The Secret Bedroom by R.L. Stine, Bill Schmidt Read Free Book Online

windy,” Lea said, checking up and down the street. Leaves swirled across the lawn in a wild, unending dance. The old trees bent and swayed. It seemed to her as if the entire front yard had come alive.
    Shivering, she slammed the front door. “I-I’m so scared,” she said.
    â€œI don’t really understand,” Deena said, yanking offher poncho and tossing it onto the banister. “You went up to the attic and saw blood?”
    â€œI was in my room,” Lea explained again. “Asleep. But I woke up because I heard noises upstairs.”
    â€œUpstairs in the attic?”
    â€œYes,” Lea told her. “Footsteps. At least, it sounded like footsteps. But I knew that was impossible. So I went up to the attic and—and the door—blood started to pour down the door, and—”
    Deena was listening to all this openmouthed, her eyes wide with disbelief. Suddenly her expression changed, and she stared intently at Lea.
    â€œLea, it was a dream,” Deena said softly. She reached out and placed her hands gently on Lea’s trembling shoulders.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIt was a dream. It
had
to be. You were asleep, right? And you dreamed the rest. And then you woke up in your room, thinking it was real. And you called me.”
    Lea backed out of her friend’s hands. “You think I’m cracking up, huh?”
    â€œNo, of course not,” Deena said patiently. “Some dreams can be really vivid. I have very real dreams too.”
    â€œIt wasn’t a dream,” Lea insisted angrily. “The blood poured right down to my feet.”
    Deena glanced down at Lea’s bare feet. “Did you wash it off?”
    â€œNo, of course not. I didn’t have time,” Lea replied, glancing down at her feet too.

    There were no bloodstains on her feet. Not a trace.
    She lifted her head up. “I jumped back. I got out of the way of the blood. Then I ran downstairs.”
    â€œLea—” Deena started. But Lea grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her to the stairway. “Hey—what are you doing?”
    â€œI’ll show you,” Lea said. Deena’s hand was still cold from the outside. “Come on. I’ll show you it wasn’t a dream.”
    â€œBut, Lea, wait—” Deena held back. “Maybe we shouldn’t go up there.”
    â€œWhy are you so frightened if it was only a dream?” Lea asked, challenging her friend.
    â€œI just—” Deena shook her head as if trying to get her thoughts straight. “I don’t like dark, old attics.”
    â€œListen,” Lea said, tugging at Deena, “you said I was crazy, so—”
    â€œI did
not
say you were crazy. I just said it all sounded like a dream. Like you were having a nightmare.”
    â€œIt’s a nightmare, all right,” Lea said, sighing. “But it’s real, Deena. It’s all real. Come on.” She pulled with renewed strength.
    â€œOkay, okay. Don’t pull me,” Deena said. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
    They hesitated at the ladder next to Lea’s room. They both stared up at the trapdoor and listened.
    Silence.
    â€œCome on,” Lea said, whispering. She started up the ladder. “I’ll just show you the blood. Then we’ll close it up again.”

    â€œI really don’t like this.” Deena stepped onto the ladder, staying close behind Lea.
    Lea slid the trapdoor up and away. They both stared up into the silent darkness.
    â€œThat’s funny,” Lea said, glancing down at her friend, bewildered. “I left the attic light on. I’m
sure
I didn’t turn it off.”
    Deena stared back at her, didn’t say anything. Then finally she said, “Maybe we should get a flashlight or something.”
    â€œNo. I’ll just turn on the light,” Lea said, and disappeared up through the rectangular opening in the ceiling.
    â€œLea,