Chapter 1

Virginia Farlow gazed at her reflection in her exquisitely designed Louis XIV mirror. She slowly ran a beautifully designed brush through her soft nutmeg colored hair. Virginia plopped down on her gigantic canopy bed. It was draped with floral print and five rose colored ruffled pillows. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was so lucky to be the acknowledged daughter of the ever-famous businessman George Farlow. Twenty-five years ago Virginia’s father was just a quotidian man living an ordinary life in the countryside. Though as luck has it he inherited his grandfather’s tobacco industry just as England started an interest in chewing tobacco. He quickly became very wealthy so one night the ambassador invited him to dinner. As my father recalls he had a very lovely time, especially since that was where he met the exquisite Isabelle. Two years later they got married and lived relatively happily except that every once in a while he would complain about missing the days when he was carefree and more fun-loving, before he inherited his grandfather’s tobacco industry. Actually he has been talking about moving back to the town of Trusula. Virginia shook that idea out of her head. She knew it would never happen.

She looked out the window in her bedroom. What a fantastic sight it was. She saw the rolling hills in the distance with the clear blue sky above them and the street below busy with excitement. Virginia saw a constable, a man in rags begging for money, and children playing. Even though Virginia loved to be rich and having a great life she wished she could have friends. It was so unfair, how could they be so happy and not rich while she was rich and not so happy. “It is so unfair!” Virginia exclaimed out loud. “What difference does it make anyway. I have wealth and power!”

“Virginia, will you come down here?” Virginia’s mother ‘s voice echoed. “We need to talk to you.”

“What could be the problem?” Virginia asked herself. Virginia quickly walked out of her room and started down the hall. On the walls were portraits of herself and the rest of her family. She was walking on a beautiful oriental carpet. Virginia approached the winding stairway; she gracefully started walking down it, her hand resting on the gold colored banister. The marble stairs made her shoes make a loud but pleasant tapping noise. Before entering their spacious dining room Virginia ruffled her blue dress and combed her hair with her fingers. Virginia then entered the dining room. The chandeliers gave off a brilliant light that filled the entire room.

“Virginia, your father and I have some news that we must give you before we make such a huge change in your life,” stated Mrs. Farlow.

“What is that, Mother?”

“Virginia, we have taken a lot of consideration to this matter and we thought it best for you to grow up with friends than be a spoiled rich girl for the rest of your life.”

“What are you telling me?” Virginia asked.

“Virginia, you know how people only appreciate us for our money, I remember running around in fields with my friends,” Mr. Farlow said. “What I’m saying is I feel it best we move back to Trusula and if we leave all the money with Aunt Gertrude and Uncle James while I pursue a new life as a farmer,” Mr. Farlow explained. All Virginia could do was stare ahead. She didn’t want to leave her life, though she knew there was nothing she could do.

“Well, when are we due to leave?” Virginia asked.

“Tomorrow,” Mr. Farlow replied.

Virginia ran upstairs past the sitting room and her parent’s bedroom. She ran until she reached her room. Tears rolled down her cheek. How could she possibly live like the less fortunate people below her on the street. In all her twelve years of her life as being awfully wealthy she never took the possibility that she could ever be less of that into consideration.

That night Virginia slept recklessly, having awful nightmares of her new life. The next day she forced herself not to look back as she left on that faithful day.

Mr. Farlow bought three donkeys and set off for Trusula, which was 11 miles from the city. “George, I think I’m having second thoughts about the entire concept. I mean, we left in such a frenzy we probably left behind useful appliances we will possibly need in the future, just to be disgustingly poor and filthy,” Mrs. Farlow complained.

“You just wait, Isabelle. Wait until you see the house.”

Virginia remained silent, just looking at the scenery. There were farms and fields of crops, things that bored Virginia as a well brought up girl.

“We’re almost there,” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia noticed a red barn in need of a paint job. “Oh, great, those slobs will be our neighbors,” Virginia mumbled. They finally arrived at their new home.

“There are so many memories in this house, Virginia and Isabelle!” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia looked up at the two-story house. The paint was peeling, there were broken windows and shutters were crooked. “It needs some work!” Mrs. Farlow said. “Well, we can all work on it. I kept enough money to buy paint and other supplies,” Mr. Farlow said.

Isabelle and Virginia looked at each other, both of them have never even thought of working. “At least now people will accept us for who we are and not for our money,” Mr. Farlow said. As the family entered the old abandoned house, a large plank of wood fell from the beams above, heading directly for Virginia!

“Watch out!” Mr. Farlow exclaimed, rushing her out of the way just as the board collapsed on the ground.

“Virginia, are you all right?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“I’m fine,” Virginia said, quivering.

“I don’t want any more accidents. We’re leaving now!” Mrs. Farlow exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, nothing like this will happen again,” Mr. Farlow said quickly. “Just give the house some time, and everything will turn out fine.”

“Well, all right, though one more accident like this and we are leaving the dangerous old house and asking Aunt Gertrude and Uncle James for at least half our money back, though we will have to act quickly,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“No, no, that will never happen again. I can almost guarantee it!”

“Well, nothing better happen!” Mrs. Farlow said.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen,” Mr. Farlow said. “At least, I hope not!”

Chapter Two

After yet another night of uncomfortable sleep, which was far too much for the former rich girl, or for any of the Farlows for that matter, they got to work on their house. Virginia helped paint the walls, nailed together loose boards, and swept up all the dust and cobwebs.

“I believe I am in desperate need of a break,”declared Virginia.

“Well all right, though return in fifteen minutes,”Mrs. Farlow called out, knowing that that there was no way to fix the house without her help.

“I’m going to sit under that large oak tree in our front yard.”

Virginia left through the front door and slammed it behind her. The shade of the oak looked very inviting so she closed her eyes and sat on a root as she dozed off.

“Hello!”

“What was that?” Virginia looked around until her eyes fell upon a young girl in rags with long reddish hair full of knots.

“Who are you?” Virginia asked trembling.

“My name is Claudia; I live in the woods down yonder. Couldn’t help but notice you moving in to our part of the country. What’s your name?”

“My name is Virginia daughter of George Farlow and Isabelle Farlow, if you don’t mind I must get back to work. Good Bye,” Virginia said getting back to the house quickly because there was absolutely no way she wanted to stay near that unsanitary girl Claudia.

“Great, we can be best friends!” Claudia called out.

Virginia ran inside the house, slamming the door behind her again.

“What’s wrong Virginia?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“ I met this girl who goes by the name of Claudia.”

“Oh how nice. It’s good of you to finally make a new friend,” Mrs. Farlow said nodding towards her husband.

“ Though she’s poor and she wears rags!”

“Virginia, just because she’s poor it doesn’t mean her personality is affected,” Mr. Farlow explained.

“Your father is right, I don’t know her though she is probably very nice and the least you can do is give her a chance,” Mrs. Farlow said wiping her auburn hair off her forehead.

“Well said Isabelle,” Mr. Farlow said twisting his black mustache.

“You’re right. This is a terrible way to make a new friend, while I go find Claudia you can finish the rest of the work!”

Isabelle and George looked at each other in awe as Virginia left the house.

“Claudia where are you?”Virginia asked.

“Hello Virginia,”Claudia said popping out of no where. “Would you like to play a game?”

“Sure,” Virginia said uncertainly

“ All right then here is how you play. One person must hide wherever they choose while the other person must find them.”

Virginia enjoyed this game and by the time Virginia got back it was very late.

“I see you had a good time with Claudia,”Mr. Farlow said as Virginia walked through the door.

“I thought you said there wasn’t any way you could have fun with someone who was poor,” Mrs. Farlow chuckled.

“It’s getting late. It is about time you get to sleep Virginia. Tomorrow we will work on the rest of the house,” Mrs. Farlow said.

Finally the Farlows were able to get to sleep quickly that night, dreaming very happy things for the future. 

The next day the Farlows finished working on the house and despite the fact they hated to work the house actually looked decent enough. It also took them a long time to complete their task after all they took so many breaks in-between. They obviously were not used to all this work.

“It still doesn’t look like our old mansion; though it will have to do,” Mrs. Farlow said laughing.

“I have to agree with you; though isn’t it satisfying knowing that we worked very hard on it and money didn’t interfere,” Mr. Farlow remarked.

“You’re right. I feel proud of myself,” Virginia said beaming.

“Now it looks the same way as when I lived in it as a boy.”

“I’m going to find Claudia,” Virginia said.

“Be back by dark!” Mr. Farlow yelled as Virginia left the house.

For some strange reason Virginia never seemed to have to look for Claudia. Claudia always just seemed to be there, as if she popped up out of no where.

“Hi Virginia,” Claudia said coming up from behind the house.

“Claudia you scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” Claudia apologized.

“It’s all right.”

“Anyway,” Claudia said continuing “I just thought up a wonderful idea!”

“What is it?” Virginia asked.

“We are going to sneak into Jacqueline White’s house and steal her secret spell book!”

“What type of secret spell book?” Virginia asked.

“Well she’s a real-life witch so I figured she has a spell book,” Claudia replied.

“How do you know she’s a witch?” Virginia asked.

“Well she is the most secretive person around. Trust me, I’ve had my eye on her for quite awhile and I’m getting suspicious. For example, every day at 4:00 she leaves her house to go somewhere. My guess is she goes and has some tea with a witch’s society or something. That is despite the fact everyone else says she is a witch as well. Plus you should see her, she has a long pointy nose and a scratchy voice and she’s been seen brewing up spells I think,” Claudia explained.

“Well even if she is a witch how do you expect we can get inside her house and steal her book?” Virginia asked.

“We will sneak into her house when she is not there at 4:00. That will be the most perfect time so we can leave in about ten minutes,” Claudia said devilishly. Ten minutes later the two friends left quickly and quietly. They proceeded to old Jacqueline White’s house.

“Are you sure we won’t get caught?” Virginia asked.

“Positive.” Claudia replied.

They traveled quite a distance before they reached the old but beautiful house of Jacqueline White.

“Claudia, this house doesn’t look like a house a witch would live in.”

“Virginia, looks can be deceiving.”

“There’s still the problem of how we’re going to get in,” Virginia said. “Well you’re right no one is home at least,” Virginia continued.

“I know Jacqueline White’s never home at this time, and we’re going to get in through the cellar door since I suspect it will be unlocked. Come along Virginia.”

The two friends both walked in Jacqueline White’s basement at the same time going up the aged wooden stairs. The smell of damp water was very sickening as they opened the main door to the cellar. Claudia led Virginia through the dusty old basement. Every once and a while Claudia would look around for the book.

“I don’t think the book’s down here,” Virginia said.

“The door to the house is probably unlocked,” Claudia said. “Follow me.”

Claudia reached for the doorknob and easily opened the door.

“Come on, follow me.”

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so far. Then Virginia noticed something peculiar.

“Claudia, come here. I’ve found something!”

As Claudia rushed over to the sunlit corner where Virginia was standing she said “Wow! This proves that she is a witch. This is her evil brew with frog eyes and lizard tails.”

“That’s a very sickening thought. I think we should get out of here right away!” Virginia exclaimed. “ Are you sure it’s evil brew?” she added taking a closer look. “It looks a lot like soup.”

“Then go ahead taste it,” Claudia replied.

“No I don’t want to,” Virginia said disgustedly.

“See it really is witch’s brew!” Claudia exclaimed.

“I still don’t know.”

“Trust me. It’s witches brew,” Claudia replied. “We still need to find the book though or we don’t have any proof.”

Claudia and Virginia searched and searched throughout the house, although the only book they could find was a recipe book.

“Let’s just give up and go home,” Virginia said with a sigh.

At that moment the door began to open and an old woman with a long pink dress with white lace around it and a bonnet on her head walked in with vegetables in her hand.

“Quick hide!” Claudia said, though it was too late. Mrs. White already saw them and for awhile she just stood there. Then she finally said “You girls snuck in here while I was gone so now I’ll give you a taste of what you’re in for. Sit down and have some soup!”

“What?!” Claudia exclaimed.

“I had to get the vegetables for my soup,” Jacqueline White replied as she chopped and put the vegetables in her soup. After she finished she got three bowls and poured the soup into it. As the three sat down Virginia and Claudia cautiously helped themselves. Then Virginia started to say, “You know a lot of people think you are…” Claudia kicked her under the table finishing her sentence by saying, “People think you are a wonderful person.”

“Why how nice, though I thought people think of me as a horrible witch because of my appearance. And I’m secretive.”

“Well I always knew you were a kind and forgiving person Mrs. White,” Claudia said.

“Why thank you. Though may I ask what you were doing in my house in the first place?”

“Well uh…” Claudia stammered.

“We knew what a great cook you are and we smelled such delicious soup here we couldn’t resist,” Virginia finished.

“I think I know what you were really doing. You two thought I was a witch and came here looking for a so-called spell book. Well let me assure you that it’s happened before so there is no need to lie,” Mrs.White explained. Virginia and Claudia felt really guilty; Mrs. White was actually very nice.

“Well I believe it is time we get back home Mrs. White. Thank you so much for the soup,” Virginia said.

“Yes thank you,” Claudia said as well.

“Thank you for visiting come back any time,” Mrs. White called out.

“She was nice,” Claudia said as they left.

“Now you know there is no such things as witches,” Virginia stated. “Remind me never to look for things that don’t exist again.”

“What about the vampire in the belltower?” Claudia asked.

“What are you talking about now?”

“Don’t tell me you have never heard of the vampire in the belltower?” Claudia asked in disbelief.

“You are being ridiculous. This is just like the witch story,” remarked Virginia.

“No! That was made up but this is real. The vampire legend has been around for hundreds of years and I’m really serious.”

“Sure,” Virginia said laughing.

“Laugh if you want the vampire legend is true.”

At the fork in the road where Virginia and Claudia had to separate, Virginia began to laugh hysterically at the thought of a vampire in the old belltower. After what happened today with the witch, she would never take Claudia seriously again. The though of a vampire living in a belltower was simply ridiculous!

Chapter 3

Early that morning Claudia arrived at Virginia’s house with an eager look on her face and two shovels in her hand.

“What are you up to now?” Virginia asked.

“We are going digging for gold,” Claudia replied proudly.

“How do you even know there’s gold around here?” Virginia responded.

“I would like you to meet a friend of mine,” Claudia replied.

Claudia led Virginia up the road until they reached a house (if you could call it a house) which was a total disaster. Chipped paint was everywhere, and loose shingles and fallen bricks were all over. Claudia knocked on the door until this young boy in overalls and a very dirty face finally answered. “

Hello, Tommy. Allow me to introduce a very good friend of mine. Tommy Scarcock, meet Virginia Farlow.”

“Nice to meet you, Virginia. Are you new around here?” Tommy asked.

“Why, yes,” Virginia answered simply.

“Tommy, tell Virginia about the gold you found,” Claudia said.

“Are you guys telling me that you are interested in finding gold too? I would gladly help you by telling you where I found my gold, although only if I receive forty percent of what you find,” Tommy demanded.

“What! You can’t do that. I wasn’t even on planning on giving you anything, and if I did, it wouldn’t be much. Ten percent at the most,” Claudia argued back.

“Well, it’s better than nothing, I suppose,” Tommy agreed. “Well, where did you find the gold?” Virginia asked.

“Did you expect there would be something left? I dug all over where I found my gold. I doubt you’ll find anything there,” Tommy said.

“Then I suppose we are wasting our time,” Claudia said.

“Now, now, you came to Tommy Scarcock for help and help is what you're going to get,” retorted Tommy.

“You said there wasn’t any more gold,” Virginia said.

“What I said was, there wasn’t any more gold where I looked,” Tommy said slyly.

“Well where should we start digging?” Virginia asked.

“Over at the foot at Forbidden Mountain, where the arched doorway is,” Tommy directed, pointing westward. As Tommy watched them walk in the distance he smiled to himself slyly.

About half an hour later they reached the arched doorway of Forbidden Mountain. They noticed some script in an unknown language on the arch.

“What does it say,” Virginia asked curiously. Claudia just stared at the mountain dumbfounded. Finally she answered.

“I believe it is a warning.” Despite the warning telling them they were in danger, Virginia and Claudia anxiously awaited what they would discover inside. Virginia and Claudia pushed open the heavy door with all their strength. Inside all they found was complete darkness.

“Well, I think we should start mining for the gold now,” Claudia said. With that the two friends stepped into the cave. As they were talking to each other the door slammed shut behind them. Deeper in the cave the two girls heard bellowing rolls of laughter echoing throughout the cave. Virginia and Claudia cowered down in fright. They started blundering blindly down the tunnel, feeling the wall as they went. Suddenly the walls opened into a great chamber. Their eyes were blinded by a fiery red light. They waited a moment for their eyes to adjust. Then they saw before them a gigantic dragon with the brilliant colors of gold, red, and green. They saw that the dragon was seated upon a throne made from the finest gold coins, precious gems and any other object that could be forged in gold. The girls gasped as they gazed upon the hideous dragon and then upon the gold again. Then the dragon spoke. “ Thou hast disturbed my slumber. What brings thou here? Thou now must pay,” he ended in a low growl.

“We didn’t mean to Sir…Mr. Dragon sir,” stammered Claudia.

In the meantime, outside the cave, Tommy was laughing hysterically about his little prank.

“Ha, those girls better learn not to mess with me. The gold is mine, all mine. Ha, ha, ha, I’ll let the girls out in a few minutes. A lesson needs to be taught here.

Inside the golden cave the evil dragon was planning what to do with the trespassers.

“I know now what to do to you two. You will both have slow and painful deaths. You shall rot in two separate cages without food or water,” the dragon cackled. The girls froze with terror at the thought as the dragon locked them in iron cages. The dragon sat on his huge throne with the key dangling around his neck as he drifted silently to sleep.

Outside, Tommy began to worry since the girls had been inside the cave for twenty minutes without making a sound he could hear. After thinking for a few moments Tommy decided to enter the cave. He opened the door until he was lost in total darkness. Tommy explored the cave until he discovered the chamber. In the chamber he noticed Virginia and Claudia locked in iron cages. Then he noticed the dragon toward the center of the chamber. He also noticed the key around his neck. After he realized Claudia and Virginia were held captive by the giant fire-breathing beast he knew he had to save them. If he could only get to the key without waking the dragon, he could rescue Claudia and Virginia. He quickly and quietly snuck up to the dragon and tried taking the key without touching the dragon’s long nose. He woke up with a fearsome roar. Tommy was knocked roughly to the ground and fell unconscious. The dragon chuckled, “So, there is a little rescue mission, eh. Well, blow that attempt. I’ll put you somewhere where you won’t squeak,” he ended, chuckling, as he eyed an empty cage. He threw Tommy into the cage and hung it from the ceiling right above his throne so he could reach up and whack him if he made a sound. Virginia’s and Claudia’s hopes sank to their toes. “Now we shall end in here, a dragon’s lair.” Virginia laughed at the thought. “And to think, an hour earlier I didn’t even believe in dragons.”

Chapter 4

As everyone drifted to sleep the day was almost complete. Virginia’s parents began to worry.

“Where could she be?” Mrs. Farlow thought outloud.

“It’s that friend of hers, Claudia. She probably brought Virginia somewhere around though I have a feeling they will be back soon,” Mr. Farlow said.

Meanwhile, back in the cave, the dragon suddenly woke up and instinctively pushed the cage above him. The cause of the corrosion rendered Tommy unconscious. “Ha, Ha, Ha,” the dragon laughed. The deep laugh woke Virginia and Claudia quickly. “We’ve got to find a way out of here,” Virginia murmured under her breath.

Back at the house, Virginia’s parents really began to worry. We have to find them, it’s nearly 10 o’clock,” Mrs. Farlow cried out. Then a loud knock rang through the house. Mr. Farlow quickly answered the door to find two strange people.

“My name is John Scarcock and this is my wife Winifred. We want to know what happened to our son,” he shouted.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mr. Farlow answered confusedly.

“My son Tommy said he was going with Claudia and Virginia and since I don’t know a Virginia I figured she was your child.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. My daughter is missing, too. But somehow I know they will be all right. But let’s look for them,” Mr. Farlow exclaimed.

With that word, the two couples ran outside and started looking up and down maple road. Mrs. Scarcock said to Mr. Farlow, “You look down Whitman Street, and I’ll look down Sierra Tierra. Mrs. Farlow will look at Old Castle Road and Mr. Scarcock is looking down Main Street. Let’s meet here in half an hour.” She looked as if she was about to cry as she said “hour.”

Claudia woke up and jumped up. “Ouch,” she cried, as her head hit the top of the cage. Her yelp woke Virginia and Tommy. She eyed the dragon. He stirred but did not wake. She breathed a sigh of relief. Tommy woke up painfully.

“Oh, I thought I was dreaming about this horrible nightmare. I want to go home,” Tommy said with an effort.

Virginia was very hungry, being used to rich treatment and lots of food. Painfully, Virginia looked for Claudia. Not seeing her she looked for Tommy. She saw him hanging from the ceiling above the dragon. He was handing in the cage by a rusty chain. She had an idea. Her world went black. She had fainted from hunger. Tommy looked at the two girls looking for a solution. Claudia was looking up to Tommy for a solution.

Tommy was hanging high up and the entire time he was secretly scared to death of heights. It felt like he was going to fall at any moment. Then all of a sudden he sneezed. This was bad because he didn’t want to wake the dragon and if he was grouchy when he was wide awake imagine how grouchy he would be when he just woke up. The dragon woke up startled because of the sneeze. He laughed an evil laugh and started tormenting the helpless and unfortunate Tommy.

The great search took place throughout the small community. Everyone was busy searching for the three children. They formed a 10-mile radius. When the search wasn’t going anywhere from where they were looking, they extended to look in the city. Too bad nobody thought of looking in Forbidden Mountain.

Back in the cave, the dragon was punching the cage back and forth until there was a sudden creak. All at once the cage started to fall. It collapsed directly on the dragon’s head! The dragon was unconscious, which gave Tommy, Virginia, and Claudia time to escape. Tommy grabbed the key and began to unlock all of the cages.

“Hurry up, let’s go,” he said as the three started heading out the cave.

Finally, half an hour had passed and Mr. and Mrs. Farlow were nearly in tears as they met in the appointed spot. Mrs. Scarcock was crying silently, hiding her face with a handkerchief. No one had seen a trace of them. They went back to Virginia’s house and talked about the pain, drinking tea and eating strawberry rolls.

“I miss my son already,” Mrs. Scarcock cried sadly.

“It’s okay. I’m sure that if he lives he will find his way home,” said Mr. Farlow.

“I hope so,” said Mrs. Scarcock.

Back down at the cave there was a lot of action. The three children ran out of the cave and stopped to shut the door. Claudia took a sharp rock and wrote, “Keep out” on the door.

“How about my ten percent,” Tommy asked, chuckling.

“That isn’t funny!” said Virginia.

“Here you are,” said Claudia, handing him a gold coin.

“As I ran out, I grabbed a sack. I didn’t know what it contained,” Claudia said as she handed the small sack to Virginia.

“You can have it,” said Claudia. “I can always go back and get more with your help.”

With that, the three children all stopped laughing and shook their heads “No way.” Then they started running to their houses. When they got to Virginia’s house the three of them went in to greet their parents.

