A New Fear by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

come back for you, Rosalyn,” Nicholas promised again. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. He would miss her so much.
    Rosalyn eased out of his embrace. “Please take care.”
    “I will.” Nicholas’s throat tightened as he watched her race away from him. When she disappeared from his sight, he turned and headed toward his empty house.
    Dark clouds passed before the moon, hiding the faint light. Nicholas hurried up the beach and back to the dirt road. He heard a sound behind him—like a twig snapping. He twisted his head and scanned the road. Empty.
    He slowed down, but kept moving. Cautiously, he turned his head slightly and glanced behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a shadow move.
    Is someone following me?
    Nicholas shot another quick look behind him. A man ducked back into the shadows.
    Had Rosalyn’s father sent someone after him already?
    Nicholas kept walking. He did not want the man to know he had been seen.
    When Nicholas reached a large elm tree, he ducked behind it. He wanted to get a better look at the man.
    Nicholas peered through the branches.
    The road stood empty.
    Where did he go?
    Nicholas heard a shuffling sound behind him. He spun around.
    The man stood in front of him.
    “It cannot be!” Nicholas cried.
    The man looked just like him.

Chapter 13

    “W ho are you?” Nicholas demanded. He hoped the man could not see him trembling.
    How could the man look exactly like him?
    The man stared back at Nicholas in silence, his face blank.
    Nicholas felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. “Who are you?” he shouted again.
    His eyes darted over the young man. Same dark brown eyes as mine, Nicholas thought frantically. Same straight brown hair. Same height.
    Calm down, Nicholas ordered himself. Calm down. It is only a strange coincidence. Brown hair is not uncommon. Brown eyes are not …
    No. That does not explain it, Nicholas thought. He does not look like me. He is me.
    “What do you want? What are you?” Nicholas cried.
    The other man opened and closed his mouth. But no sound came out.
    “Can’t you speak?” he barked.
    The man stared at Nicholas pleadingly.
    He opened his mouth again. “Shadyside!” he croaked.
    The man’s face contorted. As though speech were agonizing to him.
    The man began to fade.
    “I don’t understand,” Nicholas cried. “What did you come to tell me?” Nicholas could hardly see the man now.
    “Shadyside,” the man shrieked.
    Then he was gone.

Chapter 14

    “O ne ticket to Shadyside,” Nicholas said.
    He anxiously watched the man behind the counter in the train station. Nicholas did not know if a place called Shadyside even existed. But the man gave him a curt nod, took his money, and handed him a ticket.
    Nicholas had been unable to sleep the night before. He kept thinking about his strange vision.
    Then he knew what he had to do. At dawn he packed his few possessions and made the long walk to the train station.
    He did not know what he would find in Shadyside. But he had to start his search for his father’s legacy somewhere. Perhaps the vision had been sent to guide him.
    Nicholas paced up and down the platform. He could not wait to leave and find out what awaited him in Shadyside.
    Nicholas straightened the lapels of his new brown suit. He had bought it on the way to the train station. He was off to seek his fortune. He did not want to look like a poor fisherman.
    His mind on his journey, Nicholas bumped into a woman in a straw hat. She stood hunched over, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
    “Excuse me, ma’am,” Nicholas said.
    The woman glanced up. Her brown eyes held his.
    “Rosalyn!” he cried in surprise.
    He grabbed her arm and led her away from the few passengers waiting to board the train.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked when they were safely out of sight.
    “I wanted to see you one more time,” she explained. “So I decided to come to the train station. I knew I would find you!”
    He