The Haunted Mask II Read Online Free PDF

looking.
    He had shiny black hair, parted in the middle and slicked down with some kind
of hair grease, and a pencil-thin, black mustache that curled over his upper
lip.
    As he stood over me, his black eyes glowed like two burning coals.
    Like vampire eyes! I thought.
    My whole body was shaking. I gripped the sides of the carton and tried to
return his stare.
    Trapped, I thought, waiting for him to speak. Trapped with a vampire.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked finally. He pushed back his cape and
crossed his arms in front of him. The glowing eyes glared down at me sternly.
    “Uh… just looking at masks,” I managed to choke out. I was still on my
knees on the floor. I knew that my legs were shaking too hard to stand up.
    “The store is closed,” the man said through gritted teeth.
    “I know,” I admitted, lowering my eyes to the floor. “I—”
    “The store went out of business. We’re closed for good.”
    “I… I’m sorry,” I murmured.
    Was he going to let me go? What was he going to do with me?
    If I started to scream, no one would hear me.
    Would Chuck try to get help for me? Or was he halfway home by now?
    “I live upstairs,” the man explained, still glaring at me angrily. “I heard
scraping sounds down here. Boxes being moved around. I was going to call the
police.”
    “I’m not a burglar,” I blurted out. “Please don’t call the police. The
trapdoor was open and my friend and I came down.”
    His eyes moved quickly around the room. “Your friend?”
    “He ran away when he heard you coming,” I told him. “I just wanted to see if
there were any masks. You know. For Halloween. I wasn’t going to steal anything.
I just—”
    “But the store is closed,” the man repeated. He glanced at the open carton in
front of me. “Those masks are very special. They’re not for sale.”
    “N-not for sale?” I stammered.
    “You shouldn’t break into stores,” the man replied, shaking his head. His
slicked-down hair gleamed under the low ceiling light. “How old are you?”
    I drew a blank. My mouth dropped open, but no answer came out. I was so
terrified, I forgot how old I was!
    “Twelve,” I answered finally. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
    “Twelve and you’re already breaking into stores,” the man said softly.
    “I don’t break into stores!” I protested. “I mean, I never did before. I came
to buy a mask. Look. I brought money.”
    I jammed my trembling hand into my jeans pocket and pulled out the wad of
bills. “Twenty-five dollars,” I said, holding up the money so he could see it.
“Here. Is it enough for one of these masks?”
    He rubbed his chin. “I told you, young man. These masks are special. They
cannot be sold. Believe me—you do not want one of these.”
    “But I do!” I cried. “They’re awesome! They’re the best masks I’ve ever seen.
Halloween is only a few days away. I need one. I need one desperately. Please—!”
    “No!” the man shouted sharply. “Not for sale.”
    “But why not?” I wailed.
    He eyed me thoughtfully. “Too real,” he replied. “The masks are too real.”
    “But that’s why they’re so awesome!” I exclaimed. “Please? Please? Take my money. Here.” I pushed the wad of
bills toward him.
    He didn’t reply. Instead, he turned away. His cape swirled behind him. “Come
with me, young man.”
    “Huh? Where?” Cold fear ran down my back. I was still holding the money out
in front of me.
    “Come upstairs with me. I’m going to call your parents.”
    “No!” I shrieked. “Please—!”
    If my mom and dad found out I got caught breaking into the basement of a
store, they would go totally ballistic! They’d ground me for life! I’d miss this
Halloween—and the next thirty Halloweens to come!
    The man eyed me coldly. “I don’t want to call the police,” he said softly.
“I’d rather call your parents.”
    “Please…” I murmured again, climbing to my feet.
    I suddenly had an