Out of Time Read Online Free PDF Page A

packed.
They need to work on expanding that .”
    “I’m getting out of here and heading for the
mall. That was a waste of my time.” Kendra said.
    “Sorry Kendra.” Mandy apologized. It didn’t
matter because she was already on a war path out the door.
    “At least we included you!” Simon shot
out.
    “Whatever!” Kendra called back.
    “I should head home. My mom knows my
schedule. She’s going to wonder what’s taking me so long.” Simon
said, grabbing his backpack and soccer gear he had left at the
front of the classroom.
    “Me too.” Mandy said.
    “I’m going to just stay here for a minute.”
Sasha said, her voice hushed as she stared at the figures moving
around her.
    “Do you want me to stay with, or —?” Mandy
started, but Sasha waved her off, a “no” thoroughly implied. “Fine
then. See you later.”
    “Bye.” Sasha said, turning as Simon and Mandy
both walked out of the room together. She turned back to face the
door and took a deep breath. She sighed and collected her
composure, straightening her shirt out of nervous habit. “Whew.
Okay door. I know there is more to you. I can still see the people
around me. What are you hiding?”
    Before Sasha could find out, the sound of
light heeled footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Sasha
knew exactly who that was, and gulped.
    “Oh great. Ms. Hastings is back. Hell. I’d
better hide.” She looked around quickly, wondering where she could
hide. It seemed as though the attic door was her only sanctuary, so
she opened it. It creaked open and Sasha quickly entered without
realizing it didn’t look like much of a closet when she entered.
     

PART II
CHAPTER 9

    After Sasha entered the closet, she heard the
sound of crickets almost immediately, and the sounds from outside
the door could no longer be heard. Is Ms. Hastings gone
already? Sasha turned around and almost fainted in shock .
Are ghosts playing tricks on me? How is this possible? In front
of her was a huge gothic-style staircase and entryway lit with
nearly burnt-out candles.
    “Woah. Seriously...creepy. Where the hell did
this come from?” Sasha wondered out loud. She heard whispers on the
air, but could only make out bits and pieces. Ghosts again,
perhaps? “Hello? Is someone there? Seriously, if there is
someone there, I’m listening!” Sasha looked around as her eyes
adjusted to the dim light. She then started to whisper. “There has
to be someone here. There are candles lit. Someone had to light
them.”
    Then she heard what sounded like sliding
panels directly behind her, she couldn’t tell whether they were
wood or stone, and then a creaking noise. “What the hell?!” she
exclaimed, turning around. “The door just disappeared. This is
nuts.”
    “This is out of time.” a man said, and Sasha
could have sworn he just appeared from nowhere.
    “Who the hell are you?” Sasha asked, as if
hell was becoming a regular part of her vocabulary. She made a
mental note to expand it.
    “Mankus Everidge, how do you do?” the man
answered with a bow, introducing himself. As she looked him over,
she realized his clothing was incredibly outdated. Was he a ghost too? Sasha went back to the man’s question,
regarding her health and general well-being.
    “Not really that great right now. Where did
you come from?” Sasha wondered, although part of her wanted to ask
him “when”, rather than “where”.
    As if nothing was out of the ordinary, Mankus
replied. “I came from here. I haven’t left. Welcome to my house.” His house? As if anyone could live in such a place. Is this what
the school was before it was a school? Someone’s house? Maybe
Mankus is still a ghost. Sasha shuddered at the thought.
    “Your house? This is a school.” she told
him.
    “I’ve heard that one before.” Mankus replied
with a light chuckle.
    “By who?” Sasha wondered.
    “A girl called Betsy, many years ago.” he
told her honestly. A shiver ran up Sasha’s spine.
    “What do you mean