Goosebumps: The Curse of Camp Cold Lake by R. L. Stine Page A

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.”

 
 
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    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.”

 
 
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    “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