Liar Liar by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

I’ve been taking lessons since I was seven?
    How can she be so totally confused?
    I pulled on the robe and tied the belt in front of me. My hands were trembling.
    This guy could kill me, I realized.
    I can’t go through with this. I’ve got to stop it.
    Downstairs, I heard voices coming from Dad’s gym in the back of the house. Dad has a Stairmaster, a weight bench, and a treadmill in there.
    As I stepped into the room, I was surprised to see a canvas floor mat spread out in the center of the gym. Jake was on the mat, kidding around with a huge, bald, red-faced man in a white robe. Mr. Lawrence.
    The karate teacher was letting Jake throw him over his little shoulder. Jake laughed as Mr. Lawrence flipped over and landed with a hard thud on his back.
    â€œYou didn’t know you were so strong, did you?” Mr. Lawrence asked Jake.
    â€œI’m stronger than Ross!” Jake bragged. He crooked both arms to show off his pitiful, pea-sized muscles.
    Mr. Lawrence sprang easily to his feet and turned to me. “Hi, Ross. You ready?” He bowed to me.
    I bowed back. “Uh … I don’t think I can do this tonight,” I started. “You see, I’ve had these terrible headaches—”
    â€œTension,” Mr. Lawrence said. “This lesson should help.”
    â€œNo. Really,” I insisted. “Maybe … uh … Jake would like a lesson tonight. I can’t—”
    He wasn’t paying any attention to me. “Let’s practice what we were doing last time, okay?”
    He stood stiffly, facing me, hands placed firmly on his hips. He stared straight ahead, concentrating. His round, bald head glowed under the ceiling light.
    What is he waiting for? I wondered. What is he going to do?
    It didn’t take long to find out.
    With a grunt, he swung off the floor. Flew up off the mat. Both legs rose sideways—and landed a hard, pounding kick in my stomach.
    â€œUnnnnh!” I groaned in pain.
    I doubled over. It hurt … hurt so much … I couldn’t breathe … couldn’t breathe …
    I felt my stomach tighten—then heave.
    â€œUnnnnnh.” The whole brussels sprout flew out of my mouth and plopped onto the mat.
    Gasping, holding my aching stomach, I collapsed to the floor.
    Mr. Lawrence huddled over me. “What happened?” He knelt beside me, his heavy arm on my shoulders. “Ross, you’ve defended against that a hundred times. Why didn’t you move?”
    â€œUh …” I couldn’t speak. My breaths were rasping in my throat.
    Somehow I managed to stand. My stomach ached. I felt about to heave again.
    â€œRoss, are you okay? Why didn’t you defend yourself?” Mr. Lawrence asked.
    I turned away. Bent over, I started to run. Out of the gym. Down the back hall.
    â€œRoss, come back!” Mr. Lawrence shouted after me.
    I was nearly to the stairs when a figure jumped out to stop me.
    My twin.
    I let out a startled cry. “You—?”
    Scowling at me furiously, he grabbed my arm. “I’m late—and you try to take over my life! It’s not going to work, Rosssss,” he hissed. “Give me that robe—and get out of here!”
    â€œBut—” I groaned weakly.
    â€œGet out! Go away!” he cried in a harsh whisper. “I’ve been warning you! You don’t belong here!”

Angrily I pushed his hand away. “Get off me!” I cried.
    â€œGo away, Rossss!” he hissed. He shoved me. “You don’t belong here. You have to leave.”
    â€œBut—it’s my house!” I cried. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
    He raised a finger to his lips and glanced nervously down the hall. “Keep it down. I can’t explain. But I’m trying to tell you—you’re in danger. Don’t say anything. Don’t touch anything. Just give me that robe and get lost! Fast!”
    â€œI won’t