Chapter 5

“Mom!” Virginia cried out.

“Virginia, where were you,” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“It doesn’t matter, I’m back,” Virginia replied.

“This is all that girl Claudia’s fault, isn’t it?” Mr. Farlow said.

“No!” Virginia yelled.

“I have to agree with your father. I mean, we don’t even know her.”

“If you get to know her, will you let me be her friend?”

“All right, why don’t you go to her house and ask her over for dinner and we’ll see what she’s really like,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“I would, only I don’t know where she lives,” Virginia said, embarrassed.

“Well, will you expect to hear from her tomorrow?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“Yes, she usually comes over everyday.”

“We’ll ask her then,” Mr. Farlow said.

That was when Virginia began to think. Claudia always came to her house and she had never gone to Claudia’s house. In fact, Virginia didn’t know anything about where she lived or about her family. She didn’t even know about her parents or if she had any siblings. She didn’t know anything about them. Was Claudia trying to avoid telling her about them? As far as Virginia was concerned, she was going to find out about Claudia’s family.

The next day Claudia came over just as the sun came up.

“Can I come over to your house?” Virginia asked. Claudia had a worried look on her face. Virginia was right about Claudia hiding something. “What’s wrong, Claudia? You can tell me what this is about.” Then Claudia’s mood seriously changed. She looked mysterious and angry.

“No, no, no, you can never come to my house. I will never show you the way. Never, never, never, never.”

Virginia thought about this mood swing. “She’s hiding something, I bet,” Virginia thought.

Then Claudia said, “Let’s play a game.”

“What, no adventures!” Virginia started to laugh.

“I have to go home,” said Claudia.

As soon as Claudia was out of hearing distance Virginia said to her self, “Here’s my chance.” Then she started following her as if she were being drawn. She still kept her distance although she saw that Claudia had left the road right in front of the forest. Instinctively, Virginia followed. She hid behind trees and ducked so she wouldn’t be seen. On and on she went like a scared little squirrel going deeper and deeper into the forest. Whenever Virginia looked up she saw singing birds in the trees and there were flowers of all sorts scattered across the forest floor. Finally she got to Claudia’s house.

It was just a small shack with a mill right next to it. To the side of the small cottage was a babbling brook. Mushrooms were scattered throughout the yard. It just looked so enchanting. Claudia entered the house slowly with a tear in her eye. Virginia looked through a window and saw an old woman with glasses and gray hair. Then Virginia saw Claudia don an apron and start cooking. She served the old lady the meal. The old lady spit it out right away and started yelling at Claudia. Claudia hung her head in sorrow. Virginia felt really sympathetic toward Claudia. How awful it was for the old lady to be treating Claudia like that. How was that old lady related to Claudia? Claudia began cleaning the mess the old lady made. How could anyone be so harsh to such a kind and adventurous person? At that moment she remembered that she was supposed to invite Claudia to dinner. Her parents would be expecting her tonight. She just had to tell her about it or she would never see Claudia again. She knew that Claudia would be mad at her. Virginia gathered all of her courage and knocked on the door. Claudia quickly answered it and said, surprised, “Virginia, what are you doing here? How did you find me?”

“I followed you here, please don’t be mad.”

“I told you not to!” Claudia said angrily.

“I had to come by to ask you to dinner tonight.”

“You came all this way just to ask me to dinner! No, I don’t want to come, thank you,” said Claudia.

“Oh please come! If you don’t I will never see you again. See, my parents want to get to know you,” said Virginia. After a pause Claudia responded, “All right. Fine, I’ll come over if there is no trick involved.”

“Claudia, who is that old lady in the house, and why is she being so cruel?” Virginia asked.

“She’s my aunt, and why she is so cruel I don’t know. She has always been like that. I don’t think she has ever been kind to me. Well, let’s go to your house now, all right?”

Virginia shook her head, “All right. Though first I would like to ask you a question. What happened to your parents?”

After a pause Claudia responded, “Well, they died when I was young. Do you remember when I told you about the vampire in the belltower? He killed my parents. One by one they got sick and turned into vampires. Before they died I noticed there were marks on their necks. They looked like a vampire bites. Now I have to live with my evil aunt. That’s how I’m living now.” Virginia listened with a tear in her eye.

“Well, let’s go to my house now,” Virginia said.

As the two friends walked to Virginia’s house they looked up at the tower as they talked.

“That story was sad, though I still don’t believe in vampires,” Virginia said.

“Every word of it is true whether you believe it or not,” Claudia replied.

“If you’re so confident, why don’t we both explore the belltower and find the vampire,” Virginia remarked.

“Are you crazy? The vampire is too strong, we’ll get killed!” Claudia exclaimed.

“Then I won’t,” Virginia said.

The two friends arrived at Virginia’s house after a long walk through the woods. As they went through the door Virginia’s parents greeted them.

“We have heard so much about you, Claudia. Please have a seat,” Mrs. Farlow said, directing Claudia to the dining room.

“Please, Claudia, tell us about what happened yesterday,” Mr. Farlow asked.

“Well, we started by going on a search for gold. We asked a friend of mine for help. Though the greedy back stabber wanted all the gold for himself so, as a prank, he planned on locking us in a cave, though everything went wrong and I don’t think you will believe the rest, sir,” Claudia explained.

“So, none of this was your fault after all. I need to apologize after all the incorrect information I got,” Mr. Farlow said apologetically.

“It’s all right. Some people get these things messed up all the time,” Claudia said.

“I will encourage my daughter to see you whenever she wants. I now know that you are a kind and understanding person. I hope that the person who pulled the prank will think before he acts the next time. I am sorry for accusing you, “ said Mr. Farlow.

“Oh, thank you, Dad, thank you!” Virginia cried with relief. Then she hugged her friend Claudia.

Chapter 6

Early the next morning Virginia decided to visit Claudia instead of Claudia going to see her. Fortunately, Virginia met Claudia half way.

“I was just going to your house,” Claudia said.

“Same here,” Virginia replied.

“Well I’ve got a great idea,” Claudia said.

“What is it now?”

“We can go to the island of the Djinn,” Claudia said excitedly.

“What?”

“It’s past my house and I’ve never been there before and I really want to and we really must hurry since it’s a long journey, so can we please go!” Claudia pleaded.

Before Virginia could say one word Claudia was off headed for the mysterious Djinn Island. Virginia and Claudia went past the enchanted forest where Claudia lived. They went past many plains until they reached a large lake with a small island in the center.

“This is it, this is Djinn Island,” Claudia said excitedly.

“Now how do we get to the island?” Virginia asked.

“Do you see the boathouse in the distance? We will take a boat to the island,” Claudia said.

As they got to the boathouse they noticed there was only one small boat left.

“I guess we will have to take that one,” Virginia said.

“I always thought that there were two boats,” Claudia said.

“That’s all right. Maybe someone is in the other or it was stolen, but let’s go anyway. Come on,” said Virginia eagerly.

So the two hopped into the boat and off they went. The current carried them swiftly to Djinn Island. They were silent as the island drew nearer. Finally their boat bumped into the island. A thin mist was covering the island and the girls couldn’t see very far. As they hopped out of their boat Claudia saw something she didn’t notice as they approached. “Come here quick,” cried Claudia. Virginia ran to Claudia. Claudia was pointing to a boat.

“Isn’t this interesting.”

“I agree. Where is the person who brought it here?” Virginia asked.

“I don’t know, though I want to find out,” Claudia said, and with that the friends searched the island. Virginia was looking on the hill in the center of the island and Claudia looked up and down the beaches.

“I found her,” cried Claudia.

Claudia looked down at the girl, her leg was wounded. Virginia rushed over and they picked up the girl and lifted her to a softer spot in the sand. Then Virginia asked, “What is your name.”

“Marin,” she replied.

“How did this happen?” Virginia asked.

“I was climbing the trees when a branch collapsed ten feet up. I think I broke my leg,” Marin said in pain.

“You need help. We have to get back immediately,” Claudia said, worried.

“In the meantime, we should wrap your wound up. I will find something durable enough for your leg in the cave,” Virginia said. Virginia ran toward the cave though the only thing inside as far as Virginia knew was darkness. She stepped inside when a genie appeared.

He was huge. In a deep and loud voice that reminded Virginia of thunder he said, “I have the power to grant wishes. What are your commands, for I must obey them.”

“The only thing I wish for now is that Marin will get better,” Virginia said.

“Your wish is my command,” the Genie roared.

A few moments later Marin and Claudia entered the cave. Marin’s leg was healed.

“You have two wishes left. Choose wisely,” the Genie, said.

“Well, since I already made a wish, the next wishes will be asked by you two,” Virginia said. “Unless that it is three wishes per master,” she finished.

“I am sorry. I am only a young genie, and I do not have the power to grant wishes to so many masters at a time,” the Genie said.

“Well, then, I wish for all the gold in the world,” Claudia wished.

“It shall be done,” the Genie said. Then the whole room was ablaze with the blinding light of gold.

“Wow, this is even more gold than in the dragon’s lair!” Claudia exclaimed.

“I wish for all the diamonds in the world,” Marin said. The room was filled with diamonds and gold. They knew they couldn’t bring it all back in one trip. At that moment the Genie disappeared in a puff of smoke.

For a while, the three girls were amazed by the splendor of the riches. Then Virginia asked, “Would you share your lovely jewels with me?”

“Of course we will. We each get one third of both the diamonds and the gold,” said Claudia happily.

“Now, how are we going to get all this home?” asked Marin.

“Let’s go outside and see how much cargo fits into the boats. You and Marin will go in the bigger boat and I will take the small one,” said Claudia. With that, all three girls went outside.

They gasped with horror. The boats were gone. “How could this be,” wailed Marin.

“I guess the boats drifted away,” said Virginia. “I guess we’ll have to stay here for a while.” The sun had set and the stars were getting bright. Marin and Virginia went to sleep in the cave. Claudia preferred to sleep on the beach.

Hours had passed. The sun was already up and morning was nearly noon when the girls woke up. Meanwhile, back home, their parents began to worry. But they knew that their daughter was safe. Back on the island, the girls were ready for breakfast, but Claudia was nowhere to be seen. Marin and Virginia got a little worried. Anything can happen on such a small island. She could have drowned and they didn’t even know where she was. Claudia was actually in the treetops generously picking fruit for their breakfast. Once Claudia gathered the fruit she quickly climbed down the tree to find her friends. Virginia started sobbing at the thought of Claudia drowning in the lake. Claudia heard Virginia crying and asked what was wrong.

“You’re alive!” Virginia exclaimed.

“Of course I am! What, did you think I was dead?” Claudia asked.

“No, no, not at all,” Virginia said.

“Well, I got some fruit for our breakfast,” Claudia said. “Where’s Marin?”

“Here I am,” she said as her head popped out of the leaves of a tree.

“I prepared breakfast, so come down here,” Claudia said.

As the three sat on the beach and had breakfast Virginia said, “How do we get off of this island, anyway.”

“We’re stuck here, so we must build shelter,” Claudia said.

“Well, I’m going to explore the island. Who is coming with me?” Marin asked. The two girls agreed and started after Marin. They found many brilliantly colored birds on the island, along with wide varieties of plants. There was even a river that went across the island.

“I think that we should build a treehouse in this tree until we get off the island,” Virginia suggested.

“That’s a good idea. Let’s get to work after a short rest. Say, how should we make this tree house?” asked Marin.

“The usual way, of course. We make a floor and we get all the branches out of the way,” replied Claudia.

The girls were refreshed, so they got to work. Claudia cleared away the branches, Virginia used these branches to create the floor, and, with the extra branches, Marin created walls and steps up to the house. It took hours and hours to make. Finally, it was perfect. No flaw at all. Marin went inside of the cave to fix a lunch. Virginia and Claudia went up into the tree house and fell asleep.

About 20 minutes later Marin said loudly, “Lunch is ready!”

Virginia and Claudia woke with a start, feeling very hungry. “Being a carpenter is hungry work,” said Virginia to Claudia, almost forgetting about Marin. The two girls went down from the tree house and joined Marin. They all ate hungrily, talking every now and then. As soon as they were done with lunch they all lay down on the beach. Then, suddenly, a question popped into Virginia’s head.

“When are we going to go home?” she said aloud. “I mean, the boats are gone and the boathouse had no more boats. But, I guess I like it here. I really wouldn’t like to go back home if I had the chance.”

“I’m not sure I want to go back home, either,” Marin said. “Though I’m sure our parents are really worried.”

Meanwhile, back home, even though Mr. and Mrs. Farlow knew their only daughter was in safe hands, they began to worry. After all, the girls had been gone for over a day and they would probably come back before the next day.

Back on the island, the girls started to feel homesick. Would they actually be trapped on the island forever?

Chapter 7

Virginia really wanted to go home now. She was getting anxious. Suddenly a great thought went through her mind. They had made a tree house with ease. They could make a boat.

“We could make a boat!” Virginia exclaimed out loud.

Marin, who was sitting next to her, caught on to the idea. She went looking for Claudia. She found Claudia deep inside the cave. Marin told her about making a boat. She was so relieved. Claudia wanted to go home now. The two went outside. They saw Virginia collecting wide branches, vines, and some gems and gold in her pockets.

“Better pack up! We’re leaving as soon as the boat is made!” Then she started to put the branches side by side, tying them together with the vines, then did the same on the other side. She tested it on the water, and it sank. Virginia quickly put it back on land. She took some wet sand and filled up the holes. Virginia tried it again. It floated! “Come on! We’re going home!”

She and her friends went in the cave and filled their pockets with gold and diamonds.

“Off we go!” Claudia exclaimed. “Now we are going back rich when we left poor.”

As they went along a storm came up. They were half a mile away from both shores. They decided to go back to the mainland because they thought it was a lot safer to try that way. But they were too slow. The storm came along; the angry waves splashed them back and forth as the storm broke out. The poorly made boat would not hold them. All of a sudden a gigantic wave broke out and easily broke the boat in two, sending them all the way back to the island beach. After lying in the sand for quite a long time, Virginia called out, “Is everybody all right?”

“I’m fine,” Claudia called out.

“Are you all right, Marin?” Virginia asked. There was silence. “Are you all right?” Virginia called out again, only louder. There was still silence. Virginia got up quickly and began searching for Marin. Virginia circled half way across the island when she found Marin walking around the beach confused.

“The wave took you on the other side of the island,” Virginia explained.

Then Claudia came running up toward them saying “I’ve got a great idea on how we can get back home! If the wind is working against us in a boat then we’ll work with the wind in the air. We will make a hang glider and glide back to land.”

“Of all the crazy ideas you’ve had this has got to be the craziest,” Virginia said.

“Actually, to tell the truth, it just might work,” Marin said.

“I’m going inside. I don’t want to get involved with your crazy idea,” Virginia retorted. Just then Claudia began making herself a giant hang glider. First she got two palm trees. She tied them together with a vine. She tied a stick into the vines to the leaves. Claudia took her hang glider to the top of the hill. She said, “Come on!” then the three of them were on the bar running, running, jump.

“We’re flying,” cried Claudia.

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Virginia yelled over the wind.

“It’s all right,” she heard Claudia yell back to her. Everything was fine until they nearly reached the shore. A great current took the frail hand glider and snapped it in two. The girls hung onto pieces of the wreckage so they wouldn’t drown. They had been brought again to their little island. Marin suggested that they wait until the storm died down.

“After that…” Claudia said impatiently, “We will go across to the mainland by a way you really wouldn’t expect. You know that the water isn’t really that deep. We can make real tall shoes and walk across.”

No way, the girls thought. That is even more ridiculous than the attempt to fly across on a hang glider.

“We will do something else, then,” Claudia said. “I know just what to do.”

“What is it now?” Virginia asked.

“The wind has been causing all of this, right? Well, if we go where the wind won’t have its effects, then we will make it. We will go under water,” Claudia explained.

“It will never work,” Virginia said.

“It will work, all we have to do is use the gold so we can make something the water won’t penetrate though can provide enough air so we can breath comfortably.”

Three days had passed and the entire town was in uproar looking for Virginia, Claudia, and now Marin. The first thing Virginia’s parents did was go to the Scarcock house. When they found out that Tommy had nothing to do with it they raced all over town with absolutely no luck.

At the island, Virginia, Claudia, and Marin had no idea what they were doing. But they were willing to try anything. Even one of Claudia’s crazy ideas.

Chapter 8

Virginia really wanted to go home now. She was getting anxious. Suddenly a great thought went through her mind. They had made a treehouse with ease. “We could make a boat,” Virginia announced. Marin, who was sitting next to her, caught on to the idea. She went looking for Claudia; she found her deep inside the cave. Marin was so relieved that Claudia wanted to go home now. The two went outside, they saw Virginia collecting wide branches, vines, and some gems and gold in her pockets.

“Better get ready, we’re leaving as soon as the boat is finished.”

Then she started to put the branches side by side, tying them together with vines, then did the same on the other side. She tested it on the water and it sank. Virginia quickly brought it back on land. She took some wet sand and filled the holes. Virginia tried it again and it successfully floated. “Come on! We’re going home!”

She and her friends went back in the cave and filled their pockets with their pockets with gold and diamonds.

“Off we go!” Claudia exclaimed. Now they were going home rich when they came poor. As they went along another storm struck up. They were about half a mile away from both shores so they thought it best to try reaching the mainland because they thought it would be a lot safer that way. They were too slow. The storm came along and the angry waves splashed them back and forth as the storm broke out. The poorly made boat could not hold them. All of a sudden a gigantic wave came crashing their way and easily broke the boat in two sending them all the way to the beach of the island. After lying in the sand for quite a long time, Virginia called out, “Is everybody all right?”

“I’m fine,” Claudia called out.

“Are you all right, Marin?” Virginia asked. There was silence. “Are you all right?” Virginia called out again, only louder. There was still silence. Virginia got up quickly and began searching for Marin. Virginia circled half way across the island when she found Marin walking in a daze around the beach. “The wave took you on the other side of the island,” Virginia explained.

Claudia came running up toward them saying, “I’ve got a great idea on how we can get back home. If the wind is working against us in a boat then we’ll work with the wind in the air. We will make a hang glider and glide back to land.”

“Of all the crazy ideas you’ve had, this has got to be the craziest,” Virginia said.

“Actually, to tell the truth, it might just work,” Marin said.

“I’m going inside. I don’t want to get involved with your crazy ideas,” Virginia said in a happy voice.

Claudia started to make her hang glider. First, she got two palm leaves. Then she tied them together with a vine. Using two vines, she tied a stick onto the leaves. Claudia took her hang glider to the top of the hill. She said, “Come on.” Then all three of them were on the bar, running, running, running, jump! “We’re flying!” cried Claudia.

“I’m sorry I doubted you!” Virginia yelled over the wind.

“It’s okay,” she heard Claudia say back to her. Everything was fine until they were almost at the shore. A great current took the frail hang glider and snapped it in two. The girls hung onto pieces of the wreckage so they wouldn’t drown. They had been brought again to their little island. Marin suggested they wait until the storm died down.

“After that…” Claudia said impatiently, “We will go across to the mainland by a way you really wouldn’t expect. You know that the water isn’t really that deep. We could make tall shoes and walk across!”

“No way,” the girls thought. That is even more ridiculous than the attempt to fly across on a hang-glider.

“We will do something else, then,” Claudia said. “I know just what to do.”

“What is it now?” Virginia asked.

“The wind has been causing all of this, right? Well, if we go where the wind won’t have it’s effects, then we will make it. We will go under water.”

“It will never work,” Virginia said.

“It will work. All we have to do is use the gold so we can make something water can’t go through yet will still provide just enough air so we can breathe comfortably.”

Three days had passed and again the whole town was busy looking for Virginia, Claudia, and Marin. The first thing Virginia’s parents did was to go to the Scarcock house. When they found out that Tommy had nothing to do with it, they raced all over town with absolutely no luck.

At the island, though the children had no idea what they were doing, they only tried it because it was an idea. It was the time to try anything, even one of Claudia’s crazy ideas.

Chapter 9

“All right, I’ll try anything as long as it gets me home,” Virginia said, longing for hot meals, new clothes, and a luxurious hot bath.

“I’ll try anything as long as it gets me home safely,” said Marin hopefully. Finally, we will go home, each girl thought.

“Claudia, tell us how it works again, please,” pleaded Virginia. Claudia told them again carefully and slowly, making sure that she chose the right words. Everyone agreed that if they were going to get home this would be the way they got there.

“Everyone pick up a large piece of gold. Hold it by your mouth and nose,” Claudia directed. She was interrupted by Virginia.

“Shouldn’t we be tied together by a vine so we don’t lose each other?”

“Excellent idea, Virginia,” commented Claudia. Virginia went to work right away tying the strongest vine around herself, then around Claudia in the same fashion, and then Marin. They picked up the gold and put it in the correct place.

“Shouldn’t we bring some of our own riches?” the timid little girl Marin asked.

“Of course,” Claudia said. The girls stuffed their pockets with jewels and they were all ready.

“Off we go!” cried Virginia just before they went below the water.

It was very hard to see underwater, the girls were striving to see what was ahead of them though they knew they had to go North so they kept in that direction.

“I think we’re almost there, I can feel it,” Claudia said. They continued on their way when Virginia suddenly confronted… a giant alligator swimming their way!

“Let’s try to dodge it,” Marlin yelled even though no one heard her. Fortunately everyone else had the same idea in mind. The crocodile saw the three helpless girls and opened his mouth wide.

Back home the small community searched throughout the region. Nobody actually thought of looking underwater at that time. Everybody was worried. Would they ever come back this time?

Meanwhile a hungry alligator had just found its dinner. Three frightened and lively girls who were going to be dead had to think of something fast. Virginia and Marin were too frightened to move. It was up to Claudia, who held on to her wits. She grabbed a giant gold bar. When the alligator snapped his jaw shut, intent on eating the girls, Claudia jammed the gold bar vertically into the alligator’s mouth so he couldn’t shut it all the way. This gave a chance for Virginia, Claudia, and Marin to swim away. Since they had gone most of the way they could manage to attempt to swim to shore. The alligator did not give up yet. There was no way he was going to pass up a good dinner quite yet.

“Help,” Marin cried. Virginia looked behind. The alligator was chewing on Marin. The water was streaked with blood, and their old friend was a prisoner to the crocodile. To make the sight even sadder, the alligator was spitting out the jewels that were in her pockets.

“Let’s go,” Claudia cried, grabbing Virginia’s shirt. They were going top speed without stopping or looking back.

“I wish the alligator hadn’t eaten Marin,” Virginia said.

“That’s life,” Claudia replied. Just then they were coming out of the water. The stars above them were twinkling as they walked back home together.

Virginia ran to her parents as they were sitting in the living room. Virginia called out “Mother, Father, I missed you dearly.”

“Oh, Virginia, where were you?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“I was on stranded on an island with Claudia and a girl named Marin, who got eaten by a alligator,” Virginia responded.

“What an imagination you girls have. Now you must get some sleep. Off to bed with you,” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia drifted to sleep dreaming of what adventure she and Claudia might have next time. 

The next day Claudia didn’t come over. She didn’t the next day, or the next. Virginia began to worry. Why wasn’t Claudia coming over anymore? Virginia finally decided to go to Claudia’s house. She only hoped she wouldn’t be mad at her for that. Virginia took the long walk through the enchanted woods until she reached Claudia’s house. She gathered up all of her courage and knocked on the door. This time the old woman answered the door saying, “What do you want?”

