The Bones at the Bottom of the Lake: FRIGHTLAND, #3

By R. H. Grimly

Fiery lights at night and a ghostly figure at the end of the dock are making Jacie's stay at a summer cabin on the lake eerie enough. But when her younger brother Cal pulls bones from the water with his fishing pole and a strange girl named Chloe warns them to put it all back, Jacie starts to wonder what's really hidden at the bottom of the lake.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barde Press
• Release date: Jan 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201677169

Book preview

The Bones at the Bottom of the Lake

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FRIGHTLAND #3

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by R.H. Grimly

Copyright © 2021 R.H. Grimly

Published by Barde Press

All rights reserved

Cover art by Flavio Greco Paglia

Interior illustrations by Daniel Brown

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For Delilah Grace and Adelaide Flora

Find out more

about the series at

FRIGHTLANDBOOKS.COM

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Table of Contents

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Illustration by Daniel Brown

1

As our old station wagon bumped down the shadowy lane, I stared excitedly at the deep green forest surrounding us. The car was stuffed with suitcases, coolers full of snacks, fishing poles, life jackets, and everything else we needed for our vacation in the Adirondack mountains. There was barely enough room in the back seat to move my legs.

I was busy sucking the sugar off a gummy peach ring. Next to me, my eight-year-old brother Cal was unbuckled and leaning over the back seat, looking out the rear window.

I think the canoe is gonna fall off! he said loudly.

No it won’t, said Dad from the driver’s seat. Mom was sitting in the front passenger seat, sleeping with earplugs.

But it’s bouncing around! said Cal.

That’s because the car’s bouncing, said Dad. This road is bad.

Cal leaned his head out to see better. "It looks loose to me."

Calvin, just sit like your sister and stop worrying about it, said Dad. I tightened the straps really well at the gas station. There’s no way it’ll fall off.

I saw Dad sneak a glance up at the canoe. He sat back up, satisfied the boat hadn’t disappeared — again. I grinned. We had stopped at the gas station because the boat mysteriously hadn’t been tied on well enough, and Dad had to go search for it.

Dad looked in the rearview mirror at us. Cal, get buckled.

Cal slid back around and reluctantly fastened his seatbelt. Are we almost there? he groaned.

"We are getting really close," said Dad.

Cal rolled his eyes and turned to stare out the window. That’s what you said last time.

Dad laughed. "Well, we really are this time — just a couple of minutes."

I checked the time on my phone, then stuffed it back in my pocket — we’d been driving nearly four hours.

I haven’t even seen the lake yet, I said. The forest is too thick.

The lake’s pretty far back from the road, Jacie, said Dad.

I kept staring out the window, and adjusted the rubber band on my ponytail so it wasn’t quite so tight.

Should we wake up Mom? asked Cal.

No, said Dad.

I’m awake, said Mom, stretching her arms out.

Sorry, said Dad. Mom just shook her head and smiled, as she glanced out her window at the shadowy forest.

We drove past an overgrown gravel driveway with a rusty mailbox standing next to it.

Was that ours? asked Cal. Did we miss it?

No, said Dad. It’s the next one.

I stuck my nose against the window to see, as Cal unbuckled again and crowded against me. Move over, Jacie! he said.

Hey, you’re squishing me, I said, pushing him back.

You’re gonna break my collection box! he said.

Then move it! I answered. He picked up a small cardboard box from the seat and held onto it tightly. He puts all sorts of nature stuff he finds in that box.

Get buckled, said Mom.

But we’re almost there! said Cal.

I don’t care, said Mom. Get buckled.

Cal sighed and moved back to his seat, setting his collection box down again. He glanced back out the rear of the car. "Are you sure the canoe is okay?"

Yes.

I popped another peach ring in my mouth as I looked out the window.

Dad slowed the car and turned off the road onto a gravel driveway. The forest completely swallowed us.

Tall pines stretched over the driveway like a tunnel, completely blocking out the sky. There were thick bushes and ferns. Cal and I both stared out the windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of the lake.

Just around the bend here, said Dad.

Cal and I leaned forward, looking out the windshield. Mom glanced back, smiling at us.

The station wagon bumped through a muddy pothole, sending Cal tumbling over.

That’s why you stay buckled, I said.

You’re twelve, mumbled Cal. You can’t tell me what to do.

Jacie’s right, said Mom. "If you don’t listen to us, you should at least listen to your older sister."

That’s right! I said with a grin.

Cal rolled his eyes.

Suddenly, the tunnel of trees opened up into a small clearing as we reached the end of the gravel driveway. I could see the cabin ahead of us — and the lake just beyond it!

I instantly pictured us exploring in the canoe, and fishing, and just laying out on the sandy lakeshore beach having fun. I glanced over at Cal and we exchanged grins. This was going to be the best vacation ever!

Dad parked the station wagon. Cal and I both hurried to open our doors and climb out.

First! yelled Cal.

No you weren’t, I said, slamming my door shut and glancing around the forest.

Yes I was, said Cal.

Mom climbed out, putting a ball cap over her dark hair. I ran around the back of the car to get a good look at the lake, and had to duck below the pointy end of the canoe. Then I saw the cabin.

I stopped in my tracks and stared at it. It didn’t look anything like I’d imagined. The brown boards looked old. The trim around the small dark windows had peeling white paint. The yard around it was overgrown.

It looks haunted, said Cal.

I laughed. No it doesn’t. It just looks... old.

And haunted, said Cal.

In an ominous voice, Mom said to Cal, You’re probably right, and patted his shoulder with a grin. As we followed Dad toward the cabin, I wondered if the mossy shingles on the roof would leak. Dad climbed up the stoop and unlocked the wooden door, then stepped inside the dark room. I was about to follow him in, when I heard a loud BAM from inside.

Ow! yelled Dad.

What happened? said Cal behind me.

The lights inside the cabin