The Curse of Camp Cold Lake

14

The lake was shallow for only a few feet. Then the lake bottom gave way in a steep drop.

I kicked hard, pushing myself away from the other swimmers. Then I pulled myself upright, lowering my feet.

Yes.

I dropped my hands to my sides and let myself sink.

Down, down.

I opened my eyes as I dropped to the lake bottom. I saw only green. Waves of pale light shimmered through the green.

I’m floating inside an emerald, I thought. Floating down, down in a sparkling green jewel.

I pictured the tiny emerald on the ring Mom wore every day. Her engagement ring. I thought about Mom and Dad, thought how sad they’d be if I really did drown.

We never should have sent Sarah to that water sports camp, they would say.

My feet hit the soft lake floor.

A bubble of air escaped my mouth. I pressed my lips tighter, holding the air inside.

I slowly floated up toward the surface.

I closed my eyes. I kept my whole body still to make it look as if I’d drowned.

I pictured the horror on Liz’s face when she saw my body floating so still, floating under the water, my hair bobbing on the surface.

I almost laughed when I thought of Liz leaping into the lake to rescue me, having to get her crisp white tennis shorts wet, I forced myself to remain still.

I shut my eyes even tighter. And thought about Briana, Meg, and Jan.

They’ll feel so guilty They’ll never forgive themselves for the way they treated me.

After my close call, they’ll see how mean they were. And they’ll want to be best friends with me.

We’ll all be best friends.

And we’ll have a great summer together.

My chest began to feel tight. The back of my throat began to burn.

I opened my lips and let out a few more bubbles of air.

But my throat still burned, and so did my chest.

I floated facedown. I kept my legs stiff and let my arms hang loosely at my sides.

I listened for shouts of alarm.

Someone must have spotted me by now.

I listened for cries of help. For kids calling Liz.

But I heard only silence. The heavy silence you hear when you’re underwater.

I let out another bubble of air.

My chest really hurt now. It felt about to explode.

I opened my eyes. Was anyone nearby? Was anyone coming to rescue me?

I saw only green.

Where is everyone? I wondered.

Liz must have spotted me by now. Why isn’t she pulling me up out of the water?

I pictured her again in her white tennis shorts. I pictured her tanned arms and legs. I pictured her red hair.

Liz-where are you?

Liz-don’t you see me drowning here? You said you’d keep an eye on me, remember?

I can’t stay under much longer.

My chest is ready to explode. My whole body is tingling. Burning. My head feels about to pop open.

Can’t anyone see me here?

A wave of dizziness swept over me.

I shut my eyes, but the dizziness didn’t go away.

I pushed out the rest of the air in my lungs.

No air, I thought. No air left….

My arms and legs ached.

My chest burned.

With my eyes closed, I saw bright yellow spots.

Dancing yellow lights. They grew brighter… brighter. They did a fast, furious dance all around me.

Around my burning, tingling body.

My chest… exploding… exploding…

I’m so cold, I realized. Suddenly, I feel so cold.

The dancing, darting yellow lights grew brighter. Bright as spotlights. Bright as flashbulbs, flashing in my eyes.

Flashing around my still, cold body.

I shuddered from the cold.

Shuddered again.

Cold, thick water filled my mouth.

I’ve stayed under too long, I realized.

No one is coming. No one is coming to save me.

Too long… too long.

I struggled to see. But the lights were too bright.

Can’t see. Can’t see.

I swallowed another mouthful of water.

Can’t see. Can’t breathe.

I can’t stay under any longer. I can’t wait any longer.

I struggled to raise my head out of the water. But it felt so heavy. It weighed a ton.

Can’t stay down…

Can’t breathe.

With a burst of strength, I moved my shoulders. Pulled them up.

Hoisted up my head.

So heavy… so heavy. My hair filled with water. My hair so heavy. The water running down my face.

Over my eyes.

I turned to shore. Squinted through the bright, darting lights.

Squinted hard through the water running down my face.

Squinted…

No one there.

I turned again. My eyes searched the water.

No one there. No one swimming. No one on the shore.

Where is everyone? I wondered. Shivering. Shuddering.

Where did everyone go?