“Is Claudia home?” Virginia stammered.

“Yeah, that good-for-nothing girl is sick, she can’t even do her chores and since she’s been gone, I’ve had to do her work,” the old woman growled.

“Tell Claudia that I’m worried about her, please,” Virginia said politely.

“I’ll think about it. She should do her chores that she missed,” the old woman said cruelly.

Virginia started to walk home feeling very sad for poor Claudia. “How I will help her, I don’t know, but I just know that I have to help her.”

The forest was greener than it had ever been before. Virginia went home a lot faster than she expected.

Virginia opened her front door as she walked in and she let it slam behind her. Virginia found her parents in the dining room. Virginia sat down in the chair that she usually sat in. She looked at her parents sadly. Finally, she broke the silence. “Claudia has to live with her cruel aunt and she’s sick. I really do feel that I should help her somehow. But I don’t know how.” Virginia was almost crying.

“We can’t do anything about it, Virginia. It’s not our problem.”

“That cruel old aunt of hers probably isn’t helping, she just wants Claudia to do chores,” Virginia argued.

“She’ll get better, don’t worry,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“Wait a minute! I know someone that can probably make her feel better!” Virginia said as she stepped out the door. Virginia walked up Maple Road until she found Whitman Street, which was where she would find Jacqueline White. Virginia knocked on her door several times until Mrs. White answered it.

“Well, hello, Virginia,” Mrs. White said. “Where’s Claudia?”

“Mrs. White, I’m sorry for asking, but is it all right if I borrow some of your delicious soup for Claudia?” Virginia asked.

“Well, of course it is. I’ll get some of it in a bowl and we will bring it to Claudia’s house together,” Mrs. White replied.

“Both of us?” Virginia asked.

“Well, of course. What’s wrong with that?” Mrs. White said.

Virginia didn’t want to tell her the real reason so she had no choice whether or not to bring Mrs. White. The two left the house at the same time with Mrs. White’s soup. Hopefully, it would make Claudia feel better. From Mrs. White’s house the journey was even longer. It took at least 10 miles to walk there. At last, the reached the enchanted forest where Claudia lived. They walked into the forest.

“It seems so enchanted,” commented Mrs. White. “I really do hope my soup makes Claudia feel better,” Mrs. White said dreamily. So they talked about the forest and the world outside until they reached Claudia’s house. Mrs. Whited wiped a tear from her eye.

Virginia knocked on the door. The old woman answered the door in surprise. “Why, too many visitors. State your business here,” the old woman croaked.

“We have brought some soup to make Claudia feel better. May we come in?” Mrs. White answered plainly.

“First tell me who you are, then proceed,” the old aunt cackled.

“I’m Jacqueline White and this her is Virginia Farlow. We are friends of Claudia,” Mrs. White said as if it were a phrase long rehearsed.

Claudia’s aunt opened the door wider. They saw Claudia lying on a bed in the corner. There wasn’t much in the house, and the house really needed to be repaired in many places. Poor Claudia, thought Virginia, every day that nice little girl comes home to a dump.

“We brought you Mrs. White’s soup that you like so much,” Virginia said.

Mrs. White seemed to be deep in thought as she handed Claudia the soup.

“What are you thinking about?” croaked Claudia in a sour voice.

“Your aunt looks so familiar,” Mrs. White replied.

Claudia slowly finished her soup and said, “Thank you so much. I feel better already.”

Then Claudia’s aunt came into the room and said, “All visitors out! I hear Claudia is feeling better so she has to do her chores.”

Virginia argued, “No, she is still sick and has to stay in bed!”

Then Mrs. White got up and said to Claudia’s aunt, “Well, Hortense, you’re still your old grouchy self I see.”

“Hortense,” Virginia giggled.

“I went to school with you, don’t you remember?” Mrs. White asked.

“I remember all right, though I hoped you would forget,” Claudia’s aunt growled.

“Hortense, I believe you should be kind to Claudia, here,” Mrs. White said.

Hortense growled and then left.

“Well, I have a long way to walk before it gets dark,” Mrs. White said. “I hope you will feel better soon, Claudia.”

“I have to go too. I’ll visit you tomorrow, Claudia,” Virginia said as she left through the door.

As Virginia was walking home, the stars up above came out, one by one. Virginia imagined the stars making pictures of people and animals. She thought about everything that had passed today. She was glad that Mrs. White knew Hortense, or that evening would have ended differently, maybe even violently. Virginia walked into her house, quietly went into her room, into her bed, and into a deep, comfortable sleep.

Chapter 10

A few days later Claudia was herself again and went to Virginia’s house with an idea in mind. “Virginia, would you like to go to the Mendel River?” Claudia asked.

“Sure! Though I’m afraid I don’t know where it is,” Virginia said.

“We will be away for awhile, so you need to bring camping supplies. Don’t worry, I know where it is anyway,” Claudia explained.

“Let me tell my parents, though,” Virginia said.

“Is it all right if Tommy comes, too?” asked Claudia.

“I wouldn’t trust him if I were you. He tried to kill us last time,” Virginia exclaimed.

“He also saved our lives,” Claudia said. “You stay here, Virginia. I’m going down the road to pick up Tommy, and besides, he’s the expert camper.”

Virginia decided to wait until Claudia returned. Moment’s later Claudia came back with an overwhelmed Tommy Scarcock.

“If we’re going camping, let’s get moving now. It’s a long way to Mendel River,” Tommy said.

The three were on their way to a camping adventure. What was waiting for them there, they had no idea.

Tommy led them proudly. On and on. Their first camping site was on the corner of Sierra Tierra and Maple Road. The three had been walking for a long time. Virginia was telling Tommy all about their adventure to the Island of the Djinn. Tommy was especially interested in the fact that Marin died on that journey.

They set up for lunch at Sierra Tierra. The sun was burning up above. When they finished their lunch they cleaned up all of their camping gear and went on. Virginia suggested that they go see Mrs. White on the way. Everyone agreed to this.

Tommy said, “By the time that we get there, it will be dinnertime.”

“Yeah, then we could have some of her delicious soup for dinner. She will be glad of the company,” said Claudia.

Then everyone trudged back to Mrs. White’s house. Finally they were on Whitman Street. “We’re almost there!”

Half an hour later, Mrs. White heard someone knocking on the door. Wondering whom it could be, she got up and opened the door.

“Hello, Mrs. White! We’re on a camping trip and since your beautiful house was on the way, we decided to drop by for a visit,” Claudia said.

“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better, Claudia. Why don’t you three come in and have some soup,” Mrs. White said. The three sat in the dining room while Mrs. White served her famous vegetable soup. “Say, aren’t you John Scarcock’s boy?” she said to Tommy.

“Yes, ma’am,” Tommy replied. Everybody took seconds on the scrumptious soup, because they knew that they wouldn’t have a decent meal in a long time.

“Thank you so much for dinner. We are really grateful,” Virginia said.

The three set off again; traveling for several hours until it was too dark to see. They decided to set up camp in a small clearing in the forest. They made a small fire and started telling ghost stories.

Tommy started. “One day there was a man. He was very, very lonely."

“Stop!” Virginia yelled.

“What’s wrong, Virginia,” Claudia asked.

“I don’t enjoy ghost stories,” Virginia replied shyly.

“Ha, ha, I didn’t even get to the good part,” Tommy laughed.

“Stop it. Virginia doesn’t want to hear it,” Claudia said.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Too bad, I really like that one,” said Tommy.

Virginia was already scared. Whenever she heard something, she jumped.

“Hoot, hoot!”

“What was that?” cried Virginia.

“It’s just an owl,” said Tommy, holding back his laughter.

“Good night,” said Virginia to Claudia.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

The whole chorus of good nights went on and on until the children dropped off to sleep. Virginia fell asleep before Claudia and Tommy fell asleep before both of them.

“Good morning!” Virginia greeted the new day by having Tommy say good morning to her. Claudia woke up before both of them and she was making breakfast. Soon afterward the three found themselves talking and laughing as they were breaking their fast around a low campfire. Soon afterward, the three were packing up and getting ready to leave. A moment later they were walking towards Mendel River.

They had to climb over a mountain, which took a long time. Fortunately, Tommy had brought a rope in case of an emergency, and for a steep part of the mountain it was needed. Tommy threw the rope and knotted it on a branch. Then Claudia and Virginia began climbing. Once they reached the top they looked down at the breathtaking view. The hard part was going down. It took them several hours, but there, down below, was The Mendel River.

“We made it! We made it!” they all shouted with joy. Claudia and Virginia set up camp again while Tommy found a stick and, with a string and a worm, sat on a rock near the riverbank and started fishing. Claudia later on joined him and following that, Virginia joined also. They would cook the fish for dinner later on. This was turning out to be a great camping trip.

Chapter 11

The fishing was successful. They had caught three fish apiece.

“Shouldn’t we keep the fish in buckets of frozen water to keep them fresh?” suggested Claudia.

“I knew that!” cried Tommy grinning innocently. They did that and went off exploring the river. Every once in awhile they stopped either to look at the fish, the butterflies, or sometimes the flowers. The day passed very quickly, a couple of words were exchanged every once in a while though nothing much. Finally they went back to their campsite for dinner. The sun was ridings its waves into the sunset. The three were talking together about when they will leave.

“I suppose we can leave in three days,” said Virginia.

“Why can’t we leave tomorrow?” asked Tommy.

“Why, are you afraid of camping chicken,” Claudia taunted.

“Chicken your self, I sense something bad will happen.” Virginia was lying asleep beside Claudia. Tommy looked at Virginia a minute. “Claudia, now that Virginia is asleep how would you like to tell ghost stories?”

“Well I am anxious to hear the ending of the ghost story you began to tell last night, though what if Virginia wakes up?” Claudia asked.

“I should have suspected that you’re as nervous about the stories as Virginia was,” Tommy laughed.

“I’m not afraid, go ahead and tell your story,” Claudia said boldly. In an extra quiet voice he began telling a super frightening ghost story. Claudia was scarred stiff by the end of the story.

“I-I think we should go to sleep now,” Claudia stammered.

“Sure, sweet dreams Ha, ha, ha,” Tommy laughed. Claudia had an uncomfortable night of restless sleep. It was already past one before she managed to fall asleep. It would be really hard for Claudia to wake up. Normally she would get up early though the next day she didn’t get up until eleven-thirty as the last person to wake up.

“You had nightmares, didn’t you,” Tommy laughed.

“No, not at all,” Claudia lied as she yawned.

“Since you finally got up Claudia, how about a hike in the mountains?" Virginia suggested excitedly. As everyone nodded their heads in agreement Tommy began packing and Claudia collected the fresh and clean water from the river.

I’m not drinking that,” Tommy said looking up.

“This is not drinking water,” Claudia said. “This is only if someone gets injured.” When all the materials were collected they started walking North up the dirt-paved road toward the beckoning mountains. They walked for hours looking into the horizon. The breath taking scenery of giant healthy green trees and fields only made them more eager to reach the majestic mountains. They followed the powerful river with the delightful hue of blue until the sun began to set, which was when they reached the beautiful purple mountains.

“Well what are we waiting for, let’s see the view from the top,” Tommy said excitedly. Everyone started climbing and with Tommy’s rope the climb went a lot more smoothly. Once they completed the climb to the top they caught their breath and looked around. The view was phenomenal; they could see everything from the top of the mountain. The winding river, the tree tops, the entire landscape was lighted up by the exhilarating sunset.

“It’s beautiful,” Virginia vaguely described the fantastic view from atop.

“Its getting dark and it’s a long way to go, we should start getting back,”Tommy said impatiently while tapping his foot.

“Wait one moment, I will probably never experience this moment ever again and I want to remember it,” Virginia said dreamily. Tommy rolled his eyes as he sat down knowing that it will take awhile.

“Are you finished looking at the boring sunset, the one you see every day,” Tommy exaggerated disgustedly.

“Fine, we’ll leave now,” Virginia said giving Tommy a dirty look. While Tommy was a good twenty feet ahead of them as they left Virginia and Claudia trudged behind. The three were nearly blinded by the darkness of night though after losing there way several times and bumping into about five trees, they managed to find there way back to the campsite. When they settled down to sleep they instantly began dreaming about the next day. 

Every one got up bright and early the next day. Tommy began whistling a cheerful melody while Claudia was preparing breakfast and Virginia was basically staring out in the distance. “So what should we do today?” Claudia asked.

“To tell the truth I’m really curious to find out what exactly is on the other side of the river,” Virginia said before going back into deep thought.

“I agree though this time I would like to get back before dark,” Tommy ordered. Everyone busily prepared their supplies once more because earlier Tommy, Claudia, and Virginia thought it best if they left the day after that. Once they got everything prepared, onward they marched to the opposite side of the river. As they reached the river there was still one more problem to figure out. How could they possibly get across the dangerously flowing river?

“Wait a minute. If I could only jump to that rock in the river we can probably make it across,” Claudia said excitedly.

Claudia ran back to a nearby tree; then she made a mad dash and jumped as she reached the edge of the river. Having a hard time keeping her balance she quickly jumped to the next closest rock and the next and next until she made a final jump on the other side of the river. After Claudia made it to the other side, Tommy began hopping from stone to stone until he, too, reached the opposite side of the river. Virginia was the only one left so for the first jump Claudia ran far back and dashed to the rock. Virginia smiled to herself though that smile disappeared when she began tumbling into the river. Head first, Virginia fell into the river, gasping for air. Virginia struggled to make it to the other side. Claudia was scared she didn’t know what to do; though Tommy did luckily. He noticed a long branch extending it toward Virginia. For her dear life she grabbed on the branch as Tommy directed it back to shore. As she plopped down on dry land sucking in deep breaths of air she thanked Tommy sincerely for saving her life.

“It was nothing,” Tommy lied.

“Are you all right? I hope you’re all right,” Claudia panicked.

“I’m fine now,” Virginia said, taking a final huge breath of air.

“Well now, Virginia, better let’s go. Remember, I want to get back before dark,” Tommy claimed.

Virginia slowly got up and off the three of them went toward the unknown side of the river. After several miles on the other side of the river they realized that it was just like the area of their camp only duller.

“This is really boring, let’s get back to camp,” Tommy sighed.

“Wait, something might happened and if it does I want to see what it is,” Claudia said.

“Actually, I agree with Tommy. I think we should leave,” Virginia said.

“You two go on. I’ll catch up in a little bit,” Claudia said.

“Why couldn’t I save him?” Virginia weeped.

“We must be strong. It was a great lose we suffered though we must continue. We are due to leave tomorrow. I don’t know how we can break the news to his parents,” Claudia said worried.

“I think we should be truthful,” said Virginia. “At least that would be the best thing to do even though we know that it is definitely not the most cheerful way to go about doing it.” Virginia wondered why she couldn’t save him. Tommy risked his life to save her and she was unable to return the favor. Silence was all around them. Claudia just wanted the eerie silence to be broken though she herself could not be forced to speak. It seemed like hours. Each buried in there own thoughts.

Finally Virginia broke the silence, even though she was speaking in a whisper, some how her voice seemed to echo through the trees.

“Let’s pack and go home. It’s getting dark and I want to go home. We will leave tomorrow so let’s get a good nights rest.” They slept for hours through the cold damp night. Finally the sun came up and warmed the two friends numbed limbs. Virginia and Claudia turned away from the welcoming light and trudged silently on their way. Back through the mountain range of Draco they traveled. For hours they continued on their way, climbing all the way to the top. Virginia turned back once to look back with sorrow though then continued on her way. They took the long passageway so they could meet up with Mrs. White. When they reached the small but comfortable brick house Claudia knocked on the door to a find a strange lady at the front door.

“Where’s Mrs. White?” Virginia asked. The lady mournfully said “I’m very sorry though Mrs. White is terribly ill.” Virginia and Claudia looked at each other with a worried look on their faces.

“Is she going to be all right?” Claudia asked.

“I’m not sure, by the way I’m Mrs. White’s daughter, Juliet Hopper.”

“I think we should leave now Mrs. Hopper,” Virginia said.

“How sad about Mrs. White, I sincerely hope that she gets better,” Claudia said after they were a long distance from the house. As they were going down Whitman Street Virginia and Claudia Went through in their heads about all the tradigies that have taken place. Marin being eaten by an alligator, Tommy going over the waterfall, and now Mrs. White being sick. Virginia arrived at her house, greeting her parents and telling them about their camping adventure and the death of Tommy being drowned in the great Mendle River.

“Things like that happen when you don’t act fast enough.”

“We should tell them, surely they will be heartbroken,” Mr. Farlow said. By that time it was too late. Mr. and Mrs. Scarcock had already come over with a request to see their son.

“Where is Tommy!” Mrs. Scarcock exclaimed.

“I think you better sit down, we have some terrible news that we must inform you of,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“Did something happen to our Tommy?” Mr. Scarcock asked.

“Virginia told us and I’m not quite sure how to tell you this though Tommy is dead,” Mrs. Farlow explained.

“Surely this is not true,” weeped Mrs. Scarcock.

“I’m afraid it is,” Mrs. Farlow replied. Mrs. Scarcock began crying while Mr. Scarcock tried to soothe her even though he couldn’t hide his own tears.

“Please tell us how this happened,” Mr. Scarcock said. Virginia and her parents explained everything and how sorry they felt for them. For their only son had died. 

The next day Claudia came over in late afternoon, and at least this time she didn’t come over with a crazy idea in mind.

“I thought we would do something exciting today,” Virginia joked.

“I’m not really in the mood. After Tommy died I just don’t feel good about going on any more adventures plus something always goes wrong. We have just have had so many terrible tragedies,” Claudia said. The adventures were always so interesting. Would they have to end so soon?

Chapter 12

Virginia was sleeping two weeks after the camping trip when Claudia came over bright and early the next morning. Virginia was still silently sleeping when while Claudia yelled in her ear, trying to wake her up. Virginia woke up startled before she saw Claudia’s face.

“It’s only you,” Virginia sighed. “What are you doing here so early?”

“I needed to get away from my aunt, she was making me do all of these chores. At least when I come here she can’t yell at me.”

“Well since you woke me up, what do you want to do?” Virginia asked.

“Why don’t we see if Mrs. White is feeling better,” Claudia replied.

“Why not, there’s nothing else to do.” At that moment Tommy Scarcock burst into the room, soaking wet!

“Tommy, We all thought you were dead!” Virginia exclaimed. Tommy sat down and started to catch his breath.

“Tommy, what happened?” Claudia asked.

“It’s a long story, but here’s what happened,” he said. “While jumping across the pathway of rocks I lost my balance and fell into the river. After endless attempts from you two, you finally arrived at the edge of the forest with a shocked expression on your faces after seeing me in the river. When neither of you could rescue me the more I floated downstream I realized it was hopeless because the falls were right ahead of me. I began falling though I stopped short when I stumbled upon a cave behind the waterfall! Inside the cave I thought I would never get out though by gathering large sticks and the rope I had in my pocket I was able to make a bridge and carefully I made it back to land.”

“Wow, that was incredible, but now you must get home, I’m sure that your parents will be pleased to see you,” Virginia said.

“I just stopped by here to tell you what really happened, but thanks the camping trip was really exciting,” Tommy said as he left the house.

“I’m not going to be the one to tell him,” Virginia said.

“Tell him what?” Claudia asked.

“Well last night I heard my parents talking and apparently the Scarcock’s are going to move so they wouldn’t have to be in that house with all their memories of Tommy,” Virginia explained.

“When are they going to leave, if they didn’t leave there is still a chance.”

“I’m not sure,” Virginia said shaking her head. A few minutes later Tommy barged into the house with a surprised expression on his face. “My parents are not there and they are always home. Where are they.”

“I meant to tell you but you left so quickly I didn’t have a chance,” Virginia said. “You see your parents moved so they wouldn’t be in a house full of memories of you.”

“You are lying and to prove you wrong I’m going out to find them!” Tommy yelled.

“I’m not lying Tommy, your parents are gone,” Virginia sympathetically explained.

“It’s not true, I’m off to find them,” Tommy said as he left the house forever. 

The very next day Claudia came over with an idea in mind.

“Virginia, I have a great idea. Yesterday, after I was at your house I gave Mrs. White a visit to see if she was felling any better, and she is as healthy as I have ever seen her. She told me that she was as energetic as ever. She even told me this old story. That huge wall behind her house actually covers an old castle!” Claudia said with anticipation.

“Wow I never knew that there were any castles around here,” Virginia said.

“She told me that the name of the castle is Lassernoc and nobody has lived in it for over one hundred years!”

“It sounds scary,” Virginia said.

“Mrs. White even said it is inhabited by ghosts,” Claudia said, lowering her voice.

Virginia looked at Claudia sternly and said, “I know what you’re thinking and I don’t want to explore the castle. There is no such things as ghosts anyway.”

“Oh well, I would understand if you were afraid,” Claudia teased. “That is not true.”

“Well then, how come you were so scared when Tommy started that ghost story?"

“Well, uh,” Virginia stammered.

“Why did I even bother asking. I should have known you weren’t brave enough,” Claudia interrupted.

“Now wait a minute. I am not afraid. I’ll go to the castle with you and prove once and for all that there are no such things as ghosts . . . I hope.”

“Then we can go?” Claudia asked.

“Why not. I’ll have to ask my parents though, so they won’t be worried if something goes wrong,” Virginia replied.

Virginia left and returned later with a sad expression on her face.

“What’s wrong, can’t you go?” Claudia asked.

“No, I can go,” Virginia replied.

“You know that if you don’t want to go you don’t have to,” Claudia said understandingly.

“I’ll go. After all, I am just a little bit curious about what will happen,” Virginia replied slyly.

“Then let’s go!” Claudia said excitedly.

Virginia and Claudia ran out toward the haunted castle eagerly. The only thing the girls could think about was reaching the castle and once they approached Mrs. White’s house they thought, “How can we possibly get on the other side of the wall?”

“Maybe Mrs. White has a rope we could borrow,” Claudia said.

“Well, it never hurts to ask,” Virginia replied.

Claudia approached the door and cautiously knocked on it. A happy and cheerful looking Mrs. White answered the door and asked “Virginia, Claudia, what brings you here?”

“Well, Mrs. White, we were wondering if you could consider letting us borrow some rope?” Claudia asked.

“Sure, but why would you need rope?” Mrs. White asked as well.

“We need it to get over the wall in front of the castle,” Virginia said.

Mrs. White thought for awhile when she finally said, “I’ll give you some rope though you must promise me that you will be careful. You never know what you will find in a big castle like that.”

“Well I’m not afraid,” Claudia bodily stated, “Are you Virginia?”

“Um… actually I really don’t think it’s a good idea, what if it is really scary and we never get out, I just don’t want to take a risk like that again after last time, and the time before that, and before that.”

“Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong this time… I hope.”

Chapter 13

Virginia and Claudia soon found themselves looking upon a 20-foot high moss covered wall that looked like it was made about a century ago. It wasn’t a pleasant sight to the two scared yet ambitious girls.

“Well here we are, take the rope and throw it over the wall so we can climb over,” Claudia said. Virginia attached a claw to the opposite end of the rope and threw it over the wall.

