Thin Ice

The hysterical laughter scraped closer.

Something nicked my right ice skate, and I nearly fell onto the frozen lake.

I looked behind, seeing a soiled figure with a suit of black polkadots, a large red nose, and a twisted smile.

“Skate, skate, ’round we go! Watch me open up your throat!”

Camp lights came into view behind the treeline.

I screamed for help, voice froggy.

“Down, down, down you’ll go! Let your red blood ever flow!”

Ice gave way under me.

Freezing water burned like hellfire.

Knobbly hands crushed my neck, lifting me up.

“Careful,” he hummed, smiling.

“Thin. Ice.”