A canoe drifted helplessly in the middle of the lake.
It was moving faster with every passing second, caught in the rushing current that pulled toward the waterfall at the far end.
Inside the canoe, a figure waved frantically toward the shore.
Either she had lost her oars…
Or she was too panicked to think clearly enough to save herself.
Nearby, a broken tree branch—torn loose during a recent storm—spun wildly in the water.
Gale watched in horror as it rushed toward the canoe.
She felt helpless.
If the branch struck the canoe, it would surely overturn it.
But instead, the branch tangled itself in the canoe.
The wet leaves clung tightly.
Now both were locked together—
Drifting straight toward the waterfall.
Gale didn't hesitate.
She turned and ran along the shore.
Someone had to help.
Maybe there was a motorboat near the diving area.
Another canoe wouldn't be enough.
She kept her eyes fixed on the drifting canoe as she ran.
Once, she waved desperately.
The figure waved back.
A faint cry reached her—
But she couldn't make out the words.
Then—
She saw it.
Hidden near the bank, partly covered by shrubs—
A motorboat.
Relief flooded through her.
She rushed toward it, her hands trembling as she untied the rope and jumped inside.
Thank goodness she had experience handling boats back in Marchton.
The engine started immediately.
Without hesitation, Gale steered the boat into the lake.
The canoe was closer now.
Too close to the waterfall.
Spray flew into her face as the motorboat cut through the water.
Her heart pounded.
She needed to act quickly.
"Hold on!" Gale shouted. "I'll get you to shore!"
She steered as close as she could.
The waves rocked the canoe violently.
Gale cut the engine.
The current immediately pulled both boats.
She grabbed a heavy boat hook from the deck and climbed carefully forward.
"Go back! You'll be killed!" the woman cried.
Gale smiled faintly.
"I'll be fine."
She tied a rope to the motorboat and threw the other end into the canoe.
The woman caught it.
Now—
The branch.
Gale stretched forward.
The boat rocked dangerously.
She nearly fell.
She dropped flat on her stomach for balance.
Then—
With one powerful push—
The branch broke free.
It spun away toward the falls.
Gale scrambled back.
Started the engine.
The motor roared.
The boat surged forward—
Dragging the canoe behind it.
Slowly—
Carefully—
They moved away from the rushing current.
Finally—
They reached the shore.
Gale secured the motorboat and helped the woman out of the canoe.
She was older than Gale.
But there was something warm about her.
Her smile was calm.
Her gray eyes were clear.
"You are very brave," the woman said softly. "You saved my life."
Gale smiled.
"I was just lucky to be here."
"What happened?" she asked.
"I was reading in the canoe," the woman explained. "I left the oars on shore. I must have fallen asleep…"
She hesitated.
"When I woke up, I was already drifting."
Gale frowned slightly.
Her eyes moved to the rope at the back of the canoe.
It looked…
Cut.
"You must never say that to anyone," the woman said suddenly.
Gale blinked.
"Why not?"
"I can't explain now," she said quietly. "But please—promise me."
Gale nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
The woman smiled again and held out her hand.
"Thank you. Will you visit me this afternoon?"
"I'm sorry," Gale said. "I have an appointment with the Dean."
A strange expression flickered in the woman's eyes.
"You don't sound excited."
Gale laughed nervously.
"I'm just a little… scared."
"Of her?"
"Maybe," Gale admitted. "I hope she's nicer than what people say."
The woman laughed softly.
"I hope so too."
Suddenly—
Footsteps.
A group of girls rushed toward them.
"We saw everything!" one of them said breathlessly. "Are you alright, Dean Travis?"
Dean… Travis?
Gale froze.
The world seemed to tilt.
This woman—
The one she had just spoken to so casually—
Was the Dean.
"I'm perfectly fine," Dean Travis said calmly.
Moments later, she left with the others.
Gale stood alone.
Then slowly sat down on a nearby tree trunk.
She stared at the lake.
What had she just done?
What had she just said?
Hours later, she returned to the sorority house.
Phyllis was waiting.
That afternoon—
Gale stood outside the Dean's office.
Her heart pounded harder than it had on the lake.
She wished she was anywhere else.
With her friends.
At the lake.
On the tennis courts.
Anywhere—
But here.
"You may go in, Miss Howard," the secretary said.
Gale stood.
Took a deep breath.
And walked in quickly—before she could lose her nerve.
Inside, another woman was present.
Young.
Warm.
With a friendly smile.
She was the school doctor.
Her presence eased Gale's tension slightly.
They spoke for a few minutes.
And Gale felt herself relaxing.
But when the doctor left—
And Gale was alone with the Dean—
The nervousness returned.
This was no longer the woman from the lake.
This was authority.
"Is your room at Omega Chi satisfactory?" the Dean asked kindly.
"Yes, ma'am," Gale replied.
"I received a letter from your former teacher."
Gale nodded politely.
"I hope you will enjoy Briarhurst, Miss Howard."
"I'm sure I will."
"The girls are pleasant, for the most part," the Dean continued. "Of course, some prefer things to remain exactly as they are…"
She paused.
Looked at Gale carefully.
"…But change is not always something to fear."
Gale's heart skipped slightly.
Did she know?
Did she remember what Gale had said earlier?
Or worse—
Did she know about the rope?
Gale forced a small smile.
But something deep inside her shifted.
Because suddenly—
Briarhurst didn't feel like just a college anymore.
It felt like a place hiding something.
Something dangerous.
And somehow—
She had already stepped into it.