The Evil Lives! Read Online Free PDF Page B

gaze.
    What is he doing up there? she wondered. Why did he stay behind?
    And why is he watching me like that?
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    I hope Janine remembered to bring Corky’s box, Amanda thought that night as she walked the two blocks to Victoria’s house. I really want to get rid of it. Take it home and burn it in the fireplace.
    A gusty wind blew down the street, making the baretrees creak and moan. Amanda shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her jacket.
    The wind is not even very cold, she told herself. But I’m shivering. Think about something else.
    Or some body else. Like Judd Hunter.
    Picturing Judd’s blue eyes and dark hair, Amanda smiled to herself and turned the corner.
    In front of her, a tall figure jumped out from the shadow of a tree.
    Amanda gasped.
    The figure moved closer.
    A shaft of moonlight lit up his face. Sandy hair. Green eyes glittering in the light.
    Dustin.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Amanda cried. “You scared me to death!”
    â€œSorry.” Dustin came even closer. “I need to talk to you.”
    â€œSo you decided to hide behind a tree in the dark?” Amanda asked sarcastically.
    Dustin frowned. “I wasn’t hiding.”
    You could have fooled me, Amanda thought. She didn’t say it, though. The angry look on Dustin’s face stopped her. “I have to be at Victoria’s,” she told him.
    â€œThis is much more important,” Dustin snapped. “This is about you and me. About what you said yesterday.”
    â€œAbout us breaking up, you mean.”
    â€œYou never bothered to ask me how I felt about it, you know,” he told her bitterly. “Well, guess what? I don’t agree with you. I want us to stay together.”
    Amanda shook her head. “Dustin . . .”
    â€œHey!” he snapped again. “Don’t say no until you think about it. You have one lousy conversation withthe golden boy, Judd Hunter, and you decide to break up with me.”
    â€œThat’s not true,” Amanda declared.
    Dustin sneered. “You think I didn’t see the look on your face when you were talking to him? Please. And today when he waved at you, you practically drooled—it was really pathetic.”
    â€œDustin—” Amanda began.
    But he interrupted her. “You hardly know the guy, Amanda. What makes you think he’s interested in you?”
    â€œJudd doesn’t have anything to do with this!” Amanda insisted. “It’s you, Dustin. I want to break up with you.” She stepped aside and began to walk away.
    Dustin grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. “And what about what I want?” he demanded.
    Frightened at the anger and bitterness in his eyes, Amanda wrenched her arm free and ran down the sidewalk.
    What’s wrong with him? she wondered. He’s always been intense, but this is different. This is scary.
    Still frightened, Amanda glanced back over her shoulder.
    Dustin followed her. He wasn’t running, but his long legs were quickly eating up the distance between them.
    He’s crazy, she thought. Crazy!
    Putting on a burst of speed, Amanda raced to the middle of the block and up the walk onto Victoria’s porch. The front door wasn’t locked. Amanda hurried in and locked it behind her.
    Breathless, she stood on tiptoe and peeked out the little window at the top of the door.
    Dustin stood at the end of the sidewalk. He stared at the house for a few seconds, then jammed his fists into his pockets and walked away.
    Sighing with relief, Amanda hurried down the hall to the kitchen. “You’ll never believe—” she started.
    Then she stopped.
    The room was dark except for candles.
    Black candles, set in a circle on top of the round oak table.
    The other cheerleaders sat around the table, gazing at the flames. The candles waved and flickered, throwing shadows on the walls.
    Amanda caught her breath.