Shadow Girl by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online

idea what I would find in there. I wanted someone to come with me.
    So after school the next day, I caught up to Stan. He was pulling books from his locker and shoving them into his backpack.
    He slammed the locker shut when he saw me coming. “Selena—what’s up?”
    I glanced around the crowded hall. Kids were laughing and talking, pulling on their coats, getting ready to leave. I glimpsed Jada at the end of the hall, talking to Cindy and a couple of other girls.
    I leaned close to Stan and whispered, “Can you help me this afternoon? I’m a little worried about Jada. Can you help me do some spy work?”
    He scratched his thick brown hair and narrowed his dark eyes at me. “Spy work? You mean spy on Jada?”
    “Not exactly,” I replied. “There is somethingstrange going on at her house. Can you come over there with me?”
    He pulled his wool ski cap over his hair. “Isn’t Jada going ice-skating with Cindy this afternoon?”
    I nodded. “Are you going with them or anything?”
    “No,” he replied. He waved to some guys across the hall. “I have to go home and walk the dog.”
    “Think the dog could wait a little while?” I asked. “I know it sounds crazy. But there’s a room in the house I have to explore. And I’d really like someone to come help me.”
    He snickered. “You’re scared?”
    “No way,” I said. “It’s just…well…” I tugged his arm. “Come on. It won’t take long. I promise.”
     
    We stepped into a cold, gray day. Low clouds floated over the houses and trees, threatening snow. The air felt damp and heavy.
    As we walked to Jada’s house, I told Stan everything. I told him about Jada getting dressed in the middle of the night. And about the hidden room she disappeared into.
    “It’s a total mystery,” I said.
    “Did you ask her about it?” Stan asked.
    “Yes, the first time,” I replied. “She said she didn’t get up. She said I was dreaming. And she was really angry that I asked.”
    Stan scrunched up his face. I could see he was thinking hard. “Weird,” he muttered. “It’s too weird.”
    We reached the house. I pulled out the door key Aunt Janet had given me. We stepped inside. The warm air felt good on my frozen face. “Anyone home?” I called.
    I knew my aunt and uncle were at work.
    I pulled Stan to the stairs. We didn’t stop to take off our coats or backpacks.
    I led the way up the stairs, down the hall to the bookcase at the end.
    “The room is hidden behind these shelves,” I said, whispering even though no one was home. I suddenly felt frightened. I couldn’t explain why.
    Did I really want to know what was in the secret room?
    Stan stared at the bookcase. “Wow! You mean the bookcase moves? How cool! Maybe it’s some kind of secret passage!”
    I pulled a book from the bottom shelf. Nothing happened. I pulled another book out. “There must be a button to push or something,” I said. “It was too dark last night. I couldn’t really see what Jada did.”
    Stan stepped up beside me. We both started lifting books out one at a time.
    “Here. I think I found it,” I said. I pointed to a small black lever hidden behind a large atlas. I pushed the lever down.
    And heard the hum. And watched the bookshelf start to slide to the left.
    “Yessss!” I cried, pumping my fist in the air.
    Stan’s eyes grew wide as a dark wooden door appeared behind the bookcase. “Whoa. This is like a movie or something!” He turned to me. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    “Not really,” I answered, my voice trembling. “But I have to. I have to know what Jada is doing at night.”
    I grabbed the door handle. “Are you coming in with me?”
    “Okay,” he whispered. “Let’s go.”

19
    I pulled open the door. The room behind it was totally dark.
    I took a step inside and swept my hand over the wall, searching for a light switch.
    Stan stepped in behind me. He huddled so close, he bumped into me.
    “Okay!” I found the switch and clicked it on. A