“You go first,” Virginia said shoving Claudia ahead.

“Okay,” Claudia said as she began her climb, struggling to reach the other end of the wall, “Wow, this sure is high up, your turn Virginia.”

“Coming,” Virginia yelled as she started her climb up the rope. “This sure is hard,” Virginia said to her self, tripping occasionally though still climbing up the rope. Once both Claudia and Virginia were atop the wall they grabbed onto a nearby tree branch and sled down the trunk.

The tall castle loomed ahead, covered with vines and aged obviously. Windows were broken towers where about ready to collapse it was a very eerie sight indeed. “Well I’m ready, are you,” Claudia asked.

“Yes, I think,” Virginia responded. Claudia and Virginia started toward the castle thing what it would be like inside. Approaching the large door that hasn’t been opened in ages Virginia and Claudia pushed with all their might to open the door. With a load creek they finally managed to get the door open. They walked inside very slowly watching out for anything suspicious. Aged furniture was all around, dusty and moth eaten.

“This is so unusual,” Virginia said, as she plopped down on an old chair.

“Wait a minute, I saw something in that picture move,” Claudia exclaimed.

“What are you talking about? It was probably just your imagination.” Claudia went up to the picture and started examining it, she tipped it over a bit and with a startled voice said, “ There is something behind the picture, come here Virginia.”

“What is it now.”

“It’s like a button of some sort, should I push it?”

“Well all right, I guess, just be careful.” Claudia pushed the button when all of a sudden steam started to come out and a small door appeared right before their amazed eyes. “Should we go threw the door?” Virginia asked.

“Well I am really curious to what is on the other side, let’s go,” Claudia said. Virginia and Claudia started to crawl threw the door. Onward they went in complete darkness, until a small speck of light appeared. As they got up a mist started to arise.

“Claudia, what is that,” Virginia stammered.

“Uh, uh, who are you? Show yourself,” Claudia demanded.

“Do not be alarmed,” the mist spoke. “I am Jonathan, the heir to this estate, well I would be, if I were alive.”

“Stay away from us not come an inch closer,” Virginia said backing away as the mist as it started to form into a boy.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you, infact I am more in need of a favor.”

“What do you want?” Claudia asked.

“It’s a long story, please sit down,” Jonathan explained. Claudia and Virginia found a sofa to sit down on as Jonathan hovered a few feet above the ground. “All right, here is my story. It all happened approximately 100 years ago, well 102 years ago, though I am sure it doesn’t matter. Any way my father was the owner of this estate and he was planning to make me his heir, though his evil and twisted brother or my uncle wanted the castle all to him self, being selfish and greedy so he murdered me. It happened one dark and stormy night, my parents were out for the evening and they left me alone. Then outside my window I saw him wet, though with a twisted grin on his face. He broke in the house with an ax in his hand, and killed me. My parents where oh so upset, they knew I was murdered though they didn’t suspect my uncle and they buried me in the backyard. Since I was dead they had no choice but to make my uncle the heir to the estate. After my parents died my uncle took over the house. It didn’t last long though since one week later my uncle whose name was William took sick and died. His ghost still inhabits this house, he doesn’t know that I live here to because I spend all day hiding in this secret passage.”

“Why, that’s awful,” Virginia said. “What a sad story.”

“William, you don’t deserve to stay hiding in this secret passage all day for eternity, this is your house, not that evil ghost William, we are going to help you get rid of him so you don’t have to live in fear.” Claudia declared. All of a sudden there was a crash. “What was that?” Claudia asked scared.

“I don’t know,” Jonathan said surprised.

“I’m going to check,” Claudia said as she exited the secret passage.

“Jonathan, may I ask where your evil uncle stays in the castle?” Virginia asked.

“Well he is doomed to guard the safe that holds the ruby necklace of the castle, if he ever leaves it he must leave the castle since he got away with murder for this place he has to keep the ruby necklace with him always.”

“So what if we managed to steal the necklace from him, will he have to leave the castle, if so what will happen to him.”

“If we steal the necklace from him, though we wont since he never lets it out of his sight, he will be punished with slave driving work in the other realm and treated badly every day for his bad deeds when he was alive.”

“Virginia, we are in big trouble, the ceilings caved in blocking the door, there is no way out,” Claudia said re-entering the secret passage.

“Oh no, this is awful, how will we get out?”

“Jonathan, you are the only one that can get us out of here, you have to help us,” Claudia pleaded.

“Sorry, I wish I can help though there is no way I can leave here, if my uncle catches me I am doomed to a fate worse than death, which I already went through and believe me it isn’t pleasant,” Jonathan said.

“Then we have no choice but to steal the ruby necklace from William. Either that or Claudia and me will get to experience death to early.”

“Did I miss something?” Claudia questioned.

“While you where gone I was talking to Jonathan and he said that if you take the ruby necklace from him he will be defeated and will have to leave the estate, understand,” Virginia explained.

“No, not really. Let me get this straight, we have to steal this necklace to get rid of the ghost, what does it all mean? How does it all fit in?”

“It doesn’t matter, though it will be really hard to get it since the ghost doesn’t leave it out of his sight, which is our only problem,” Virginia said.

“All right, this seems like it evolves trickery. Which is what I am good at, count me in on operation steal necklace,” Claudia laughed.

“Great, Jonathan where can we find the ghost?” Virginia asked.

“Well he is probably in the courtyard,” Jonathan stated.

“Good, I have an idea. Virginia, Jonathan come here and I’ll tell you my plan.” 

“All right the coast is clear,” Claudia said sneaking around the corner with Virginia on her tail. Virginia and Claudia slowly crept toward the courtyard when they saw it. It was the most hideous thing they ever saw, it was a monster. It was a faded thing that looked half human and half monster. It had blood all over it, and it only had one hand.

“Is that William?” Claudia asked.

“I guess, it sure is hideous,” Virginia added. In the hand that was still there was the necklace, gleaming brightly in its hand.

“All right are you ready?” Virginia asked.

“Yes, Get ready and go,” Claudia said. Virginia started taking heavy steps down the corridor in place. This caught William’s attention and he started flying toward the corridor. “I hope Jonathan is at his place,” Claudia murmured.

“William, over here!” Virginia yelled, grabbing his attention. The ghost started pursuing her when Jonathan went around the corner as William made the turn. Claudia then blocked the ghost’s only way out, and grabbed the necklace without him knowing.

“Ahhhh, this isn’t supposed to happen, this is my house,” the ghost yelled. The floor opened up and in a cyclone of lightning it swallowed William up.

“Well that shows you not to mess with us,” Claudia said. With that sunshine poured into the room. The old castle was transformed from an old broken down dump to a beautiful, completely different enchanted castle. First the towers where magically repaired by themselves. Then the vines and moss disappeared and a whole new light took over the castle. The caved in ceiling repaired by itself so Virginia and Claudia could get out.

“Wow!” Virginia explained.

“Thanks for getting rid of my uncle, though now I have to take care of some unfinished business,” Jonathan said.

“Where are you going?” Claudia asked.

“To give back the ruby necklace of Lassernoc to its rightful owner.” Jonathan went outside followed by Virginia and Claudia. Outside where the three tombstones of Jonathan and his parents. On his tombstone Jonathan put the ruby necklace. “Goodbye Virginia, Goodbye Claudia, I will never forget you.” Then right there before their very eyes, Jonathan faded into the light, never to be seen again.

“I think we better go now,” Virginia said.

“Good idea, let’s go,” Claudia agreed while slowly backing toward the front door. “I don’t think anyone will believe us about all of this.”

“They don’t need to, it can be our little secret,” Virginia said. Leaving the completely different castle Claudia and Virginia climbed back over the wall and ventured homeward.

Chapter 14

Virginia awakened from her comfortable bed the next day. “What an adventure I had yesterday,” she said to herself. Virginia got out of bed, dressed, and had breakfast. “I think I will take a walk,” Virginia told her parents.

“With Claudia?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“No by myself, I think I will go down by Mrs. Whites house and take a look at this local store.”

“Suit yourself Virginia, we are going out to town today, just to look around and see how everyone is,” Mr. Farlow said.

“All right, have a nice time out in town, I think I’ll leave now. It is a very long walk.” Out of the old house Virginia walked, going down the old dirt road. “It is such a beautiful day out.” The sun was shining high; the birds were fluttering about and flowers where blossoming. Virginia walked about a mile down the road when she came to an intersection. “I think I’ll take the right, I just hope that’s the way to Whitman Street. Still walking down the road with an occasional barn there was really nothing to see. “Ahh, here is Whitman Street,” Virginia stated as she came a cross the Whitman Street sign. Taking another right, she walked down the road a bit when she came across the Whitman Street store.

“Hello there young lady, we don’t get that many customers,” said a voice that greeted Virginia.

“Hello, I don’t have any money so I am afraid I can’t buy anything, I just wanted to look around.”

“Oh that’s perfectly all right, I am Mr. Cartman, the owner of this store.”

“Hi, I am Virginia Farlow, may I ask, who is Whitman?”

“Well before he died, a Mr. White owned this store and had a street named after him, his widow lives about one-forth of a mile away from here. Yes ma’am, I would say he was a pioneer here in Trusula which isn’t saying much here in this small town.”

“You mean he’s the husband of Mrs. White, she’s a friend of mine,” Virginia said excitedly.

“Well you don’t say, I find that very interesting since Mr. White’s great grandfather founded this town 150 years ago or about that.”

“Really, Wow,” Virginia exclaimed. “I never knew that.”

“Yes, he was a great man, everyone looked up to him,” Mr. Cartman explained.

“Well thanks for telling me all this though I really got to go, bye Mr. Cartman.”

“Bye Virginia, come back now you hear.”

Virginia started her trip back down the dirt road took a left at the first intersection, walked down the road some more and then took another left at the next intersection. Walked a mile down the road and arrived at her house to find Claudia looking sadly on her Virginia’s porch.

“What are you doing here?” Virginia asked.

“My aunt it dead,” Claudia replied.

“What? You can’t be serious.

“It’s true,” Claudia said putting her face in her hands, “I started doing the chores though at 12:00 and my aunt still wasn’t out of bed, I went in her room started shaking her though she wouldn’t move,” she sobbed.

“Are you sure she’s dead?”

“Yes, I don’t know what to do know.”

“Well, we’ll think of something, trust me Claudia, we’ll think of something.” 

When Mr. And Mrs. Farlow came back from town later that day to see Claudia crying and Virginia trying to calm her down.

“What’s wrong Claudia?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“Her Aunt Hortense died today, now Claudia has no where to go,” Virginia responded for her.

“Dead? Are you sure?” Mr. Farlow said.

“Yes,” Claudia sobbed.

“You have no where do go? Do you have any other relitives?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“If I did I wouldn’t be living with my wretched aunt in the first place.”

“Well then we’ll take care of you,” Mrs Farlow said.

“Are you sure we should do this?” Mr. Farlow questioned.

“She has no where to go and we don’t want her to end up in some horrible orphanage.”

“You’re right,” Mr Farlow said, “And it will probably mean a lot to the girls, hear that Claudia, you’re living with us.”

A huge smile went across Claudia’s face, “Thank you so much, I will never no how to repay you.”

“We get to be sister’s now, I always wanted a sister,” Virginia giggled.

“Well let’s go in now girls, it’s time we eat,” Mr. Farlow said. With all smiles the new family all went inside for a very good meal that night.

Chapter 15

The next day Claudia and Virginia decided to go to Mrs. Whites house to tell her the good news.

“Hi Mrs. White,” Claudia said excitedly as she approched her on her porch just sitting peacefully.

“Well hello there girls, how are you?”

“Where fine Mrs. White, and you’ll never guess what. Claudia’s evil aunt Hortense died so now Claudia’s living with us,” Virginia responded.

“Well that’s wonderful news girls, I am very happy for you indeed.”

“Oh yes, I forgot to mention Mrs. White, that yesterday I decided to pay a visit to the Whitman Street store and Mr. Cartman, the guy that works there mentioned that the street and store where named after your late husband. Also that his great grandfather discovered this town 150 years ago.”

“Yes, it is all very true, my husband helped expand this town. He built the church and the store. He was a very noble man,” Mrs. White explained.

“Wow, really!” Claudia exclaimed.

“Yes, he did.”

“That’s really interesting Mrs. White,” Virginia said.

“Now Claudia, may I ask. How did your real parents die?” Mrs. White asked.

“She caimes that her parents died by a vampire that lives in the belltower,” Virginia answered for her.

“Oh my, if what you say is true Claudia, then I believe that is the cause of my husbands death. Let me explain, my husband was in near perfect shape, though this one night I heard a crash so I woke up. There next to me was my husband, he had these two marks on his neck. After that he grew sick and died three days later.”

“Really Mrs. White, you don’t seem to be the type to lie,” Virginia said.

“That’s what I believe, it might not be true though I cant think of any other cause of my husbands untimely death.”

“Well then maybe the vampire in the belltower story is true, I’m sorry I doubted you Claudia,” Virginia appoligized.

“It’s all right, though do you tink that the vampire will go after someone else now?”

“I don’t know though the next victim can be anyone of us, or our parents,” Virginia explained.

“You’re right Virginia, we have to stop the vampire before it strikes again,” Claudia said. “We have to go to the belltower and destroy it.”

“Are you sure you two want to go through with it, it could be really dangerous,” Mrs. White said.

“Ha, when you’ve been in a dragons lair, or a haunted castle, or when you’ve encountered a genie, this is easy,” Claudia boasted.

“All right girls if you are sure you want to go through with this then this is what you have to do. First of all make sure that it is during the day. Then you need a stake made from an oak tree, find his cofin and nail the stake into his heart, I don’t believe you have to go through with burning the body though do so anyway. You have to do this perfectly or it won’t work.”

“Thanks Mrs. White, we won’t fail,” Claudia said.

“I sure hope you don’t or the results can be deadly,” Mrs. White replied. 

The next day Virginia and Claudia decided to go to the woods so they could cut down an oak tree with Virginia’s fathers ax.

“Well heres an oak tree, ready to start cutting ,” Virginia said picking up the ax in readines.

“Start cutting Virginia,” Claudia said.

“All right,” Virginia replied striking the ax at the tree. Virginia hit the tree eight times before she started getting tired. “This is all I can handle. Claudia can you finish cutting down the tree.”

“Give me the ax then,” Claudia said. With four hits the tree started to tilt. “Watch out Virginia, it’s comin down!” The tree went down with a tremendous bang. “Virginia, start cutting out a stake from the tree.” Virginia then started to carefully craft a stake mde out of the wood from the oak.

“Is this good enough?” Virginia asked.

“That’s perfect, nice and sharp,” Claudia replied.

“Thanks, now let’s get home,” Virginia said exhaustedly. “Tomorrow let’s go to the belltower to get this over with.”

“Come on,” Claudia said as the two girls ventured homeward. Walking all the way back home Virginia and Claudia talked about all the adventures they have had and what awaited them the next day.

“I’m scared, what if our plan doesn’t work,” Virginia said nervously.

“Don’t worry it will work… I hope,” Claudia responded.

“Well we’re home, should we tell Mother and Father about the vampire?” Virginia asked.

“No, they won’t understand it, they might even stop us from going.”

“You’re right,” Virginia said, “They probably won’t even let us go. They’ll say it is too dangerous.” As Virginia and Claudia approched their house they though of something really frightning, who else was attacked by the vampire and who would be his next victim.

“Hello Virginia and Claudia, Where have you been, you’ve been gone all day?” Mr. Farlow asked as they walked in the door.

“Uh, well, um… we’ve been exploring in the woods all day, right Claudia.”

“Yeah, that’s it. We saw lots of deer, it was a lot of fun.”

“Oh, really well good for you, exploring is something I used to do all the time as a kid. Dinner is almost ready, wash up you two,” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia and Claudia started to wash up.

“Do you think that he believed us?” Claudia asked.

“Probably, he can be really gulible sometimes,” Virginia responded. That night at dinner was very quite. Mr. and Mrs. Farlow’s feeble attemps to get Virginia and Claudia to talk failed. They knew they had a secret, though what was it?

“They are up to something,” Mr. Farlow said to Mrs. Farlow in the parlor.

“Yes, they were so quite at dinner, which is so unusual since they are both mostly chit-chatty.”

“Maybe we should spy on them a bit, just to see where they go,” Mr. Farlow said.

“No, that is wrong. They won’t give us any respect if we do that, though next time they are like this we will simply ask them what is wrong. There is nothing bad a bout that.”

That night Virginia slept very uncomfortably, thinking about what would happen tomorrow. What if they died trying to kill the vampire. Secretly she was hoping that there wasn’t a vampire at all and it was all in Mrs. White and Claudia’s head. Claudia on the other hand, was thinking about revenge on the vampire. He killed her parents whom she loved very dearly. The only right thing to do was to kill him.

The next day Virginia and Claudia got up at seven o’clock. They gathered matches to burn the body, wood, and of course the stake.

“Ready to go, we have to leave very quietly as to not wake up Mother and Father,” Virginia whispered.

“Ready,” Claudia whispered back. They both quietly tip-toed out the door making sure to shut it carefully. They walked down the road about mile until they reached the eerie belltower. There it was, looming ahead of them. It was even a more frighning sight than the castle at first. The bell in the belltower obviously couldn’t work well on acount it was cracked and in terrible shape.

“Uh…I don’t think this is really a good idea after all,” Virginia stammered.

“Come on, let’s just get this over with.”

“You’re right, if we don’t get this over with today tonight he can get us.” Virginia and Claudia slowly entered the belltower. It was dusty and covered in cob webs. Bords were missing and the stairs that lead to the bell where in horibble shape.

“Look Virginia, there is a passage over there, maybe that’s where the cofin is.”

“All right, let’s go,” Virginia said. Virginia and Claudia started toward the passage. On the other side was a dark dark room with an uneasy feel to it.

“I guess that is where the vampire is,” Claudia said. The two started toward the room and entered it. The room was empty with a single closet on the opposite sid e of the room. “I am going to open the closet door, the cofin can be there.” Claudia opened the door and there before her eyes was a black cofin covered in bllod stains.

“Eww…I am going right now,” Virgini insisted.

“No, wait let’s just get this over with, the vampire cannot do anything to us,” Claudia said as she opened the cofin. There was the vampire. With a very pale face and blood stained on his mouth.

“I insist that I drive the stake into its heart. I’m the one that wants revenge on it,” Claudia said.

“Sure, my pleasure. Go ahead I will merely turn around without looking at the vampire. Just get it over with quick,” Virginia said in a panicked tone. Claudia sighed and quickly drove the stake into the grusome vampires heart.

“Hurry Virginia, give me a match and burn the body,” Claudia insisted. Virginia gave Claudia a match which she struck off the side of the cofin and set the body aflame. “Good, we destoyed the vampire no more panic around here for a very long time.

Little did Virginia and Claudia know that a small snake slithered away from the fire, being the vampire in disguise.

“Let’s go home Claudia,” Virginia said.

“I difinetly agree,” said Claudia.

“Claudia, did you ever think that maybe your aunt died because of the vampire bite too,” Virginia said.

“You’re right, she could have though if that is so and if we hadn’t destroyed the vampire, I could have been next. Since the rest of my family died from the bite.”

“True, good thing we did destroy it though,” Virginia said. That night Virginia and Claudia didn’t have any nightmares about the vampire after all it couldn’t hurt them now, or could it?

Chapter 16

The next day Virginia and Claudia spent playing outside and having lots of fun. They played tag and they even made up their own little game. They took along walk and stopped by Mrs. White’s house; they even went into the woods. It was the perfect day; absolutely nothing could go wrong.

That night Virginia and Claudia went to bed and at exactly midnight something went really wrong. Through the window was the vampire, it looked around the room until he spotted Claudia, sleeping innocently. He flew over to the side of her bed, opened his mouth wide and with his razor sharp fangs and bit Claudia, the girl who attempted to kill him. Screaming Claudia awoke looking around the room frantically she spotted nothing. “It was just a dream she sighed.” Though on her neck where two red holes.

The next day Claudia and Virginia were getting up from bed when Claudia decided to tell her about her dream.

“Virginia, you would never guess what a dream I had last night.”

“Was it about the vampire?” Virginia asked.

“Yes, how do you know?” Claudia asked.

“Well don’t be alarmed but you have two holes on your neck.”

Claudia rushed to a mirror and screamed, “It wasn’t dream, the vampire really did come.”

“That’s impossible, we destroyed the vampire,” Virginia argued.

“We must have done something wrong! We have to go back and kill the vampire for real or I’ll die!” Later that evening Virginia and Claudia returned to the bell tower with the matches, wood, and oak stake. “Well he’s over there, let’s go.”

Virginia and Claudia walked back into the small dark room opened the closet, then opened the coffin and to their surprise the vampire wasn’t there.

“Oh no, the vampire is already out on the prowl!” Virginia said.

“We better get out of here fast!” Claudia replied.

“Too late,” said a voice from the doorway. Virginia and Claudia turned around to see the vampire looking right at them. “Now I am afraid I will have to finish what I started last night.” The vampire grabbed Claudia and started sucking her blood through the holes in her neck. “Now I must go, though believe me, I’ll be back, Ha Ha Ha Ha!” Claudia fell to the floor.

“Claudia!” Virginia yelled.

“Just leave me here to die, I don’t have any more energy,” Claudia managed to say.

“No, I can’t do that! You’re my best friend, my first friend and my only friend. I can’t just leave you here to die!” but it was too late Claudia wasn’t moving. “You can’t just die on me, please come back!”

That day went by so slowly, Virginia couldn’t eat or sleep or even blink. It was so tragic, even Mr. and Mrs. Farlow cried. That night though Virginia managed to fall asleep. At exactly midnight an image of Claudia flew into the window.

“You are the one that caused my death, you could have saved me though you didn’t. Now you must suffer!” Virginia woke up with a start.

“Good it was just a dream,” Virginia sighed.

The next day Virginia felt very uneasy. She was constantly looking over her shoulder; the vampire was still on the loose. If that was true then Claudia was a vampire too.

That night the same thing happened. An image of Claudia broke into the room and said the same threat though this time Claudia tried to grab onto Virginia’s neck, attempting to bite it. Virginia woke up just in time.

“Oh, no this isn’t a dream,” she told herself, “Claudia is really after me, I must go back to the belltower and destroy the vampire myself or my best friend will kill me!”

That day Virginia took all the necessary materials and headed for the belltower once again. She went inside, entered the forbidden room and opened the coffin, which the vampire laid in.

“Time for you to die,” Virginia said. She drove the stake into the vampires heart and burned the corpse this time making sure everything burned.

“Virginia!” Virginia turned around to see a faded Claudia standing by the door.

“Please don’t hurt me Claudia, I’m your best friend!” Virginia pleaded.

“I don’t plan on hurting you Virginia, you are my best friend. I wanted to thank you for destroying the vampire and setting me and my parents free, as well as Mr. White and my aunt. I am sorry I tried to bite you, I had no power over myself. Well I have to go now; I will never forget you. Don’t you ever forget me.”

“I wont Claudia,” Virginia said. With that Claudia disappeared.

