Vampire Survival Guide: How To Rock A Vampire Outfit

Chapter Twenty Four- Midnight at the Cabin

Ever since we arrived at the old lodge for our class trip, Sandra had been a tornado of energy, whipping up chaos and cheer.

"Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm—"

"Sandra! Can we tone it down? It's not even Christmas yet!" I groaned, trying to suppress a laugh at her enthusiasm.

"Oh, come on, Kate! Where's your sense of adventure? It's a full moon! Let's investigate the lake!" she urged, her eyes sparkling like the stars above.

"The teachers warned us to stay away from that lake after dark. I'd like to actually graduate this year, thank you very much!" I shot back, crossing my arms defiantly.

"Party pooper! You could at least pretend to be fun!"

"Fun? You mean like when the guy in the horror movie goes into the creepy cabin and gets eaten by a monster? No, thanks!"

"Please! That's just fiction. Now, come on! It'll be our own little adventure!" She practically bounced on her toes.

"Right. An adventure that ends with us suspended. What a thrilling plot twist!"

"Suspended? That sounds so dramatic! I prefer 'temporary educational sabbatical.'" She spun around with a flourish, her arms wide open.

"Yeah, but then we'd miss out on all the joy of graduation—like the speeches and the awkward dancing!" I countered, raising an eyebrow. "Why do we need to look stylish while sneaking around a haunted house? Shouldn't we be in sweatpants instead?"

"Oh, please. If we're going to die, I want to look fabulous doing it!" She tossed clothes onto the bed as she changed, her excitement infectious.

"Really? You think a werewolf will care if you're wearing black leggings?" I chuckled.

"First of all, it's a ghost! Secondly, I do believe in werewolves; I know they exist. I read it on the internet!"

"Ah, the internet—the most trustworthy source of knowledge," I replied, unamused.

Sneaking through the lobby was a breeze; no one suspected two girls in black outfits were plotting a late-night escapade. "See? Easy-peasy! We're basically spies!" Sandra whispered, striking an exaggerated pose.

"More like 'agents of questionable life choices,'" I replied, rolling my eyes.

The path to the lake felt longer than it should have, especially with every rustle in the bushes sending me jumping back. "Relax! It's probably Levi practicing a stand-up routine," Sandra laughed.

When we finally reached the lake, the moonlight spilled over the water, transforming it into a shimmering sheet of silver that rippled gently with the night breeze. The air felt thick and charged, almost electric, heightening every sound—the rustle of leaves, the distant call of an owl. Nearby, a two-story cabin loomed, its weathered wood creaking ominously. The upper windows were dark and hollow, casting an eerie gaze down upon us, while the lower ones were boarded up. Its rotting timbers groaned under the weight of time.

"Alright, we need to figure out how to get across to that cabin without drowning," Sandra said, eyeing the distance. Her eyes lit up with mischief as she scanned the shoreline. "What about that fallen tree?" She pointed to a massive trunk that lay partially submerged, creating a makeshift bridge.

"Are you serious? That looks like it's been there forever!" I protested.

"Exactly! It's the perfect natural bridge!" she grinned. "We can totally do this!

With a deep breath, I nodded. "Alright, let's do this."

Sandra stepped confidently onto the log, her arms outstretched for balance. I followed cautiously, heart racing as the log wobbled slightly beneath us.

"Just think of it as a daring adventure!" Sandra said, giggling as she almost lost her balance but quickly regained it.

Halfway across, I paused to catch my breath. The moonlight reflected off the water, creating an eerie glow. "Why do we always end up in these crazy situations?" I wondered aloud.

"Because we're awesome!" Sandra declared, striking a superhero pose on the log. "Now keep moving before I fall off and make us both regret this!"

With a nervous laugh, I followed her lead. We finally reached the shore, both letting out a sigh of relief as we hopped off the log and landed safely on solid ground.

"See? That wasn't so bad!" Sandra exclaimed, brushing herself off with a triumphant smile.

"Yeah, but the real adventure is just beginning," I said, eyeing the shadowy cabin ahead.

"Let's do this!" Sandra whispered, her excitement palpable as we headed toward the dark silhouette of the cabin, ready to uncover whatever mysteries awaited us inside.

As we stepped inside, the air felt electric, thick with the scent of mildew and mystery. Shadows danced on the walls as I switched my camera to video mode. "Alright, time for our ghost-hunting debut! Let's document our last moments!"

"Just remember: if we find a ghost, I'm totally taking a selfie with it!" she declared, grinning.

I aimed the camera at the dusty furniture and cobwebs, giggling. "Look, everyone! We're the first teens ever to get haunted in style!"

But just as I turned to catch Sandra's dramatic face, I realized she wasn't beside me. "Sandra? You're not pulling a prank, are you?"

Silence swallowed my words.

"Very funny! Now come out before I start screaming!"

Then, a rustle in the corner caught my attention, and my heart raced. "If this is a prank, I swear I'm going to..."

Suddenly, a shadow darted past, and I felt a cold rush of air. "SANDRA!" I yelled, panic bubbling in my throat.

Just then, the cabin door slammed shut behind me, plunging me into darkness.

"Well, this just got real!" I muttered to myself, trying to catch my breath.