R. Stine - The Barking Ghost

"Margaret, what did you mean back there?" I repeated. "This is important. Why did you say 'dogs'?"

"Dogs?" Her eyes grew wide. "I don't remember saying that."

My jaw fell open. "You did!" I insisted. "You looked straight at me and said, 'dogs'! I heard you!"

She shook her head. "No, I don't remember that," she replied thoughtfully.

Now I've met weird kids in my life, but Margaret here takes the cake. She almost makes Mickey seem normal.

Almost.

"Okay," I said, trying to sound calm, "here's what happened. You freaked out. Then you grabbed me. Then you said, 'Dogs.' Then you freaked out again."

"Don't remember," she replied softly, shaking her head from side to side. "Why would I say that?"

"I don't know!" I screamed, starting to lose it. "I'm not the one who said it!"

She gazed around in all directions, then focused those green, crazy eyes on me.

"Listen to me, Cooper," she whispered mysteriously. "Get away from here."

"Huh?"

"I'm warning you, Cooper! Tell your parents they must leave at once!" She glanced nervously behind her, then turned back to me.

"Please — listen to me. Get away from here! As fast as you can!"

Fergie let go of my shoulders and ran.

For a few seconds, I stared after her, too shocked to move. Then I decided I'd better not let her get away.

"Fergie!" I called out. "Wait up!"

For a girl, Fergie ran pretty fast. Actually, most girls I know are fast runners.

Whoever said they were slower than boys in the first place? It isn't true. Lots of girls in my class last year could beat any guy in a race.

Anyway, I happen to be a very fast runner. When you're afraid of everything, you learn to run — fast!

"Fergie!" I called again. "Please! Tell me what's going on!" But I couldn't catch up.

Then, to my surprise, she stopped and turned back to me. "Listen, Cooper," she said, calmer than before. "The woods are haunted. Your house is probably haunted, too. Go home. Go home and tell your parents to move back to wherever you came from."

"But — but — but — " I sputtered.

"It's too dangerous here," Fergie warned. "Get away, Cooper. As fast as you can!"

With that, she turned and walked away in the direction of her house.

I didn't follow her this time.

I should have. I totally forgot that I was lost.

I turned around. My house is probably in the opposite direction, I decided.

She disappeared through the trees. Fine with me, I thought angrily. It would be fine with me if I never saw her again.

Why did she tell me all that?

Why did she say the woods were haunted?

Because it was true?

Leave it to my parents to buy a haunted house in haunted woods!

I continued on, unable to shake the creepy feeling I had. I felt as if a hundred eyes were stalking me through the trees.

I wished Fergie had kept her mouth shut.

The longer I walked, the more frightened I became. Now I was positive that the woods were haunted. Haunted by ghosts tracking every step I made.

Then, in the distance, I heard a faint banging. It startled me at first. When I realized it was Dad working on the grill, I shrieked with joy.

"All right! I'm almost home!" My plan had worked.

I followed the hammering sounds.

Something rustled the branches above my head and made me jump.

I gazed up.

Just a bird.

Staring up at the trees, I nearly fell headfirst into a stream.

The water lapped quietly against the grassy shore. It reflected the pale blue morning sky above it.

Funny, I hadn't seen this stream here before.

I bent down to touch the water. Cold.

This is awesome! I thought. A real stream, practically in my own backyard.

Then I remembered that it wouldn't be my backyard for long. As soon as I told my parents what Fergie had said, we'd pack up and move back to Boston.

As I dried my hand on my shirt, I had that creepy feeling again. The feeling of eyes watching me. My head jerked up, and I gasped.

There were eyes watching me.

Four dark eyes glared at me from across the stream.

The eyes of two enormous black Labradors.

One dog panted loudly, its tongue hanging out. The other dog flashed its teeth at me. Ugly, yellow teeth.

They both uttered low, menacing growls.

Not friendly. Not friendly at all.

Run! I urged myself. Run!

But my legs wouldn't budge.

Growling, the dogs eyed me hungrily.

Then they attacked.

Their heavy paws thudded the ground as they came bounding toward me. Their eyes glowed with excitement. Their large heads bobbed up and down.

With a terrified cry, I turned and ran.

If only I could fly!

"Helllllp!" Was that me letting out that frightened wail?

Yes. I think it was.

Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of light through the trees. Sunlight glistening off the jungle gym slide!

Yes!

Almost home.

The two black Labs ran at my heels. I could feel their hot breath on the backs of my legs. I felt a pair of sharp teeth scrape my ankle.

With one last gasp of speed, I burst through the trees and out of the woods. "Dad!" I yelled, racing toward my father.

"Help me!" I shrieked. "The dogs! The dogs!" I threw my arms around his waist and held on.

"Cooper, calm down! What's gotten into you?" my father asked, grabbing me by the shoulders.

"The dogs!" I wailed, refusing to let go of him.

"Cooper, what dogs?" Dad demanded.

I blinked at him in confusion. Didn't he hear them? Couldn't he see them?

I let go of him and pointed toward the woods.

"Wild dogs. Big, black Labs, I think. They chased me, and — "

I scanned the yard frantically. Dad and I were alone.

No barking.

No snarling.

The sunlight glistened off the slide.

The tire swung lazily from its rope.

The dogs had vanished.

"Cooper, this is a joke — right?" Dad asked, shaking his head.

"Huh? No way!" I cried. "They were right behind me. One almost bit me, and — "

"And then they disappeared into thin air!" Dad declared.

"Come into the woods with me," I pleaded. "They've got to be there." I ran to the edge of the woods, desperately searching for some sign of the dogs. Dad followed right behind.

But there was nothing to see.

I turned and slunk back to the house.

Dad didn't say anything until we were back in the yard. He sat down on the jungle gym slide. His eyes studied me.

"Cooper, tell me what's wrong," Dad said in a low voice. I could tell he thought I had made all this up.

"I told you, Dad. Two dogs chased me through the woods. They were inches from me! One tried to tear my leg off!"

Dad continued to stare up at me, his expression thoughtful.

"Dad, listen," I pleaded. "We have to move. We can't live here!"

He climbed to his feet. "What are you talking about, Cooper?"

"We have to move back to Boston," I insisted. "We can't stay here!"

"Why not?" Dad asked.

"It's this house!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "It's haunted!"

"Now, Cooper — "

"Dad! Listen to me," I begged. "The woods… this house… they're all haunted. Everybody around here knows it already! We never should have moved here!"

"Cooper, you're not making any sense," Dad replied, keeping his voice low and calm. "You know, walking in the woods by yourself can be scary. Why don't you come inside and calm down? Mom made a big breakfast. Have some French toast. You'll feel better." He put his arm around my shoulders.

Now I really felt upset. My own father didn't believe me.

"But, Dad, it's true!" I insisted. "The woods are haunted, and this weird girl I met warned me to move out! She — "

"Cooper, I know you're unhappy about the move," Dad said. "But these wild stories aren't going to change anything. This is where we live now."