the underwater duel, Taylor unleashed a volley of urgent demands, imploring Kai to cease her frantic resistance. In the complex depths, the fight continued, and Taylor had only one of Kai's legs. He assumed it was because of her frantic movements that she would end up drowning herself. Little did he know, Jessica was under the water, pulling and weighing Kai down. Kai repeatedly kicked Taylor, attempting to snatch away and balance herself out. At the same time, she desperately tried to reach Jessica or unloosen her grip. Instead, with the next three frantic movements, Kai ended up kicking Taylor in the face unusually hard.
With her feet free, she leveled underwater with Jessica, lashing out repeated punches to the side of Jessica's head while trying to lose her grip. One punch found its way to Jessica's eye, and another drawn to her broken nose. Only then did Jessica let go. Free from them both, Kai swam to the surface for a much-needed breath. After all the panicking and fighting, she was tired, but unfortunately, the night was still young.
Aware of Taylor's notoriously short temper, a facet Jessica had witnessed on countless occasions, especially after losing wrestling matches. Jessica swam to the surface behind Kai but waited for the next attempt, which she knew was coming. Breaking the water, Kai burst up for breath and wiped her face. Next, the sound of Jessica coming up, blood running down from her nose. Her eyes locked with Kai in an unspoken exchange. Kai lost sight of Taylor, not knowing if he recuperated. Kai commenced a desperate escape to claim shore first, her clothes in sight. Before going for the swim, she turned to track Jessica who was in the same spot but held a smile. Taylor unsee from under the water, a representation of uncontrolled rage, surprised Kai, snatching her hair back.
With his other hand, his grip found its way to her very throat— "I told you to calm down," Taylor said, carrying the weight of authority.
Jessica smiled as she saw the opportunity she had waited for. She dived back down, swimming next to Kai, and wrapped her arms and legs around Kai's legs to prevent her from treading and weighing her down even more.
In the relentless aftermath, Taylor's voice echoed like a symphony of frustration as spit flew from his mouth, "I said stop; why couldn't you have just stopped?" Kai's desperate attempts to navigate the rippling water rendered her face a fleeting apparition, alternately surfacing and submerging in a struggle to time the moment in spit out the water she had swallowed while simultaneously grasping for precious breaths.
Her father's training, a distant echo in the turbulent water, proved futile against the wreakless, uncoordinated assault of two opponents. The ceaseless cycle of gasping for air and expelling swallowed water grew harder and harder, making her resistance futile. Kai lasted as long as she could, to the point Taylor was using his weight to hold her down for his arms grew tired and weak. Jessica was almost to the point of fading unconscious and drowning herself, trying to hold her breath and prevent Kai from treading. Though as the timing grew harder to no chance at all, panic spreaded an Kai mind triggered her body to lead to hyperventilation.Already, overexerted and lack of oxygen it was clear her fight was at its end. As the struggle ended, Taylor and Jessica released their prey to observe the haunting spectacle.
Kai's body surrendered to the undulating currents, bobbing gently on the water's surface. Her face tilted toward the vast night sky, drifting on her back. Above her, the new moon hid in the darkness, its absence deepening the night, leaving the stars to dominate the sky. Tahoe City, the small town where Kai and the other students lived, rested at around six thousand and two hundred feet above sea level. The waterfall they had visited earlier lay just outside town, in the opposite direction of the lake, at nearly the same height. With such elevation, there was less atmosphere between them and the stars, making nights like this, with a new moon, perfect for stargazing. The sky seemed endless, the stars sharp and clear, distant constellations visible.
With this quiet solitude, Kai's body floating with no movement, it was enough verification to Jessica and Taylor: Kai was dead. Little did they know something else was taking part, visible to no one except Kai. A dark figure revealed itself. Its silhouette was barely outlined by the stars, shaped like a woman, her clothing fluttering in the wind, hovering silently over Kai.
"After hearing rumors about you years ago. I finally found you, and this is our introduction." Her voice was a soft, resonant echo, like the essence of the night sky, timeless and haunting. "In the eighteen years you've been alive, you have yet to learn how hard it is to be life itself. Not everyone will cherish it, and not everyone will give it. Though, the world is full of those who will take it. But the hardest truth of all... is people like you," she paused, the weight of her words sinking into the air. "You squander it."
Her gaze lingered on Kai, the darkness blocking the look of jealousy and disgust from showing across her ethereal face. "My, what a sight you are; I can feel the power caged inside you. Yet here you are, pretending to be human, defeated by humans! Right now, you are weak, ignorant, and wasted potential. Even so, a plan is a plan. Rather, it needs to be sped up or stretched out. It remains the same. Whenever you become true, I will be there," She whispered to Kai before fading away.
