I write some in my free time and I am posting my stories here to get people's opinions. I;'ve been writing them for years and I plan to publish them someday and become an author. Every character is based on one of my friends and some of the stories are inspired by true events. There are twenty one chapters but read as many as you can and tell me what you think please. As I write more I'll add them to this thread. There may be a few minor errors but just ignore them. Anyway here they are, enjoy.


Prologue

Something weird happened in the campgrounds called Lake In Wood. Strange things occurred for no apparent reason and only a group of young adults could stop what they came to call “The Weirdness”. They never knew what they were going to face or who might be lost in the battle. Through all of this the heroes of these tales have seen some scary and amazing things, but no matter what happened they had to stay strong and not be overcame by the power of “The Weirdness”. If they were to let their guards down even for a second something horrible may happen to the campgrounds.
Maybe they found a way to overpower the strange force that was wreaking terror in the usually peaceful campground or maybe it destroyed them before they could stop it causing the destruction of Lake In Wood. What if wasn’t just Lake In Wood either? What if “The Weirdness” spread out of the campgrounds to any of our heroes’ hometowns or even to your own town and you just don’t know it. Next time you feel like you are being watched or something out of the ordinary happens think to yourself that it may be “The Weirdness”. Turn the page now to find out how things unfold…

Chapter 1: Psycho of Lake In Wood

Once in the construction of the campground’s café, a wall fell crushing a worker to death, but the owner didn’t want anyone to find out so he paid the company some additional money to keep quiet about the accident. As for the body it was tossed in the lake to be forgotten, as the saying goes “out of sight out of mind.” One year later however, the lake was struck by lightning, bringing life back to the forgotten worker who used to go by the name John Charles. Now he is back from the dead to reek terror through the campgrounds.

“Ah this is relaxing just floating here in middle of the lake maybe catch a fish or two,” Josh said, a tall kid with glasses and wild uncontrollable brown hair, all his friends think Josh is smart and funny. The lake was shining with the sunlight hitting its clear water.
“I hope we catch something soon, I’m getting kind of bored,” Andrew complained, he has short brownish blond hair and is of medium height. Just then something rammed the boat from underneath the water. Josh and Andrew looked but could not see a thing “Forget fishing something is mad at us,” Andrew yelled.
Josh and Andrew each grabbed an oar and started to row. “Maybe it’s an angry snapping turtle or something,” breathed Andrew, just then Josh looked behind him to see a hand come from the water and grab the back of the boat. They get to the dock where they jumped out of the boat before the front end of the boat touches the old dock; they left out a breath of relief as they watch the hand goes back underwater. As they turned towards the side of the lake they watched as a man in construction worker clothes walked out of the lake and turned towards them. “Who or what is that,” Josh exclaimed. The man’s skin is missing from his face, some rotting flesh hung on to his skull which the boys could see clearly, the mysterious man then disappeared into the woods.

Later that night Josh and Andrew were at their friend Tim’s. Josh and Andrew are inside the trailer with Tim, and their friend Mike. Mike is somewhat short and chubby, but has a great sense of humor and Tim is short and hyper with short blond hair. The kids are in Tim’s trailer playing video games, while the adults sit around a campfire.
“Oh yeah,” Tim yelled beating Andrew in a game, “I am the best.”
“Shut up,” Andrew yelled at Tim, “You got lucky.”
Tim looked at Andrew with a grin, “There’s a difference between luck and skill, and I have skill.”
“It was luck,” Andrew yelled.
“Skill,” Tim yelled back.
Josh decided at that point to intervene, “Shut up and have a rematch to decide if it was luck or skill.” He turned to Mike; “You’re awfully quiet.”
“I’m just thinking. Well I should check with my parents to see how long I can stay over for,” Mike said. Mike then left and disappeared in the darkness.
“You beat me again,” Andrew yelled at Tim.
“I have skills,” Tim gloated.
Andrew was getting angry; “You’re just really lucky tonight.”
“Skill.”
“Luck.”
“Skill.”
“Luck.”
“Alright I’ve had enough of this. I have to get out of this trailer before I lose my mind. I’ll be back in a minute,” Josh said getting up to leave.
“You’re mind is already lost,” Tim yelled as Josh leaves the trailer.
When Josh stepped out into the warm July night he heard a noise in the road, he went to investigate and found Mike with a knife in his back. Just then the guy from the lake jumped out of the woods, pulled the knife out of Mike’s back and came after Josh. Josh ran back onto Tim’s site. All the adults that were sitting by the campfire ran over to Mike’s site through the woods scared. Except Tim’s dad, a big guy with a buzz cut who is a police officer in New Jersey. “I don’t know who you are,” Tim’s dad said, “but get out of here.” The guy swung his knife cutting Tim’s dad’s throat. This gave Josh time to run inside Tim’s trailer locking the door behind him. Andrew was telling Tim about the guy at the lake. That is when Tim suddenly started screaming they turned around to see the guy’s face at the window. He started to pound on the window trying to break it to grab them. “It’s a psycho,” screamed Andrew.
Then he suddenly stopped and walked away because somebody was banging on the trailer door. They heard their friend Ryan, a short kid with brown hair that’s always nicely combed he has a great sense of humor and can be as hyper as Tim. Ryan stayed with his grandparents at Lake In Wood. He was asking, “Can I come in?”
Tim opened the door a little and said, “Let’s get out of here.” They started to run away when “The Psycho” jumped out from behind Tim’s trailer grabbing Andrew. But Andrew kicked him and ran. As Andrew ran away Tim’s dog Mindy came out of the open trailer door attacking “The Psycho”. “The Psycho” shook Mindy off his leg. She ran back into the trailer scared, but safe. Ryan’s grandparents that were on the golf cart (the main form of transportation at Lake in Wood) saw the psycho and ran. The four of them climb on Ryan’s golf cart and drove away. When they looked back they saw the psycho has the keys to Tim’s golf cart. Their hearts beat hard as the psycho started chasing them in the stolen cart. Quickly they told Ryan what is going on. It was four scared kids on a golf cart with Josh driving, Tim beside him and in the back Andrew and Ryan. The psycho was gaining on them with Tim’s stolen golf cart.
The cart started to slow down. Tim turned to Ryan asking, “When did you charge this thing last?”
“About a week ago.” Answered Ryan. The cart slows then comes to a stop. “Come on I know a way to the office where we will be safe. It’s only nine so the office will still be open.”
The group cut through Josh’s friend Tracy’s site, the big site has a picnic table with a flashlight on it, and a tree stump in the middle that has a dog leash around it for Tracy’s dog Thor. When Tracy heard them outside she walked out in tee shirt and shorts with her long brown hair a bit messy and her glasses crooked on her face, it looked like she just woke up. She asked, ”What‘s going on here?”
They all explained to her about “The Psycho” and she doesn’t believe them. Josh looked at Andrew who was staring at Tracy, “What’s your problem?”
“Huh,” Answered Andrew.
“You were staring at Tracy,” Josh told him.
Andrew looked puzzled, “I was?”
“Yeah you were,” Ryan said.
Tracy’s sister, Wendy, a kind of chubby with similar brown hair as Tracy’s, walked out complaining that they woke her up. “The Psycho” out of nowhere ran out of the woods stabbing her with a sharp stick through the neck from behind.
Josh turned to Tracy and said; “I told you so.” So the group ran into the woods. But before the group of now five started their trip through the woods towards the office Tracy grabbed a flashlight from her picnic table. “The Psycho” swung a knife at her cutting her back as she ran. The woods were dark and creepy with the tall trees that hid the moonlight.
“We’ll take the trail to the lake then go up to the office,” ordered Josh.
“Who made you the boss,” demanded Tim.
“I’m the oldest,” Josh yelled.
Then Tracy cut in, “I think Josh should lead.” Everybody agrees except Tim.
Tim turned to Andrew; “Of course you agree with her, I saw how you were looking at her back there.”
“Shut up,” Andrew shot at Tim.
As they walk something falls out of the tree. They screamed because it was a campground employee named Tom with a rope around his neck.
“He’s dead,” said Josh.
They walked quietly until they got to where they must cross the creak, when “The Psycho” jumped out from the shadows. Everybody ran through the creek towards the lake and the dock. Unfortunately it is a long distance from the trail to the dock, while running Ryan tripped and fell with “The Psycho” gaining on him, Tim saw Ryan on the ground, and goes back to save him. “Thanks,” said Ryan as they run to catch up with the other, “If it wasn’t for you that guy would have got me.” They all got to the dock safely grabbing a boat and untying it. The shiny lake was now as black as night, it looked like it would swallow anything that entered its water.
“I hope he can’t swim,” said Josh as they jumped into the boat.
“Why are we in the lake,” asked Andrew as they float towards the middle of the lake, “This is where we first saw him.”
They looked back to see that he isn’t there. “Where is he?” demanded Tim as a hand grabbed him from the water starting to pull him in. As “The Psycho’s” head surfaced Ryan hits him with an oar. “That’s for saving me,” Ryan said to Tim.
Andrew noticed “The Psycho” left a knife in the boat. As it started to sink Tracy grabbed the knife and went underwater to stab “The Psycho”, but he pulls her under trying to drown her. Andrew yelled, then with some rope from the boat jumped in the lake strangling the menace. They watched as “The Psycho” came up on his stomach and Andrew comes up seconds later with Tracy in his arms.

