The Dead Game Read Online Free PDF Page B

She loved it when her store was full of people and she could hear the sound of their happy laughter, which helped to wipe away the shadows that haunted her in the evenings. This Sunday she had missed the morning services at church because of the constant stream of tourists who kept wandering into her store.
    Later that day Shana came in, bringing sandwiches with her. “I figured that the only reason you would miss church and all the gossip was if you were too busy,” exclaimed Shana, “and I was right. Look at you, knee deep in books.” She sat on the floor beside Linda, setting up their lunch on a blanket.
    Linda was busy unpacking boxes of books, which she then carefully sorted through on the floor. “This has been my only quiet time today without tourists,” she explained. Her long, usually silky dark hair was messy around her small heart-shaped face from her long day of bending over boxes of books and serving demanding tourists.
    “Come sit down so that we can eat and talk,” offered Shana. “I’ll tell you what everyone had said this morning.” Shana knew that she couldn’t resist a good gossip session. Linda sat down and waited to hear what had transpired at church.
    “I discovered that only the younger shop-owners of Oasis have been invited to the party, and not the old-timers,” continued Shana as she munched on her sandwich. “Mike and David had found out that Judy, Gregg, and Ryan have also been invited. Maybe only the people who reside in the apartment complex have been invited…but I don’t know what the possible reason could be.”
    “I’ve always told you that this town was peculiar. Please come along with Todd and me on Friday night. Louise had asked Todd if he could also pick her up. I won’t feel comfortable with you going alone,” insisted Linda. She sat on the floor staring at Shana, feeling too nervous and edgy about the upcoming party to eat anything.
    “That’s perfectly fine with me. Everyone else is going in groups. Mike and David are getting a ride with Tom and Edward, while Ryan, Judy, and Gregg are meeting us at the house after they get off from work at the hotel,” clarified Shana. “I’d rather go with you anyway.”
    “Then it’s all settled,” exclaimed Linda as she continued to sort through her books.
    “Why aren’t you eating?” asked Shana. “I ate all of mine already.”
    “I’ll eat once I’m done with this mess.”
    After they finished chatting, Shana left to go home. Linda worked straight through the afternoon, placing all the books on the shelves. Feeling exhausted she went home, had dinner with her cats as company, and retired early with them for the night in her bed.
     
    Louise was terrified to leave the safety of her own apartment. She didn’t know if she was going crazy or if she was actually being pursued by dark figures. They appeared only at night, as soon as the sun set and darkness fell across the town. Just last evening the shadows had stalked her all through town right up to her front door. Once inside, she’d locked her door and her windows. She was determined to keep out whatever or whoever was waiting for her outside.
    She’d hidden in her apartment until the next morning. Only then did she dare to peek out from her windows to check out the deserted beach in front and the huge dark mountain in back. After making sure that the strange beings weren’t waiting for her on the deserted walkway, she’d darted down the path to town without daring to glance behind her.
    The rest of the day she’d spent working busily in her dress shop, refusing to venture outside where she might encounter her elusive stalkers. She had even closed her store early for the day so she wouldn’t have to walk home alone in the dark. The identity of the menacing beings remained a mystery to her. She had no idea who or what they were: she couldn’t even tell if they were human. She just accepted the fact that she had to stay clear of them or else risk ending up