Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton Read Free Book Online

locked doors until I found one that was open. At the end of a hall, I debated whether to keep going or turn down a side corridor. An invisible leash yanked me forward, so I kept going straight. I passed my homeroom, the library, then made a left turn down a hall I’d never before noticed.
    Darkness closed in, and I longed for one of my nightlights. My teeth were clenched tight to keep from chattering. At the end of the hall, I saw a tiny light. Was it a ghost or a reflection from one of the windows? Light bobbed back and forth, illuminating a figure holding a flashlight. Not a ghost, but a girl. Even with her long hair tucked underneath a cap, I recognized Danielle. Her light disappeared with her inside a room.
    Follow her, I heard Opal order.
    “Easy for you to say.” I whispered to myself.
    She needs help.
    “I could use some help, too—and answers. Like what am I doing here?”
    Hurry, was all Opal said before I felt her fade away.
    I was too curious to turn around, so I slipped deeper into the hallway. Feeling along the wall, I stopped when I found a doorway. I saw a flicker of light and peered inside.
    Danielle had entered a storage room. She aimed a small flashlight at a filing cabinet as she rifled through the top drawer. She seemed to know exactly what she was looking for. But I didn’t have a clue, and Opal was totally AWOL. Why was Danielle sneaking around at night?
    She moved to another drawer in the cabinet. In the faint light, I caught a glimpse of her face. Her eyes were determined. After a few minutes, she groaned with frustration and slammed this drawer shut. Then she yanked open another drawer and began searching all over again.
    “Where?” I heard her say. “Where did he put it?”
    She shoved the drawer and it shut with a metallic clank. I jumped, glancing over my shoulder nervously. I saw nothing except darkness in the hall, but my skin tingled and I had a creepy feeling.
    When I glanced at Danielle again, she had moved on to another cabinet and was shuffling through more files. She pulled open the top drawer, then paused as if thinking hard. Or listening.
    Then she whirled around and caught me in the glare of her flashlight
    “Ohmygod!” she exclaimed. “Sabine?”
    I blinked at the bright light. “Hey, you’re blinding me!”
    “How? Why?” Danielle sounded stunned. “What are you doing here?”
    “I saw you come here and I was worried—worried you were in trouble.”
    “The only trouble I’ve got is you.”
    “Come on, let’s get out of here,” I whispered fiercely. Shielding my eyes, I added, “Shut off that flashlight so we don’t get caught. Let’s go—talk somewhere else.” I couldn’t think of what else to say.
    “I’ve got nothing to say to you.” She only lowered the light a few inches. “Go away.”
    “Not until you tell me why you’re doing this.”
    “Butt out. This isn’t any of your business. And don’t you dare tell anyone you saw me here.”
    “I won’t if you explain what’s going on. Why did you break in here?”
    “It’s not breaking in when you have a key,” she said defensively.
    “If you have a key, why are you sneaking around?”
    “I don’t want to, but I have to. You wouldn’t understand.”
    “Try me,” I urged softly.
    “I can’t!” She shook her head. “I promised. Now leave before we both get into trouble.”
    “Too late,” a gruff voice cut in. In the doorway loomed a hulking man wearing a gray uniform and holding a flashlight. The janitor—Mr. Watkins.
    “You girls better talk fast and have a good explanation before I call the cops,” he said, stepping into the room and snapping on the overhead light.
    “Uh … ” I tried to think of something to say, but drew a blank.
    “Please don’t call the police,” Danielle begged. “My parents would kill me.”
    “Ain’t my problem.” He shrugged. “Save it for the cops.”
    “No! Don’t call them!” Danielle scooted closer to me, clutching my hand with sweaty