After the five were found no one believed them, the adults at the fire thought it was a prank. Although they never did find the body of Tim’s dad, Everyone thought he ran away to start a new life elsewhere. As for Mike and Wendy, Their bodies were never found, the police thought they ran away from home together. Tom’s death was ruled suicide and as for the rest of them they were thought to have gotten bored and swam in the lake because the pool was closed. Another reason no one believed them is the body of the killer was never found. He was still out there somewhere.

Chapter 2: Return of The Psycho of Lake In Wood

One year passed after the strange happening at the campgrounds, Lake In Wood where a man they called “The Psycho” came back to life and went after Josh and his friends. Now they’re going back. After the incident they all left Lake In Wood except Ryan. All their parents kept the trailers, but the kids stayed home whenever they went to Lake In Wood. All the families went out to dinner, Josh, Tracy, Tim and Andrew with Josh’s friend Lizzy are in Josh’s van. Lizzy is tall and kind of skinny with long dirty blond and hair. She has a great sense of humor and is funny as can be.

“Man I can’t believe you talked me into going back,” Andrew complained.
“Me neither,” agreed Tracy who lost her sister in the incident.
”Oh you took a break from smooching with Andrew to disagree with me,” shot back Josh. A year ago Andrew saved Tracy’s life when “The Psycho” almost drowned her, they then fell in love.
“What happened,” asked Lizzy the newest member of the group before Tracy could come up with a comeback towards Josh.
“A year ago a guy came after us there, we thought we killed him but the body was never was found,” Tim explained.
“He killed an employee and the cops thought it was suicide,” said Andrew.
“And they thought our friends Mike and Wendy Ran away together, ”added Josh.
Tim shook his head, “Let’s not forget my dad. They say he ran away to start a new life.”
Andrew smiled, “I would too with your mom.” Tim shot him an evil look.
Josh’s dad turned around from driving, “Stop with that stupid story again it’s not true,” he yelled.
“That’s what happened to my,” Lizzy starts to say something then restates it as, “That’s what happened up at Lake In Wood I heard bit and pieces of the story.”
Josh turned to Lizzy, “What were you going to say?”
“Nothing.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing,” Tim said still mad Andrew for the comment he made about Tim’s mom.
“At least we’ll get to see Ryan again right,” asked Tracy before an argument starts.
But Josh didn’t hear Tracy’s question because he saw someone in the woods by the campgrounds. He turned to his friends yelling, “Did you see that guy in the woods?”
Everyone looked but didn’t see a thing. Then Tracy smacks Josh in the head and scolded him; “Stop trying to scare us you immature jerk.”
“I swear it wasn’t a joke, I saw someone in the woods for once I’m not playing a prank,” Josh defended himself.
Andrew jumped in, “Don’t lie to her.”
“I wasn’t lying.” Josh said, “I saw someone.
“Sit down,” Lizzy said, I’m sure it was nothing.” Then quietly she added, “I hope.”
They all sit down again as they drive into the campgrounds. All of them got a bad feeling about this trip back, even the new member Lizzy seemed nervous. “You okay,” Josh asked Lizzy, “You look really nervous.”
“I’m fine,” She replied giving a smile that Josh isn’t sure too about.

