The Curse of the Creeping Coffin

by RL Stine

  That’s right — the ghost.

  And all the lights are out.

  What now?

  If you’re afraid of the dark, turn to PAGE 83.

  If you’re okay in a pitch-black house, turn to PAGE 19.

  You do as the ghost says. You wait at the edge of the graveyard until he stops at a grave. Then you watch as his whole airy body seems to disappear into the ground!

  Okay, you think. This is it. Time to walk over there and stand on that grave.

  You gulp loudly. You scratch your head. You burp.

  Hey — enough stalling. Get over there!

  Your legs tremble as you walk to the grave and peer at the headstone. Then, still shaking, you stand on the grave. The tombstone says JAMES T. REDDSON III. 1875–1910.

  Hmmm. You do some quick math, and realize this guy was thirty-five when he died. This can’t be the kid’s grave, you realize. He lied to you!

  Before you can figure out what you should do, you hear a terrible rumbling. You fling out your arms, trying desperately to keep your balance as the ground begins to shake. The earth all around you rises and rolls in waves. Your eyes open wide as you watch the ground beneath your feet break apart.

  Get me out of here, you think. But you’re too late.

  A hand — the ghost-boy’s hand! — suddenly pops up out of the dirt and grabs your ankle!

  Go on to PAGE 115.

  “Oh, no!” you gasp.

  You stare at the map — and at the message spelled out on the gravestones.

  YOU WILL DI SOON.

  So that’s the terrible message the graves are moving around to spell. And is the “you” you? Or is the curse directed at your grandma? Either way, it’s super bad news!

  “Mac,” you say. “There’s only one letter missing! Only one more coffin has to creep into place and then …”

  “Then the curse will be complete,” Mac says. He turns and walks back to his car.

  “Wait!” you call after him.

  He stops, but only long enough to pull out a business card. “Here,” he says. “Call me after you defeat the Keeper of the Sword. Then I’ll tell you what to do next.”

  Then he jumps back in his VW Bug, leaving you standing in front of your grandmother’s house. “Oh,” he calls as he starts to drive off. “Two things to remember. Be sure to find out the name of the Keeper of the Sword. And stay away from the Luckmeyer twins!”

  The Luckmeyer twins? you think.

  If you’ve met the Luckmeyer twins already, turn to PAGE 8.

  If you haven’t met them, turn to PAGE 64.

  You can’t believe your eyes.

  At the top of the attic stairs is a ghost horse! A huge, wild stallion, with its mane flying behind it. Foam drips from the stallion’s mouth. Its eyes are wild with fury.

  The horse backs up a step, then rears up and lets out a terrible, angry cry. Its hooves crash down, clomping loudly on the attic floor.

  Wait a minute, you think. Was there a horse buried in the cemetery?

  Then you remember. An extra-large grave, with a headstone that read:

  HERE LIES GLORY. TOO WILD FOR THE RIDERS OF THIS WORLD.

  No kidding, you think. This horse looks like a killer!

  Quick. You’re going to be trampled — unless you do something.

  But what?

  If you jump on Glory and ride him, turn to PAGE 126.

  If you use the rope to lasso him, turn to PAGE 54.

  You turn on your heels and run as fast as you can — straight toward the graveyard!

  “Hey!” Jane calls to you. “Don’t go in there!”

  Oh, sure, you think. She just doesn’t want you to escape! You keep running.

  But the minute you cross the property line — from your grandmother’s yard into the cemetery — a terrible chill runs down your spine.

  Your whole body feels as if it has turned to ice. Or stone. You stop running and begin to move very slowly.

  “I am walking among the dead,” you hear yourself say in a flat voice. Why did I say that? you wonder.

  “You are walking among the dead,” John says right behind you. He and Jane float around the graveyard.

  “I am a prisoner of the graves,” you hear yourself say.

  “You are a prisoner of the graves.” John and Jane repeat your words together.

  You take a few more steps. Your legs are so stiff, you can barely move.