Virginia began walking home though it was with a smile on her face. She knew for a fact that she would never ever forget her very first friend. Chapter 1

Virginia Farlow gazed at her reflection in her exquisitely designed Louis XIV mirror. She slowly ran a beautifully designed brush through her soft nutmeg colored hair. Virginia plopped down on her gigantic canopy bed. It was draped with floral print and five rose colored ruffled pillows. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was so lucky to be the acknowledged daughter of the ever-famous businessman George Farlow. Twenty-five years ago Virginia’s father was just a quotidian man living an ordinary life in the countryside. Though as luck has it he inherited his grandfather’s tobacco industry just as England started an interest in chewing tobacco. He quickly became very wealthy so one night the ambassador invited him to dinner. As my father recalls he had a very lovely time, especially since that was where he met the exquisite Isabelle. Two years later they got married and lived relatively happily except that every once in a while he would complain about missing the days when he was carefree and more fun-loving, before he inherited his grandfather’s tobacco industry. Actually he has been talking about moving back to the town of Trusula. Virginia shook that idea out of her head. She knew it would never happen.

She looked out the window in her bedroom. What a fantastic sight it was. She saw the rolling hills in the distance with the clear blue sky above them and the street below busy with excitement. Virginia saw a constable, a man in rags begging for money, and children playing. Even though Virginia loved to be rich and having a great life she wished she could have friends. It was so unfair, how could they be so happy and not rich while she was rich and not so happy. “It is so unfair!” Virginia exclaimed out loud. “What difference does it make anyway. I have wealth and power!”

“Virginia, will you come down here?” Virginia’s mother ‘s voice echoed. “We need to talk to you.”

“What could be the problem?” Virginia asked herself. Virginia quickly walked out of her room and started down the hall. On the walls were portraits of herself and the rest of her family. She was walking on a beautiful oriental carpet. Virginia approached the winding stairway; she gracefully started walking down it, her hand resting on the gold colored banister. The marble stairs made her shoes make a loud but pleasant tapping noise. Before entering their spacious dining room Virginia ruffled her blue dress and combed her hair with her fingers. Virginia then entered the dining room. The chandeliers gave off a brilliant light that filled the entire room.

“Virginia, your father and I have some news that we must give you before we make such a huge change in your life,” stated Mrs. Farlow.

“What is that, Mother?”

“Virginia, we have taken a lot of consideration to this matter and we thought it best for you to grow up with friends than be a spoiled rich girl for the rest of your life.”

“What are you telling me?” Virginia asked.

“Virginia, you know how people only appreciate us for our money, I remember running around in fields with my friends,” Mr. Farlow said. “What I’m saying is I feel it best we move back to Trusula and if we leave all the money with Aunt Gertrude and Uncle James while I pursue a new life as a farmer,” Mr. Farlow explained. All Virginia could do was stare ahead. She didn’t want to leave her life, though she knew there was nothing she could do.

“Well, when are we due to leave?” Virginia asked.

“Tomorrow,” Mr. Farlow replied.

Virginia ran upstairs past the sitting room and her parent’s bedroom. She ran until she reached her room. Tears rolled down her cheek. How could she possibly live like the less fortunate people below her on the street. In all her twelve years of her life as being awfully wealthy she never took the possibility that she could ever be less of that into consideration.

That night Virginia slept recklessly, having awful nightmares of her new life. The next day she forced herself not to look back as she left on that faithful day.

Mr. Farlow bought three donkeys and set off for Trusula, which was 11 miles from the city. “George, I think I’m having second thoughts about the entire concept. I mean, we left in such a frenzy we probably left behind useful appliances we will possibly need in the future, just to be disgustingly poor and filthy,” Mrs. Farlow complained.

“You just wait, Isabelle. Wait until you see the house.”

Virginia remained silent, just looking at the scenery. There were farms and fields of crops, things that bored Virginia as a well brought up girl.

“We’re almost there,” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia noticed a red barn in need of a paint job. “Oh, great, those slobs will be our neighbors,” Virginia mumbled. They finally arrived at their new home.

“There are so many memories in this house, Virginia and Isabelle!” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia looked up at the two-story house. The paint was peeling, there were broken windows and shutters were crooked. “It needs some work!” Mrs. Farlow said. “Well, we can all work on it. I kept enough money to buy paint and other supplies,” Mr. Farlow said.

Isabelle and Virginia looked at each other, both of them have never even thought of working. “At least now people will accept us for who we are and not for our money,” Mr. Farlow said. As the family entered the old abandoned house, a large plank of wood fell from the beams above, heading directly for Virginia!

“Watch out!” Mr. Farlow exclaimed, rushing her out of the way just as the board collapsed on the ground.

“Virginia, are you all right?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“I’m fine,” Virginia said, quivering.

“I don’t want any more accidents. We’re leaving now!” Mrs. Farlow exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, nothing like this will happen again,” Mr. Farlow said quickly. “Just give the house some time, and everything will turn out fine.”

“Well, all right, though one more accident like this and we are leaving the dangerous old house and asking Aunt Gertrude and Uncle James for at least half our money back, though we will have to act quickly,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“No, no, that will never happen again. I can almost guarantee it!”

“Well, nothing better happen!” Mrs. Farlow said.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen,” Mr. Farlow said. “At least, I hope not!”

Chapter Two

After yet another night of uncomfortable sleep, which was far too much for the former rich girl, or for any of the Farlows for that matter, they got to work on their house. Virginia helped paint the walls, nailed together loose boards, and swept up all the dust and cobwebs.

“I believe I am in desperate need of a break,”declared Virginia.

“Well all right, though return in fifteen minutes,”Mrs. Farlow called out, knowing that that there was no way to fix the house without her help.

“I’m going to sit under that large oak tree in our front yard.”

Virginia left through the front door and slammed it behind her. The shade of the oak looked very inviting so she closed her eyes and sat on a root as she dozed off.

“Hello!”

“What was that?” Virginia looked around until her eyes fell upon a young girl in rags with long reddish hair full of knots.

“Who are you?” Virginia asked trembling.

“My name is Claudia; I live in the woods down yonder. Couldn’t help but notice you moving in to our part of the country. What’s your name?”

“My name is Virginia daughter of George Farlow and Isabelle Farlow, if you don’t mind I must get back to work. Good Bye,” Virginia said getting back to the house quickly because there was absolutely no way she wanted to stay near that unsanitary girl Claudia.

“Great, we can be best friends!” Claudia called out.

Virginia ran inside the house, slamming the door behind her again.

“What’s wrong Virginia?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“ I met this girl who goes by the name of Claudia.”

“Oh how nice. It’s good of you to finally make a new friend,” Mrs. Farlow said nodding towards her husband.

“ Though she’s poor and she wears rags!”

“Virginia, just because she’s poor it doesn’t mean her personality is affected,” Mr. Farlow explained.

“Your father is right, I don’t know her though she is probably very nice and the least you can do is give her a chance,” Mrs. Farlow said wiping her auburn hair off her forehead.

“Well said Isabelle,” Mr. Farlow said twisting his black mustache.

“You’re right. This is a terrible way to make a new friend, while I go find Claudia you can finish the rest of the work!”

Isabelle and George looked at each other in awe as Virginia left the house.

“Claudia where are you?”Virginia asked.

“Hello Virginia,”Claudia said popping out of no where. “Would you like to play a game?”

“Sure,” Virginia said uncertainly

“ All right then here is how you play. One person must hide wherever they choose while the other person must find them.”

Virginia enjoyed this game and by the time Virginia got back it was very late.

“I see you had a good time with Claudia,”Mr. Farlow said as Virginia walked through the door.

“I thought you said there wasn’t any way you could have fun with someone who was poor,” Mrs. Farlow chuckled.

“It’s getting late. It is about time you get to sleep Virginia. Tomorrow we will work on the rest of the house,” Mrs. Farlow said.

Finally the Farlows were able to get to sleep quickly that night, dreaming very happy things for the future. 

The next day the Farlows finished working on the house and despite the fact they hated to work the house actually looked decent enough. It also took them a long time to complete their task after all they took so many breaks in-between. They obviously were not used to all this work.

“It still doesn’t look like our old mansion; though it will have to do,” Mrs. Farlow said laughing.

“I have to agree with you; though isn’t it satisfying knowing that we worked very hard on it and money didn’t interfere,” Mr. Farlow remarked.

“You’re right. I feel proud of myself,” Virginia said beaming.

“Now it looks the same way as when I lived in it as a boy.”

“I’m going to find Claudia,” Virginia said.

“Be back by dark!” Mr. Farlow yelled as Virginia left the house.

For some strange reason Virginia never seemed to have to look for Claudia. Claudia always just seemed to be there, as if she popped up out of no where.

“Hi Virginia,” Claudia said coming up from behind the house.

“Claudia you scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” Claudia apologized.

“It’s all right.”

“Anyway,” Claudia said continuing “I just thought up a wonderful idea!”

“What is it?” Virginia asked.

“We are going to sneak into Jacqueline White’s house and steal her secret spell book!”

“What type of secret spell book?” Virginia asked.

“Well she’s a real-life witch so I figured she has a spell book,” Claudia replied.

“How do you know she’s a witch?” Virginia asked.

“Well she is the most secretive person around. Trust me, I’ve had my eye on her for quite awhile and I’m getting suspicious. For example, every day at 4:00 she leaves her house to go somewhere. My guess is she goes and has some tea with a witch’s society or something. That is despite the fact everyone else says she is a witch as well. Plus you should see her, she has a long pointy nose and a scratchy voice and she’s been seen brewing up spells I think,” Claudia explained.

“Well even if she is a witch how do you expect we can get inside her house and steal her book?” Virginia asked.

“We will sneak into her house when she is not there at 4:00. That will be the most perfect time so we can leave in about ten minutes,” Claudia said devilishly. Ten minutes later the two friends left quickly and quietly. They proceeded to old Jacqueline White’s house.

“Are you sure we won’t get caught?” Virginia asked.

“Positive.” Claudia replied.

They traveled quite a distance before they reached the old but beautiful house of Jacqueline White.

“Claudia, this house doesn’t look like a house a witch would live in.”

“Virginia, looks can be deceiving.”

“There’s still the problem of how we’re going to get in,” Virginia said. “Well you’re right no one is home at least,” Virginia continued.

“I know Jacqueline White’s never home at this time, and we’re going to get in through the cellar door since I suspect it will be unlocked. Come along Virginia.”

The two friends both walked in Jacqueline White’s basement at the same time going up the aged wooden stairs. The smell of damp water was very sickening as they opened the main door to the cellar. Claudia led Virginia through the dusty old basement. Every once and a while Claudia would look around for the book.

“I don’t think the book’s down here,” Virginia said.

“The door to the house is probably unlocked,” Claudia said. “Follow me.”

Claudia reached for the doorknob and easily opened the door.

“Come on, follow me.”

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so far. Then Virginia noticed something peculiar.

“Claudia, come here. I’ve found something!”

As Claudia rushed over to the sunlit corner where Virginia was standing she said “Wow! This proves that she is a witch. This is her evil brew with frog eyes and lizard tails.”

“That’s a very sickening thought. I think we should get out of here right away!” Virginia exclaimed. “ Are you sure it’s evil brew?” she added taking a closer look. “It looks a lot like soup.”

“Then go ahead taste it,” Claudia replied.

“No I don’t want to,” Virginia said disgustedly.

“See it really is witch’s brew!” Claudia exclaimed.

“I still don’t know.”

“Trust me. It’s witches brew,” Claudia replied. “We still need to find the book though or we don’t have any proof.”

Claudia and Virginia searched and searched throughout the house, although the only book they could find was a recipe book.

“Let’s just give up and go home,” Virginia said with a sigh.

At that moment the door began to open and an old woman with a long pink dress with white lace around it and a bonnet on her head walked in with vegetables in her hand.

“Quick hide!” Claudia said, though it was too late. Mrs. White already saw them and for awhile she just stood there. Then she finally said “You girls snuck in here while I was gone so now I’ll give you a taste of what you’re in for. Sit down and have some soup!”

“What?!” Claudia exclaimed.

“I had to get the vegetables for my soup,” Jacqueline White replied as she chopped and put the vegetables in her soup. After she finished she got three bowls and poured the soup into it. As the three sat down Virginia and Claudia cautiously helped themselves. Then Virginia started to say, “You know a lot of people think you are…” Claudia kicked her under the table finishing her sentence by saying, “People think you are a wonderful person.”

“Why how nice, though I thought people think of me as a horrible witch because of my appearance. And I’m secretive.”

“Well I always knew you were a kind and forgiving person Mrs. White,” Claudia said.

“Why thank you. Though may I ask what you were doing in my house in the first place?”

“Well uh…” Claudia stammered.

“We knew what a great cook you are and we smelled such delicious soup here we couldn’t resist,” Virginia finished.

“I think I know what you were really doing. You two thought I was a witch and came here looking for a so-called spell book. Well let me assure you that it’s happened before so there is no need to lie,” Mrs.White explained. Virginia and Claudia felt really guilty; Mrs. White was actually very nice.

“Well I believe it is time we get back home Mrs. White. Thank you so much for the soup,” Virginia said.

“Yes thank you,” Claudia said as well.

“Thank you for visiting come back any time,” Mrs. White called out.

“She was nice,” Claudia said as they left.

“Now you know there is no such things as witches,” Virginia stated. “Remind me never to look for things that don’t exist again.”

“What about the vampire in the belltower?” Claudia asked.

“What are you talking about now?”

“Don’t tell me you have never heard of the vampire in the belltower?” Claudia asked in disbelief.

“You are being ridiculous. This is just like the witch story,” remarked Virginia.

“No! That was made up but this is real. The vampire legend has been around for hundreds of years and I’m really serious.”

“Sure,” Virginia said laughing.

“Laugh if you want the vampire legend is true.”

At the fork in the road where Virginia and Claudia had to separate, Virginia began to laugh hysterically at the thought of a vampire in the old belltower. After what happened today with the witch, she would never take Claudia seriously again. The though of a vampire living in a belltower was simply ridiculous!

Chapter 3

Early that morning Claudia arrived at Virginia’s house with an eager look on her face and two shovels in her hand.

“What are you up to now?” Virginia asked.

“We are going digging for gold,” Claudia replied proudly.

“How do you even know there’s gold around here?” Virginia responded.

“I would like you to meet a friend of mine,” Claudia replied.

Claudia led Virginia up the road until they reached a house (if you could call it a house) which was a total disaster. Chipped paint was everywhere, and loose shingles and fallen bricks were all over. Claudia knocked on the door until this young boy in overalls and a very dirty face finally answered. “

Hello, Tommy. Allow me to introduce a very good friend of mine. Tommy Scarcock, meet Virginia Farlow.”

“Nice to meet you, Virginia. Are you new around here?” Tommy asked.

“Why, yes,” Virginia answered simply.

“Tommy, tell Virginia about the gold you found,” Claudia said.

“Are you guys telling me that you are interested in finding gold too? I would gladly help you by telling you where I found my gold, although only if I receive forty percent of what you find,” Tommy demanded.

“What! You can’t do that. I wasn’t even on planning on giving you anything, and if I did, it wouldn’t be much. Ten percent at the most,” Claudia argued back.

“Well, it’s better than nothing, I suppose,” Tommy agreed. “Well, where did you find the gold?” Virginia asked.

“Did you expect there would be something left? I dug all over where I found my gold. I doubt you’ll find anything there,” Tommy said.

“Then I suppose we are wasting our time,” Claudia said.

“Now, now, you came to Tommy Scarcock for help and help is what you're going to get,” retorted Tommy.

“You said there wasn’t any more gold,” Virginia said.

“What I said was, there wasn’t any more gold where I looked,” Tommy said slyly.

“Well where should we start digging?” Virginia asked.

“Over at the foot at Forbidden Mountain, where the arched doorway is,” Tommy directed, pointing westward. As Tommy watched them walk in the distance he smiled to himself slyly.

About half an hour later they reached the arched doorway of Forbidden Mountain. They noticed some script in an unknown language on the arch.

“What does it say,” Virginia asked curiously. Claudia just stared at the mountain dumbfounded. Finally she answered.

“I believe it is a warning.” Despite the warning telling them they were in danger, Virginia and Claudia anxiously awaited what they would discover inside. Virginia and Claudia pushed open the heavy door with all their strength. Inside all they found was complete darkness.

“Well, I think we should start mining for the gold now,” Claudia said. With that the two friends stepped into the cave. As they were talking to each other the door slammed shut behind them. Deeper in the cave the two girls heard bellowing rolls of laughter echoing throughout the cave. Virginia and Claudia cowered down in fright. They started blundering blindly down the tunnel, feeling the wall as they went. Suddenly the walls opened into a great chamber. Their eyes were blinded by a fiery red light. They waited a moment for their eyes to adjust. Then they saw before them a gigantic dragon with the brilliant colors of gold, red, and green. They saw that the dragon was seated upon a throne made from the finest gold coins, precious gems and any other object that could be forged in gold. The girls gasped as they gazed upon the hideous dragon and then upon the gold again. Then the dragon spoke. “ Thou hast disturbed my slumber. What brings thou here? Thou now must pay,” he ended in a low growl.

“We didn’t mean to Sir…Mr. Dragon sir,” stammered Claudia.

In the meantime, outside the cave, Tommy was laughing hysterically about his little prank.

“Ha, those girls better learn not to mess with me. The gold is mine, all mine. Ha, ha, ha, I’ll let the girls out in a few minutes. A lesson needs to be taught here.

Inside the golden cave the evil dragon was planning what to do with the trespassers.

“I know now what to do to you two. You will both have slow and painful deaths. You shall rot in two separate cages without food or water,” the dragon cackled. The girls froze with terror at the thought as the dragon locked them in iron cages. The dragon sat on his huge throne with the key dangling around his neck as he drifted silently to sleep.

Outside, Tommy began to worry since the girls had been inside the cave for twenty minutes without making a sound he could hear. After thinking for a few moments Tommy decided to enter the cave. He opened the door until he was lost in total darkness. Tommy explored the cave until he discovered the chamber. In the chamber he noticed Virginia and Claudia locked in iron cages. Then he noticed the dragon toward the center of the chamber. He also noticed the key around his neck. After he realized Claudia and Virginia were held captive by the giant fire-breathing beast he knew he had to save them. If he could only get to the key without waking the dragon, he could rescue Claudia and Virginia. He quickly and quietly snuck up to the dragon and tried taking the key without touching the dragon’s long nose. He woke up with a fearsome roar. Tommy was knocked roughly to the ground and fell unconscious. The dragon chuckled, “So, there is a little rescue mission, eh. Well, blow that attempt. I’ll put you somewhere where you won’t squeak,” he ended, chuckling, as he eyed an empty cage. He threw Tommy into the cage and hung it from the ceiling right above his throne so he could reach up and whack him if he made a sound. Virginia’s and Claudia’s hopes sank to their toes. “Now we shall end in here, a dragon’s lair.” Virginia laughed at the thought. “And to think, an hour earlier I didn’t even believe in dragons.”

Chapter 4

As everyone drifted to sleep the day was almost complete. Virginia’s parents began to worry.

“Where could she be?” Mrs. Farlow thought outloud.

“It’s that friend of hers, Claudia. She probably brought Virginia somewhere around though I have a feeling they will be back soon,” Mr. Farlow said.

Meanwhile, back in the cave, the dragon suddenly woke up and instinctively pushed the cage above him. The cause of the corrosion rendered Tommy unconscious. “Ha, Ha, Ha,” the dragon laughed. The deep laugh woke Virginia and Claudia quickly. “We’ve got to find a way out of here,” Virginia murmured under her breath.

Back at the house, Virginia’s parents really began to worry. We have to find them, it’s nearly 10 o’clock,” Mrs. Farlow cried out. Then a loud knock rang through the house. Mr. Farlow quickly answered the door to find two strange people.

“My name is John Scarcock and this is my wife Winifred. We want to know what happened to our son,” he shouted.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mr. Farlow answered confusedly.

“My son Tommy said he was going with Claudia and Virginia and since I don’t know a Virginia I figured she was your child.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. My daughter is missing, too. But somehow I know they will be all right. But let’s look for them,” Mr. Farlow exclaimed.

With that word, the two couples ran outside and started looking up and down maple road. Mrs. Scarcock said to Mr. Farlow, “You look down Whitman Street, and I’ll look down Sierra Tierra. Mrs. Farlow will look at Old Castle Road and Mr. Scarcock is looking down Main Street. Let’s meet here in half an hour.” She looked as if she was about to cry as she said “hour.”

Claudia woke up and jumped up. “Ouch,” she cried, as her head hit the top of the cage. Her yelp woke Virginia and Tommy. She eyed the dragon. He stirred but did not wake. She breathed a sigh of relief. Tommy woke up painfully.

“Oh, I thought I was dreaming about this horrible nightmare. I want to go home,” Tommy said with an effort.

Virginia was very hungry, being used to rich treatment and lots of food. Painfully, Virginia looked for Claudia. Not seeing her she looked for Tommy. She saw him hanging from the ceiling above the dragon. He was handing in the cage by a rusty chain. She had an idea. Her world went black. She had fainted from hunger. Tommy looked at the two girls looking for a solution. Claudia was looking up to Tommy for a solution.

Tommy was hanging high up and the entire time he was secretly scared to death of heights. It felt like he was going to fall at any moment. Then all of a sudden he sneezed. This was bad because he didn’t want to wake the dragon and if he was grouchy when he was wide awake imagine how grouchy he would be when he just woke up. The dragon woke up startled because of the sneeze. He laughed an evil laugh and started tormenting the helpless and unfortunate Tommy.

The great search took place throughout the small community. Everyone was busy searching for the three children. They formed a 10-mile radius. When the search wasn’t going anywhere from where they were looking, they extended to look in the city. Too bad nobody thought of looking in Forbidden Mountain.

Back in the cave, the dragon was punching the cage back and forth until there was a sudden creak. All at once the cage started to fall. It collapsed directly on the dragon’s head! The dragon was unconscious, which gave Tommy, Virginia, and Claudia time to escape. Tommy grabbed the key and began to unlock all of the cages.

“Hurry up, let’s go,” he said as the three started heading out the cave.

Finally, half an hour had passed and Mr. and Mrs. Farlow were nearly in tears as they met in the appointed spot. Mrs. Scarcock was crying silently, hiding her face with a handkerchief. No one had seen a trace of them. They went back to Virginia’s house and talked about the pain, drinking tea and eating strawberry rolls.

“I miss my son already,” Mrs. Scarcock cried sadly.

“It’s okay. I’m sure that if he lives he will find his way home,” said Mr. Farlow.

“I hope so,” said Mrs. Scarcock.

Back down at the cave there was a lot of action. The three children ran out of the cave and stopped to shut the door. Claudia took a sharp rock and wrote, “Keep out” on the door.

“How about my ten percent,” Tommy asked, chuckling.

“That isn’t funny!” said Virginia.

“Here you are,” said Claudia, handing him a gold coin.

“As I ran out, I grabbed a sack. I didn’t know what it contained,” Claudia said as she handed the small sack to Virginia.

“You can have it,” said Claudia. “I can always go back and get more with your help.”

With that, the three children all stopped laughing and shook their heads “No way.” Then they started running to their houses. When they got to Virginia’s house the three of them went in to greet their parents.

Chapter 5

“Mom!” Virginia cried out.

