All-Night Party by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

sobbed. “Who?”
    â€œIt’s really true,” Gil whispered numbly. “She’s really dead.”
    Hannah pulled her tear-stained face away from Gil’s shirt. “We have to get to the police. Our parents. Do something.”
    â€œHannah’s right,” Gretchen said. “We need help. If we all stay together, we can make it down to the boat dock. The escaped prisoner isn’t going to attack all of us at once.”
    â€œIt’s too big a risk,” Patrick insisted. “We only have to stay here until tomorrow afternoon. When we don’t come home in the morning, our parents will send the police to look for us.”
    â€œWhat are we supposed to do in the meantime?” Hannah demanded shrilly. “I can’t stay here now. I just can’t!”
    She began to sob again. Gil put his arms around her.
    â€œI think we should try to get out of here,” Gil said. “None of us wants to stay here with Cindy dead in the kitchen.”
    â€œIf you want to risk your lives, go ahead,” Patrick said. “But I’m not setting foot outside this cabin.”
    â€œBut, Patrick—” Gretchen started.
    â€œThe escaped prisoner is a maniac!” Patrick cried. “He’s already killed once tonight!”
    Gretchen stared at Cindy’s lifeless body. At the puddles of blood in the flour.
    She imagined the way Cindy fought her killer. Struggled for her life.
    Patrick is right, she decided.
    The killer could be anywhere. We can’t take such a dangerous risk.
    â€œI don’t want to die,” Gretchen blurted out, trembling.
    â€œThen let’s all stay put,” Patrick urged.
    â€œWait a minute,” Hannah spoke up. “What if the prisoner isn’t outside?”
    â€œWhere else would he be?” Gil asked.
    â€œWhat if he’s inside?”

Chapter
17

    â€œW hat if we’re wrong?” Hannah demanded. “What if he’s still inside, watching us?”
    They all stared at her, thinking about her words.
    â€œMaybe he didn’t have a chance to get away after he murdered Cindy,” Hannah continued. Her eyes darted around nervously. “Maybe he heard one of us coming back to the cabin and decided to hide.”
    â€œIf he’s inside the cabin,” Patrick murmured, “then nobody is safe.”
    Marco looked around the kitchen uneasily. “We’re sitting ducks.”
    â€œPatrick, where’s your gun?” Gil asked. “Go get it.”
    â€œNo!” Jackson ordered. “Don’t take the gun out, Patrick.”
    â€œWhy not?” Patrick demanded. “We need protection!”
    â€œWe don’t know if the killer is inside,” Jackson insisted. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
    Hannah ignored Jackson’s words and clutched Gil’s arm. “Maybe he’s in one of the closets, watching through a crack. Listening to everything we say.”
    â€œThere’s only one way to know for sure,” Patrick said. “Search the cabin.”
    â€œWe won’t sleep tonight unless we know he’s not inside,” Marco said grimly.
    Hannah shuddered. “I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight. Not with Cindy dead in the kitchen!”
    â€œI’ll search with you, Hannah,” Gretchen volunteered.
    Hannah wiped away her tears and gave Gretchen a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
    The guys began climbing the stairs to the second floor. Gretchen and Hannah tackled the first floor.
    â€œGretchen, I’m so scared,” Hannah whimpered.
    Gretchen reached for a knob on a closet door. She gazed over her shoulder at Hannah. “You’re not the only one,” she confessed.
    Gretchen’s sweaty palm slipped off the brass doorknob. She reached for it a second time and tightened her grip. Twisting the knob, she flung the door open.
    The closet was filled with old clothes. No one hiding inside.
    As Hannah