  You look down at your feet — and scream.

  “Aaahhh!” you moan. “My feet have turned to stone!”

  Go on to PAGE 77.

  Okay. So you’re not a natural-born cowboy.

  You’re just a kid with a dumb rope in your hands — and a foaming-at-the-mouth horse about to trample you on the stairs.

  You wave the rope at the horse, using it like a wimpy whip. You feel so stupid, you’re surprised the horse doesn’t start laughing.

  But someone does laugh! You turn around and see a ghostly cowboy floating your way.

  “Worst attempt I’ve ever seen,” the cowboy says. You stare at him with your mouth open. He takes the rope from you.

  “You want to lasso Glory, you’re gonna need some lessons from an expert. Me!” The cowboy gives the rope a sharp yank and, FLICK, it lands around the stallion’s neck.

  “Cool!” you cheer. “Can you show me how to do that?”

  “Sure thing, pardner,” the cowboy answers. “Now here’s what you have to do.”

  For the next hour the ghost-cowboy teaches you all about lassoing.

  When you think you’re ready, try to lasso Glory all by yourself on PAGE 58.

  “Robin,” you whisper, “I hate to tell you this, but we’re hiding under the sink with a Lanx.”

  “A what?” Robin asks.

  “A Lanx! A Lanx!” You are practically shouting. “It’s like a Grool, but worse!”

  Robin stares at you. Then he shakes his head. “You are getting too weird. Even for me.”

  “It looks like a potato,” you continue, “but it has really sharp teeth!” You have to make Robin believe you! You are in terrible danger.

  “That’s it,” Robin says. He pops open the cabinet door. “Fun’s over. You know,” he adds as he crawls out from under the sink, “I didn’t really believe your ghost story, either. I was just playing along.”

  You gaze sadly at Robin as he heads out of the kitchen. You have a feeling you’ve just lost your best friend.

  “Heh heh heh,” you hear behind you.

  You glance back at the glowing eyes. They look even brighter than before.

  You thought being followed home by a ghost was a problem. Wait until you try living with a Lanx!

  “Heh heh heh.”

  THE END

  You race out to the graveyard. You’ve got to find the fencing woman’s grave — fast! Then it hits you. You only know her first name. Sarah.

  Sarah who?

  You run up and down the rows of tombstones, searching for a grave marked Sarah. Naturally, you find two.

  One is Sarah Grayson. Born in 1820. Died in 1895.

  The other is Sarah McGinnis. Born 1918. Died 1940.

  It’s up to you. Which is the right Sarah?

  Think very carefully.

  Then pick one.

  You balance the sword under one arm and feel around in your pockets. You pull a broken pencil from your jeans. You glance down and find a crumpled gum wrapper on the ground. You grab it and with shaking fingers you write down the year of Sarah’s death.

  And hope you chose correctly!

  Have you written down the date of Sarah’s death? Good. Because something terrifying is happening behind you. You really don’t want to keep your back turned. So put down your pencil and turn to PAGE 114. If you dare …

  “Get away from me!” you shout. You duck and twist, trying to avoid the diving chickens. They squawk and flap their wings. One bird lands on your shoulder. Its claws dig into your clothes.

  “Hey!” you yell at it. You try sh
aking it off, but it clings to you. You notice the other chickens hovering nearby.

  You reach up to grab the stupid bird but something stops you. Could it be? Is the chicken smiling at you?

  You peer closely at the bird.

  Uh-oh.

  That chicken isn’t smiling, it’s baring its teeth.

  But chickens don’t have teeth. And they sure don’t have fangs.

  That’s right. Fangs. Guess what? These aren’t ordinary chickens. These are vampire chickens. And the bird on your shoulder is leaning closer. And closer. And closer.

  CHOMP!

  Being bitten by a vampire chicken puts you in a fowl mood. Oh, well. Better cluck next time.

  THE END

  “No,” you tell the ghost. “I’ve kept my promise. And look where it got me!”