“Virginia, where were you,” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“It doesn’t matter, I’m back,” Virginia replied.

“This is all that girl Claudia’s fault, isn’t it?” Mr. Farlow said.

“No!” Virginia yelled.

“I have to agree with your father. I mean, we don’t even know her.”

“If you get to know her, will you let me be her friend?”

“All right, why don’t you go to her house and ask her over for dinner and we’ll see what she’s really like,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“I would, only I don’t know where she lives,” Virginia said, embarrassed.

“Well, will you expect to hear from her tomorrow?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“Yes, she usually comes over everyday.”

“We’ll ask her then,” Mr. Farlow said.

That was when Virginia began to think. Claudia always came to her house and she had never gone to Claudia’s house. In fact, Virginia didn’t know anything about where she lived or about her family. She didn’t even know about her parents or if she had any siblings. She didn’t know anything about them. Was Claudia trying to avoid telling her about them? As far as Virginia was concerned, she was going to find out about Claudia’s family.

The next day Claudia came over just as the sun came up.

“Can I come over to your house?” Virginia asked. Claudia had a worried look on her face. Virginia was right about Claudia hiding something. “What’s wrong, Claudia? You can tell me what this is about.” Then Claudia’s mood seriously changed. She looked mysterious and angry.

“No, no, no, you can never come to my house. I will never show you the way. Never, never, never, never.”

Virginia thought about this mood swing. “She’s hiding something, I bet,” Virginia thought.

Then Claudia said, “Let’s play a game.”

“What, no adventures!” Virginia started to laugh.

“I have to go home,” said Claudia.

As soon as Claudia was out of hearing distance Virginia said to her self, “Here’s my chance.” Then she started following her as if she were being drawn. She still kept her distance although she saw that Claudia had left the road right in front of the forest. Instinctively, Virginia followed. She hid behind trees and ducked so she wouldn’t be seen. On and on she went like a scared little squirrel going deeper and deeper into the forest. Whenever Virginia looked up she saw singing birds in the trees and there were flowers of all sorts scattered across the forest floor. Finally she got to Claudia’s house.

It was just a small shack with a mill right next to it. To the side of the small cottage was a babbling brook. Mushrooms were scattered throughout the yard. It just looked so enchanting. Claudia entered the house slowly with a tear in her eye. Virginia looked through a window and saw an old woman with glasses and gray hair. Then Virginia saw Claudia don an apron and start cooking. She served the old lady the meal. The old lady spit it out right away and started yelling at Claudia. Claudia hung her head in sorrow. Virginia felt really sympathetic toward Claudia. How awful it was for the old lady to be treating Claudia like that. How was that old lady related to Claudia? Claudia began cleaning the mess the old lady made. How could anyone be so harsh to such a kind and adventurous person? At that moment she remembered that she was supposed to invite Claudia to dinner. Her parents would be expecting her tonight. She just had to tell her about it or she would never see Claudia again. She knew that Claudia would be mad at her. Virginia gathered all of her courage and knocked on the door. Claudia quickly answered it and said, surprised, “Virginia, what are you doing here? How did you find me?”

“I followed you here, please don’t be mad.”

“I told you not to!” Claudia said angrily.

“I had to come by to ask you to dinner tonight.”

“You came all this way just to ask me to dinner! No, I don’t want to come, thank you,” said Claudia.

“Oh please come! If you don’t I will never see you again. See, my parents want to get to know you,” said Virginia. After a pause Claudia responded, “All right. Fine, I’ll come over if there is no trick involved.”

“Claudia, who is that old lady in the house, and why is she being so cruel?” Virginia asked.

“She’s my aunt, and why she is so cruel I don’t know. She has always been like that. I don’t think she has ever been kind to me. Well, let’s go to your house now, all right?”

Virginia shook her head, “All right. Though first I would like to ask you a question. What happened to your parents?”

After a pause Claudia responded, “Well, they died when I was young. Do you remember when I told you about the vampire in the belltower? He killed my parents. One by one they got sick and turned into vampires. Before they died I noticed there were marks on their necks. They looked like a vampire bites. Now I have to live with my evil aunt. That’s how I’m living now.” Virginia listened with a tear in her eye.

“Well, let’s go to my house now,” Virginia said.

As the two friends walked to Virginia’s house they looked up at the tower as they talked.

“That story was sad, though I still don’t believe in vampires,” Virginia said.

“Every word of it is true whether you believe it or not,” Claudia replied.

“If you’re so confident, why don’t we both explore the belltower and find the vampire,” Virginia remarked.

“Are you crazy? The vampire is too strong, we’ll get killed!” Claudia exclaimed.

“Then I won’t,” Virginia said.

The two friends arrived at Virginia’s house after a long walk through the woods. As they went through the door Virginia’s parents greeted them.

“We have heard so much about you, Claudia. Please have a seat,” Mrs. Farlow said, directing Claudia to the dining room.

“Please, Claudia, tell us about what happened yesterday,” Mr. Farlow asked.

“Well, we started by going on a search for gold. We asked a friend of mine for help. Though the greedy back stabber wanted all the gold for himself so, as a prank, he planned on locking us in a cave, though everything went wrong and I don’t think you will believe the rest, sir,” Claudia explained.

“So, none of this was your fault after all. I need to apologize after all the incorrect information I got,” Mr. Farlow said apologetically.

“It’s all right. Some people get these things messed up all the time,” Claudia said.

“I will encourage my daughter to see you whenever she wants. I now know that you are a kind and understanding person. I hope that the person who pulled the prank will think before he acts the next time. I am sorry for accusing you, “ said Mr. Farlow.

“Oh, thank you, Dad, thank you!” Virginia cried with relief. Then she hugged her friend Claudia.

Chapter 6

Early the next morning Virginia decided to visit Claudia instead of Claudia going to see her. Fortunately, Virginia met Claudia half way.

“I was just going to your house,” Claudia said.

“Same here,” Virginia replied.

“Well I’ve got a great idea,” Claudia said.

“What is it now?”

“We can go to the island of the Djinn,” Claudia said excitedly.

“What?”

“It’s past my house and I’ve never been there before and I really want to and we really must hurry since it’s a long journey, so can we please go!” Claudia pleaded.

Before Virginia could say one word Claudia was off headed for the mysterious Djinn Island. Virginia and Claudia went past the enchanted forest where Claudia lived. They went past many plains until they reached a large lake with a small island in the center.

“This is it, this is Djinn Island,” Claudia said excitedly.

“Now how do we get to the island?” Virginia asked.

“Do you see the boathouse in the distance? We will take a boat to the island,” Claudia said.

As they got to the boathouse they noticed there was only one small boat left.

“I guess we will have to take that one,” Virginia said.

“I always thought that there were two boats,” Claudia said.

“That’s all right. Maybe someone is in the other or it was stolen, but let’s go anyway. Come on,” said Virginia eagerly.

So the two hopped into the boat and off they went. The current carried them swiftly to Djinn Island. They were silent as the island drew nearer. Finally their boat bumped into the island. A thin mist was covering the island and the girls couldn’t see very far. As they hopped out of their boat Claudia saw something she didn’t notice as they approached. “Come here quick,” cried Claudia. Virginia ran to Claudia. Claudia was pointing to a boat.

“Isn’t this interesting.”

“I agree. Where is the person who brought it here?” Virginia asked.

“I don’t know, though I want to find out,” Claudia said, and with that the friends searched the island. Virginia was looking on the hill in the center of the island and Claudia looked up and down the beaches.

“I found her,” cried Claudia.

Claudia looked down at the girl, her leg was wounded. Virginia rushed over and they picked up the girl and lifted her to a softer spot in the sand. Then Virginia asked, “What is your name.”

“Marin,” she replied.

“How did this happen?” Virginia asked.

“I was climbing the trees when a branch collapsed ten feet up. I think I broke my leg,” Marin said in pain.

“You need help. We have to get back immediately,” Claudia said, worried.

“In the meantime, we should wrap your wound up. I will find something durable enough for your leg in the cave,” Virginia said. Virginia ran toward the cave though the only thing inside as far as Virginia knew was darkness. She stepped inside when a genie appeared.

He was huge. In a deep and loud voice that reminded Virginia of thunder he said, “I have the power to grant wishes. What are your commands, for I must obey them.”

“The only thing I wish for now is that Marin will get better,” Virginia said.

“Your wish is my command,” the Genie roared.

A few moments later Marin and Claudia entered the cave. Marin’s leg was healed.

“You have two wishes left. Choose wisely,” the Genie, said.

“Well, since I already made a wish, the next wishes will be asked by you two,” Virginia said. “Unless that it is three wishes per master,” she finished.

“I am sorry. I am only a young genie, and I do not have the power to grant wishes to so many masters at a time,” the Genie said.

“Well, then, I wish for all the gold in the world,” Claudia wished.

“It shall be done,” the Genie said. Then the whole room was ablaze with the blinding light of gold.

“Wow, this is even more gold than in the dragon’s lair!” Claudia exclaimed.

“I wish for all the diamonds in the world,” Marin said. The room was filled with diamonds and gold. They knew they couldn’t bring it all back in one trip. At that moment the Genie disappeared in a puff of smoke.

For a while, the three girls were amazed by the splendor of the riches. Then Virginia asked, “Would you share your lovely jewels with me?”

“Of course we will. We each get one third of both the diamonds and the gold,” said Claudia happily.

“Now, how are we going to get all this home?” asked Marin.

“Let’s go outside and see how much cargo fits into the boats. You and Marin will go in the bigger boat and I will take the small one,” said Claudia. With that, all three girls went outside.

They gasped with horror. The boats were gone. “How could this be,” wailed Marin.

“I guess the boats drifted away,” said Virginia. “I guess we’ll have to stay here for a while.” The sun had set and the stars were getting bright. Marin and Virginia went to sleep in the cave. Claudia preferred to sleep on the beach.

Hours had passed. The sun was already up and morning was nearly noon when the girls woke up. Meanwhile, back home, their parents began to worry. But they knew that their daughter was safe. Back on the island, the girls were ready for breakfast, but Claudia was nowhere to be seen. Marin and Virginia got a little worried. Anything can happen on such a small island. She could have drowned and they didn’t even know where she was. Claudia was actually in the treetops generously picking fruit for their breakfast. Once Claudia gathered the fruit she quickly climbed down the tree to find her friends. Virginia started sobbing at the thought of Claudia drowning in the lake. Claudia heard Virginia crying and asked what was wrong.

“You’re alive!” Virginia exclaimed.

“Of course I am! What, did you think I was dead?” Claudia asked.

“No, no, not at all,” Virginia said.

“Well, I got some fruit for our breakfast,” Claudia said. “Where’s Marin?”

“Here I am,” she said as her head popped out of the leaves of a tree.

“I prepared breakfast, so come down here,” Claudia said.

As the three sat on the beach and had breakfast Virginia said, “How do we get off of this island, anyway.”

“We’re stuck here, so we must build shelter,” Claudia said.

“Well, I’m going to explore the island. Who is coming with me?” Marin asked. The two girls agreed and started after Marin. They found many brilliantly colored birds on the island, along with wide varieties of plants. There was even a river that went across the island.

“I think that we should build a treehouse in this tree until we get off the island,” Virginia suggested.

“That’s a good idea. Let’s get to work after a short rest. Say, how should we make this tree house?” asked Marin.

“The usual way, of course. We make a floor and we get all the branches out of the way,” replied Claudia.

The girls were refreshed, so they got to work. Claudia cleared away the branches, Virginia used these branches to create the floor, and, with the extra branches, Marin created walls and steps up to the house. It took hours and hours to make. Finally, it was perfect. No flaw at all. Marin went inside of the cave to fix a lunch. Virginia and Claudia went up into the tree house and fell asleep.

About 20 minutes later Marin said loudly, “Lunch is ready!”

Virginia and Claudia woke with a start, feeling very hungry. “Being a carpenter is hungry work,” said Virginia to Claudia, almost forgetting about Marin. The two girls went down from the tree house and joined Marin. They all ate hungrily, talking every now and then. As soon as they were done with lunch they all lay down on the beach. Then, suddenly, a question popped into Virginia’s head.

“When are we going to go home?” she said aloud. “I mean, the boats are gone and the boathouse had no more boats. But, I guess I like it here. I really wouldn’t like to go back home if I had the chance.”

“I’m not sure I want to go back home, either,” Marin said. “Though I’m sure our parents are really worried.”

Meanwhile, back home, even though Mr. and Mrs. Farlow knew their only daughter was in safe hands, they began to worry. After all, the girls had been gone for over a day and they would probably come back before the next day.

Back on the island, the girls started to feel homesick. Would they actually be trapped on the island forever?

Chapter 7

Virginia really wanted to go home now. She was getting anxious. Suddenly a great thought went through her mind. They had made a tree house with ease. They could make a boat.

“We could make a boat!” Virginia exclaimed out loud.

Marin, who was sitting next to her, caught on to the idea. She went looking for Claudia. She found Claudia deep inside the cave. Marin told her about making a boat. She was so relieved. Claudia wanted to go home now. The two went outside. They saw Virginia collecting wide branches, vines, and some gems and gold in her pockets.

“Better pack up! We’re leaving as soon as the boat is made!” Then she started to put the branches side by side, tying them together with the vines, then did the same on the other side. She tested it on the water, and it sank. Virginia quickly put it back on land. She took some wet sand and filled up the holes. Virginia tried it again. It floated! “Come on! We’re going home!”

She and her friends went in the cave and filled their pockets with gold and diamonds.

“Off we go!” Claudia exclaimed. “Now we are going back rich when we left poor.”

As they went along a storm came up. They were half a mile away from both shores. They decided to go back to the mainland because they thought it was a lot safer to try that way. But they were too slow. The storm came along; the angry waves splashed them back and forth as the storm broke out. The poorly made boat would not hold them. All of a sudden a gigantic wave broke out and easily broke the boat in two, sending them all the way back to the island beach. After lying in the sand for quite a long time, Virginia called out, “Is everybody all right?”

“I’m fine,” Claudia called out.

“Are you all right, Marin?” Virginia asked. There was silence. “Are you all right?” Virginia called out again, only louder. There was still silence. Virginia got up quickly and began searching for Marin. Virginia circled half way across the island when she found Marin walking around the beach confused.

“The wave took you on the other side of the island,” Virginia explained.

Then Claudia came running up toward them saying “I’ve got a great idea on how we can get back home! If the wind is working against us in a boat then we’ll work with the wind in the air. We will make a hang glider and glide back to land.”

“Of all the crazy ideas you’ve had this has got to be the craziest,” Virginia said.

“Actually, to tell the truth, it just might work,” Marin said.

“I’m going inside. I don’t want to get involved with your crazy idea,” Virginia retorted. Just then Claudia began making herself a giant hang glider. First she got two palm trees. She tied them together with a vine. She tied a stick into the vines to the leaves. Claudia took her hang glider to the top of the hill. She said, “Come on!” then the three of them were on the bar running, running, jump.

“We’re flying,” cried Claudia.

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Virginia yelled over the wind.

“It’s all right,” she heard Claudia yell back to her. Everything was fine until they nearly reached the shore. A great current took the frail hand glider and snapped it in two. The girls hung onto pieces of the wreckage so they wouldn’t drown. They had been brought again to their little island. Marin suggested that they wait until the storm died down.

“After that…” Claudia said impatiently, “We will go across to the mainland by a way you really wouldn’t expect. You know that the water isn’t really that deep. We can make real tall shoes and walk across.”

No way, the girls thought. That is even more ridiculous than the attempt to fly across on a hang glider.

“We will do something else, then,” Claudia said. “I know just what to do.”

“What is it now?” Virginia asked.

“The wind has been causing all of this, right? Well, if we go where the wind won’t have its effects, then we will make it. We will go under water,” Claudia explained.

“It will never work,” Virginia said.

“It will work, all we have to do is use the gold so we can make something the water won’t penetrate though can provide enough air so we can breath comfortably.”

Three days had passed and the entire town was in uproar looking for Virginia, Claudia, and now Marin. The first thing Virginia’s parents did was go to the Scarcock house. When they found out that Tommy had nothing to do with it they raced all over town with absolutely no luck.

At the island, Virginia, Claudia, and Marin had no idea what they were doing. But they were willing to try anything. Even one of Claudia’s crazy ideas.

Chapter 8

Virginia really wanted to go home now. She was getting anxious. Suddenly a great thought went through her mind. They had made a treehouse with ease. “We could make a boat,” Virginia announced. Marin, who was sitting next to her, caught on to the idea. She went looking for Claudia; she found her deep inside the cave. Marin was so relieved that Claudia wanted to go home now. The two went outside, they saw Virginia collecting wide branches, vines, and some gems and gold in her pockets.

“Better get ready, we’re leaving as soon as the boat is finished.”

Then she started to put the branches side by side, tying them together with vines, then did the same on the other side. She tested it on the water and it sank. Virginia quickly brought it back on land. She took some wet sand and filled the holes. Virginia tried it again and it successfully floated. “Come on! We’re going home!”

She and her friends went back in the cave and filled their pockets with their pockets with gold and diamonds.

“Off we go!” Claudia exclaimed. Now they were going home rich when they came poor. As they went along another storm struck up. They were about half a mile away from both shores so they thought it best to try reaching the mainland because they thought it would be a lot safer that way. They were too slow. The storm came along and the angry waves splashed them back and forth as the storm broke out. The poorly made boat could not hold them. All of a sudden a gigantic wave came crashing their way and easily broke the boat in two sending them all the way to the beach of the island. After lying in the sand for quite a long time, Virginia called out, “Is everybody all right?”

“I’m fine,” Claudia called out.

“Are you all right, Marin?” Virginia asked. There was silence. “Are you all right?” Virginia called out again, only louder. There was still silence. Virginia got up quickly and began searching for Marin. Virginia circled half way across the island when she found Marin walking in a daze around the beach. “The wave took you on the other side of the island,” Virginia explained.

Claudia came running up toward them saying, “I’ve got a great idea on how we can get back home. If the wind is working against us in a boat then we’ll work with the wind in the air. We will make a hang glider and glide back to land.”

“Of all the crazy ideas you’ve had, this has got to be the craziest,” Virginia said.

“Actually, to tell the truth, it might just work,” Marin said.

“I’m going inside. I don’t want to get involved with your crazy ideas,” Virginia said in a happy voice.

Claudia started to make her hang glider. First, she got two palm leaves. Then she tied them together with a vine. Using two vines, she tied a stick onto the leaves. Claudia took her hang glider to the top of the hill. She said, “Come on.” Then all three of them were on the bar, running, running, running, jump! “We’re flying!” cried Claudia.

“I’m sorry I doubted you!” Virginia yelled over the wind.

“It’s okay,” she heard Claudia say back to her. Everything was fine until they were almost at the shore. A great current took the frail hang glider and snapped it in two. The girls hung onto pieces of the wreckage so they wouldn’t drown. They had been brought again to their little island. Marin suggested they wait until the storm died down.

“After that…” Claudia said impatiently, “We will go across to the mainland by a way you really wouldn’t expect. You know that the water isn’t really that deep. We could make tall shoes and walk across!”

“No way,” the girls thought. That is even more ridiculous than the attempt to fly across on a hang-glider.

“We will do something else, then,” Claudia said. “I know just what to do.”

“What is it now?” Virginia asked.

“The wind has been causing all of this, right? Well, if we go where the wind won’t have it’s effects, then we will make it. We will go under water.”

“It will never work,” Virginia said.

“It will work. All we have to do is use the gold so we can make something water can’t go through yet will still provide just enough air so we can breathe comfortably.”

Three days had passed and again the whole town was busy looking for Virginia, Claudia, and Marin. The first thing Virginia’s parents did was to go to the Scarcock house. When they found out that Tommy had nothing to do with it, they raced all over town with absolutely no luck.

At the island, though the children had no idea what they were doing, they only tried it because it was an idea. It was the time to try anything, even one of Claudia’s crazy ideas.

Chapter 9

“All right, I’ll try anything as long as it gets me home,” Virginia said, longing for hot meals, new clothes, and a luxurious hot bath.

“I’ll try anything as long as it gets me home safely,” said Marin hopefully. Finally, we will go home, each girl thought.

“Claudia, tell us how it works again, please,” pleaded Virginia. Claudia told them again carefully and slowly, making sure that she chose the right words. Everyone agreed that if they were going to get home this would be the way they got there.

“Everyone pick up a large piece of gold. Hold it by your mouth and nose,” Claudia directed. She was interrupted by Virginia.

“Shouldn’t we be tied together by a vine so we don’t lose each other?”

“Excellent idea, Virginia,” commented Claudia. Virginia went to work right away tying the strongest vine around herself, then around Claudia in the same fashion, and then Marin. They picked up the gold and put it in the correct place.

“Shouldn’t we bring some of our own riches?” the timid little girl Marin asked.

“Of course,” Claudia said. The girls stuffed their pockets with jewels and they were all ready.

“Off we go!” cried Virginia just before they went below the water.

It was very hard to see underwater, the girls were striving to see what was ahead of them though they knew they had to go North so they kept in that direction.

“I think we’re almost there, I can feel it,” Claudia said. They continued on their way when Virginia suddenly confronted… a giant alligator swimming their way!

“Let’s try to dodge it,” Marlin yelled even though no one heard her. Fortunately everyone else had the same idea in mind. The crocodile saw the three helpless girls and opened his mouth wide.

Back home the small community searched throughout the region. Nobody actually thought of looking underwater at that time. Everybody was worried. Would they ever come back this time?

Meanwhile a hungry alligator had just found its dinner. Three frightened and lively girls who were going to be dead had to think of something fast. Virginia and Marin were too frightened to move. It was up to Claudia, who held on to her wits. She grabbed a giant gold bar. When the alligator snapped his jaw shut, intent on eating the girls, Claudia jammed the gold bar vertically into the alligator’s mouth so he couldn’t shut it all the way. This gave a chance for Virginia, Claudia, and Marin to swim away. Since they had gone most of the way they could manage to attempt to swim to shore. The alligator did not give up yet. There was no way he was going to pass up a good dinner quite yet.

“Help,” Marin cried. Virginia looked behind. The alligator was chewing on Marin. The water was streaked with blood, and their old friend was a prisoner to the crocodile. To make the sight even sadder, the alligator was spitting out the jewels that were in her pockets.

“Let’s go,” Claudia cried, grabbing Virginia’s shirt. They were going top speed without stopping or looking back.

“I wish the alligator hadn’t eaten Marin,” Virginia said.

“That’s life,” Claudia replied. Just then they were coming out of the water. The stars above them were twinkling as they walked back home together.

Virginia ran to her parents as they were sitting in the living room. Virginia called out “Mother, Father, I missed you dearly.”

“Oh, Virginia, where were you?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“I was on stranded on an island with Claudia and a girl named Marin, who got eaten by a alligator,” Virginia responded.

“What an imagination you girls have. Now you must get some sleep. Off to bed with you,” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia drifted to sleep dreaming of what adventure she and Claudia might have next time. 

The next day Claudia didn’t come over. She didn’t the next day, or the next. Virginia began to worry. Why wasn’t Claudia coming over anymore? Virginia finally decided to go to Claudia’s house. She only hoped she wouldn’t be mad at her for that. Virginia took the long walk through the enchanted woods until she reached Claudia’s house. She gathered up all of her courage and knocked on the door. This time the old woman answered the door saying, “What do you want?”

