Richmond's main street flooded and the adjacent Winooski river swelled with the hard downpour of rain. Peter entered the town's convenience store located at the Main Street crossroad. He smelled freshly-baked donuts and pastries and the uniform scented air fresheners consistent with all 7-Eleven stores. At the deli, he ordered an assortment of sandwiches and then looked out the large glass windows, anxiously watching the town's small cantilevered bridge. The crossing had been near flood level before the teens used it on their way to the Hungtingon Gorge. One of the most scenic towns in Vermont with it's historic white clapboard,  eighteen-sided round barn meeting hall, the town was only a meter above the water table and flooded regularly.

"I haven't seen rain like this since Hurricane Irene." The dark-haired young man working the sandwich counter finished making the last sandwich, a turkey on wheat wrap, and rolled it into along strip of white paper. He taped it closed, cut it in half and then placed it a brown paper bag and rang up the order.

"I haven't such horrid weather either. I was on vacation out of state when hurricane Irene hit."

"You're lucky. It wasn't a picnic."

Peter paid him and accepted the fragrant bag. He'd purchased some electrolyte water and some coconut water for Mallory. He knew that she didn't like either flavor, but he hoped she would drink one of them. In his opinion, she and Jaxxon looked as dehydrated as if they'd run a marathon.

A web of lightning lit up the sky. He saw Creed and Gemma approacking the bridge. "There they are, just in time." He held his breath when he saw the area beyond the bridge had flooded. It hadn't been swamped like that when he'd crossed the bridge. "Damn." The sky was a spectrum of purples as Creed raced across the bridge. Sheets of rain made the visibility low, but Peter could see water was jetting out from behind his back wheel. "Come on, Creed." There was a dip in the road that was under three feet of water, but Creed sped up. The bike leapt forward and hydroplaned across the flood zone.

Peter exhaled in relief as the bike exited the water with a slight wobble and then came up the small hill towards him. He exited the convenience store as Creed parked the bike under the store's awning.

He ran to the SUV and waved them over. Soaking wet, Gemma and Creed hopped into the back next to Jaxxon.

"Where were you guys?" Up front, Mallory leaned around the passenger seat and looked into the back at Gemma and Creed.

Seeing Gemma's teeth chattering, Jaxxon reached in back and pulled out a dry hoodie and sweatpants. "Here Gem, you can change into these. He handed Creed a sweat suit. The other teen nodded in thanks.

Gemma went into the 7-Eleven to use the restroom. She was still cold and shivering after she changed. Peter handed her a hot chocolate when she returned and she gratefully took a sip. "Thanks, Pete."

"What happened?" Peter asked. "Why did you and Gemma wait so long to drive down the mountain? Didn't you see the storm coming?" He handed everyone their half subs. He was relieved when he saw Mallory and Jaxxon start to devour theirs.

Creed bit into his sandwich before he answered. "We were delayed by the homesteader."

"It wasn't our fault," Gemma said. She bit into a vegetable sub. "There was a madman up there. He held us at gunpoint and then he killed someone."

Everyone stopped eating. "What are you talking about? Is this some kind of stupid joke?" Mallory's gaze nailed Creed and then at Gemma. "This isn't funny. We wre worried about you."

Creed shook his head in the negative. "I wish it were. We're not pulling your leg. There was a man with a gun up there doing experiments on the gorge. Gem and I saw him drown a rabbit."

"Shit." Mallory dropped her sandwich into her lap. Her appetite had left her.

"It gets worse," Gemma said. "We saw the rabbit jump out of the pool looking as if it was a few months old. When he stuck it under the water it was old and at death's door."

"How can that be? That's physically impossible." Jaxxon searched his friend's faces for any sign they were joking, but there was none. He could sense their sincerity.

"I thought we weren't seeing properly," Gemma said, "but then a wounded deer with an arrow stuck in its side jumped into the gorge. When it heaved itself out of the water, the arrow was gone and it was completely healed."

"Maybe the arrow fell out of its side?" Mallory said.

