Goosebumps: The Curse of Camp Cold Lake (7 page)

I laughed. “It’s refreshing!” I exclaimed, brushing my wet hair back. “Come
on—just push off. It isn’t that bad.”

Jan lowered herself into the water. Most of the swimmers were in the water
now, moving in circles, floating on their backs, treading water.

“Line up, everyone!” Liz instructed from her boat. Her voice through the
megaphone echoed off the trees behind us. “Line up. Two at a time. Let’s go!”

It took a while for everyone to get in place. Jan and I were second in line.

I watched the first two girls begin to swim. One of them moved with smooth,
steady strokes. The other one splashed and thrashed.

Everyone cheered them on.

Jan and I gave them about a two-minute head start. Then we began to swim.

I tried to copy the first girl’s rhythmic stroke. I didn’t want to look like
a klutz. I knew all the other swimmers were watching. But let’s get real. I’m
not exactly headed for the Olympics.

Jan pulled ahead easily. As we swam, she kept turning back to make sure I was
keeping up with her.

The turnaround spot was just past Liz’s motor-boat. I kept my eyes on it as I
followed Jan through the water. It seemed
very
far away!

Jan picked up speed. My arms started aching about halfway to the boat.

I’m in bad shape, I told myself. I’ve really got to start working out or
something.

Liz’s boat bobbed gently up ahead of us. Liz was shouting something into the
megaphone. But the splash of the water kept me from making out the words.

Up ahead of me, Jan picked up the pace.

“Hey—slow down!” I called. But there was no way she could hear me.

Ignoring the aching in my arms, I struggled to catch up to her. I kicked my
legs harder, splashing up water behind me.

The sun dipped once again behind a high cloud. The sky darkened, and the
water seemed to chill.

Liz’s boat rocked in the water, just up ahead. I kept my eyes on Jan. Watched
her steady kicks. Her hair bobbing on the lake surface like some kind of sea
creature.

When Jan turns back, I’ll turn back, I decided.

I swam a little faster.
Let’s turn,
I pleaded silently. Jan, we’re
here. We’re even with Liz’s motorboat. I’m ready to turn back now.

But to my surprise, Jan kept stroking, kept swimming straight ahead. Her head
ducked under the water. Her arms moved easily, gracefully, pulling her farther
ahead of me.

“Jan—?”

My arms ached. My chest started to burn.

“Hey, Jan—can we turn now?”

She swam steadily ahead.

With a burst of energy, I pulled myself forward. “Jan, wait—” I called.
“We’re supposed to head back!”

She stopped stroking.

Did she hear me?

Breathing hard, my chest burning, I swam up to her.

She turned to face me.

“Jan—?” I gasped.

No. Not Jan.

It wasn’t Jan.
It was Della!

Her blue eyes sparkled as a gleeful smile spread over her pale, pale face.

“Keep swimming, Sarah,” she whispered. “We’re going to swim farther. And
farther. You’re my buddy now.”

She grabbed my arm.

I tried to tug away. My wet arm slid in her grasp.

But her grip tightened around my wrist. And she held on. Pulling me. Pulling
me with her.

“Owww!”

She was strong. So strong for such a frail-looking girl.

Such a frail-looking
ghost…

“Let go!” I shrieked.

I struggled, slapping the water. Kicking. Squirming and twisting.

“Della—I won’t come with you!”

I jerked my body around, spun hard—and broke free.

And dropped beneath the surface. Lifting both arms, I rose up, coughing and
sputtering.

Where was she?

Where?

Was she right behind me? Ready to pull me with her, pull me out so far I
couldn’t swim back?

I spun away. The water rocked and tilted.

The clouds overhead appeared to roar past.

“Sarah… Sarah…?” Was she calling to me?

Why couldn’t I see her now?

I turned again. My eyes stopped on the boat.

Yes. The boat.

Ignoring my racing heartbeats, my aching arms, I plunged forward.

The boat… got to reach the boat before she grabs me again.

Swimming furiously, kicking with my last bit of strength, I dove for the
boat. Stretching my arms out… stretching…

And grabbed the side with both hands. Choking and gasping.

