TEEN GHOST AT DEAD LAKE
A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery
By R. Barri Flowers
TEEN GHOST AT DEAD LAKE is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
TEEN GHOST AT DEAD LAKE
Copyright 2013 by R. Barri Flowers
All rights reserved.
Cover Image Copyright Vladimir Wrangel, 2013
Used under license from Shutterstock.com
OTHER YOUNG ADULT FICTION BY R. BARRI FLOWERS
Christmas Wishes: Laura's Story (A Wizard of Wishes Teen Fantasy)
Count Dracula's Teenage Daughter (A Transylvanica High Novel)
Danger in Time (A Young Adult Time Travel Mystery)
Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay (A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery)
* * *
This book is dedicated to all fans of young adult fiction, as well as Keeare and Kendre—the best nieces in the world.
And to Megan Wright...here's wishing you a bright future. Hope you enjoy the read.
* * *
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
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
Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay – Bonus Excerpts
Count Dracula's Teenage Daughter – Bonus Excerpts
Danger in Time – Bonus Excerpts
Christmas Wishes: Laura's Story – Bonus Excerpts
About the Author
* * *
PROLOGUE
Noah Snyder looked out over the lake as he had for the last six months. He tossed some pebbles off the pier and watched them disappear into the water, leaving tiny ripples on the smooth surface. It was one of the ways he amused himself these days. In fact, the days and nights had become pretty routine, if not downright boring.
As weird as it was, he had pretty much decided that he was dead. What else would you call being there, but not being there? Though he believed he looked and sounded the same as he always had, it was obvious that no one else could see or hear him. Why?
What had he done so awful that he was now being forced to live in this purgatory with no one to hang out with but himself?
It was not cool.
Was he being punished for what he did or didn't do in life? Should he have been nicer to his ex-girlfriend or his mom?
Did this have anything to do with the secrets he'd kept? Or was it just a big misunderstanding that somehow got out of hand?
Problem was there was no one to correct the mix-up that had him stuck between worlds as a ghost. And he couldn't even be sure that he was a ghost.
After all, didn't ghosts have some way to communicate with the living? Or was that just a myth that had been passed down through the centuries?
Whatever was going on, it was starting to get old. He was only seventeen and should be coming into his own as a high school senior and getting ready for college.
So why wasn't he?
Would he ever know the answer or was he going to be stuck like this forever?
Noah tossed a few more pebbles into the water. It was a beautiful lake. He remembered swimming in it practically every day during the summer. The water had felt so good against his skin.
Now that was just a distant memory, since he couldn't feel anything other than confusion and disappointment.
He heard a car coming. People had to pass this area when they were headed to Dead Lake, a town where not everything was as it seemed—and that included him.
Noah turned to face the car. It looked like a red Subaru Forester. He actually had one similar to that when he was still living, only it was dark blue.
As usual, he expected the occupants of the vehicle to look toward the lake, but not at him.
This time, though, he could have sworn that the teenage girl on the passenger side made eye contact with him. Was that even possible, considering the distance between him and the car? Or was it just wishful thinking on his part?
Whatever, Noah was excited at the mere possibility he had a kindred spirit in town. He wondered who she was and if she was there to stay.
CHAPTER ONE
Paige Preston couldn't help but notice the tall guy standing on the pier as she and her mother drove past him. She guessed he was around her age of sixteen. He was wearing a cap, jacket, and jeans. When their eyes met, a chill ran through her, prompting her to look away.
I hope he doesn't think I was staring at him, she thought with embarrassment.
But he was pretty hot, at least from what she could see. Maybe he attended Dead Lake High School, her soon-to-be new school. Either way, she thought glumly, it didn't really matter because he probably already had a girlfriend who wanted him all to herself.
"See anything interesting out there?" her mother asked as they drove past a sign that said: Welcome to Dead Lake, Michigan.
"Not really," Paige responded, tossing her long blonde hair to one side.
Sharon Preston looked at her daughter. "That will change once you get used to the surroundings."
Paige glanced over her shoulder to get another look at the guy. But he had vanished, as though her mind had been playing tricks on her, which it probably was after being stuck in a car for hours with her mother. Paige sighed. "I don't think so," she grumbled. "How much can a place called Dead Lake have to offer, other than a new job for you?" Her mother had gotten a job as the assistant manager of a local furniture store, after being laid off from her previous job in South Bend, Indiana.
"Just give it a chance, honey," her mother said. "I know there will be some adjustments after leaving your old life and friends behind. Just look at it as a new challenge that we can both make work if we try hard."