“Is Claudia home?” Virginia stammered.

“Yeah, that good-for-nothing girl is sick, she can’t even do her chores and since she’s been gone, I’ve had to do her work,” the old woman growled.

“Tell Claudia that I’m worried about her, please,” Virginia said politely.

“I’ll think about it. She should do her chores that she missed,” the old woman said cruelly.

Virginia started to walk home feeling very sad for poor Claudia. “How I will help her, I don’t know, but I just know that I have to help her.”

The forest was greener than it had ever been before. Virginia went home a lot faster than she expected.

Virginia opened her front door as she walked in and she let it slam behind her. Virginia found her parents in the dining room. Virginia sat down in the chair that she usually sat in. She looked at her parents sadly. Finally, she broke the silence. “Claudia has to live with her cruel aunt and she’s sick. I really do feel that I should help her somehow. But I don’t know how.” Virginia was almost crying.

“We can’t do anything about it, Virginia. It’s not our problem.”

“That cruel old aunt of hers probably isn’t helping, she just wants Claudia to do chores,” Virginia argued.

“She’ll get better, don’t worry,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“Wait a minute! I know someone that can probably make her feel better!” Virginia said as she stepped out the door. Virginia walked up Maple Road until she found Whitman Street, which was where she would find Jacqueline White. Virginia knocked on her door several times until Mrs. White answered it.

“Well, hello, Virginia,” Mrs. White said. “Where’s Claudia?”

“Mrs. White, I’m sorry for asking, but is it all right if I borrow some of your delicious soup for Claudia?” Virginia asked.

“Well, of course it is. I’ll get some of it in a bowl and we will bring it to Claudia’s house together,” Mrs. White replied.

“Both of us?” Virginia asked.

“Well, of course. What’s wrong with that?” Mrs. White said.

Virginia didn’t want to tell her the real reason so she had no choice whether or not to bring Mrs. White. The two left the house at the same time with Mrs. White’s soup. Hopefully, it would make Claudia feel better. From Mrs. White’s house the journey was even longer. It took at least 10 miles to walk there. At last, the reached the enchanted forest where Claudia lived. They walked into the forest.

“It seems so enchanted,” commented Mrs. White. “I really do hope my soup makes Claudia feel better,” Mrs. White said dreamily. So they talked about the forest and the world outside until they reached Claudia’s house. Mrs. Whited wiped a tear from her eye.

Virginia knocked on the door. The old woman answered the door in surprise. “Why, too many visitors. State your business here,” the old woman croaked.

“We have brought some soup to make Claudia feel better. May we come in?” Mrs. White answered plainly.

“First tell me who you are, then proceed,” the old aunt cackled.

“I’m Jacqueline White and this her is Virginia Farlow. We are friends of Claudia,” Mrs. White said as if it were a phrase long rehearsed.

Claudia’s aunt opened the door wider. They saw Claudia lying on a bed in the corner. There wasn’t much in the house, and the house really needed to be repaired in many places. Poor Claudia, thought Virginia, every day that nice little girl comes home to a dump.

“We brought you Mrs. White’s soup that you like so much,” Virginia said.

Mrs. White seemed to be deep in thought as she handed Claudia the soup.

“What are you thinking about?” croaked Claudia in a sour voice.

“Your aunt looks so familiar,” Mrs. White replied.

Claudia slowly finished her soup and said, “Thank you so much. I feel better already.”

Then Claudia’s aunt came into the room and said, “All visitors out! I hear Claudia is feeling better so she has to do her chores.”

Virginia argued, “No, she is still sick and has to stay in bed!”

Then Mrs. White got up and said to Claudia’s aunt, “Well, Hortense, you’re still your old grouchy self I see.”

“Hortense,” Virginia giggled.

“I went to school with you, don’t you remember?” Mrs. White asked.

“I remember all right, though I hoped you would forget,” Claudia’s aunt growled.

“Hortense, I believe you should be kind to Claudia, here,” Mrs. White said.

Hortense growled and then left.

“Well, I have a long way to walk before it gets dark,” Mrs. White said. “I hope you will feel better soon, Claudia.”

“I have to go too. I’ll visit you tomorrow, Claudia,” Virginia said as she left through the door.

As Virginia was walking home, the stars up above came out, one by one. Virginia imagined the stars making pictures of people and animals. She thought about everything that had passed today. She was glad that Mrs. White knew Hortense, or that evening would have ended differently, maybe even violently. Virginia walked into her house, quietly went into her room, into her bed, and into a deep, comfortable sleep.

Chapter 10

A few days later Claudia was herself again and went to Virginia’s house with an idea in mind. “Virginia, would you like to go to the Mendel River?” Claudia asked.

“Sure! Though I’m afraid I don’t know where it is,” Virginia said.

“We will be away for awhile, so you need to bring camping supplies. Don’t worry, I know where it is anyway,” Claudia explained.

“Let me tell my parents, though,” Virginia said.

“Is it all right if Tommy comes, too?” asked Claudia.

“I wouldn’t trust him if I were you. He tried to kill us last time,” Virginia exclaimed.

“He also saved our lives,” Claudia said. “You stay here, Virginia. I’m going down the road to pick up Tommy, and besides, he’s the expert camper.”

Virginia decided to wait until Claudia returned. Moment’s later Claudia came back with an overwhelmed Tommy Scarcock.

“If we’re going camping, let’s get moving now. It’s a long way to Mendel River,” Tommy said.

The three were on their way to a camping adventure. What was waiting for them there, they had no idea.

Tommy led them proudly. On and on. Their first camping site was on the corner of Sierra Tierra and Maple Road. The three had been walking for a long time. Virginia was telling Tommy all about their adventure to the Island of the Djinn. Tommy was especially interested in the fact that Marin died on that journey.

They set up for lunch at Sierra Tierra. The sun was burning up above. When they finished their lunch they cleaned up all of their camping gear and went on. Virginia suggested that they go see Mrs. White on the way. Everyone agreed to this.

Tommy said, “By the time that we get there, it will be dinnertime.”

“Yeah, then we could have some of her delicious soup for dinner. She will be glad of the company,” said Claudia.

Then everyone trudged back to Mrs. White’s house. Finally they were on Whitman Street. “We’re almost there!”

Half an hour later, Mrs. White heard someone knocking on the door. Wondering whom it could be, she got up and opened the door.

“Hello, Mrs. White! We’re on a camping trip and since your beautiful house was on the way, we decided to drop by for a visit,” Claudia said.

“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better, Claudia. Why don’t you three come in and have some soup,” Mrs. White said. The three sat in the dining room while Mrs. White served her famous vegetable soup. “Say, aren’t you John Scarcock’s boy?” she said to Tommy.

“Yes, ma’am,” Tommy replied. Everybody took seconds on the scrumptious soup, because they knew that they wouldn’t have a decent meal in a long time.

“Thank you so much for dinner. We are really grateful,” Virginia said.

The three set off again; traveling for several hours until it was too dark to see. They decided to set up camp in a small clearing in the forest. They made a small fire and started telling ghost stories.

Tommy started. “One day there was a man. He was very, very lonely."

“Stop!” Virginia yelled.

“What’s wrong, Virginia,” Claudia asked.

“I don’t enjoy ghost stories,” Virginia replied shyly.

“Ha, ha, I didn’t even get to the good part,” Tommy laughed.

“Stop it. Virginia doesn’t want to hear it,” Claudia said.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Too bad, I really like that one,” said Tommy.

Virginia was already scared. Whenever she heard something, she jumped.

“Hoot, hoot!”

“What was that?” cried Virginia.

“It’s just an owl,” said Tommy, holding back his laughter.

“Good night,” said Virginia to Claudia.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

The whole chorus of good nights went on and on until the children dropped off to sleep. Virginia fell asleep before Claudia and Tommy fell asleep before both of them.

“Good morning!” Virginia greeted the new day by having Tommy say good morning to her. Claudia woke up before both of them and she was making breakfast. Soon afterward the three found themselves talking and laughing as they were breaking their fast around a low campfire. Soon afterward, the three were packing up and getting ready to leave. A moment later they were walking towards Mendel River.

They had to climb over a mountain, which took a long time. Fortunately, Tommy had brought a rope in case of an emergency, and for a steep part of the mountain it was needed. Tommy threw the rope and knotted it on a branch. Then Claudia and Virginia began climbing. Once they reached the top they looked down at the breathtaking view. The hard part was going down. It took them several hours, but there, down below, was The Mendel River.

“We made it! We made it!” they all shouted with joy. Claudia and Virginia set up camp again while Tommy found a stick and, with a string and a worm, sat on a rock near the riverbank and started fishing. Claudia later on joined him and following that, Virginia joined also. They would cook the fish for dinner later on. This was turning out to be a great camping trip.

Chapter 11

The fishing was successful. They had caught three fish apiece.

“Shouldn’t we keep the fish in buckets of frozen water to keep them fresh?” suggested Claudia.

“I knew that!” cried Tommy grinning innocently. They did that and went off exploring the river. Every once in awhile they stopped either to look at the fish, the butterflies, or sometimes the flowers. The day passed very quickly, a couple of words were exchanged every once in a while though nothing much. Finally they went back to their campsite for dinner. The sun was ridings its waves into the sunset. The three were talking together about when they will leave.

“I suppose we can leave in three days,” said Virginia.

“Why can’t we leave tomorrow?” asked Tommy.

“Why, are you afraid of camping chicken,” Claudia taunted.

“Chicken your self, I sense something bad will happen.” Virginia was lying asleep beside Claudia. Tommy looked at Virginia a minute. “Claudia, now that Virginia is asleep how would you like to tell ghost stories?”

“Well I am anxious to hear the ending of the ghost story you began to tell last night, though what if Virginia wakes up?” Claudia asked.

“I should have suspected that you’re as nervous about the stories as Virginia was,” Tommy laughed.

“I’m not afraid, go ahead and tell your story,” Claudia said boldly. In an extra quiet voice he began telling a super frightening ghost story. Claudia was scarred stiff by the end of the story.

“I-I think we should go to sleep now,” Claudia stammered.

“Sure, sweet dreams Ha, ha, ha,” Tommy laughed. Claudia had an uncomfortable night of restless sleep. It was already past one before she managed to fall asleep. It would be really hard for Claudia to wake up. Normally she would get up early though the next day she didn’t get up until eleven-thirty as the last person to wake up.

“You had nightmares, didn’t you,” Tommy laughed.

“No, not at all,” Claudia lied as she yawned.

“Since you finally got up Claudia, how about a hike in the mountains?" Virginia suggested excitedly. As everyone nodded their heads in agreement Tommy began packing and Claudia collected the fresh and clean water from the river.

I’m not drinking that,” Tommy said looking up.

“This is not drinking water,” Claudia said. “This is only if someone gets injured.” When all the materials were collected they started walking North up the dirt-paved road toward the beckoning mountains. They walked for hours looking into the horizon. The breath taking scenery of giant healthy green trees and fields only made them more eager to reach the majestic mountains. They followed the powerful river with the delightful hue of blue until the sun began to set, which was when they reached the beautiful purple mountains.

“Well what are we waiting for, let’s see the view from the top,” Tommy said excitedly. Everyone started climbing and with Tommy’s rope the climb went a lot more smoothly. Once they completed the climb to the top they caught their breath and looked around. The view was phenomenal; they could see everything from the top of the mountain. The winding river, the tree tops, the entire landscape was lighted up by the exhilarating sunset.

“It’s beautiful,” Virginia vaguely described the fantastic view from atop.

“Its getting dark and it’s a long way to go, we should start getting back,”Tommy said impatiently while tapping his foot.

“Wait one moment, I will probably never experience this moment ever again and I want to remember it,” Virginia said dreamily. Tommy rolled his eyes as he sat down knowing that it will take awhile.

“Are you finished looking at the boring sunset, the one you see every day,” Tommy exaggerated disgustedly.

“Fine, we’ll leave now,” Virginia said giving Tommy a dirty look. While Tommy was a good twenty feet ahead of them as they left Virginia and Claudia trudged behind. The three were nearly blinded by the darkness of night though after losing there way several times and bumping into about five trees, they managed to find there way back to the campsite. When they settled down to sleep they instantly began dreaming about the next day. 

Every one got up bright and early the next day. Tommy began whistling a cheerful melody while Claudia was preparing breakfast and Virginia was basically staring out in the distance. “So what should we do today?” Claudia asked.

“To tell the truth I’m really curious to find out what exactly is on the other side of the river,” Virginia said before going back into deep thought.

“I agree though this time I would like to get back before dark,” Tommy ordered. Everyone busily prepared their supplies once more because earlier Tommy, Claudia, and Virginia thought it best if they left the day after that. Once they got everything prepared, onward they marched to the opposite side of the river. As they reached the river there was still one more problem to figure out. How could they possibly get across the dangerously flowing river?

“Wait a minute. If I could only jump to that rock in the river we can probably make it across,” Claudia said excitedly.

Claudia ran back to a nearby tree; then she made a mad dash and jumped as she reached the edge of the river. Having a hard time keeping her balance she quickly jumped to the next closest rock and the next and next until she made a final jump on the other side of the river. After Claudia made it to the other side, Tommy began hopping from stone to stone until he, too, reached the opposite side of the river. Virginia was the only one left so for the first jump Claudia ran far back and dashed to the rock. Virginia smiled to herself though that smile disappeared when she began tumbling into the river. Head first, Virginia fell into the river, gasping for air. Virginia struggled to make it to the other side. Claudia was scared she didn’t know what to do; though Tommy did luckily. He noticed a long branch extending it toward Virginia. For her dear life she grabbed on the branch as Tommy directed it back to shore. As she plopped down on dry land sucking in deep breaths of air she thanked Tommy sincerely for saving her life.

“It was nothing,” Tommy lied.

“Are you all right? I hope you’re all right,” Claudia panicked.

“I’m fine now,” Virginia said, taking a final huge breath of air.

“Well now, Virginia, better let’s go. Remember, I want to get back before dark,” Tommy claimed.

Virginia slowly got up and off the three of them went toward the unknown side of the river. After several miles on the other side of the river they realized that it was just like the area of their camp only duller.

“This is really boring, let’s get back to camp,” Tommy sighed.

“Wait, something might happened and if it does I want to see what it is,” Claudia said.

“Actually, I agree with Tommy. I think we should leave,” Virginia said.

“You two go on. I’ll catch up in a little bit,” Claudia said.

“Why couldn’t I save him?” Virginia weeped.

“We must be strong. It was a great lose we suffered though we must continue. We are due to leave tomorrow. I don’t know how we can break the news to his parents,” Claudia said worried.

“I think we should be truthful,” said Virginia. “At least that would be the best thing to do even though we know that it is definitely not the most cheerful way to go about doing it.” Virginia wondered why she couldn’t save him. Tommy risked his life to save her and she was unable to return the favor. Silence was all around them. Claudia just wanted the eerie silence to be broken though she herself could not be forced to speak. It seemed like hours. Each buried in there own thoughts.

Finally Virginia broke the silence, even though she was speaking in a whisper, some how her voice seemed to echo through the trees.

“Let’s pack and go home. It’s getting dark and I want to go home. We will leave tomorrow so let’s get a good nights rest.” They slept for hours through the cold damp night. Finally the sun came up and warmed the two friends numbed limbs. Virginia and Claudia turned away from the welcoming light and trudged silently on their way. Back through the mountain range of Draco they traveled. For hours they continued on their way, climbing all the way to the top. Virginia turned back once to look back with sorrow though then continued on her way. They took the long passageway so they could meet up with Mrs. White. When they reached the small but comfortable brick house Claudia knocked on the door to a find a strange lady at the front door.

“Where’s Mrs. White?” Virginia asked. The lady mournfully said “I’m very sorry though Mrs. White is terribly ill.” Virginia and Claudia looked at each other with a worried look on their faces.

“Is she going to be all right?” Claudia asked.

“I’m not sure, by the way I’m Mrs. White’s daughter, Juliet Hopper.”

“I think we should leave now Mrs. Hopper,” Virginia said.

“How sad about Mrs. White, I sincerely hope that she gets better,” Claudia said after they were a long distance from the house. As they were going down Whitman Street Virginia and Claudia Went through in their heads about all the tradigies that have taken place. Marin being eaten by an alligator, Tommy going over the waterfall, and now Mrs. White being sick. Virginia arrived at her house, greeting her parents and telling them about their camping adventure and the death of Tommy being drowned in the great Mendle River.

“Things like that happen when you don’t act fast enough.”

“We should tell them, surely they will be heartbroken,” Mr. Farlow said. By that time it was too late. Mr. and Mrs. Scarcock had already come over with a request to see their son.

“Where is Tommy!” Mrs. Scarcock exclaimed.

“I think you better sit down, we have some terrible news that we must inform you of,” Mrs. Farlow said.

“Did something happen to our Tommy?” Mr. Scarcock asked.

“Virginia told us and I’m not quite sure how to tell you this though Tommy is dead,” Mrs. Farlow explained.

“Surely this is not true,” weeped Mrs. Scarcock.

“I’m afraid it is,” Mrs. Farlow replied. Mrs. Scarcock began crying while Mr. Scarcock tried to soothe her even though he couldn’t hide his own tears.

“Please tell us how this happened,” Mr. Scarcock said. Virginia and her parents explained everything and how sorry they felt for them. For their only son had died. 

The next day Claudia came over in late afternoon, and at least this time she didn’t come over with a crazy idea in mind.

“I thought we would do something exciting today,” Virginia joked.

“I’m not really in the mood. After Tommy died I just don’t feel good about going on any more adventures plus something always goes wrong. We have just have had so many terrible tragedies,” Claudia said. The adventures were always so interesting. Would they have to end so soon?

Chapter 12

Virginia was sleeping two weeks after the camping trip when Claudia came over bright and early the next morning. Virginia was still silently sleeping when while Claudia yelled in her ear, trying to wake her up. Virginia woke up startled before she saw Claudia’s face.

“It’s only you,” Virginia sighed. “What are you doing here so early?”

“I needed to get away from my aunt, she was making me do all of these chores. At least when I come here she can’t yell at me.”

“Well since you woke me up, what do you want to do?” Virginia asked.

“Why don’t we see if Mrs. White is feeling better,” Claudia replied.

“Why not, there’s nothing else to do.” At that moment Tommy Scarcock burst into the room, soaking wet!

“Tommy, We all thought you were dead!” Virginia exclaimed. Tommy sat down and started to catch his breath.

“Tommy, what happened?” Claudia asked.

“It’s a long story, but here’s what happened,” he said. “While jumping across the pathway of rocks I lost my balance and fell into the river. After endless attempts from you two, you finally arrived at the edge of the forest with a shocked expression on your faces after seeing me in the river. When neither of you could rescue me the more I floated downstream I realized it was hopeless because the falls were right ahead of me. I began falling though I stopped short when I stumbled upon a cave behind the waterfall! Inside the cave I thought I would never get out though by gathering large sticks and the rope I had in my pocket I was able to make a bridge and carefully I made it back to land.”

“Wow, that was incredible, but now you must get home, I’m sure that your parents will be pleased to see you,” Virginia said.

“I just stopped by here to tell you what really happened, but thanks the camping trip was really exciting,” Tommy said as he left the house.

“I’m not going to be the one to tell him,” Virginia said.

“Tell him what?” Claudia asked.

“Well last night I heard my parents talking and apparently the Scarcock’s are going to move so they wouldn’t have to be in that house with all their memories of Tommy,” Virginia explained.

“When are they going to leave, if they didn’t leave there is still a chance.”

“I’m not sure,” Virginia said shaking her head. A few minutes later Tommy barged into the house with a surprised expression on his face. “My parents are not there and they are always home. Where are they.”

“I meant to tell you but you left so quickly I didn’t have a chance,” Virginia said. “You see your parents moved so they wouldn’t be in a house full of memories of you.”

“You are lying and to prove you wrong I’m going out to find them!” Tommy yelled.

“I’m not lying Tommy, your parents are gone,” Virginia sympathetically explained.

“It’s not true, I’m off to find them,” Tommy said as he left the house forever. 

The very next day Claudia came over with an idea in mind.

“Virginia, I have a great idea. Yesterday, after I was at your house I gave Mrs. White a visit to see if she was felling any better, and she is as healthy as I have ever seen her. She told me that she was as energetic as ever. She even told me this old story. That huge wall behind her house actually covers an old castle!” Claudia said with anticipation.

“Wow I never knew that there were any castles around here,” Virginia said.

“She told me that the name of the castle is Lassernoc and nobody has lived in it for over one hundred years!”

“It sounds scary,” Virginia said.

“Mrs. White even said it is inhabited by ghosts,” Claudia said, lowering her voice.

Virginia looked at Claudia sternly and said, “I know what you’re thinking and I don’t want to explore the castle. There is no such things as ghosts anyway.”

“Oh well, I would understand if you were afraid,” Claudia teased. “That is not true.”

“Well then, how come you were so scared when Tommy started that ghost story?"

“Well, uh,” Virginia stammered.

“Why did I even bother asking. I should have known you weren’t brave enough,” Claudia interrupted.

“Now wait a minute. I am not afraid. I’ll go to the castle with you and prove once and for all that there are no such things as ghosts . . . I hope.”

“Then we can go?” Claudia asked.

“Why not. I’ll have to ask my parents though, so they won’t be worried if something goes wrong,” Virginia replied.

Virginia left and returned later with a sad expression on her face.

“What’s wrong, can’t you go?” Claudia asked.

“No, I can go,” Virginia replied.

“You know that if you don’t want to go you don’t have to,” Claudia said understandingly.

“I’ll go. After all, I am just a little bit curious about what will happen,” Virginia replied slyly.

“Then let’s go!” Claudia said excitedly.

Virginia and Claudia ran out toward the haunted castle eagerly. The only thing the girls could think about was reaching the castle and once they approached Mrs. White’s house they thought, “How can we possibly get on the other side of the wall?”

“Maybe Mrs. White has a rope we could borrow,” Claudia said.

“Well, it never hurts to ask,” Virginia replied.

Claudia approached the door and cautiously knocked on it. A happy and cheerful looking Mrs. White answered the door and asked “Virginia, Claudia, what brings you here?”

“Well, Mrs. White, we were wondering if you could consider letting us borrow some rope?” Claudia asked.

“Sure, but why would you need rope?” Mrs. White asked as well.

“We need it to get over the wall in front of the castle,” Virginia said.

Mrs. White thought for awhile when she finally said, “I’ll give you some rope though you must promise me that you will be careful. You never know what you will find in a big castle like that.”

“Well I’m not afraid,” Claudia bodily stated, “Are you Virginia?”

“Um… actually I really don’t think it’s a good idea, what if it is really scary and we never get out, I just don’t want to take a risk like that again after last time, and the time before that, and before that.”

“Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong this time… I hope.”

Chapter 13

Virginia and Claudia soon found themselves looking upon a 20-foot high moss covered wall that looked like it was made about a century ago. It wasn’t a pleasant sight to the two scared yet ambitious girls.

“Well here we are, take the rope and throw it over the wall so we can climb over,” Claudia said. Virginia attached a claw to the opposite end of the rope and threw it over the wall.