Grabbed the side of the boat and tried to pull myself in.

“Liz—help me.” The words escaped my throat in a hoarse whisper.

“Liz—help me in.”

The sun burst out from behind the clouds. I stared up into blinding golden
light.

“Liz—please…”

Hands reached down for me. She bent to pull me into the motorboat.

Leaned forward. Pulling me up.

Blinking against the bright sunlight, I raised my eyes to her face.

No!

Not Liz’s face. Not Liz!

Della!

Della—pulling me into the boat. “What’s wrong, Sarah?” she whispered.
Pulling me. Pulling me up to her. “Sarah, you’re okay. You’re perfectly okay.”

“Let go!” I wailed.

I tore myself from her grip.

And tried to blink away the sun.

And stared up at Liz.

Not Della. Liz. Her face twisted in concern.

“Sarah, you’re okay,” she repeated.

“But—” I stared up at her. Waiting for her face to change again. Waiting for
her to become Della again.

Had I only imagined Della’s face? Had the streaming sunlight tricked my eyes?

With a sigh, I let her help me into the boat.

I slumped to my knees. The boat rocked up and down. Liz narrowed her eyes at
me. “What happened out there?” she asked.

Before I could answer, I heard splashing outside the boat.

Della?

I froze.

No. Jan pulled herself up on the side. She brushed her wet hair off her face. “Sarah—didn’t you hear me calling you?”
she demanded.

“Jan. I didn’t see you. I thought that—” My voice caught in my throat.

“Why did you swim away from me?” Jan asked. “I’m your buddy—remember?”

Liz drove me to shore. I changed my clothes and went to see Richard. I found
him in his head counselor’s office, a little room about the size of a closet in
the back of the main lodge.

He was resting his feet on top of his tiny desk. He twirled a toothpick in
his mouth.

“Hey, Sarah—how’s it going?” He flashed me a friendly smile and motioned
for me to take a seat in the folding chair across from his desk.

I could see his eyes studying me.

“I hear you had another little problem in the lake,” he said softly. He moved
the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. “What’s going on?”

I took a deep breath.

Should I tell him there is a ghost girl who has been following me everywhere?
Who wants me to be her buddy?

He’d just think I’m nuts, I decided.

“You had a bad shock yesterday,” Richard said. “We really thought that you
drowned.”

He lowered his feet and leaned over the desk toward me. “Maybe you went back
in the water too soon,” he said. “Too soon after the shock.”

“Maybe,” I murmured.

And then I blurted out the question that was really on my mind. “Richard,
tell me about the girl who drowned here.”

His mouth dropped open. “Huh?” The toothpick fell onto his lap.

“I know that a girl drowned in the lake,” I insisted. “Can you tell me about
her?”

Richard shook his head. “No girl ever drowned at Camp Cold Lake,” he said.
“Never.”

I knew he was lying.

I had proof, after all. I had seen Della. And talked with her.

“Richard, please—” I begged. “I really need to know. Tell me about her.”

He frowned. “Why don’t you believe me, Sarah? I’m telling the truth. No
campers have ever drowned at this camp. No boys. No girls.”

I heard a soft sigh behind me.

I glanced back at the open doorway—and saw Della standing there.

I jumped to my feet. And pointed. “Richard!” I cried. “The girl who drowned!
She’s standing right there! Don’t you see her?”

Richard raised his eyes to the doorway. “Yes,” he replied softly. “I see
her.”

“Huh?” I gasped and grabbed the edge of his desk. “You see her?” I cried.
“You really do?”

Richard nodded. He had a solemn expression on his face. “If it makes you feel
better, Sarah, I’ll say that I see her.”

“But you don’t
really
see her?” I demanded.

He scratched his sandy-colored hair. “No. I don’t see anything.”

I turned back to the doorway. Della grinned at me.

“Sit down. Please,” Richard instructed. “You know, sometimes our mind plays
tricks on us. Especially when we’ve been through a really bad scare.”

I didn’t sit down. I stood in front of his desk and stared hard at Della.
Stared right through her.

“She’s not in my mind! She’s right there!” I shouted. “She’s standing right
there, Richard. Her name is Della. She drowned at this camp. And now she’s
trying to drown me too!”