After Josh’s dad drops everyone back at their own sites, so they can change out of their good dress clothes from dinner they all meet to go to Ryan’s trailer.
“Hey Ryan,” Tim yelled as the group walked up onto his site where Ryan sits by a fire.
Ryan stands up, “It’s been a while, I see we have someone new. A friend of yours Josh.” Ryan smiled at Josh.
“This is just a friend of mine,” Josh said giving Ryan a mean look, “She knows about the incident. Now that the introductions are over, Ryan any strange happenings lately since we left?”
“Nope,” he answered, ”How about you?”
Josh smiled, “Only Andrew and Tracy here becoming a bit more than friends.” Tracy took a step forward to chase Josh, but Ryan cuts in stopping her.
“Oh wait I almost forgot now that I think of it there was this,” Ryan said pulling a note from his pocket and handing it to Josh, it said:

Tell your friends not to come back or they won’t survive their trip. As for you leave now or you won’t live to see tomorrow. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, leave or meet your doom.
The Psycho of Lake In Wood

As Josh read the note aloud Tracy fainted. Andrew caught her in his arms then yelled at Josh, “What did you do that for? You made her faint, first you said you saw somebody in the woods and now this!”
“Whoa you saw somebody in the woods. Why didn’t you say something,” demanded Ryan.
Josh replied, “I didn’t think it was important, besides no one else believed me.”
“This note could be a prank,” Tim added.
“Why would someone do this, you said no one believed your story,” Lizzy said helping Andrew carry Tracy into Ryan’s trailer for her to lie down for a while. Lizzy holds Tracy’s legs as Andrew has her under the shoulders.
“When did you get this note,” asked Tim.
Ryan replied, ”Yesterday morning.”
They went into Ryan’s trailer to think about what they know and check on Tracy. As Josh stands over her to check on her she wakes up. She sits up and starts to strangle Josh. The group has to pry her hands off him. “Don’t do that again or I’ll hurt you, “ she threatened.
Josh just laughed holding his hurting throat, “Save it for the person who wrote that note.” He turned to Andrew, “Your girlfriend has a good grip, I wouldn’t try to breakup with her or anything if I were you.”

When it became night everyone wanted to go back to their own trailers. Everybody started to argue when Tim said, “If “The Psycho” is still around he can pick us off one by one at each of our trailers.”
At that point everybody turned around and yelled,” Shut up Tim,” then went back to arguing. When there is a knock at the door everyone stopped arguing and hid, then they hear a kid’s voice say,” Let me in it’s me Joey I came back.”
Still no one moved because Joey is an old enemy of the group that still thought that they are all friends. He gets tired of waiting so he pulls open the unlocked door and said, “Why didn’t you-.”
Joey doesn’t get to finish his sentence because “The Psycho” came out of the woods and impaled him with a stick then ran back into the woods.
Josh noticed a note on the stick, he pulled the note off, ”Not another stupid note, Tracy don’t faint when I read this one okay.”
Tracy replied,” Shut up.”
Josh read the note with his hand trembling, this one said:

I warned you to leave while you could but, you didn’t listen to me prepare to suffer for your mistakes. You won’t live to see dawn tomorrow. Don’t try to run, don’t try to scream it won’t do any good.
The Lake in wood Psycho

Tim cuts in and said; “We won’t see my mom tomorrow.”
“No, not your mom you numbskull it means sunrise, just because your mom’s name is Dawn doesn’t mean he’s talking about her,” snapped Josh.
Tracy asked when they stopped arguing, “What are we going to do with the body?”
“We’ll hide the body in the woods,” answered Josh as he looked towards Lizzy. “You alright?”
“It’s nothing,” Lizzy replied, “Just seeing him.”
“It’s okay,” Josh said grabbing her hand and holding it between both of his, “Everything will be fine I’ll make sure of it. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Andrew yelled to Josh and Lizzy, “Stop yapping and help us get rid of this body.”
The group took the body and hides it way back in the woods behind Ryan’s site.
Just then Tim’s parents pulled up in their golf cart and asked the group if they want to go up to the entertainment in the entertainment hall above the office. Tim’s family doesn’t want to go back so the group went up on their own feeling it will be safe being around other people. Josh was driving the cart with Lizzy beside him Tim beside her and Andrew, Tracy, and Ryan on the back. Not even half way up to the music there was a popping sound as a tire pops on the golf cart as the group goes down a hill by the creek. From the fall Ryan is knocked out.
After the landing Tim looked at the tire “WHAT THE HECK THERE’S A KNIFE IN THE TIRE.”
With those words “The Psycho” jumped out stabbing Tracy. As she falls Andrew catches her. In anger he yelled for her, she survived the wound but just barely. Andrew charged the but “The Psycho” puts out one hand choking him. Luckily Tim picks up a branch on the ground and hits “The Psycho” on the head causing him to release Andrew. “The Psycho” chased Tim down and stabbed him in the chest.
As “The Psycho” went towards Ryan he woke up and ran. With a swipe of the knife Ryan is cut along his side, but as “The Psycho” is about to finish Ryan Lizzy ran past trying to get up the hill to safety.
When “The Psycho” turned to Lizzy Josh watches him grin, as he said, “Now is the time to die my daughter.” Josh ran up with the knife out of Tim stabbing “The Psycho” right in his back. He swung backwards sending Josh flying. With Josh out of the way Lizzy is pinned to a tree with a second knife. Josh yelled, “LIZZY!”
Andrew jumped into Tim’s golf cart backing up at full speed ramming him into a tree. Wounded Tracy limps up, opens the compartment to the golf cart batteries. “This is for my sister,” Tracy yelled as she pulled wires from the cart and shocks “The Psycho”. Tim then appeared from behind a tree, cautiously he approached to “The Psycho” to make sure he is dead and collapses from his wound.

After the three survivors Josh, Andrew, and Tracy checked each other’s wounds they took “The Psycho’s” body and wrapped it in a tarp they found in the woods. Tracy went to her site to get three shovels. Josh, Tracy, and Andrew first made graves for each of their friends, after putting the bodies in they filled up each hole except for Ryan because his body was oddly missing. They took the body of “The Psycho” to a small collection of water where the group used to catch frogs by the lake. Right beside it the three in silence dug a deep hole that took an hour to make the right size and threw the body in it then filled in the hole. As they walk away relieved to have this end, The group didn’t notice the hand come out of the burial spot.



