The Ghost Box Read Online Free PDF Page A

key?”
    All she wanted was to end this. She slid her hand under the pillow and felt for it. She found the cold touch of metal and pulled the key out.
    His eyes lit with a strange light. He held out his hand for it but she said, “You’ll need the box. It’s there, on the desk.”
    With a swift movement he turned, took the silver box and brought it over. His hands stroked it, leaving muddy smears on the perfect oak leaves. He sat on the bed and looked at her. “I’ve dreamed of this.”
    â€œDo ghosts dream?” she whispered.
    â€œAll day. While the world turns and people work and talk and forget us, the ghosts dream.” He reached out and took the key from her. “And now my dream will come true.”
    He put the key into the lock and said in a sly voice, “You must turn it for me. I’m a ghost. I can’t.”
    So she turned the key.
    Or tried to.
    It wouldn’t move. She tried again, shook the box, jammed the key in tight.
    It wouldn’t turn.
    The boy snatched it from her. He forced it, struggled with it.
    And when he looked up, his pinched face was white and drawn. “You’ve tricked me!”
    â€œNo! I – ”
    â€œYou’ve tricked me. You should never have done that, Sarah.”
    In terror, she grabbed at him. Her fingers closed on cold, empty air. But before she could say anything, she looked past him and saw Matt, standing in the open door of her room, holding up a slim, bright key.
    â€œShe didn’t trick you,” Matt said. “I did.”

Chapter 9
    A Soul for a Soul
    Matt had a flashlight, but as he came into the room it failed, and the light sparked out. Quickly Sarah jumped up and grabbed the curtains. As she flung them wide a bright flood of moonlight spilled into the room. She saw the boy fixing Matt with a stare of cold hate.
    â€œWhat have you done?” he hissed.
    Matt held the key tight. “Sarah had a key made, but I took it from under her pillow and put another one there. All that one opens is the padlock on my bike.”
    â€œYou’ve spoiled everything,” the boy snapped.
    Sarah shook her head. “But why?”
    Matt came in and leaned against the vanity table. “He knows why.”
    The boy looked down. He clasped his bony hands tight together in silent agony. “I can’t tell you,” he whispered. “If I do I’m trapped here for ever.”
    â€œWell, you’re in luck, here’s someone who can tell her.” Matt nudged the door wider with his foot and with a shock Sarah saw that someone else was standing just outside. A tall man in a dark coat, his glasses catching the moonlight. It was Morgan Rees.
    He said, “So it’s true.”
    â€œYou!” Sarah was amazed. “How did you ...?”
    â€œHe saw me talking to you, and next time I passed there he was waiting for me,” Matt said. “He was worried about you.”
    Morgan Rees was staring intently at the ghost of the boy. “I was very concerned. And now, to see him! I read the words on the box, and I have heard of such spells, but I have never seen – ”
    â€œWhat spells?” Sarah’s voice was sharp with anger. “Explain this to me.”
    Morgan Rees stepped into the moonlight. Like Matt, he wore a long dark coat. For a moment she had the crazy thought that they were like master and apprentice.
    â€œI was dismayed when I read the letters on the box. Let me read them to you now.”
    â€œNo!” The boy’s face was full of anguish. “If you do … she’ll know.”
    â€œShe has to know.” Rees took the box that Sarah held out to him and turned the letters to the light. “This writing is old. The language is Latin. It says that the box is made to hold a soul, and whoever opens the box and frees the soul trapped inside it will, in turn, be punished by having their own soul take its place. This is true, boy, isn’t