“You go first,” Virginia said shoving Claudia ahead.

“Okay,” Claudia said as she began her climb, struggling to reach the other end of the wall, “Wow, this sure is high up, your turn Virginia.”

“Coming,” Virginia yelled as she started her climb up the rope. “This sure is hard,” Virginia said to her self, tripping occasionally though still climbing up the rope. Once both Claudia and Virginia were atop the wall they grabbed onto a nearby tree branch and sled down the trunk.

The tall castle loomed ahead, covered with vines and aged obviously. Windows were broken towers where about ready to collapse it was a very eerie sight indeed. “Well I’m ready, are you,” Claudia asked.

“Yes, I think,” Virginia responded. Claudia and Virginia started toward the castle thing what it would be like inside. Approaching the large door that hasn’t been opened in ages Virginia and Claudia pushed with all their might to open the door. With a load creek they finally managed to get the door open. They walked inside very slowly watching out for anything suspicious. Aged furniture was all around, dusty and moth eaten.

“This is so unusual,” Virginia said, as she plopped down on an old chair.

“Wait a minute, I saw something in that picture move,” Claudia exclaimed.

“What are you talking about? It was probably just your imagination.” Claudia went up to the picture and started examining it, she tipped it over a bit and with a startled voice said, “ There is something behind the picture, come here Virginia.”

“What is it now.”

“It’s like a button of some sort, should I push it?”

“Well all right, I guess, just be careful.” Claudia pushed the button when all of a sudden steam started to come out and a small door appeared right before their amazed eyes. “Should we go threw the door?” Virginia asked.

“Well I am really curious to what is on the other side, let’s go,” Claudia said. Virginia and Claudia started to crawl threw the door. Onward they went in complete darkness, until a small speck of light appeared. As they got up a mist started to arise.

“Claudia, what is that,” Virginia stammered.

“Uh, uh, who are you? Show yourself,” Claudia demanded.

“Do not be alarmed,” the mist spoke. “I am Jonathan, the heir to this estate, well I would be, if I were alive.”

“Stay away from us not come an inch closer,” Virginia said backing away as the mist as it started to form into a boy.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you, infact I am more in need of a favor.”

“What do you want?” Claudia asked.

“It’s a long story, please sit down,” Jonathan explained. Claudia and Virginia found a sofa to sit down on as Jonathan hovered a few feet above the ground. “All right, here is my story. It all happened approximately 100 years ago, well 102 years ago, though I am sure it doesn’t matter. Any way my father was the owner of this estate and he was planning to make me his heir, though his evil and twisted brother or my uncle wanted the castle all to him self, being selfish and greedy so he murdered me. It happened one dark and stormy night, my parents were out for the evening and they left me alone. Then outside my window I saw him wet, though with a twisted grin on his face. He broke in the house with an ax in his hand, and killed me. My parents where oh so upset, they knew I was murdered though they didn’t suspect my uncle and they buried me in the backyard. Since I was dead they had no choice but to make my uncle the heir to the estate. After my parents died my uncle took over the house. It didn’t last long though since one week later my uncle whose name was William took sick and died. His ghost still inhabits this house, he doesn’t know that I live here to because I spend all day hiding in this secret passage.”

“Why, that’s awful,” Virginia said. “What a sad story.”

“William, you don’t deserve to stay hiding in this secret passage all day for eternity, this is your house, not that evil ghost William, we are going to help you get rid of him so you don’t have to live in fear.” Claudia declared. All of a sudden there was a crash. “What was that?” Claudia asked scared.

“I don’t know,” Jonathan said surprised.

“I’m going to check,” Claudia said as she exited the secret passage.

“Jonathan, may I ask where your evil uncle stays in the castle?” Virginia asked.

“Well he is doomed to guard the safe that holds the ruby necklace of the castle, if he ever leaves it he must leave the castle since he got away with murder for this place he has to keep the ruby necklace with him always.”

“So what if we managed to steal the necklace from him, will he have to leave the castle, if so what will happen to him.”

“If we steal the necklace from him, though we wont since he never lets it out of his sight, he will be punished with slave driving work in the other realm and treated badly every day for his bad deeds when he was alive.”

“Virginia, we are in big trouble, the ceilings caved in blocking the door, there is no way out,” Claudia said re-entering the secret passage.

“Oh no, this is awful, how will we get out?”

“Jonathan, you are the only one that can get us out of here, you have to help us,” Claudia pleaded.

“Sorry, I wish I can help though there is no way I can leave here, if my uncle catches me I am doomed to a fate worse than death, which I already went through and believe me it isn’t pleasant,” Jonathan said.

“Then we have no choice but to steal the ruby necklace from William. Either that or Claudia and me will get to experience death to early.”

“Did I miss something?” Claudia questioned.

“While you where gone I was talking to Jonathan and he said that if you take the ruby necklace from him he will be defeated and will have to leave the estate, understand,” Virginia explained.

“No, not really. Let me get this straight, we have to steal this necklace to get rid of the ghost, what does it all mean? How does it all fit in?”

“It doesn’t matter, though it will be really hard to get it since the ghost doesn’t leave it out of his sight, which is our only problem,” Virginia said.

“All right, this seems like it evolves trickery. Which is what I am good at, count me in on operation steal necklace,” Claudia laughed.

“Great, Jonathan where can we find the ghost?” Virginia asked.

“Well he is probably in the courtyard,” Jonathan stated.

“Good, I have an idea. Virginia, Jonathan come here and I’ll tell you my plan.” 

“All right the coast is clear,” Claudia said sneaking around the corner with Virginia on her tail. Virginia and Claudia slowly crept toward the courtyard when they saw it. It was the most hideous thing they ever saw, it was a monster. It was a faded thing that looked half human and half monster. It had blood all over it, and it only had one hand.

“Is that William?” Claudia asked.

“I guess, it sure is hideous,” Virginia added. In the hand that was still there was the necklace, gleaming brightly in its hand.

“All right are you ready?” Virginia asked.

“Yes, Get ready and go,” Claudia said. Virginia started taking heavy steps down the corridor in place. This caught William’s attention and he started flying toward the corridor. “I hope Jonathan is at his place,” Claudia murmured.

“William, over here!” Virginia yelled, grabbing his attention. The ghost started pursuing her when Jonathan went around the corner as William made the turn. Claudia then blocked the ghost’s only way out, and grabbed the necklace without him knowing.

“Ahhhh, this isn’t supposed to happen, this is my house,” the ghost yelled. The floor opened up and in a cyclone of lightning it swallowed William up.

“Well that shows you not to mess with us,” Claudia said. With that sunshine poured into the room. The old castle was transformed from an old broken down dump to a beautiful, completely different enchanted castle. First the towers where magically repaired by themselves. Then the vines and moss disappeared and a whole new light took over the castle. The caved in ceiling repaired by itself so Virginia and Claudia could get out.

“Wow!” Virginia explained.

“Thanks for getting rid of my uncle, though now I have to take care of some unfinished business,” Jonathan said.

“Where are you going?” Claudia asked.

“To give back the ruby necklace of Lassernoc to its rightful owner.” Jonathan went outside followed by Virginia and Claudia. Outside where the three tombstones of Jonathan and his parents. On his tombstone Jonathan put the ruby necklace. “Goodbye Virginia, Goodbye Claudia, I will never forget you.” Then right there before their very eyes, Jonathan faded into the light, never to be seen again.

“I think we better go now,” Virginia said.

“Good idea, let’s go,” Claudia agreed while slowly backing toward the front door. “I don’t think anyone will believe us about all of this.”

“They don’t need to, it can be our little secret,” Virginia said. Leaving the completely different castle Claudia and Virginia climbed back over the wall and ventured homeward.

Chapter 14

Virginia awakened from her comfortable bed the next day. “What an adventure I had yesterday,” she said to herself. Virginia got out of bed, dressed, and had breakfast. “I think I will take a walk,” Virginia told her parents.

“With Claudia?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“No by myself, I think I will go down by Mrs. Whites house and take a look at this local store.”

“Suit yourself Virginia, we are going out to town today, just to look around and see how everyone is,” Mr. Farlow said.

“All right, have a nice time out in town, I think I’ll leave now. It is a very long walk.” Out of the old house Virginia walked, going down the old dirt road. “It is such a beautiful day out.” The sun was shining high; the birds were fluttering about and flowers where blossoming. Virginia walked about a mile down the road when she came to an intersection. “I think I’ll take the right, I just hope that’s the way to Whitman Street. Still walking down the road with an occasional barn there was really nothing to see. “Ahh, here is Whitman Street,” Virginia stated as she came a cross the Whitman Street sign. Taking another right, she walked down the road a bit when she came across the Whitman Street store.

“Hello there young lady, we don’t get that many customers,” said a voice that greeted Virginia.

“Hello, I don’t have any money so I am afraid I can’t buy anything, I just wanted to look around.”

“Oh that’s perfectly all right, I am Mr. Cartman, the owner of this store.”

“Hi, I am Virginia Farlow, may I ask, who is Whitman?”

“Well before he died, a Mr. White owned this store and had a street named after him, his widow lives about one-forth of a mile away from here. Yes ma’am, I would say he was a pioneer here in Trusula which isn’t saying much here in this small town.”

“You mean he’s the husband of Mrs. White, she’s a friend of mine,” Virginia said excitedly.

“Well you don’t say, I find that very interesting since Mr. White’s great grandfather founded this town 150 years ago or about that.”

“Really, Wow,” Virginia exclaimed. “I never knew that.”

“Yes, he was a great man, everyone looked up to him,” Mr. Cartman explained.

“Well thanks for telling me all this though I really got to go, bye Mr. Cartman.”

“Bye Virginia, come back now you hear.”

Virginia started her trip back down the dirt road took a left at the first intersection, walked down the road some more and then took another left at the next intersection. Walked a mile down the road and arrived at her house to find Claudia looking sadly on her Virginia’s porch.

“What are you doing here?” Virginia asked.

“My aunt it dead,” Claudia replied.

“What? You can’t be serious.

“It’s true,” Claudia said putting her face in her hands, “I started doing the chores though at 12:00 and my aunt still wasn’t out of bed, I went in her room started shaking her though she wouldn’t move,” she sobbed.

“Are you sure she’s dead?”

“Yes, I don’t know what to do know.”

“Well, we’ll think of something, trust me Claudia, we’ll think of something.” 

When Mr. And Mrs. Farlow came back from town later that day to see Claudia crying and Virginia trying to calm her down.

“What’s wrong Claudia?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“Her Aunt Hortense died today, now Claudia has no where to go,” Virginia responded for her.

“Dead? Are you sure?” Mr. Farlow said.

“Yes,” Claudia sobbed.

“You have no where do go? Do you have any other relitives?” Mrs. Farlow asked.

“If I did I wouldn’t be living with my wretched aunt in the first place.”

“Well then we’ll take care of you,” Mrs Farlow said.

“Are you sure we should do this?” Mr. Farlow questioned.

“She has no where to go and we don’t want her to end up in some horrible orphanage.”

“You’re right,” Mr Farlow said, “And it will probably mean a lot to the girls, hear that Claudia, you’re living with us.”

A huge smile went across Claudia’s face, “Thank you so much, I will never no how to repay you.”

“We get to be sister’s now, I always wanted a sister,” Virginia giggled.

“Well let’s go in now girls, it’s time we eat,” Mr. Farlow said. With all smiles the new family all went inside for a very good meal that night.

Chapter 15

The next day Claudia and Virginia decided to go to Mrs. Whites house to tell her the good news.

“Hi Mrs. White,” Claudia said excitedly as she approched her on her porch just sitting peacefully.

“Well hello there girls, how are you?”

“Where fine Mrs. White, and you’ll never guess what. Claudia’s evil aunt Hortense died so now Claudia’s living with us,” Virginia responded.

“Well that’s wonderful news girls, I am very happy for you indeed.”

“Oh yes, I forgot to mention Mrs. White, that yesterday I decided to pay a visit to the Whitman Street store and Mr. Cartman, the guy that works there mentioned that the street and store where named after your late husband. Also that his great grandfather discovered this town 150 years ago.”

“Yes, it is all very true, my husband helped expand this town. He built the church and the store. He was a very noble man,” Mrs. White explained.

“Wow, really!” Claudia exclaimed.

“Yes, he did.”

“That’s really interesting Mrs. White,” Virginia said.

“Now Claudia, may I ask. How did your real parents die?” Mrs. White asked.

“She caimes that her parents died by a vampire that lives in the belltower,” Virginia answered for her.

“Oh my, if what you say is true Claudia, then I believe that is the cause of my husbands death. Let me explain, my husband was in near perfect shape, though this one night I heard a crash so I woke up. There next to me was my husband, he had these two marks on his neck. After that he grew sick and died three days later.”

“Really Mrs. White, you don’t seem to be the type to lie,” Virginia said.

“That’s what I believe, it might not be true though I cant think of any other cause of my husbands untimely death.”

“Well then maybe the vampire in the belltower story is true, I’m sorry I doubted you Claudia,” Virginia appoligized.

“It’s all right, though do you tink that the vampire will go after someone else now?”

“I don’t know though the next victim can be anyone of us, or our parents,” Virginia explained.

“You’re right Virginia, we have to stop the vampire before it strikes again,” Claudia said. “We have to go to the belltower and destroy it.”

“Are you sure you two want to go through with it, it could be really dangerous,” Mrs. White said.

“Ha, when you’ve been in a dragons lair, or a haunted castle, or when you’ve encountered a genie, this is easy,” Claudia boasted.

“All right girls if you are sure you want to go through with this then this is what you have to do. First of all make sure that it is during the day. Then you need a stake made from an oak tree, find his cofin and nail the stake into his heart, I don’t believe you have to go through with burning the body though do so anyway. You have to do this perfectly or it won’t work.”

“Thanks Mrs. White, we won’t fail,” Claudia said.

“I sure hope you don’t or the results can be deadly,” Mrs. White replied. 

The next day Virginia and Claudia decided to go to the woods so they could cut down an oak tree with Virginia’s fathers ax.

“Well heres an oak tree, ready to start cutting ,” Virginia said picking up the ax in readines.

“Start cutting Virginia,” Claudia said.

“All right,” Virginia replied striking the ax at the tree. Virginia hit the tree eight times before she started getting tired. “This is all I can handle. Claudia can you finish cutting down the tree.”

“Give me the ax then,” Claudia said. With four hits the tree started to tilt. “Watch out Virginia, it’s comin down!” The tree went down with a tremendous bang. “Virginia, start cutting out a stake from the tree.” Virginia then started to carefully craft a stake mde out of the wood from the oak.

“Is this good enough?” Virginia asked.

“That’s perfect, nice and sharp,” Claudia replied.

“Thanks, now let’s get home,” Virginia said exhaustedly. “Tomorrow let’s go to the belltower to get this over with.”

“Come on,” Claudia said as the two girls ventured homeward. Walking all the way back home Virginia and Claudia talked about all the adventures they have had and what awaited them the next day.

“I’m scared, what if our plan doesn’t work,” Virginia said nervously.

“Don’t worry it will work… I hope,” Claudia responded.

“Well we’re home, should we tell Mother and Father about the vampire?” Virginia asked.

“No, they won’t understand it, they might even stop us from going.”

“You’re right,” Virginia said, “They probably won’t even let us go. They’ll say it is too dangerous.” As Virginia and Claudia approched their house they though of something really frightning, who else was attacked by the vampire and who would be his next victim.

“Hello Virginia and Claudia, Where have you been, you’ve been gone all day?” Mr. Farlow asked as they walked in the door.

“Uh, well, um… we’ve been exploring in the woods all day, right Claudia.”

“Yeah, that’s it. We saw lots of deer, it was a lot of fun.”

“Oh, really well good for you, exploring is something I used to do all the time as a kid. Dinner is almost ready, wash up you two,” Mr. Farlow said. Virginia and Claudia started to wash up.

“Do you think that he believed us?” Claudia asked.

“Probably, he can be really gulible sometimes,” Virginia responded. That night at dinner was very quite. Mr. and Mrs. Farlow’s feeble attemps to get Virginia and Claudia to talk failed. They knew they had a secret, though what was it?

“They are up to something,” Mr. Farlow said to Mrs. Farlow in the parlor.

“Yes, they were so quite at dinner, which is so unusual since they are both mostly chit-chatty.”

“Maybe we should spy on them a bit, just to see where they go,” Mr. Farlow said.

“No, that is wrong. They won’t give us any respect if we do that, though next time they are like this we will simply ask them what is wrong. There is nothing bad a bout that.”

That night Virginia slept very uncomfortably, thinking about what would happen tomorrow. What if they died trying to kill the vampire. Secretly she was hoping that there wasn’t a vampire at all and it was all in Mrs. White and Claudia’s head. Claudia on the other hand, was thinking about revenge on the vampire. He killed her parents whom she loved very dearly. The only right thing to do was to kill him.

The next day Virginia and Claudia got up at seven o’clock. They gathered matches to burn the body, wood, and of course the stake.

“Ready to go, we have to leave very quietly as to not wake up Mother and Father,” Virginia whispered.

“Ready,” Claudia whispered back. They both quietly tip-toed out the door making sure to shut it carefully. They walked down the road about mile until they reached the eerie belltower. There it was, looming ahead of them. It was even a more frighning sight than the castle at first. The bell in the belltower obviously couldn’t work well on acount it was cracked and in terrible shape.

“Uh…I don’t think this is really a good idea after all,” Virginia stammered.

“Come on, let’s just get this over with.”

“You’re right, if we don’t get this over with today tonight he can get us.” Virginia and Claudia slowly entered the belltower. It was dusty and covered in cob webs. Bords were missing and the stairs that lead to the bell where in horibble shape.

“Look Virginia, there is a passage over there, maybe that’s where the cofin is.”

“All right, let’s go,” Virginia said. Virginia and Claudia started toward the passage. On the other side was a dark dark room with an uneasy feel to it.

“I guess that is where the vampire is,” Claudia said. The two started toward the room and entered it. The room was empty with a single closet on the opposite sid e of the room. “I am going to open the closet door, the cofin can be there.” Claudia opened the door and there before her eyes was a black cofin covered in bllod stains.

“Eww…I am going right now,” Virgini insisted.

“No, wait let’s just get this over with, the vampire cannot do anything to us,” Claudia said as she opened the cofin. There was the vampire. With a very pale face and blood stained on his mouth.

“I insist that I drive the stake into its heart. I’m the one that wants revenge on it,” Claudia said.

“Sure, my pleasure. Go ahead I will merely turn around without looking at the vampire. Just get it over with quick,” Virginia said in a panicked tone. Claudia sighed and quickly drove the stake into the grusome vampires heart.

“Hurry Virginia, give me a match and burn the body,” Claudia insisted. Virginia gave Claudia a match which she struck off the side of the cofin and set the body aflame. “Good, we destoyed the vampire no more panic around here for a very long time.

Little did Virginia and Claudia know that a small snake slithered away from the fire, being the vampire in disguise.

“Let’s go home Claudia,” Virginia said.

“I difinetly agree,” said Claudia.

“Claudia, did you ever think that maybe your aunt died because of the vampire bite too,” Virginia said.

“You’re right, she could have though if that is so and if we hadn’t destroyed the vampire, I could have been next. Since the rest of my family died from the bite.”

“True, good thing we did destroy it though,” Virginia said. That night Virginia and Claudia didn’t have any nightmares about the vampire after all it couldn’t hurt them now, or could it?

Chapter 16

The next day Virginia and Claudia spent playing outside and having lots of fun. They played tag and they even made up their own little game. They took along walk and stopped by Mrs. White’s house; they even went into the woods. It was the perfect day; absolutely nothing could go wrong.

That night Virginia and Claudia went to bed and at exactly midnight something went really wrong. Through the window was the vampire, it looked around the room until he spotted Claudia, sleeping innocently. He flew over to the side of her bed, opened his mouth wide and with his razor sharp fangs and bit Claudia, the girl who attempted to kill him. Screaming Claudia awoke looking around the room frantically she spotted nothing. “It was just a dream she sighed.” Though on her neck where two red holes.

The next day Claudia and Virginia were getting up from bed when Claudia decided to tell her about her dream.

“Virginia, you would never guess what a dream I had last night.”

“Was it about the vampire?” Virginia asked.

“Yes, how do you know?” Claudia asked.

“Well don’t be alarmed but you have two holes on your neck.”

Claudia rushed to a mirror and screamed, “It wasn’t dream, the vampire really did come.”

“That’s impossible, we destroyed the vampire,” Virginia argued.

“We must have done something wrong! We have to go back and kill the vampire for real or I’ll die!” Later that evening Virginia and Claudia returned to the bell tower with the matches, wood, and oak stake. “Well he’s over there, let’s go.”

Virginia and Claudia walked back into the small dark room opened the closet, then opened the coffin and to their surprise the vampire wasn’t there.

“Oh no, the vampire is already out on the prowl!” Virginia said.

“We better get out of here fast!” Claudia replied.

“Too late,” said a voice from the doorway. Virginia and Claudia turned around to see the vampire looking right at them. “Now I am afraid I will have to finish what I started last night.” The vampire grabbed Claudia and started sucking her blood through the holes in her neck. “Now I must go, though believe me, I’ll be back, Ha Ha Ha Ha!” Claudia fell to the floor.

“Claudia!” Virginia yelled.

“Just leave me here to die, I don’t have any more energy,” Claudia managed to say.

“No, I can’t do that! You’re my best friend, my first friend and my only friend. I can’t just leave you here to die!” but it was too late Claudia wasn’t moving. “You can’t just die on me, please come back!”

That day went by so slowly, Virginia couldn’t eat or sleep or even blink. It was so tragic, even Mr. and Mrs. Farlow cried. That night though Virginia managed to fall asleep. At exactly midnight an image of Claudia flew into the window.

“You are the one that caused my death, you could have saved me though you didn’t. Now you must suffer!” Virginia woke up with a start.

“Good it was just a dream,” Virginia sighed.

The next day Virginia felt very uneasy. She was constantly looking over her shoulder; the vampire was still on the loose. If that was true then Claudia was a vampire too.

That night the same thing happened. An image of Claudia broke into the room and said the same threat though this time Claudia tried to grab onto Virginia’s neck, attempting to bite it. Virginia woke up just in time.

“Oh, no this isn’t a dream,” she told herself, “Claudia is really after me, I must go back to the belltower and destroy the vampire myself or my best friend will kill me!”

That day Virginia took all the necessary materials and headed for the belltower once again. She went inside, entered the forbidden room and opened the coffin, which the vampire laid in.

“Time for you to die,” Virginia said. She drove the stake into the vampires heart and burned the corpse this time making sure everything burned.

“Virginia!” Virginia turned around to see a faded Claudia standing by the door.

“Please don’t hurt me Claudia, I’m your best friend!” Virginia pleaded.

“I don’t plan on hurting you Virginia, you are my best friend. I wanted to thank you for destroying the vampire and setting me and my parents free, as well as Mr. White and my aunt. I am sorry I tried to bite you, I had no power over myself. Well I have to go now; I will never forget you. Don’t you ever forget me.”

“I wont Claudia,” Virginia said. With that Claudia disappeared.

Virginia began walking home though it was with a smile on her face. She knew for a fact that she would never ever forget her very first friend.