Chapter 3: Final Tale of The Psycho of Lake In Wood

After the last encounter with “The Psycho” Josh, Andrew, and Tracy thought the whole ordeal was over, they were wrong. It is two months later in late-August, Josh and his friend visiting from school Charlie, tall and skinny with a buzz cut that can be a bit hyper and his brother Andy, short, with hair just as short and quiet. They are walking around the lake toward the spot where the group buried “The Psycho”.

Tauntingly Josh asked “So Charlie you don’t believe me about “The Psycho”,”
“Nope,” answered Charlie, “I think it's all made-up.”
“No one ever believes me until it’s too late,” Josh muttered then said, “Your brother believes me right Andy.”
“Not really I agree with my brother.”
“Brothers,” said Josh rolling his eyes.
Just before Charlie or Andy could say anything back they got to their destination. They looked at the spot where “The Psycho” was buried and are stunned to find an empty hole.
“What happened, this doesn’t make a bit of sense,” said Josh as he fell to his knees in shock.
“Nice Josh an empty hole, but you should get an award for this act,” Charlie taunted turning to his brother, “What do you think Andy?”
“I think-“
Before Andy could finish his sentence someone grabbed him by his shoulder from behind. Andy screamed, Charlie yelled and Josh forced a laugh as he gets off the ground. The one who grabbed him was Andrew and beside him is Tracy her hand in his.
“Is this “The Psycho” you told me about,” asked Charlie with a disapproving look on his face.
“I told you about this guy, that’s Andrew and she’s Tracy,” Josh replied then asked Andrew, “Did you guys move the body of “The Psycho” to a new place?”
“What are you talking about,” Andrew said clueless. He looked at Tracy, but she just shrugged her shoulders.
“This is what I’m talking about,” Josh said moving so that away Andrew and Tracy can see the hole
Andrew yelled, “HOLLY CRAP,” where’s the body?”
Andy had a big grin on his face as he said, “I think that they all deserve an award for this, even though Andrew did scare me I don’t believe that “The Psycho” exists.”
From behind Andy a voice said, “So you don’t believe that I exist.”
Out from behind a tree came “The Psycho” who grabbed Andy by the back of the neck slamming face first up against a tree then stabbed him in back of his head.
Everyone ran with Josh yelling at the top of his lungs, “Now you better believe me Charlie. Keep moving run towards the lake.”
Since “The Psycho” was blocking the direct way to the lake the group had to scatter then run out of the woods. Josh and Tracy went left, while Charlie and Andrew go right. “The Psycho” decided to chase Josh and Tracy. Right ahead of Tracy and Josh is a small collection of water that they must go around.
“Tracy go around the left of the water I’ll go around the right,” suggested Josh.
“Yeah sounds like a good plan to me,” Tracy agreed.
Tracy and Josh did just that, the plan would have worked except Tracy’s shirt got caught on a thorn bush.
“Stupid thorns, Josh get back here and help me.”
Josh turned around to go back to help Tracy, but at the same time “The Psycho” was gaining on them. Josh was pulling the thorns from her shirt when “The Psycho” is a couple hundred feet away.
“Josh save yourself don’t worry about me, but tell Andrew that my last thoughts were of him and I will love him forever. Now go.”
Josh with those words in his mind took off running towards the lake. He looked back to see Tracy being stabbed and thrown into the water.
After “The Psycho” was done with Tracy he, or she, or it started to chase Josh. Josh ran out of the woods into the safety of the open. The problem was that Josh is running too fast that he won’t be able to stop in time to prevent himself from falling down a hill into the lake. Luckily an arm grabbed him Just in time. “This lake is not for swimming young man,” a person said behind him, he turned around to see Charlie was the one who grabbed him.
“Shut up and let go of me we have a problem,” snapped Josh.
Charlie snickered, “This is all a great act you’re putting on for me.”
Josh is angered, “This is no act and you know it. You saw your brother be killed.”
“How’d you get him to help you,” Charlie asked.
Andrew suddenly asked, “Where’s Tracy?”
“She didn’t make it,” answered Josh. With that Andrew tackles Josh, they are on the ground wrestling, Josh on the ground with Andrew on top of him fist up.
“You let her die, now I’ll do “The Psycho’s” job for him,” Andrew screamed at Josh.
Josh said as calm as he could, “She wanted me to save myself and leave her, she also said her last thoughts were of you and she will love you forever.”
“I’m sorry Josh,” Andrew said helping Josh up, “I shouldn’t take my anger out on you.”
“Wow,” Charlie commented, “Andrew isn’t playing. Okay I believe you now.”
“About time,” spit Josh.

Josh, Andrew, and Charlie walked back to Josh’s trailer in complete silence, but when they got there they found a note on the door. Josh and Andrew are shocked remembering from before. “No more notes this is what happened last time,” whined Andrew.
“Lets read it anyway it might not be from “The Psycho”,” Charlie said aware of the notes from the last incident from Josh.
“There is no way on earth we are reading that,” yelled Josh.
“Yeah,” agreed Andrew.
Charlie said in anger, “ Fine I will.” He grabbed the note reading it to himself, he said, “It’s from a guy named Ryan he talks about the incidents before with “The Psycho” in the note. I thought you said he was dead.”
“I thought he was, his body never found after “The Psycho” stabbed him. Give me the note,” ordered Josh.
Charlie hands the note to Josh; he read it out loud it so that they all could hear, it said:

Dear survivors Josh Andrew and Tracy,
“The Psycho” was not defeated last time; after he wounded me I ran off hiding in the woods. Then I followed you as you buried the others. Ever since I lived in the woods so he wouldn’t kill me but he would go after you guys. Meet me on the Lake trail on the small island.
Ryan

“Except there is no Tracy anymore,” Charlie said, “Instead there’s me.”
“We should go and see if it’s him,” suggested Andrew ignoring Charlie’s ignorant comment about his dead girlfriend.
Josh replied, “What if it’s a trap? What do you think Charlie?”
“I’m not going I already got to explain what happened to Andy and that’s going to be hard enough.”
“Fine,” Andrew again yelling in anger, “I’ll go alone,” he said starting to walk away.
“Wait,” Charlie yelled, “you can’t go alone we’ll come with you.”

