Read Online Goosebumps: The Curse of Camp Cold Lake by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online Page B

blades had sliced the life vest in two.
    I tossed the two pieces away. And started to laugh.
    “I’m alive!” I cried out loud. “I’m still alive!”
    I turned and saw the boat speeding across the lake. Did Della think she had
won?
    I didn’t care. I spun around. Found the shore. And started to swim.
    My close call gave me new energy. The strong, rocking current helped push me
back to the camp.
    I heard girls calling to me as I stumbled onto the grass. And I saw Liz
jogging quickly over.
    “Sarah—” she called. “Sarah—wait!”
    I ignored her. I ignored them all.
    I started to run.
    I knew what I had to do. I had to get away from Camp Cold Lake. I had to get
away as fast as I could.
    I wasn’t safe here. Not as long as Della wanted me for her buddy. Not as long
as Della wanted me to drown too.
    I knew no one would believe me. They all said they wanted to help. But no one
could really help me—not against a ghost!
    I burst into the cabin and tore off my wet swimsuit. Tossing it to the
floor, I frantically pulled on shorts and a T-shirt.
    I swept my wet hair back with both hands. Tugged on socks and my sneakers.
    “Got to get away. Got to get away,” I chanted to myself.
    What to do? Where to go?
    I’ll run through the woods to the town on the other side, I decided. I’ll
call Mom and Dad. I’ll tell them I’m hiding in town. I’ll tell them to pick me
up there.
    I stopped at the cabin doorway.
    Should I tell Aaron?
    No. No way, I decided.
    He’ll only try to stop me.
    I’ll get a message to Aaron from town, I decided. I’ll tell him where I am.
But not until I’m safe. Not until I’m far away from this place.
    I poked my head out of the cabin and searched around, making sure the coast
was clear. Then I stepped outside and made my way around to the back.
    And ran into Briana.
    She narrowed her eyes at me, studying my face. “You’re going?” she asked
quietly.
    I nodded. “Yes. I’m going.”
    Once again, Briana’s expression changed. The light in her eyes seemed to
fade.
    “Good luck,” she whispered.

 
 
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    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