Dark Visions Read Online Free PDF Page B

air.
    Rob. Rob Kessler, she thought.
    "Hey, Kaitlyn!" It was Lewis's voice from the bedroom. "Are you out there? Hey, Kaitlyn, come quick!"

CHAPTER 4

    K aitlyn hesitated, still looking down the stairs. Then she gathered her self-possession and slowly walked back into the room. Lewis and Anna were in the alcove, looking out the window.
    "He's here," Lewis said excitedly, and brought his camera up. "That's got to be him!"
    "Who's here?" Kaitlyn asked, hoping no one would look at her too closely. She felt flushed.
    "Mr. Zetes," said Lewis. "Joyce said he had a limo."
    A black limousine was parked outside the house, one of its rear doors open. A white-haired man stood beside the door, dressed in a greatcoat which Kaitlyn thought must be terribly hot on this Californian afternoon. He had a gold-topped cane-a real gold-topped cane, Kaitlyn thought in fascination.
    "Looks like he's brought some friends," Anna said, smiling. Two large black dogs were jumping out of the limo. They started for the bushes but came back at a word from the man and stood on either side of him.
    "Cute," Kaitlyn said. "But what's that?" A white van was turning in the driveway. Lettering on its side read department of youth authority.
    Lewis brought his camera down, looking awed. "Jeez. That's the California Youth Authority."
    "Which is . . . ?"
    "It's the last stop. It's where they put the baaaaad boys. The hard-core kids who can't make it at any of the regular juvie places."
    Anna's quiet voice said, "You mean it's jail?"
    "My dad says it's the place for kids who're on their way to state prison. You know, the murderers and stuff."
    "Murderers?" Kait exclaimed. "Well, what's it doing here, then? You don't think . . ." She looked at Anna, who looked back, serenity a bit clouded. Clearly, Anna did think.
    They both looked at Lewis, whose almond-shaped eyes were wide.
    "I think we'd better get down there," Kaitlyn said.
    They hurried downstairs, bursting out onto the wooden porch and trying to look inconspicuous. No one was looking at them, anyway. Mr. Zetes was talking to a khaki-uniformed officer standing by the van.
    Kaitlyn could only catch a few words of what was said-"Judge Baldwin's authority" and "CYA ward"
    and "rehabilitation."
    "... your responsibility," the officer finished, and stepped away from the van's door.
    A boy came out. Kaitlyn could feel her eyebrows go up.
    He was startlingly handsome-but there was a cold wariness in his face and movements. His hair and eyes were dark, but his skin was rather pale. One of the few people in California without a tan, Kaitlyn thought.
    "Chiaroscuro," she murmured.
    "What?" Lewis whispered.
    "It's an art word. It means 'light and shade'-like in a drawing where you only use black and white." As Kaitlyn finished, she suddenly felt herself shiver. There was something strange about this boy, as if-as if-As if he weren't quite canny, her mind supplied. At least, that's the phrase people back home used to use about you, isn't it?
    The van was driving off. Mr. Zetes and the dark-haired boy were walking up to the door.
    "Looks like we've got a new housemate," Lewis said under his breath. "Oh, boy."
    Mr. Zetes gave a courtly nod to the group on the porch. "I see you're here. I believe everyone has arrived now-if you'll come inside, we can commence with the introductions." He went in, and the two dogs followed him. They were rottweilers, Kaitlyn noted, and rather fierce-looking.
    Anna and Lewis stepped back silently as the new boy approached, but Kaitlyn held her ground. She knew what it was like to have people step back when you walked near them. The boy passed very close to her, and turned to give her a direct look as he did. Kaitlyn saw that his eyes weren't black, but a very dark gray. She had the distinct feeling that he wanted to unsettle her, to make her look down.
    I wonder what he did to get in prison, she thought, feeling chilled again. She followed the others into the house.
    "Mr. Zetes!" Joyce said happily