Halloween Party by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

someone yelled.
    Everyone was startled.
    The tape switched off.
    â€œHey—what’s going on?”
    In the next instant the room filled with smoke. Then the room filled with frightened cries, confused whispers.
    No one was sure if it was a trick of some kind—or a catastrophe.
    Terry was about to pull Niki toward the door when Justine stepped into the center of the room.
    â€œLike my surprise?” she asked, her sexy bodyalmost disappearing in the smoke. “It’s what they call a flash pot. My uncle Philip picked it up when he was a stage manager. I wanted to get your attention. Did I succeed?”
    A couple of kids cheered and clapped. A few were still too stunned to react.
    Justine smiled, then raised an eyebrow. “I promised you lots of surprises,” she said. “And there will be more to come. But for now—who’s up for more dancing?”
    The cheers and applause grew even louder. Terry found himself cheering too. It seemed that anything could happen at this party, and he was ready for it.
    â€œGood,” said Justine. “But first I have to tell you a true story. Throughout history people have loved to dance. But in the Middle Ages dancing was sometimes much more than just fun. In fact, some people were said to be taken by evil spirits when they danced. They would dance faster and faster, faster and faster, till they literally danced themselves to death. I don’t know if we have evil spirits here tonight, but anything can happen on Halloween. Is anyone brave enough to try some really fast music?”
    â€œYeah!”
    â€œLet’s go!”
    â€œYo!”
    The crowd was now ready for anything. If Justine had told them all to jump into a swimming pool with their clothes on, Terry thought, they would have done it.
    â€œWe’ll see how fast you can go!” Justine said. She reached behind her and flicked a switch. The candles on the wall went out. At the same time a strobe lightcame on, and the music came back on, loud and fast, a relentless synthesized rhythm, over electronic-sounding voices repeating “Pump up the jam, pump up the jam,” over and over.
    The fire in the fireplace had died down to embers, so the only light came from the strobe. In its rapid flickering everything seemed to move faster and faster.
    Terry took Niki’s hands and twirled her. Everyone was laughing, dancing, shouting, and changing partners. In the eerie light it was hard to see who was dancing with whom. Once Terry found himself dancing with Ricky!
    It was fun, but it went on and on. Whenever Terry started to slow down, the music went faster.
    In the center of the room Alex was twirling like a shiny silver top, and Terry suddenly wondered where Niki was. Just when he spotted her, dancing with David, the lights went out. The tape player died down with a sad groan.
    For a moment there was dead silence. Except for the faint glow from the fireplace the room was in total darkness.
    â€œWhat is this, Justine, another surprise?” asked Murphy’s voice after a moment.
    â€œI don’t know what happened,” said Justine. She sounded a little frightened. “Uncle Philip—”
    â€œI’ll check the fuse box,” Philip’s voice said calmly. “Don’t go away.”
    â€œDon’t worry, everyone,” said Justine, still sounding scared. “We just had a new electric system installed, and the strobe must have overheated it. My uncle will change the fuses, and we’ll—”
    At that moment the artificial candles came back on and the tape started up again.
    But no one felt like dancing anymore because the light showed a horrifying sight.
    In front of the fireplace, half on and half off the rug, lay a limp body.
    Blood trickled down its sides from the huge carving knife sticking out of its back.

chapter

6
    F or a moment nobody moved or spoke. Then several people began screaming at once. Terry’s heart was beating so