Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski Read Free Book Online Page A

wearing a white dress and has pigtails, and she’s carrying a plate of gooey-looking cookies.
    “False alarm,” I say. “It’s just a little girl.”
    “Abby —” Jonah says.
    “I said shush, Jonah!”
    Instead of shushing, he jumps up and down. “She changes into different disguises. It’s probably Evil Evelyn dressed up.”
    “Oh, right.” Duh. Of course. I should have noticed that she was still tall. It’s the queen in disguise! She’s so sneaky! She has poisoned cookies! “Snow, are you ready? Let’s do this! Open the door and act normal. You don’t want her to suspect anything.”
    “I’m sorry!” Snow yells through the curtains. “I’m not allowed to answer the door!”
    What is she doing? “You have to answer the door! Otherwise she won’t poison you!”
    “You told me to act normal,” Snow says back. “That’s what I normally say.”
    “Fine, but don’t let her get away.”
    “I have cookies!” the girl calls from outside. “Chocolate chip cookies! I’m giving them away for free! Would you like one? I’m just a little girl! A harmless little girl!”
    “This is perfect,” I whisper to Snow. “The cookies are just like the apple. You eat the cookie, you pass out, the story goes on as normal. Case closed.” I take a step back so the little Evil Evelyn won’t see me, but I pick up the corner of the curtain so I can watch. Jonah crouches behind the couch.
    Snow takes a deep breath. “Here I go!” She opens the door and looks at the little girl. “Hello, little girl,” she says in a meek voice.
    Because the door opens inward, it’s blocking my view a bit. I can still see out the window, though. There’s an evil glint in the girl’s eyes. I can also see her freckles. Evil Evelyn went all out on this disguise. I bet she rocks at Halloween.
    The queen practically shoves the plate under Snow’s nose. “Would you like one? Don’t they smell delicious?”
    My stomach grumbles. They do smell delicious. I kind of want a cookie. Especially since I didn’t finish my porridge.
    No poisoned cookie, no poisoned cookie!
    “Well, um, all right,” Snow says, her voice shaky. “I will eat one of your cookies.”
    “Here you go,” the little girl says. “Take your pick.”
    I snort. I can’t believe that Evil Evelyn thought Snow would fall for the same trick again. Obviously she’s not that smart. Hmm. I almost fell for it, too.
    “O-okay,” Snow says. “Will do. I’m taking it. I’m taking it. Here I go.” She reaches outside to pick up a cookie and slowly — verrry slowwwly — raises it to her mouth.
    No turning back now! She is going to take a bite of the cookie. The story will continue like it’s supposed to. Problem solved. Now all we have to do is figure out how to get home.
    Snow opens her mouth and takes a bite.
    That’s when I see it.
    The young girl is holding a hammer behind her back.
    A hammer.
    A hammer?
    She’s lifting the hammer and swinging it toward Snow’s head.
    Noooooo! This is not the plan! There is no hammer in my plan!
    “Stop!” I scream at the tippy-top of my lungs. I jump toward Snow and push her out of the way. We both tumble to the floor.
    Snow spits the cookie out.
    At the same time, the young girl’s hammer swings through the air and just misses its target. “Drat!” the young girl wails, spinning in a circle like a top.
    “Why did you do that?” Snow asks me, pushing herself up on her elbows.
    “She was going to hit you with a hammer!” She could have smashed Snow in half or made a dent in her head! Would a handsome prince fall in love with a smushed head? I mean, seriously. And who knows if a smushed Snow could be brought back to life?
    “You again,” the young girl spits, her lips morphing into a sneer. Her makeup starts to melt and I can see Evil Evelyn beneath the disguise. And yes, she’s definitely wearing a key on a chain around her neck. What, does she have to wind herself up or something?
    Evil Evelyn shakes a long