The Secret of the Scarlet Stone (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book One) by T.L. Clarke Read Free Book Online

If you would just calm down and stop panicking, you’ll be able to open i t with no trouble.”
    Gabrielle jumped back with shock as the door rattled and rumbled loudly and the doorknob twisted and turned frantically by itself. S he started to scream but it quickly strangled in her throat. She watched in horror as Jessica’s body trembled violently with fear ; to Gabrielle’s utter disbelief, the image of Jessica’s body seemed to completely vanish.
    She quickly rubbed her eyes with disbelief. Her gaze frantically snapped back toward the door and the violent shaking stopped abruptly , with a strange stillness filling the passageway. She grabbed the doorknob and twisted it with all her might but it simply would not budge. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat nervously. “Oh , come on , door, open . Please, come on , door, open . I say open,” Gabrielle demanded under her breath .
    The door abruptly swung open, knocking her backwards onto the floor.
    As if on cue, Jessica hopped over her, bolting out of the room and down the stairs without a backward glance.
    Gabrielle quickly scrambled to her feet and dusted off her clothes. Her ears perked up at the faint sound of footsteps behind her ; startled , she spun around and looked toward the book - filled room.
    “Oh , stop it , Gabi, there’s nothing there. You’re getting just as paranoid as Jess,” she said coolly to herself under her breath. Not taking any chances, she quickly turned on her heels and ran out of the passageway.

CHAPTER FIVE
What’s Up , Oscar?
     
    G abrielle ran out of the building, leaving the front door open behind her. Looking around, she saw Jessica sitting on the steps breathing heavily.
    “Are you okay , Jess?” she asked with a concerned look.
    Jessica’s eyes filled with tears as she looked up at her friend. “I guess so; I mean, it’s just that there was something so weird about that building and that room was just so creepy.”
    Silently, Gabrielle sat down next to her.
    Jessica looked down at her feet . “Oh , Gabi, I got so nervous , and weird things always happen when I get nervous. Please don’t ever ask me to go in there again.”
    Gabrielle patted Jessica’s shoulder consolingly . “Oh , Jess, it wasn’t that bad.” She looked up at the building . “But I do wonder what that room was used for. It was so strange yet so familiar.”
    Jessica quickly got up, dusted off her skirt , and walked down the stairs . “Well, I reall y don’t care what that room was used for and neither should you.” She walked across the lawn, not looking back.
    Gabrielle sighed wistfully as she looked up at the building then reluctantly jumped up from the stairs. She looked over and did a double-take when she saw that Jessica was halfway across the lawn . “Jess, wait up for me.”
    They walked across the damp lawn in comfortable silence as the wind whistled loudly , whipping across their faces.
    Jessica abruptly stopped in front of a large brick building with a gold sign attached to the door:
     
    Tea Rose Dormitory
     
    Jessica blew hot air into her cold hands as she rubbed them together for warmth . “Well, we’re here , Gabi . L et’s go in . I t ’ s way too cold to stand out here . ” She walked up the stairs, pushing open the heavy door , with Gabrielle following closely behind.
    Gabrielle watched as a swarm of girls in all different shapes and colors ran around the large hallway excitedly. Then Gabrielle and Jessica pushed their way up the crowded stairway and jostled through the crowded hallway.
    Jessica paused in front of a door with a metal “23” sign nailed to it and pushed it open. As they stepped into the room, they were greeted with the vision of a girl with long , black silky hair anxiously pacing back and forth with handfuls of clothes spilling over her arms.  
    In the middle of the room, there was another girl with sun-kissed skin, messy brown hair pulled into two long braids , and black wire-rimmed glasses ;