The Evil Lives! by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

it, she thought. But it’s true.
    Luke is dead.
    Four days had passed since the strange, frightening scene in the gym on Friday. Luke’s funeral had been held this morning. The casket remained closed. No one was allowed to see him.
    I didn’t need to, Amanda thought. I’ll never forget.
    She shuddered, remembering the sight of his face. The top of his head ripped off. His scalp—lying on the floor next to him.
    How had it happened? How could his head have hit the bleacher that hard? Hard enough to break through the bone of his skull?
    Stop it, she told herself. Stop thinking about it.
    Giving herself a mental shake, Amanda picked up the bowl of crackers. “Bring some napkins, would you?” she asked.
    Victoria grabbed a handful of napkins from the kitchen table, then followed Amanda through the door into the family room.
    Natalie sat stiffly on the stone hearth of the fireplace, gazing into the flames. Her gray eyes were rimmed with red from crying, but they were dry now.
    Dry and bitter, Amanda thought.
    Janine had curled up on one end of the couch. Brandon sat close to her, his arm around her shoulders. Janine’s eyes were pink, too, and she kept glancing at Natalie. She started to say something, then bit her lip nervously.
    Keesha sat cross-legged in front of the coffee table, restlessly plucking at the rug with her fingers. She smiled as Amanda and Victoria entered the room. But the smile was forced.
    Amanda put the crackers on the coffee table next to a platter of cheese and sat on the other end of the couch. Victoria sighed and sank into one of the overstuffed easy chairs.
    No one touched the food.
    Amanda cleared her throat. “I know we’re all still shocked,” she murmured. “Nobody can think of what to say, huh?”
    â€œLuke is dead,” Natalie stated in a flat, hollow voice. “Why talk? There’s nothing to say.”
    â€œYes there is.” Janine straightened up and took adeep breath. “There is something to say—I’m sorry, Natalie. I’m so sorry.”
    Natalie didn’t respond.
    â€œWhy are you apologizing?” Brandon asked Janine. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”
    â€œThat’s not what I meant,” she told him. “I meant that Natalie and I—we used to be good friends. But when you and Luke were competing, we started to compete, too. It got kind of ugly, you know? And I feel terrible about it. It seems so silly now, after what happened. So totally unimportant.”
    â€œYeah.” Brandon squeezed her shoulder sympathetically.
    Janine gazed at Natalie. “So I want to apologize, Natalie. I’m sorry.”
    Natalie remained silent for a moment. Then she whipped her head around and glared at Janine. “Do you really expect me to believe that?” she demanded in a bitter tone. “Luke is dead and Brandon gets his position on the team. You’re not sorry at all!”
    â€œNatalie!” Victoria gasped.
    â€œOh, don’t look at me like that!” Natalie snapped. “At least I’m being honest. Janine is the one who’s lying. She’s not sorry. She just said it to make herself look good. She couldn’t be happier.”
    â€œCome on, Natalie . . .” Keesha started to protest.
    â€œNo!” Natalie shot to her feet. “Don’t ask me to apologize. Everything I said is true, and you know it.”
    Grabbing her jacket from the hearth, Natalie stormed out of the room.
    â€œWhoa,” Keesha murmured.
    Amanda glanced at Janine, feeling terrible for her. But instead of looking upset or sad, Janine’s face was pinched with fury.
    Brandon stood up and hurried across the room. “Let me talk to Natalie,” he called back over his shoulder. “Maybe I can calm her down.”
    â€œI don’t see how he can calm her down,” Keesha declared after Brandon left. “After all, Natalie is furious at him too. You