The three of them walked to the to their destination not sure what to expect when they arrive. When they did arrive there was someone on the island waiting for them, but it was too dark to see who awaits their arrival.
“Who’s there,” Josh yelled into the dark woods.
“It’s me Ryan. What are we going to do about “The Psycho”?”
But before anyone could answer “The Psycho” jumped out of the woods stabbing Ryan. Josh, Andrew and Charlie run away, with Josh is yelling orders to make sure everyone stays safe, “Get to the Lake it’s closest.”
Running towards the lake the three boys see a group of figures step out from behind some trees in front of them.
“Who the heck,” yelled Charlie.
Josh recognizes the group right away; it is everyone who was ever killed by “The Psycho”. There is Ryan, Mike, Wendy, Tom, Tim, Lizzy, Joey, Andy, Tim’s dad and Tracy as zombies.
“No way,” gasped Josh
“This is not good,” said Andrew looking at the zombie Tracy, “Even my girlfriend.”
Charlie asked him with a grin, “Even though she’s dead you still like her?”
“No way let’s get out of here.”
The three of them run at the group of zombies because zombies are slow and stupid. The zombies unfortunately grabbed Andrew holding him as “The Psycho” appeared stabbing him. As Josh and Charlie keep running Josh is thinking, “Next time we see him he’ll be a zombie like the others unless we end this somehow.”
The only two left jump out of the woods at the lake as the owner of the campgrounds, Klaas Bakker, came by in a golf cart, “Watch where you are running,” he said. But then he saw “The Psycho”. He said, “John Charles? You died in the construction of the café.”
“The Psycho” grabbed Mr. Bakker by the neck; “I’ll kill you.”
“No,” yelled Josh and Charlie about to lunge for “The Psycho”.
“Let him kill me then he’ll have his revenge and go back to the grave.”
Josh and Charlie stepped away as “The Psycho” stabbed Mr. Bakker and with an evil laugh “The Psycho” disappeared with a cloud of smoke. They then knew it was over. “The Psycho” was gone.
Chapter 4: Creatures of the Lake

After Josh and Charlie did away with “The Psycho” one-year ago, with help from the now deceased owner, they started to relax and have fun again. Charlie’s family bought a trailer becoming permanent residents of Lake In Wood Campgrounds. They would not have started to relax if they knew of the creature lurking unknowingly in the lake. Even after the creature claimed its first victim an eighteen-year-old girl swimming in the lake late one night. She wasn’t even a resident or visitor in the campgrounds, she was a tired traveler with no family who thought the campgrounds would be a good place to stop and rest, so no one noticed her disappearance, or knew of the creature.

“Hey Josh,” yelled Charlie walking up to Josh sitting at his picnic table playing a game on his new hand-held game system, “Put down that dang game and lets go fishing.”
“I might as well now,” answered Josh, “You made me get game over.”
“You’re welcome,” Charlie exclaimed sarcastically. The two are friends but they are constantly annoying and making fun of each other.
Just then an enemy of Josh’s named Chris, a medium tall kid with blond hair and a serious attitude problem, rides up on his bike, “What are you two losers doing,” he demanded.
“Go away and mind your own business, remember there are two of us and one of you,” yelled Charlie. Chris mumbles something about the lake and rides off on his bike. He turned to Josh, “Stupid pain in the butt. What’s that rock around your neck anyway?” He points to the green rock as big as a quarter around Josh’s neck.
I don’t know I found it by the lake,” He shrugged, “Let’s just go already to fish.”

