The Biker (Nightmare Hall) by Diane Hoh Read Free Book Online Page A

arms and legs were trembling violently. She fought to steady them. If anyone came along now and saw her stumbling along the highway, they might stop to help her. What possible explanation could she give for being out here alone late on a Saturday night?
    Instead of going straight to the dorm and hiding in her bed, which was what she wanted to do more than anything, she headed for the infirmary. The victims had probably been taken to the hospital in town, but on the off chance that the less seriously injured (if there were any) might have been brought to campus, she turned her steps in that direction.
    She knew even before she went inside that a patient from Twin Falls had arrived, because there was a Twin Falls EMS truck parked sideways in front of the low, brick building. Had to be a student, or it wouldn’t have been brought to campus.
    The patient being treated in one of the emergency cubicles, she was told by the student volunteer manning the reception desk, was “that tall, cute guy with the name everyone mispronounces. You know … everyone says Lie-am, but it’s really Lee-am. Liam McCullough.” A tall, heavyset brunette, she leaned across the desk and almost whispered, “There was another biker attack in town tonight. A really bad one this time. He hit a whole bunch of people!” She said this with such awe, and her eyes were so round with fascination that Echo felt sick again.
    “Liam was one of the people who got hit,” the girl, whose plastic black and white name tag read “ANNETTE” said, her tone conversational now. “I think he’s got a broken wrist. He was holding his left arm funny. And he had a big lump on his forehead, so maybe he’s got a concussion, too.”
    “What about the others?” Echo had to ask.
    “They’re at the hospital.” Annette’s expression sobered. “I heard someone say that Lily D’Agostino might not live.” Her eyes widened again. “He hit her, and then he ran right over her, can you believe that? I mean, isn’t it just too horrible?”
    Yes, Echo thought, clutching the edge of the desk, it is just too horrible. But … the girl, the bluebird in flight, hadn’t died. Yet. She was still alive. Barely, maybe, but alive.
    Echo turned to leave. There wasn’t anything she could do here. Might as well go back to the dorm and crawl into bed. If she was really, really lucky, she might even sleep a little.
    The first thing she did in her room was switch on the radio. She had missed the initial story, but because the victims were students, the campus radio station would present updates every fifteen minutes.
    While she waited, she took off her shoes and socks and flopped down on the bed. There was a huge, hollow space inside of her that she knew would fill up with pain and terror and regret and guilt the very second that shock left her. If it ever did.
    Although the window was open and the night was very warm, she pulled the rose and blue afghan her grandmother had knit for her up to her chin, hoping it would erase the dreadful iciness deep inside of her, and knowing that it wouldn’t. No artificial warmth, no matter how heavy, could reach that frozen place.
    The music ended, and the announcer’s deep, authoritative voice filled the room.
    Echo listened to it in misery.
    “The latest in a series of unexplained motorcycle attacks on the populace of Twin Falls and the surrounding area has taken its toll this evening. Three students from Salem University have been admitted to the community hospital, and a fourth was taken to the campus infirmary following a particularly vicious attack on Tenth Street in front of the popular nightspot, Johnny’s Place.”
    Echo huddled deeper into the folds of her afghan, one clenched fist pressing against her mouth.
    “Two of the students at the hospital are listed in fair condition, while a third, whose name has not been released pending notification of relatives, is in the intensive care unit, in critical condition.”
    Critical condition.