Yep, there’s going to be a part 3 coming.

“So… now what?” Dale called from the shore.

I stood shivering on the frozen lake, my hands deep in the pockets of my too-thin San Francisco jacket.

“Ritchie?” Jules called. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I managed through my chattering teeth. “Jus… just cold.” I scanned the still ice of the lake spread out in front of me. The glow of the recently set sun caused the wind-blown frost to glow orange in the waning light.

“What the hell are we doing out here?” I heard Dale ask Jules, followed by Jules hitting Dale’s shoulder.

“Ritche, hon? I don’t think he’s, uh, you’re going to show.”

I stood silent as the wind picked up and cut through my thin coat, causing me to shudder. “F…f…five m…m…m…more minutes,” I managed.

“Jesus, he’s gonna freeze to death,” Dale said to Jules. Then louder, “Ritche, Terry and Alan are meeting us at Vango’s Pizza.”

“Dale!” Jules admonished. “Give him five more minutes.”

“We’ve been out here for forty-five minutes already! I’m freezing my balls off.”

“Then go wait in the car,” she told him.

I heard him grumble, but he didn’t move.

Dale was right, though. I had been out there on the ice a long time. I hadn’t stood in that lake for twenty-five years – since the accident. I figured this was what He wanted. A reckoning where I died and he was created. But I didn’t feel him at all. I just felt cold – and not the paranormal kind of cold, the impending hypothermia kind.

As the last light faded I heard Dale huff and walk off towards the car. I was about to give up when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Are you done freezing out here?” Jules said gently.

“What happened to ‘Hell no, I’m not setting foot on that goddamn ice’?”

“Well,” she laughed, “it’s the middle of January, so I think we’re pretty safe. And you didn’t seem like you were going to come back to land my yourself. Seriously, did your feet freeze in place?”

“He’s not here,” I said.

“He’s not here right now,” she clarified. “Come on,” she turned and beckoned, “You can come back tomorrow and try again.”

Reluctantly, I turned and followed her back to the shore.

—

Vango’s hadn’t changed at all – no, their beer selection was better now, though Dale, Terry, and Alan’s beer taste hasn’t changed since high school. They took turns giving me shit for drinking an IPA, for my useless jacket, my haircut, basically everything. But it felt good – there was part of me that really missed it and that place. Jules sat smiling and only chimed in when called upon to add her opinion.

When the Red Wings game came on and the guys’ attention was magnetically drawn to the big screen, Jules sidled up next to me. “I’m glad you came, Ritchie,” she said resting her head on my shoulder.

“Me too, Jules,” leaning my head against hers. “I just hope it wasn’t for nothing. I mean… what did I expect would happen out there?”

“’Hi Old Ritchie,’” Jules mimicked a young me, “’Thanks for coming. We need to talk about your choice of dates,’” she laughed.

“He does seem to show up at the worst times,” I said laughing along.

“Whatever will happen will happen,” Jules said. “Trust the process.”

“There’s a process?” I said straightening up and getting to my feet. “I’ve got to pee. I’ll be right back,” I said and headed for the rest room.

I finished up and was washing my hands when the water slowed down until it stopped. I looked down and saw icicles growing from the faucet as I felt the air temperature plummet. Looking into the mirror I saw my own reflection… and I saw Him standing behind me, dead black eyes staring at me. I spun to face him but there was nothing there.

I tried to slow my racing heart by telling myself I just imagined it – there was nothing there. I was clearly on edge and it was my over-hyped brain playing tricks on me.

That’s when the lights went out.

I bolted for the door just a few steps away, threw it open and immediately was hit by a wall of ice cold water rushing in that bowled be back into the bathroom and stole my breath. The wave receded, and I struggled to catch my breath and get to my feet in the darkness.

“I’m here for you,” A voice spoke quietly right next to my ear. I scrambled in terror, got to my feet and reached for the door again, yanked it open and stepped out into… the regularly lit restaurant.

I stood panting looking around, but all eyes were glued to the hockey game. Except Jules, that is, who rushed over.

“Jesus, Ritche. Are you okay? What happened?”

“He’s here,” was all I managed to say.