Gemma shook her head. "No, there was a large gash that was healed. I saw it."

"What about the motorcycle that was parked up there? Did you find the owner?" Jaxxon asked. He balled up the wrapper of his sandwich and stuck it in the bag.

Creed grimaced. "I think it was Mr. Kinsey's bike. He must have followed us up there. I didn't know he had a motorcycle."

Mallory was alarmed. "Why would he do that? Did you find him? Is he alright? Mr. Kinsey's mild and predictable. He's not the kind of person who would stalk people."

Creed lowered his voice and looked at his feet. "I know this is going to sound crazy, but.." He glanced at Gemma and she nodded for him to continue. "He's dead."

"Shit!" Peter said. "What happened?"

Gemma and Creed looked at each other.

"The homesteader killed him," Gemma answered. He pushed Mr. Kinsey into the gorge. We tried to save him, but the current was too strong."

"No." Mallory cried. "This can't be happening." She covered her mouth with her hand. "He's the one I felt drowning. My premonition came true."

"We've got to tell the authorities," Peter said. He pulled out his phone.

"Wait." Creed said. "There's nothing we can do for Mr. Kinsey. He's dead. We could be held as accessories to murder if Sayers lies about what happened."

"Why would he lie?" Mallory asked.

"Because he's crazy but not insane." He answered.

Gemma shook her head. "What if he's not."

"Not what?" Mallory asked. "Her face paled. "You mean, what if he's not dead?"

"If he fell into the gorge, of course he's dead. Like all the others." Peter said. "No one could survive being sucked into that vortex."

"We have to do something," Jaxxon said. "What of that homesteader kill's someone else? He sounds crazy."

"He's right," Mallory said. "We can buy a flip phone and anonymously report it."

Creed sighed. "You're right Mal. That's a good idea."

"We'll use cash. That's harder to trace." Jaxxon said. They pooled their money and Peter returned to the convenience store to buy the phone.

When he returned to the SUV, he handed it to Creed. "Call the police department and ask for a wellness check on Mr. Kinsey."

Creed nodded. He ripped open the packaging and activated the phone while Peter Googled the number. Just as he hit send to dial the number. He heard a motorcycle pull up next to them.

"That's him!" Gemma hissed. The man parked his bike and entered the convenience store. Creed ended the call and went rigid.

Peter craned his neck to see. "Who is it? He had a helmet on. You can't tell who it was."

"He was wearing the same clothes as Mr. Kinsey. I told you, the pool reanimated him."

"This is serious. We have to be sure," Peter said. "I'm going in there to see if it's really Mr. Kinsey."

"I disagree," Gemma said. "We have to act normal. Like nothing happened.

"We have to contact the authorities," Peter insisted.

"They can't get up to the gorge now." Creed said.

"They'll think it's an accident." Jaxxon added.

"I say, we don't say anything," Gemma said.

"Why don't you want to report what happened?" Peter asked.

"We all believe each other because we've known each other for years. We trust our senses and can feel things, so you know Creed and I aren't lying."

She shook her head. "Why would we? The authorities won't see it that way. They'll think we made it up, or were a part of it once the find out about the extracurricular assignment."

"You're right," Peter said.

"There's something else," Creed added. "The homesteader said he worked for the government. He told us they were monitoring the Internet forums and were interested in the anomaly. He said people were on their way here."

"People?" Mallory asked.

Creed nodded. "Individuals who might kill if they wanted to keep the phenomenon under wraps.

"I don't believe it." She laughed mirthlessly.

"If it's true, these people will deal with the crazy homesteader. If we get involved, the government might come after us."

The cyclist exited the convenience store and got on his bike. With his black helmet and visor, the four teens couldn't see his face. He started the bike. Inside the SUV, the friends held their breath as the motorcycle turned towards the exit. The driver applied his brakes and paused. Deliberately he looked over at them.

"Pete! Start the car, now. Peter turned over the engine and sped out of the parking lot. All four teens watched the helmeted head eerily track the SUV.

"What about your bike?"

"I'll get it tomorrow."

.