Malevolent (The Puzzle Box Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

it.
     
     

Chapter 3
Libby
     
    I'd slept all day, so naturally I was wide awake once night set in.
    My back ached from lying down for so long, so I got up and turned on my computer. Since I'd gotten sick, social media was my lifeline to the rest of the world. I checked in with my friends, and saw that I'd missed Tiffany's birthday party. She hadn't even invited me. I wouldn't have been able to go anyway, but it still hurt.
    I logged onto voice chat, and spotted Tiffany's screen name. I donned my headset and called her.
    She picked up a minute later, probably after scrambling for her own headset. "Hey Libby! How're you feeling?"
    I made a face. "Sick. Gross. Dead. Late happy birthday, by the way."
    "I'm so sorry I didn't invite you! I knew you couldn't come anyway, but I felt horrible as I mailed them."
    Her contrition was genuine. Tiffany was one of those heart-on-the-sleeve types, and I couldn't stay mad.
    "It's okay, Tiff. I slept all day, anyway. What'd you do for your party?"
    "I passed out different potted herbs without labels, and everybody had to identify them by smell. Then we watched a documentary about deep sea life."
    I laughed. I couldn't help it. "I'll bet it was a huge hit."
    "It was really fun, actually. I invited my friends from chemistry and chess club."
    "Was there pizza?"
    "No, we did cheese fondue."
    "I can totally see all you brainiacs sitting around a fondue pot with your plants and your documentary. Nobody played any videogames?"
    "Nope, but I'm logged in. Want to run a map?"
    We joined a server and blew up pixels. That was the great thing about Tiffany. She was smart, but she knew how to have fun, too. Our avatars were My Little Ponies, and we laughed every time somebody cussed us out.
    We were debating what map to play next, when something scraped the wall outside my window.
    My heart lurched, and I froze for a long second. "Tiff," I whispered, "I think somebody's outside."
    "What? But it's past midnight!"
    "I know. I need to get off for a minute."
    I pulled off my headset, flicked off my monitor, and sat in complete darkness. My fingers found the cold, reassuring shape of my knife on my desk. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Out here in the country, thieves thought they could get away with anything. Including breaking in through the second-story windows.
    But what if it wasn't a thief? Cats made a lot of noise on the roof sometimes. It'd be awfully dumb to wake up my parents, only to find a couple of tomcats duking it out. I'd have to check, first.
    I didn't have a gun, but before I'd gotten sick, I'd been building a substantial Airsoft collection. I felt my way to the closet and pulled out my rifle. Too bad the BBs were plastic. Metal ones might punch holes in flesh. I'd aim for the eyes--headshots are headshots. And if it was an animal, I'd scare it off.
    If the gun didn't work, I had my knife. And lots and lots of screaming--but hopefully I wouldn't have to resort to that.
    Another scrape, and the tree outside rustled. My room's on the second floor, with a dormer window. I stared out, waiting for glowing cat eyes, or something bigger.
    Still, when a figure loomed against the night outside, my heart skipped, and I stifled a scream. It's terrifying to realize the safety of your home is about to be violated, and your strongest weapon shoots plastic beads.
    The man crouched outside my window as if looking in. No flashlight. I faced him, rifle aimed at the window, and tried to keep my breathing steady.
    Try it, buddy. And kiss your eyeballs goodbye.
    Then the man did the last thing I expected. He tapped softly on the glass and called, "Libby?"
    Robert? No, it wasn't his voice. I hesitated and squinted, trying to make out his face.
    He fumbled around and ignited a blue glow stick, which he cupped in one hand to hide the glow. But it illuminated his face.
    Oh crap, it was Mal. On our roof. Outside my window.
    Had he come to kill me? I stepped backward and blundered into my desk chair. I stood