The Curse of Camp Cold Lake

29

Why is she acting so weird? I wondered.

I didn’t have time to think about it. I gave Briana a wave. Then I ran past her and headed into the woods.

I glanced back as I followed a path between the trees. And saw Briana still standing there behind the cabin. Watching me.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and hurried along the path.

The trees overhead cut off a lot of the sunlight. It grew darker and cooler as I ran.

A hedge of sharp burrs and brambles scraped my bare arms and legs as I tried to edge past. I wished I had worn jeans and a sweatshirt. Something that covered me better.

My sneakers slipped over a thick blanket of dead leaves. I had to skip over fallen tree limbs and clumps of thorny weeds.

Tree roots rose up over the path. Tall, dry reeds leaned over me, as if reaching to grab me.

The narrow path divided in two. I paused-breathing hard-trying to decide which path to take.

Would they both lead me to town?

I held my breath when I heard a voice. Singing.

A bird?

No. A soft voice. A girl’s voice.

“Oh, no,” I moaned. Raising my eyes to the sound, I saw Della, perched on a low tree limb. She tilted her head from side to side as she sang. Her blue eyes sparkled, gazing down at me.

“You-you followed me!” I stammered. “How did you know that I-” My voice caught in my throat.

She giggled. “You’re my buddy,” she replied. “We have to stick together.”

“No! No way!” I screamed up at her. “You lose, Della. I’m not going to be your buddy. Because I’m never going to the lake again. I’m never going to drown like you!”

Della’s smile faded. “Drown?” She shook her head. “Sarah, what made you think that? You’re very confused. I didn’t drown.”

“Huh?” My mouth dropped open. I stared up at her in shock.

“Close your mouth, Sarah. A fly will fly into it.” Della tilted back her head and laughed.

Then she shook her head again. “How could anyone drown at Camp Cold Lake?” she demanded. “They give a lecture about water safety every five minutes! No one ever drowned at Camp Cold Lake!”

“You didn’t drown?” I cried. “Then how did you die?”

She rested her hands on the tree limb and leaned forward, peering down at me. I could see through her body, see the leaves shaking in the breeze.

“It’s a simple story,” Della said with a sigh. “One night I got tired of listening to the water safety lecture at the campfire. So I sneaked off into these woods.”

She swept her hair back with a toss of her head. “I made one major mistake,” she continued. “I didn’t know the woods are filled with deadly poisonous snakes.”

I gasped. “These woods? Snakes?”

Della nodded. “It’s nearly impossible to cross through these woods without getting bitten,” she sighed. “I died of a snakebite, Sarah.”

“But-but-” I sputtered. “But you were always at the lake,” I choked out. “Why did I always see you at the lake?”

“Don’t you get it?” she replied. “That was my plan. I made you afraid of the lake, Sarah. I made you terrified of the lake. Because I knew you’d try to escape through the woods. I knew you’d run into the woods and die like me-and be my buddy.”

“No-!” I protested. “I won’t. I-”

“Sarah, look!” Della pointed toward the ground.

I gazed down-and watched a fat black snake curl around my leg.