Camp Fear Ghouls

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

‘Three Evil Wishes’ Excerpt

About R.L. Stine

1

"Lizzy, I’m scared! Caroline Hurt whispered. She dug her fingers into my arm. My hands are shaking!"

We pushed through the crowded school hallway. Caroline, relax! I ordered my best friend. We’re going to get in. Everybody says so.

I wished I felt as sure as I sounded. For two days I had barely been able to eat. Or sleep.

Why? Because today was the day the Waynesbridge Scouts—the coolest scout troop in Waynesbridge Middle School—picked their new members.

I heard they slipped the invitations into the lockers last period. They’re in pink envelopes, Caroline whispered. She ran her fingers through her short blond hair. Then she tugged down her favorite navy blue T-shirt. I knew she wanted to make sure she looked good for the big moment.

I tightened the scrunchie holding my straight brown hair. I might as well look good too, I thought. Even if it was just to open my locker and look for a pink envelope.

It’s not that big a deal, I told Caroline, trying to sound like I didn’t really care.

But of course, I did. At Waynesbridge Middle School, every girl who’s anybody is a Waynesbridge Scout. It’s like a popularity contest. If you’re picked, you’re cool. If you’re not picked—well, then you’re a loser.

That’s why we were so nervous.

Usually, I’m not that into the kinds of things the Waynesbridge Scouts do. You know. Fixing each other’s hair and talking about boys. Caroline likes that stuff. I prefer softball. Camping. Climbing trees.

Most of all, I’m into scary stuff. Like ghost stories and monsters and horror movies.

But I’m definitely not into being a loser. So I was ready to do whatever it took to be a good Waynesbridge Scout.

Caroline clutched my arm. We shoved toward our lockers.

Oh, Lizzy, what if we didn’t make it? We’ll be total losers! No one will ever talk to us again! Caroline moaned and grabbed her stomach. Ohhhh! I think I’m going to throw up!

Don’t, I ordered.

Caroline and I have been best friends since the first grade. She’s older than me. Nine whole months older. And taller by three inches. But she can be a total wimp. Whenever she’s nervous, she threatens to throw up.

People tease me about being the shortest kid in the whole seventh grade. It makes me mad. But that’s why Caroline and I are best friends. She has always stuck up for me.

Finally, we stopped in front of our lockers. They stood right next to each other.

I can’t go first, Caroline whimpered. You do it, Lizzy.

Why don’t we open them at the same time? I suggested.

Good idea, Caroline agreed. On the count of three.

We spun the combinations on our locks.

This is it, I thought. My heart thudded in my chest. I squeezed my eyes closed and counted in a shaky voice. One, two—

Three! we said together.

We flung our doors open and stared in.

Yes! Caroline shrieked. She pumped her fist in the air. It’s here! It’s here!

I searched through my locker. My backpack, my baseball cap, a couple of overdue library books, and my gym suit sat inside.

But nothing else.

No pink envelope.

No invitation to the Waynesbridge Scouts.

I didn’t make it, I whispered. I stared blankly into my locker.

Caroline clutched her pastel pink invitation to her chest. "Oh, Lizzy, it has to be there." She got down on her knees and tossed all my stuff out of the locker. She used only one hand. She held her own invitation tightly in the other.

In seconds, my locker was completely empty. But still—no pink envelope.

No way. This has to be a mistake, Caroline insisted.

But I knew the awful truth. It’s no mistake, I said. I wasn’t asked to join. And I know why.

Caroline glanced up at me. Why?

Arden Sitwell, I growled. My lip curled into a snarl. Arden’s mother is the scout leader. And Arden hates me for not inviting her to my birthday party last year.

Caroline’s eyes widened. "You think Arden kept you out of the club for that?"

It has to be.

Behind me I could hear the giggles of the Waynesbridge Scouts. I turned to look at them.

Arden had perfect chin-length blond hair. She stood right in the middle of the scouts. They talked and laughed loudly.

We’ll show them, I murmured, narrowing my eyes at Arden. We don’t need their stupid club. We’ll form our own club. It will be way cooler than the Waynesbridge Scouts. Right?

I waited for Caroline to agree with me, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she began placing things back in my locker.

Right, Caroline? I repeated, tapping her on the shoulder. We’ll form our own club. Right?

Caroline stopped. She stared down at the pink envelope in her hand. Listen, Lizzy, she mumbled. I’ve wanted to be a Waynesbridge Scout since I was six. It means a lot to me.

Well, it meant a lot to me too! I put my hands on my hips. You’re not going to join without me, are you?

Caroline didn’t answer.

"Are you?" I asked again.

"I don’t see why we have to do everything together," she finally blurted out.

My jaw dropped.

What? I cried. I can’t believe you! You’re my best friend. How could you do this to me?

Caroline raised her head and finally stared me in the