Free Count Me In by Sara Leach

shivered at the feel of the cold, slimy steps. A drizzle of rain splashed her face. On the bottom stair, she put on her boots. Her bare feet chafed against the insides, but it was better than getting another pair of socks wet.
    She flicked on the headlamp. The fog had lifted, but the black night pressed in on her. Was she up to this? She didn’t know anything about hiking in the dark. She’d stopped looking for Max during the day because she thought she’d get lost. Why did she think she could find him at night?
    What about the bear? It must sleep at night. That was one worry she could cross off her list. But what about all the other night critters? She didn’t know what nocturnal animals lived in the mountains, but she was sure they would be scary.
    Something whizzed by her head. She ducked and swallowed a scream. As she slowly straightened and dared to look around, she saw small objects darting through the night air. Birds? They didn’t move like birds.
    Bats. Three of them flitted through the sky, like oversized butterflies that had eaten too much sugar. She cringed and pulled her hood tight around her head. Did bats suck your blood, or was that just a nasty fairy tale?
    She stepped onto the trail. She’d need to go far enough to call without the others hearing, but not so far that she’d get lost. She crept along, keeping her eyes down so as not to lose the path. The headlamp threw a circle of light in front of her feet. She tried not to think beyond that circle of safety. What lurked outside of it? Maybe hundreds of bats were mounting an attack. She swiveled her head around, shining the light across the bushes that lined the path. Nothing. She shook her head, making the puddle of light wobble. At the rate she was moving, it would take her all night to reach the spot where she’d lost Max.
    She lengthened her stride, still focused on the path. Eventually she was far enough from the hut to call.
    â€œMax,” she whispered. “Max.” Surely the whole mountainside could hear her. She stopped, held her breath and listened. Nothing but silence.
    She walked a few more paces and tried again. This time her voice came out as a low murmur. No response. She set her shoulders and breathed deeply, taking in the smell of moist dirt. This wouldn’t help Max. She strode along the path, the light bobbling in front of her, then stopped and hollered over and over again, “Max! Maaaax!” She stopped to take a breath. The rain pattered and bats swished, but no dogs barked. It was useless. Max could be anywhere. If she went off the path, she’d get lost. And if Max wanted to come home and wasn’t hurt, he’d be back by now.
    She turned around to head back to the hut. Her heart felt like a rock sinking to the bottom of the lake. Max would never come back. Ashley and Cedar would hate her forever.

CHAPTER TEN
    Small waves from the lake rippled against the shore. Something splashed in the water. Tabitha froze. What was it? She strained to see. There was movement out there. Could it be Max?
    She shook her head. Of course not. Why would he be in the lake? But then, stranger things had happened. Whatever was out there made a small noise. Was it a whimper? Maybe Max had swum into the lake to hunt for fish.
    â€œMax!” she called. The animal made the noise again. It definitely sounded like a whimper. He could be hurt. Tabitha began unlacing her boots. She knew the lake would be freezing—after all, it had taken her breath away on a hot sunny day— but she didn’t care. If that was Max, she had to save him.
    She pulled off her pants and shirt. She’d need something dry to put on when she came out. At least she was the only one out tonight, and no one would see. Holding her breath, she splashed three steps into the water, trying her best to be brave. Her feet went numb almost immediately. Would she be able to swim to Max? She’d have to try.
    â€œWhat the heck