The Curse of Camp Cold Lake

17

Della floated over me. So light and pale. The wind fluttered her hair. It rose around her like a shimmering halo.

“You’re dead,” I murmured. “And I am too.”

Saying the words sent a cold shudder down my body.

I began to realize the truth. I began to see what had happened.

Della had probably drowned here. Drowned in the lake.

That is why everyone at the camp is so crazy about water safety.

That explains the endless water safety lectures. And the long list of rules. And why the counselors insist on the Buddy System at all times.

Della drowned here.

And now I’m her buddy.

I’m her buddy-because I drowned too.

“Noooooooooo!” A long wail of horror, of disbelief, escaped my throat.

I threw my head back and wailed like an animal. Wailed out my sorrow.

Della floated over me, watching me. Waiting for me to stop. She knew what I was thinking. She knew I had figured everything out.

She waited patiently. How long had she been waiting there for me? Waiting for a buddy? Another dead buddy?

How long had she been waiting for another unlucky girl to drown?

“Noooo!” I moaned. “No, I won’t do it, Della! I can’t do it! I won’t be your buddy! I won’t!”

I spun around. So dizzy, I nearly dropped to my knees.

I started to run. The white robe flew open. It flapped beside me like wings as I ran away from her.

Ran barefoot over the snowy ground.

Ran through the swirls of fog. Through the gray.

“Come back, Sarah!” I heard Della call to me. “Come back! You have to be my buddy! I’m trapped here. Trapped as a ghost. I can’t leave this camp-I can’t get to the other world-without a buddy!”

But I didn’t stop. I kept running through the camp. Past the cabins. Past the supply sheds at the edge of the woods.

I kept running from her calls. Running from her ghostly voice.

I don’t want to be her buddy, I told myself. I don’t want to be a ghost!

I blinked away snowflakes as I ran. Ran through the bare, creaking trees. Ran without looking back.

I stopped when I reached the lake shore. Stopped when I felt the cold water lap over my feet.

The cold, gray water.

I struggled to catch my breath. But my chest hurt. Felt about to explode.

Gasping, I turned-and saw Della floating through the trees. Floating toward me, her eyes glowing with blue fire.

“You can’t leave without me, Sarah!” she called. “You can’t leave, Sarah!”

I turned away from her. Turned back to the water.

My chest. My head.

Everything hurt so much.

I couldn’t breathe.

My chest was going to burst.

I sank to the mud.

As the gray faded to black.