"Yeah, whatever," Paige muttered. They had talked about it and she'd agreed that a fresh start might be best all the way around. Neither of them had any control over where a job might pop up for a single mom. But that didn't mean she had to be overly excited about it either. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere wasn't her idea of fun.
Never mind the fact that she had broken up with her boyfriend before she even knew they were moving. So she was glad in that instance that she no longer had to see him every day at school to be reminded of it while he hung out with his new girlfriend.
"We're here," her mother said, as they pulled up to a house at the end of the block.
Paige looked at the aging white Colonial with black shutters. It didn't look very inviting. The place had apparently been on the market for months now, or ever since the previous owner moved out. As a result, they were able to get a good deal on it and sell their own house at the same time.
"Home, sweet home," Paige said dully. Then she decided she might as well go with the flow and act more mature. "So let's go in and check it out."
Her mother smiled. "Good idea."
* * *
After entering, Paige was surprised to see that the inside was in better shape than the outside. There was hardwood flooring throughout, beige walls, what looked like a recently remodeled kitchen with granite countertops, and a few furnishings left behind to blend in with their own.
Ups
tairs were three bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. The moment she stepped inside one, Paige knew it would be hers. It was probably the smallest of the three, but it was at the front of the house and somehow seemed like a good fit for her bed, dresser, and herself.
"So this one will be mine," she told her mother.
"Glad you like it," Sharon said. "It has a nice view."
As if to see for herself, Paige looked out the window. She could see the house across the street and a glimpse of the neighborhood with plenty of trees.
She watched as the moving truck drove up. "Looks like our stuff is here."
"Right on time," her mother said. "The sooner we get everything squared away, the sooner we can start our new lives in Dead Lake."
"I can hardly wait," Paige said, rolling her eyes. Truthfully, she planned to put forth the effort to fit in and hopefully make a lot of new friends. And maybe meet a special guy who would make her forget about her ex-boyfriend.
After more than an hour, the movers had come and gone, putting furnishings in place and leaving behind boxes for them to unpack.
While her mother was in the kitchen putting away pots and pans, Paige went up to her room. Unpacking was probably the least thing she liked about moving, but the only other option was to leave the task to her mom. Thanks, but no thanks.
When she stepped into the room, Paige nearly had a heart attack. There was a guy standing near the window. But not just any guy. It was the guy she'd seen on the pier, and he was still wearing the cap and jacket. He had short dark hair and a square-jawed face.
He stared at her with gray eyes beneath thick brows, but said nothing.
When she recovered from the shock, Paige asked, "How did you get in here?"
His eyes grew. "You can see me?"
Is he kidding? Paige thought. Her eyes narrowed. "Do you think I'm blind? Of course I can see you!"
After a moment, he flashed a half grin. "Yeah," he said, "I was just having a little fun with you."
"So not funny," she told him, trying to keep her voice down so her mom wouldn't come charging in to confront the uninvited guest. She wanted to get to the bottom of this herself. "You still haven't told me what you're doing in my room."
He folded his arms thoughtfully. "I used to live here," he said. "And this was my room. I guess I sort of missed it and just wanted to have a look."
"But how did you get up here without us seeing you?" she asked suspiciously.
He hesitated for a moment or two. "I climbed up the trellis to the window," he told her. "I used to do that all the time—well, actually, I climbed out the window when my mom had me on curfew. It's easy to do. Haven't you ever done that before?"
Paige couldn't help but smile. "Maybe," she said, "or something like that."
He grinned. "Sorry if I scared you."
"You didn't," Paige lied. She still wasn't sure how he managed to climb up to the window without them or the movers seeing him. Maybe he did it very quickly—obviously without anyone knowing. "I saw you standing on the pier earlier."
"I saw you, too," he said. "I wasn't sure if you were moving in or just passing through."
"Now you know," she said.
He looked down at his tennis shoes and back to her. "Welcome to Dead Lake."
"Thanks." Paige gazed at him, trying to read between the lines. Something about him struck her as odd, though she thought he was even hotter up close. "So why did your family move from this house anyway?" She assumed they were the last occupants.
He started to say something, but seemed to change his mind. "My mom was looking for something smaller and more manageable."
"Oh." Paige decided against asking where they lived now, figuring it was probably none of her business at the moment.
"So why did you move here?" he asked.
She sighed. "My mom got a job in town, so here we are."
"What does your dad do?" he asked.
Paige honestly had no idea, as he had apparently changed careers a few times and had been out of her life since she was three. "It's just me and my mom," she said simply.
"My dad's out of the picture, too," he told her. "Guess that puts us in the same boat."
"Yeah, guess so," she agreed.
"That's not a bad thing," he said. "Since I'm a pretty good swimmer—or used to be—I'm sure I could rescue you, if it ever capsized."