The two friends grabbed their fishing rods and are heading towards the lake when they ran into Josh’s friend Kayla, who moved to Arizona a few of years ago. She moved before “The Psycho” incident so she doesn’t know anything about it and Josh has no intentions of telling her. She is tall and kind of skinny with long blond hair and blue eyes.
“Kayla,” Josh gasped, “You’re back.”
“Yeah,” she said moving her long blond hair off her shoulder, “I was actually coming to see if you were still around.”
“Of course. You know this is my home away from home and I’d rather be here than back in Lancaster.”
Charlie decided at that point to join the conversation, “Do you want to come to the lake with us? We’re going to do a little fishing”
“Yeah sure I’ll come with you, I need something to do. I don’t have a fishing rod, but I can watch and just hang out.”
While heading toward the lake they get to the office and the group noticed a long snakelike neck coming out of the lake surface.
Charlie yelled shocked, “What the heck is that thing!”
Before anyone can react the “thing” disappeared back into the water, with that Kayla said, “well it’s gone now.”
“I got a plan,” exclaimed Josh, “we can go borrow some scuba gear from that event today where diving lessons were given in the pool. I went to the activity I know what I’m doing.”
“I don’t know,” rejected Kayla, “Isn’t that stealing. We could get in trouble.”
“No,” Josh said annoyed, “We’re just borrowing the equipment.”
“I just came back and you already have me into something,” Kayla sighs, “Just like old times. Some things never change.”
Charlie getting impatient started yelling, “Who cares if we get into trouble this could be the find of the century like the Loch Ness Monster. Let’s go.”
With the getting rich idea in her mind Kayla agreed. The group went to where the scuba gear was being stored in a large truck by the pool and borrowed three pairs. They headed down to the lake lugging the heavy gear. They put on the scuba gear over their clothes, Josh gives some quick instructions about the gear and they are finally ready, but by that time it is almost dark.
“Can we go home it’s getting dark,” complained Kayla.
“No,” Answered Josh, “This is good we don’t have to worry about being seen.”
Charlie called to Josh, “This Lake bring back some bad memories, huh.”
“What is he talking about,” demanded Kayla to Josh.
“Nothing.”
“Tell me,” demanded Kayla.
With a sigh Josh quickly told Kayla about “The Psycho” which makes her want to find the creature less.
“Oh great we’re about to swim in a lake where a dead guy came back to life and killed some of your friends,” she yelled.
“He kept this information from you to protect you,” said Charlie trying to help, “Anyway we took care of “The Psycho”, so are we going to do this or not.”
“I knew she would act like this if she found out,” Josh mumbled under his breath.
Unfortunately Kayla heard him, “What was that?”
“Nothing. Sorry.”
“Alright then lets go. Besides I have you boys to protect me from any danger.” She said sarcastically.
Charlie looked at Josh; “She got you good.”
“Shut up,” Josh snapped.
Still laughing Kayla enters the dark water with the boys in tow. After ten minutes swimming around in the murky water they see no sign of the mysterious lake creature. Getting tired and discouraged they start back towards the surface when Charlie hits Josh. When Josh is about to hit Charlie back Kayla noticed that Charlie found a cave in the bottom of the lake, she jumped in-between them pointing. With a nod from Josh, they descended down into the cave. After ten minutes of traveling into the cave it slopes straight down, then after another five minutes it goes diagonally up where the watery tunnel opens into a large cave. Out of water now the three stare, but Charlie breaks the silence with, “Where on earth are we?”
“No not on earth, in earth is more like it because the way we traveled down then up some,” Josh answered.
The group dropped the diving gear because it is heavy now that they are out of the water. After dropping the heavy gear they heard a sound like whistling. In surprise they looked around to see a whole group of creatures surrounding them. The creatures looked half human, half fish; they stand on two legs, have the human structure, clawed hands their faces look almost human but with black eyes, no nose, gills a huge mouth filled with sharp teeth and are completely covered with scales. The horrible fish beasts grabbed the three teenagers dragging them to a huge chamber through a complicated maze of tunnels where they are dropped in front of a throne made of plants and dirt. A figure walked out of the shadows towards the throne; Josh, Charlie, and Kayla are shocked to see Chris.
“Well hello. Welcome. Surprised to see me?” Chris said with a satisfied grin.
“What’s going on here,” demanded Charlie.
“Allow me to explain,” Chris starts, “You see I’m not human.”
“I’ve always knew that,” Josh snorted.
“Silence,” Chris yelled, “My name is not Chris, it is Prince Aqua. I rule over these fish people. They are an ancient race older than the dinosaurs. Now they will destroy you.”
The creatures grab the intruders leading them into a big room with a bowl like ditch cut into it. With a shove into the hole go Charlie, Josh, and Kayla. In part of the side a small cage opens releasing the creature from the lake roaring hungrily. The fish humans surrounded the hole on every side except one part where their prince stood. Kayla grabbed a sharp bone from the beast’s last meal off of the floor and throws it at the creature like a spear. Josh and Charlie catches on to Kayla’s idea. They all started throwing sharp bones too when one hits the creature in its left eye. It roared, swung its head wildly and finally collapsed. Using the beast’s long neck Kayla, Charlie and Josh climb out of the pit right by Prince Aqua.
“Stop them,” Prince Aqua yelled. Charlie pushed the insane prince into the pit. Landing on the monster, which picked up Prince Aqua in its mouth then, swallowed him alive in one gulp. The three of them run through the tunnels, with Kayla in the lead remembering the way back. They grabbed their diving gear, jumping into the water, and swam as fast as they could back to the lake surface. The three of them got to shore, and collapsed. Just when they think they are safe the three teens look to see the fish creatures followed them out of the cave onto the lake’s shore.
“We can’t get away from these things,” complained Josh, “No matter what we do they follow.”
A fish creature walked up to them and to their surprise said, “You killed that tyrant Aqua we are grateful for that, but you killed our protector too. You will pay.” The fish creatures advanced towards the frightened teenagers, but stop when the stone came out of Josh’s shirt. The one who talked before yelled, “The ancient stone don’t let him use it on us. It is legend that it will destroy us all. We saw it so we will die soon. RUN!” The fish creatures all retreated into the lake.
Charlie yelled at them, “Don’t come back,” as he grabbed the stone off of Josh’s, neck breaking the chain, and hurled it into the lake, the water glowed white and started to move just enough to see the cave fall in on its self closing forever.
“I thought that was just some kind of mineral, “Josh gasped, “But it was more than that, it was key to the destruction of an ancient race.”
“There goes our getting famous idea, no one will ever believe us,” Kayla complained, “This campground is way too weird anymore. You have to tell me everything that happened when I was gone,” she demanded to Josh and Charlie.
Charlie just shakes his heads, “We will, we will.”

Chapter 5: Zombies' Revenge

Time has past since the defeat of The Psycho of Lake In Wood, also known as John Charles, who took the lives of many people until Josh, and Charlie sent him back to the grave. Before that, however, all the people that he killed returned as the living dead. Another strange thing has happened since then, the creatures in the lake. Now the zombies of Josh’s friends are back looking for revenge. This story took place in late October and it was up to Josh, Charlie, and Kayla to save the campgrounds yet again.

“We told you everything we know about “The Psycho”,” said Josh to Kayla as they walked through the woods towards where Josh’s friends who “The Psycho” killed were buried; “Now it’s time to show you.”
“I don’t know what to expect,” called out Charlie falling behind, “Most of this happened before I got here. I used to not believe a word of the stories,” he shrugged, “Last time we came to one of the graves it was empty remember.”
“Don’t remind me,” Josh answered shuddering at the thought of the graves being empty like last time “The Psycho” caused terror in Lake In Wood.
They arrived at the graves of Josh’s old friends killed by “The Psycho”; where there was no disturbance to the site at all. There were a bunch of large stones covering the ground, where the victims are buried, with another large stone marking the graves. “Well here it is all of those who fell victim to “The Psycho”,” Charlie told Kayla.
Behind them they heard a voice of a young girl call out, “So this is where you buried my big brother.”
“Who’s there?” yelled Kayla, as the boys looked around puzzled by the mysterious voice.
As the girl stepped out from behind a tree Josh recognized her as Mike’s little sister Jackie, Mike was the first kill “The Psycho” made. Jackie is about eight or nine years old short and skinny with long brown hair in a ponytail.
“Which one belongs to my brother,” she demanded to the startled teenagers. Josh pointed to center grave in the row of rocks used as gravestones. She stood in front of her brother’s grave just staring.
“What is she doing?” Charlie asked Josh.
“She’s happy to find her brother’s grave,” Josh replied, “I guess.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell anyone about the graves,” Jackie bursts out all of the sudden, “Go get out of here now.”
“What if we don’t,” demanded Charlie.
“I’ll tell everyone about this and you’ll all probably be charged for murder.”
Kayla finally speaks up, “We didn’t do this it was “The Psycho”,” she yelled, “Don’t take it out on us.”
“I know. I saw “The Psycho” that night,” Jackie said calmer now, “I looked out my window and saw you leave in the golf cart. I went to my brother, but it was too late. He was dead.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Josh said quietly.
“I went back inside, cried, and fell asleep,” she went on, “When my parents came home they didn’t believe me when I told them what I saw. But then my brother’s body was never found.”
Kayla walked up to Jackie, putting her arm around her leading Jackie out of the woods with the boys following behind quietly, not wanting to make this bad situation any worse than it already is.