“Sarah—please calm down,” Richard said gently. He climbed around his desk
and put a hand on my shoulder. Then he led me to the door.

I was standing face-to-face with Della.

She stuck out her tongue at me.

“See? There’s no one there,” Richard said.

“But—but—” I sputtered.

“Why don’t you stay away from the lake for a few days,” he suggested. “You
know. Just hang out and relax.”

Della mouthed his words as he spoke.

I turned away from her.

She giggled.

“Don’t go to the lake?” I asked Richard.

He nodded. “Take a few days and rest up. You’ll feel much better.”

I knew I wouldn’t feel better. I knew I’d still have Della following me
everywhere, trying to make me her buddy.

I sighed. “That won’t help,” I told him.

“Then I have a different idea,” he said. “Pick a sport you haven’t tried,
Sarah. Pick something really hard. Like water-skiing.”

“I don’t get it,” I replied. “Why should I do that?”

“Because you will have to think so hard about what you’re doing, you won’t
have time to worry about ghosts.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Right.”

“I’m
trying
to help you,” he said sharply.

“Well… thanks,” I replied. I didn’t know what else to say. “I guess I’ll go
to lunch now.”

I trudged out of the tiny office. And took a deep breath. The air was much
cooler out in the main lodge.

I turned the corner and headed toward the mess hall in the front of the
building. As I turned another corner, I heard Della’s frail voice behind me.

“You can’t get away, Sarah. You’re my buddy. There’s no need to run. You’ll
always
be my buddy.”

The soft words—so close to my ear—sent shivers down my back.

Something inside me snapped.

I couldn’t hold in my fury.

“SHUT UP!” I shrieked. “SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP—AND LEAVE ME ALONE!”

I spun around to see if she had heard me.

And gasped in horror.

Briana stood behind me.

Her mouth dropped open in shock. “Okay, okay. I’ll go away,” she said,
backing up. “You don’t have to be so nasty, Sarah. I was just coming to see how
you were doing.”

Wow. I felt so bad.

Briana thought I was talking to her.

“I—I—” I stammered.

“I thought you wanted to be friends,” Briana snapped. “I didn’t even say a
word to you. And you bit my head off!”

“I wasn’t talking to you!” I finally choked out. “I was talking to
her
!”

I pointed to Della, who leaned against the wall behind us. Della waved to me
and giggled.

Sun from the open lodge window lit up Della’s blond hair from behind. I could
see the window right through her body.

“I was talking to her!” I repeated.

Briana raised her eyes to the window.

And the
strangest
expression spread over her face.

The next morning, I gulped down some gooey scrambled eggs for breakfast. Then
I made my way to the boat dock.

Don’t ask why I decided to try water-skiing.

I really don’t have an answer.

I suppose I did it for Aaron. The night before, he begged me once again not
to call Mom and Dad.

Aaron really didn’t want to go home. He said he was having the best summer of
his life.

Sure, I thought. It’s
easy
for you to have a good summer. You don’t
have a ghost following you around.

“Please try to stay a while longer,” Aaron begged.

I won’t go to the lake, I decided. I’ll hang around the cabin and read or
something.

But in the morning, I realized that was a bad plan.

I’d be too scared to stay by myself in the cabin while everyone else was at
the lake. I would have no way to protect myself against Della.

Yes, I know I wasn’t thinking clearly.

I was so stressed out, I could barely think at all!

I should have stayed as far away from the water as possible.

But I really didn’t want to be alone. So I followed Richard’s advice. And went to the boat dock. And told Liz I wanted to try
water-skiing.

“That’s great, Sarah!” Liz cried, flashing me a pleased smile. “Have you ever
done it before? It’s easier than it looks.”

I told her I’d never tried it.

She pulled a yellow inflated life vest and a pair of skis from the equipment
shed.

Then she gave me a short lesson. Showed me how to lean back and how to bend
my knees.

A short while later, I was in the water waiting for the motorboat to come
around. Meg was using the boat now, skiing behind it, sliding over the water.
Her orange bathing suit glowed in the morning sunlight.