The Dark Corner by Christopher Pike Read Free Book Online Page B

design. I’m thinking it probably has a chapel in the same place our town has a chapel. We might be able to hide there for a while. I imagine demons would stay away from there.”
    â€œBut we have to time our return to this spot to match Bryce’s return with our demons,” Watch said. “And that is next to impossible with the time differences and Sorehead and his friends chasing after us.”
    â€œWe’ll just have to hope for the best,” Adam said, cocking his head to the side. “Do you guys hear that?”
    Sally jumped. “Yeah. It sounds like a bunch of screaming demons, coming this way. That Sorehead sure moves fast.”
    Adam began to back up. “We better do the same. Let’s head out the back way and circle around to the chapel. I just hope we can make it that far.”
    â€œI just hope the demons don’t hold parties there,” Sally muttered.
    *   *   *
    They managed to make it to the chapel, but the going was rough. It was fully night now and the dark had brought about more evil changes in the town. In many places huge fissures had opened in the ground, out of which shone steaming red light. From these holes they thought they heard pitiful screams.
    Yet the chapel looked much as it did in their Spooksville, perhaps a bit more neglected. The place definitely needed paint and a good cleaning, but the walls and windows were reasonably intact. In fact the chapel was one of the best-kept buildings in the entire Dark Corner, and Adam felt a measure of relief. He was sure the demons could not enter the building. Hurrying inside, he locked the door behind them and hoped they would be safe for the time being.
    â€œMaybe we should go to church more often,” Watch said, looking around.
    â€œIt’s got to be a safer place to hang out than in the cemetery,” Sally said, plopping down in one of the pews.
    â€œBut not as exciting,” Adam said, trudging toward the altar.
    â€œI could use a little less excitement in my life,” Watch said.
    Sally was astounded. “I can’t believe you said that. Fearless Watch, who is always ready for the next big adventure.”
    Watch removed his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt. “I’m still disgusted that we will probably be tortured and eaten before dawn.”
    Adam spun around and looked back at his friends. “I hear the mob again! They’re coming this way!”
    It was true. The howls were growing louder by the second.
    Sally jumped up. “We have to get out of here!”
    Watch put his ear to the back door. “No. It’s too late. They’re already on the same street. We’d be cut down as soon as we stepped outside. We’ve just got to trust that they won’t enter this holy building.”
    â€œIs any building holy in this evil dimension?” Sally asked.
    The demons surrounded them a minute later. Adam and his friends could see them through the stained-glass windows, dozens of them. Their burning torches sending shafts of light across the wooden pews. Their hideous faces glaring at themwith hunger. Yet in the midst of the attack Adam smiled.
    â€œSee,” he said. “We’re safe. They’re afraid to come inside.”
    But a minute later the gang smelled smoke.
    The demons were not afraid to set the chapel on fire.

11
    C indy and Bryce caught up with the demons outside Adam’s house. Apparently Adam’s family was out for the evening. The front door of the house lay wide open and the stereo blared onto the front lawn. The demons danced on the grass, kicking and spitting on each other as they did so. They had the radio tuned to a heavy metal station. Cindy peered at them from around the side of a neighboring house.
    â€œThey look like they’re having fun,” she said, having doubts about Bryce’s story.
    â€œThey’re just getting warmed up for a night of destruction and evil,” Bryce