That night something strange happened, the stones covering the graves began to move almost as if someone or something was pushing them from underneath. Finally with the sound of rocks rolling and banging into each other several hands popped out of the ground. While at the same time Josh and his friends are getting ready to have fun at the special Halloween get-together.

“Hey Kayla,” Josh yelled walking up onto her campsite with Charlie, “Ready to go to the Halloween entertainment.” The entertainment is music, dancing, and some food, plus to get in you have to be in a Halloween costume. Josh was dressed up as a vampire and Charlie was a corpse. Kayla walked out of here trailer in a bride’s dress covered in blood, her throat looked like it was slashed and she had on makeup to make her look pale like she has been dead for a week or so.
“You like this look or what? I may keep it.” She asked Josh and Charlie.
“It’s awesome, great makeup,” replied Charlie, “Hurry and lets get going.”
They walked to the entertainment then sat there listening to the music and eating, when Josh tried to stuff a chip in his mouth while he wearing his mask the chip got stuck, Josh couldn’t get the chip out no matter what. Charlie then pulled it out wiping it off with his shirt and then eats it. They all got a laugh out of that. Kayla commented on the great costumes, “Wow these costumes rule,” she said, “Look some people came dressed up as zombies.”
Josh at that got a terrified look on his face. “Oh my god! Those are really zombies,” he said.
“You’re just trying to scare us,” complained Charlie, “Well that’s not going to work.”
“Look close at the guy in the center of the group,” said Josh grabbing Charlie’s costume by the front, “You know him. That’s Andrew remember, He died when we took care of “The Psycho”.”
Charlie’s face went from sarcastic to scared. “How? How is this possible is this a dream?”
Kayla pinched him; she asked him if it hurt. “Yeah” he answered.
“Then it’s not a dream,” she said “and let’s get out of here.”
“Yeah, everyone killed by “The Psycho” is here, that’s weird except Tracy.” Josh thought aloud as he ran.
Jackie ran towards her brother crying and yelling in happiness, “Mike your back, I’m so happy to see you.” Mike leaned down and grabbed Jackie as if to hug her, but instead he bites her. People yell and scream in a complete panic running for the exit.
“Why did he bite her,” Charlie asked Josh.
“Sibling rivalry?”
“No that’s how zombies make other people zombies,” corrected Kayla, “Did you ever read horror books?”
“We don’t have time to discuss books,” said Josh obviously frustrated, “We have to find a way out of here quick.”
The group took a small set of steps out of the entertainment area that leads towards the game room entrance and office. Just about to get to the bottom of the stairs to freedom, the zombie Tracy jumped out waiting for them. “That’s where Tracy was,” yelled Charlie as he saw her jump out from the shadows, “I’m surprised she’s not with her boyfriend Andrew.”
Scared the teenagers backed up the stair a little just as the other zombies are at the top waiting. Thinking fast and worrying that the zombies will catch them, Kayla jumped over the railing, landing by the game room to safety. The boys do the same. Charlie jumped off doing a perfect landing, just as Josh hesitates.
“Come on Josh jump,” Kayla urged, Josh still hesitating.
“Hurry, the sliding board we jumped off of back in elementary school was bigger than this,” yelled Charlie.
To himself Josh said, “Zombies or jump,” a hand brushes his back. “Jump!” He yelled as he leaps off the stairs with the zombies following over the rail. When Wendy jumped she fell face first hitting her head on the concrete. Although it does not stop her, it does slow her down shortly.
Josh, Kayla and Charlie ran into the game room, but are trapped because the only ways out were out the front guarded by zombies or a door that can only be opened from the opposite side they are on. The zombies closed in on them as they started to scream, by luck an older lady that works in the office opened the door. She said, “What’s all the noise about.” The kids ran past her into the office. She was about to yell at them when the zombies grab and bite her.
The teenagers ran around the shelves that held all the campground’s merchandise, With all their strength they pushed the shelves on top of the zombies that followed them after attacking the older lady. The shelves crushed them all as the zombies disappear in a cloud of smoke, except Andrew. Charlie ran past Andrew opening the freezer door behind him, Josh and Kayla understood, so they push Andrew into the freezer. He let out a moan and disappeared. Celebrating they do not notice the zombie Jackie sneaking up on them until she was about to bite Josh. They grabbed her shoving her in a cooler that the office was selling that ran on electricity to keep food cold or set it to hot. Kayla plugged it in with it in the hot mode, Jackie screamed, and suddenly stopped. When Josh cautiously opened the cooler Jackie jumped out. Fortunately she disintegrated before she could do a thing.

The next day the police came and ruled it as a prank caused by some bored kids, who were to have left in a hurry and have hidden themselves so that not to get into trouble; but Josh, Kayla, and Charlie knew better. They were responsible for cleaning up the mess in the office and had to pay for some repairs. Kayla and her family moved back to the area so Kayla returned to Lake In Wood permanently. The only evidence of what happened was the cops found some holes dug in the ground that looked like graves. But no bodies were ever found.
Chapter 6: Mysterious Owner

Shortly after the zombie incident a mysterious owner bought Lake In Wood campgrounds. He rarely came out of his office and nobody knew what he looked like. Once in a while he would call employees into his office. When they came out they acted weird, almost as if they were hypnotized or brainwashed. He made it that everyone in the campground had to wear odd bracelets and then return them when they left the grounds. Why? No one was sure. Who knows what Josh, Kayla, and Charlie will come against when they encounter him!