Paige laughed. "You're funny. I can swim too, so I'm sure I could make it back to shore on my own, if I had to."
He smiled. "So maybe you could rescue me if I needed it."
"Maybe I could," she said.
"Maybe you could what?" Paige heard her mother ask. She turned and saw her enter the room. "Who were you talking to?"
Realizing that she had been caught in the act talking to a guy in her room, who was also a stranger, Paige turned to face him. He was gone. How did he get out of the window so quickly and quietly—even closing it behind him?
She faced her mother. "I was talking to myself," she said, figuring that was the best answer under the circumstances.
Sharon looked around the room, as though Paige might be hiding someone, until she seemed satisfied that there was no one there. "Well you can talk to yourself later. Right now, I need you to come downstairs and help me move something."
"Okay." Paige followed her out of the room. She took one more glance back, as if he might somehow still be standing there, but did not see the guy whose name she still didn't even know.
* * *
Noah could barely believe it as he watched the attractive girl and her mother leave the room. Not only can she see me, but she can also talk to me, he thought. He liked her long blonde hair, blue eyes, and slender physique. Even her voice appealed to him.
Mostly, though, he liked the fact that he was finally able to communicate with someone in this world instead of going it alone as he had for the past six months. He couldn't explain it, but she made him feel stronger, more alive—even though he was dead.
He had wanted to tell her that he was a modern day ghost, but didn't want to freak her out any more than he already had by showing up in her room and scaring her half to death. Adding to that, Oh, by the way, you're talking to a dead teenager, surely wouldn't have helped matters.
For now, Noah was just happy to have her around, even if it didn't last. Maybe she could help him deal with what had happened to him, and what it all meant, if anything.
He suddenly found himself on the cliff overlooking Dead Lake. It was the last thing he remembered before falling off and onto the rocks below, his body protruding from the cold waters of the lake.
How did he end up there? Did he jump? Or was he pushed?
Noah pondered these and other thoughts, including wanting to learn more about the girl who now occupied his old room in a house that his mother had abandoned after his death. Not that he could blame her. It would have been too weird to stay there afterward. He only wished he could tell her how sorry he was about everything and how much he loved her.
Maybe the new girl could pass that along to her someday.
CHAPTER TWO
The next day, Paige's mom drove her to school. Paige couldn't stop thinking about the guy she met yesterday in her room. Was he really so homesick that he needed to come back for a visit? Or had he been returning other times while the place was unoccupied?
Either way, she felt strangely comfortable with him. She liked the thought of him attending Dead Lake High. They could hang out together. It gave her a real reason to look forward to going to the school.
She glanced at her mom, who was focused on the road. There was a light dusting of snow across the landscape. They had gotten most things unpacked and put away yesterday. It would still take some time getting used to being in a new house, with a new room and new environment. The one thing missing was a new car.
Paige brought it up casually. "If I had my own car, it would make things a lot simpler for both of us."
"And a lot more expensive," her mother said. "Since I
haven't even earned my first paycheck yet and I'm still trying to catch up on some debts, your car will have to wait for a while—sorry."
So am I, Paige thought, sorry she had brought it up. So much for wishful thinking. She hoped all the other students didn't have their own cars, making her seem all the more like an outsider.
"Maybe for your seventeenth birthday I'll be able to afford to buy you a car," Sharon said as if to soften the blow.
"That's like eight months from now," Paige whined, while thinking morbidly: I could be dead by then.
"The time will pass by before you know it," her mother said.
Paige could only hope. In the meantime, she would turn her sights toward other things—such as acclimating herself to the tenth grade at a new school and trying to find out more about the come-and-go guy she was attracted to.
They reached the school.
"Do you need a ride home?" Sharon asked.
"No," Paige told her. "I'll catch a ride with someone or walk. It's not that far."
"Okay." Her mother offered a weak smile.
"Do I look all right?" Paige asked, as if having second thoughts in choosing to wear for her first day a twill blazer, striped top, straight leg jeans, and flats. Had she overdone it?
"You look fine, honey," her mother said.
"Thanks, mom."
"Enjoy your first day at school."
"Enjoy yours at work," Paige replied, knowing she probably had her own jitters going to work at a new place with new personalities to adjust to. She opened the car door, grabbed her backpack from the back seat, and got out. "See you later."
Paige watched briefly as her mother drove off, before she turned to face the school. It was a modern looking building with three floors and lots of windows, unlike her last school that consisted of several smaller buildings. Other students were milling about or filing toward the main door.
Running a hand through her loose hair, she followed suit, slipping behind a tall, chunky guy and alongside a petite, attractive red-haired girl, who smiled at her without speaking.
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