  “Suit yourself,” the ghost-boy says. He vanishes.

  So, now what are you going to do, huh? Just lie there in the coffin and rot?

  That’s one choice.

  Got any other ideas?

  Okay, sure. You could start screaming at the top of your lungs. Maybe — just maybe — someone will hear you.

  Like who?

  Like the cemetery caretaker. He shows up once a week. On Fridays.

  Well? What day is this?

  If you are reading this on Friday, turn to PAGE 13.

  If you are not reading this on Friday, turn to PAGE 107.

  You decide to duel with the woman in the fencing costume. She’s not as big as the soldier.

  “En garde, yourself!” you cry. You notice that as soon as you shouted at the woman, the soldier-ghost vanished.

  The fencer glides toward you, approaching slowly. You feel around desperately for something you can use as a weapon. The whole time you keep your eyes glued to the sharp tip of her sword. Or rather, her foil. That’s what a fencing sword is called.

  The fencer keeps coming toward you, slowly … slowly. Beads of sweat break out along your upper lip. The tip of the foil wavers slightly, as if the fencer were deciding on the perfect spot to stab you.

  Finally your fingers grasp something leaning against the wall. An umbrella. It’s not much. But it’ll have to do.

  You grab it and strike a fencing pose.

  “En garde!” you shout again.

  The fencer freezes, her foil raised.

  Then in a flash, she lunges at you!

  Quick! Find out if you’re still alive on PAGE 122.

  You jump back, trying to make room for Robin. He’s backing up faster than a pizza delivery guy who’s missed the address.

  But the knife keeps coming anyway.

  Quick — you have to do something to help him!

  You spot a baseball bat in the corner of the room.

  Hmm. Good choice. If you have good aim.

  But there’s also a huge needlepoint pillow on Robin’s bed. One that his mother made for him. Maybe you should use it as a shield.

  Choose your weapon.

  If you use the baseball bat, turn to PAGE 35.

  If you use the pillow as a shield, turn to PAGE 46.

  “Ow!” Robin cries out. His hand flies up to his cheek, where the juggling ball hit him.

  Your mouth falls open. This is terrible. The ghost must have followed you down the street!

  “Why did you do that?” Robin yells. “That really hurt!”

  “But I didn’t do it!” you reply. “It was that ghost!”

  Robin stares at the juggling balls. They’re just lying on the floor now. The ghost is nowhere in sight.

  “Yeah, right,” Robin says. “Like I’m really going to believe in ghosts. Come on, how did you do that?”

  Before you can answer, there’s a knock on Robin’s bedroom door. He walks over and opens it.

  “Yikes!” he screams.

  Floating in the doorway, in midair, is a long sharp carving knife.

  And it’s pointed right at Robin’s heart!

  Robin is backing up fast, so you’d better move back, too. Back to PAGE 100.

  Using the back door you quietly slip into the house. Then you sneak up the back staircase to the second floor. You peek around the corner carefully — you don’t want to run into the Luckmeyers. When you are sure the coast is clear, you start up the stairs toward the attic.

  As soon as you step into the stairway, you see a huge soldier standing at the top of the third floor landing!

  His uniform is old-fashioned. Civil War, you guess. And judging from the medals pinned to his gray jacket, this guy knows what he’s doing.

  And what he’s doing right now is pulling a sword from its holder.

  The sword is about five feet long. The handle is mother-of-pearl, encrusted with sapphires. The blade gleams. Even in the darkness you can see that it’s dangerously sharp.

  The enormous soldier points the sword at your heart. “Do not advance one more step — unless you are willing to die!” he booms.

  Go on to PAGE 104.

  “Get him, Sparkle!” you shout.

  The hideous ghost floats toward you. The worms wriggle through his matted hair. This guy is gross!

  “Woof!” Sparkle barks right in the ghost’s disgusting face.

  Nothing happens.