Swimming back to shore, Jessica and Taylor removed themselves from the water. Wiping her face as she breathed heavily, Jessica described the rush she felt to Taylor. However, he didn't understand how she was involved. That didn't stop Jessica from admiring Taylor and his dad for engaging in criminal activity like this all the time. She even called it "Fun." Jessica smiled, feeling that she was one step closer to impressing Taylor. In her mind, Taylor would want a girl who can keep his secrets and even get her hands dirty if needed. She was so fixated on him that the reckless words from her mouth ignored the chances of future consequences.
"Yeah, not always," Taylor responded, expressing disappointment. He didn't attend to killing Kai and pondered hard about Jessica's part. It's not like it was something he could change if he found out, though.
"Well, now is your time to get some. Have you ever done it with a dead body? Oh, and she drowned, so imagine how it is now," Jessica slowly clapped and laughed.
"You're an idiot. Let's get out of here. I need to do something with her clothes and phone and tie something to her leg so she sinks. This water is clear, so we must sink her directly under the waterfall."
"Why?"
Taylor sighs laboriously, rubbing his forehead side to side in his palm. "Because that's the less visible area due to all the white water created by the waterfall. I will make sure Kai isn't found. Hopefully, she sinks far enough; even if someone dives, they don't find her. Maybe I'll dump a few piranhas in here this weekend. They should have some on the black market. They will strip the meat off her bones and leave them to be covered up at the bottom over time."
"You are so smart, Taylor. I love it. Come here. I would be glad to give myself to you. You know I can make you feel good," Jessica said, trying to be seductive.
"I just said I need to find something to weigh her down and ditch her clothes. How about you find something to do or care for that broken nose? Is your eye starting to swell? God, she did a number on you; I only saw her punch you once. What, you do hit some rocks on the way down?"
Jessica ignored what Taylor was saying, trying to get him to focus more on her spontaneous behavior. Biting her lips, she says, "You dare me to do something wild, like kiss her dead body?"
"If that's what you want to do with your time, knock yourself out," he said, removing Kai's phone from her clothing. "Of course, there is a password."
Jessica laughs as if she is having fun while swimming toward Kai's floating body, "I told you I could be spontaneous and fun, Taylor. Isn't that what you like in a girl?"
Taylor shook his head and whispered, "We're supposed to be doing something about her body, yet your focus is on being spontaneous and fun. I should pin this all on you, then see how much fun you are having."
Jessica didn't hear his words as her thoughts flowed, "I'm only doing this to get with Taylor. Then again, I want to know what she has that I don't. It makes me sick that Taylor was ready to jump all over her. Though I can see why, I felt so weird kissing her." She paused for a second, "Holy crap, does this mean I like girls? Do I go both ways? No, I know the love of my life, and it's Taylor, but I can't believe he said I was dry.
Jessica then wondered what production Kai used to keep her skin perfect even when swimming. As Jessica inspected Kai's skin closely, it looked so freakishly weird yet mesmerizing. Casting a fleeting glance back at Taylor, who remained immersed in the collection of rocks, Jessica boldly declared her intent to undertake the daring venture. And then, with the courage to embrace the unknown, Jessica leaned in to fulfill the audacious dare. As Jessica began to kiss Kai, the same feeling waved over her, sending her into another place. The immediate sensation of pain from her nose dissipating brought a profound sense of relief. Every cell in her body felt rejuvenated and warm; deep joy emerged, the feeling so addictive she forgot she was in cold water with a dead body.
"Jeez, are you done? The fact you started to get into it!"
"NO!" Jessica said, pushing Kai's body. "I was taking a close look at her skin. Have you seen it? It almost looks so good yet weird. Can you take me to the mall and buy this product for me? I want to try it on my skin."
"Right, but we're not going anywhere soon. You need to take care of that nose, and I'm heading home after this. I shouldn't have to tell you this, but don't tell anyone what happened here. If you want to brag, leave me out of it."
"Ugh."She rolled her eyes.
In the impromptu act of improvisation, the moment swiftly showed that Taylor was no stranger to the acts unfolding in the moonless night. Despite his emotions being entangled, a testament to the human complexities that even seasoned participants couldn't entirely suppress. A graceful leap into the water brought him in closer proximity to Kai's lifeless form, where he skillfully bound her jacket to her feet and weighted the makeshift anchor with stones. The pond, now a stage for a dark grave site, accepted its unwilling participant.
As Taylor submerged Kai in the waterfall's relentless embrace, a shroud of secrecy hung in the air. He continued looking back, ensuring Kai's body went under. Feeling his secret was safe, he dressed, placed Kai's phone in his pocket, grabbed her clothing, and headed home. Leaving the scene as normal as it was before they arrived.