“I hate these stupid wrist bands,” Charlie complained, “Why do we have to wear these things anyway?”
“No clue,” Kayla replied.
“It’s something electronic I can tell, but I can’t take it apart,” Josh, added, “I want to know exactly what these are and why we have to wear them.”
“I say we go find out,” suggested Charlie, “Lets go ask this new owner.”
The three of them hop on their bikes to head towards the office. A worker in the main office leads them into the owner’s office and closes the door; they noticed she was walking almost as if in a trance.
Kayla turned to Charlie as the are led to the owner’s office, “That’s weird. She looked like she was hypnotized or something.”
“Yeah,” Charlie replied, “Let’s see what we can figure out.”
Electronics and pictures of strange machines litter the owner’s workspace. In front of them on a desk was a big computer; behind the desk was a huge chair that swung around at their entry holding the new owner of Lake In Wood. He was a strange man in his fifties with messy long gray hair down to his shoulders, a scar down the right side of his face and shaded glasses. He stood up and must have been six feet tall, in a booming voice he asked, “What do you want?”
“Well he’s in a good mood,” whispered Josh sarcastically.
“Yes,” Kayla answered in her most polite voice ignoring Josh’s comment; “We were wondering what are these bracelets for that everyone has to wear?”
“It is for security purposes so we know who belong here and who doesn’t,” he answered and waves them away.
“But we think there is something electronic inside of these bracelets,” said Charlie, “Why?”
Looking annoyed he ordered them to sit in three leather chairs in front of the desk. Thinking that they are going to get some answers they sat down, but when they did leather restrains snapped over the teenagers’ arms. “You know too much now I must make you my slaves.” The owner put helmets from behind the chairs on their heads and went to hit a key on his computer to do the deed. Luckily Kayla didn’t put one arm down all the way so she slipped her arm out, frees her other arm and legs then rescued Josh. They tried to save Charlie, but it is too late his body shook for a few seconds then stopped then the restraints that held him released his arms and legs. He looked like he was in a trance like the woman from office. “Get them,” The owner ordered Charlie as Josh and Kayla ran from the room.
Josh and Kayla ran through the door that lead into the game room and then they ran out the door of the game room, to lose Charlie they ran behind the building towards the road but their bracelets beep as they hit something hard almost like an invisible wall. “Ouch, that really hurt,” complained Kayla.
“These bracelets must prevent the wearers from leaving the property that’s why if we leave we hand in our bracelets,” said Josh.
Kayla gets a brilliant idea, “Josh as Charlie charges at us jump out of the way so he hits the barrier,” she said, “Maybe that will knock him out.” As Charlie ran towards them Josh and Kayla ducked causing Charlie to trip over Josh’s foot. He hit the barrier hard knocking him out. Josh and Kayla grabbed Charlie putting him on Kayla’s bike, going somewhat slow they made it to the woods by the lake to the trail with Kayla pedaling, Josh was on the pegs of her bike and the knocked out Charlie positioned in the middle of the two of them. As a safety measure the two of them tied Charlie to a tree with some rope they found in the woods just incase he wakes up still wanting to kill them.
With Charlie handled at least for now Josh and Kayla decided that they should check out the owner’s office thoroughly to find any clues of how to stop him, but first they need to get him out of the office. The two of them think and think when Kayla came up with another good idea; they pedaled to the café, and order some food, the café has a gnome theme, so the entire place is covered with gnomes. Looking around they notice the café is filled with kids. Josh and Kayla sat down, and looked around then Josh yelled, “FOOD FIGHT!” All of the kids started throwing food while Josh and Kayla got out of there as quick as possible.
They went over to the office just in time to see the owner leave with a few brainwashed employees. They sneaked into the main office then into the owner’s. Snooping around they found nothing when Josh spotted a closet beside the desk he said to Kayla, “Let’s look in there.” Trying the locked door the discouraged teens were about to give up when something shiny caught Josh’s eye, it was a key hanging on the wall. They opened the door using the key and to their shock inside was the campground’s true owner Klaas Bakker alive and well. They untied him and remove his gag when Josh loses it. He yelled in panic; “Oh my god you’re supposed to be dead “The Psycho” killed you.”
“No,” Mr. Bakker replied, “It wasn’t me it was an imposter who was employed to control the campground. Then when the imposter died because of “The Psycho” then the new owner supposedly bought Lake In Wood.”
Just then the mysterious owner returned to his office the three of them jumped behind the door to hide, but Kayla first swung one of the chairs that hypnotizes people so it’s facing the door. Josh laughed quietly to himself when he saw some food stuck to the owner’s shoulder from the food fight when the strange new owner of Lake In Wood walked through the door. Mr. Bakker understanding Kayla’s idea by turning the chair jumped out from behind the door pushing the weird owner into the chair Kayla turned. When he spun around in the chair the restraints grabbed him. Josh went to the computer looking at the screen showing a picture of the chair. Josh crossed his finger as he hit the enter key. Trapped in the chair the owner’s body began to shake stopping in a few seconds. When the chair released him the three heroes see his body turn gray, then it turned into dust. Kayla ran up to the computer then laughed turning to Josh, “This thing was on disintegrating mode not brainwashing mode you weren’t supposed to fry him.”


The next few hours flew by; all the people that were brainwashed went back to normal. Mr. Bakker took control of the campground again; and his first order of business now that he is back in control again was calling a moving service to get all that stuff out of his office. Josh and Kayla watched sitting at a picnic table on the office patio as the last piece of equipment was removed; the chair in which they fried the man who took Lake In Wood. They knew this was the chair because it had a little pile of gray dust on it.
“This place just gets weirder and weirder,” Josh said, “First “The Psycho”, then the creatures in the lake, after that the zombies. We should call this something like, I don’t know, “The Weirdness.” Josh shook his head, “What is happening to this place?”
“Don’t know,” replied Kayla as she got a shocked look on her face, “Oh my god.”
“What is it now,” Josh said in a panic.
“We forgot that we tied Charlie to a tree, “she yelled heading to her bike, “He’s not going to be happy.”
Josh smiled walking slowly towards Kayla’s bike, “We just handled a weirdo who tried to kill us,” he laughed, “I think we can handle Charlie being mad at us.”
“Yeah you’re right,” said Kayla smiling, “I just wonder what’s next in store for us, the campground’s horse Checkers turning into an evil stallion.” Just then in the direction of Checkers field they heard a high-pitched whine of the horse.
“You get Charlie,” ordered Josh with a horrified look on his face, “I’ll check that out.” Kayla rode down through the field to get Charlie, her long blond hair blowing in the wind as Josh went to see what was happening with Checkers.

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