  “Uh, again, Sparkle!” you command. But Sparkle tucks his tail between his legs, whimpers, and slinks away.

  “Sparkle, come back,” you call. But it’s no use. That’s one terrified mutt. You turn to face the wormy ghost.

  The ghost brings his face right next to yours. The worms wiggle from the ghost to you. They crawl in your mouth, up your nose, in your ears.

  Is it possible to die from being totally grossed out?

  Well, even if it isn’t, the worms make it impossible for you to breathe. Making this

  THE END.

  You can’t take your eyes off the sword. The longer you stare at it, the more your legs shake.

  Then it dawns on you. This soldier must be the Keeper of the Sword!

  So what are you going to do? Run and hide?

  Definitely!

  Trembling in fear, you start to back up. That’s when you feel a sharp point sticking you in the back. Right between your shoulder blades.

  “Ouch!” you cry out, turning around.

  Big trouble. Behind you is another ghost. And this one’s dressed in a fencing costume. White canvas pants. A wire mesh mask. Leather gloves.

  “En garde!” the new ghost says. The voice echoes all around you. From the voice, you know this ghost is a woman.

  Then you realize something. She has a sword, too!

  Two ghosts. Two swords. Both dangerous. But only one has the sword you need.

  Which one?

  If you think the fencer is the Keeper of the Sword, turn to PAGE 99.

  If you think it’s the soldier, turn to PAGE 118.

  The book landed with the front cover face up. That means you don’t survive the fall from the bridge.

  Sorry.

  So now you are a ghost, roaming the neighborhood, haunting everyone in sight. And for a while, scaring people is fun.

  But soon you get tired of people screaming whenever you appear. And some people can’t even see you. For some reason, not everyone is able to see ghosts.

  You begin to understand why the Luckmeyer twins played pranks and practical jokes. It’s a goof!

  So you start doing it, too — playing tricks on people. You move their coffee cups while they’re not looking. You raise their windows right after they’ve closed them. You wrinkle their clothes while they’re ironing them. You steal key pieces from jigsaw puzzles when people aren’t looking.

  Then one day, you go too far — you do something really evil. You go through a GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS book with a black felt marker and cross off all the page numbers!

  The only problem is, it was this book. The only one you’re in.

  Which is why, sad to say, this is really and truly …

  THE END.

  “Wha-what do you mean, all of you?”
you manage to stammer.

  “You ask too many questions!” Uh-oh. Elvira’s eyes flash green again. “Don’t get in our way and maybe we will let you live.”

  She soars up over your head and glares down at you. “And don’t you go talking to that ghost-hunter MacFarling, either!” Elvira adds.

  In the next instant, she floats backward and disappears into the wall.

  MacFarling? A ghost-hunter?

  You are startled by loud clumping footsteps above you. You glance up at the ceiling. The light fixture is shaking. It sounds as if a whole crowd wearing clunky boots is stomping around in the attic.

  Who could it be?

  If you want to find out about MacFarling, turn to PAGE 16.

  If you want to find out who’s in the attic, turn to PAGE 85.

  Okay, time to face facts. Today is not Friday. The caretaker is not going to show up for a long time.

  And guess what else? If he did show up, he probably wouldn’t hear you screaming anyway. After all, you’re six feet underground.

  Looks like you’re running out of choices. Maybe you’d better go take the cold, cold hand of that ghost-boy after all.

  Turn to PAGE 82.

  You run up the steps, darting sideways to get past John.

  But he grabs you with one hand. Whoa! For a see-through guy, John is strong! In his other hand he dangles a ghostly snake before your eyes.

  YIKES! The snake hisses in your face. Its fangs drip ghostly poison.

  John and Jane laugh at your terrified expression. John shoves the hissing snake into your face again. Its tongue darts in and out between its razor-sharp fangs.

  Can a ghost snake hurt you? The pain where John is clutching your arm makes you think it probably can!

  You swallow hard and lurch away from him. Luckily, he and Jane don’t try to follow.