The Haunted Mask II Read Online Free PDF Page B

idea.
    I could make a run for it.
    I glanced quickly at the concrete stairs leading up to the trapdoor. If I
took off—and really flew—I could get up those stairs before the man could
reach me.
    The trapdoor was shut. But it probably wasn’t locked. I could push it open
from underneath, and just keep running.
    I glanced again at the steps. It was worth a try, I decided.
    I took a deep breath and held it.
    Then I silently counted to three.
    One… two… THREE!
    On three, I took off. My heart thudded louder than my sneakers on the hard
floor. But I made it to the stairs in about a second and a half!
    “Hey—stop!” I heard the caped man cry out in surprise. I could hear his
heavy steps as he plunged after me.
    “Stop, young man! Where are you going?”
    I didn’t slow down or glance back.
    I took the stairs two at a time.
    Yes! Yes! I’m getting away! I thought.
    As I reached the top, I shot out both hands—and pushed up on the trapdoor
with all of my might.
    It didn’t budge.

 
 
10
     
     
    “Ohh!” I let out a terrified moan.
    The caped man had reached the bottom of the steps. I could practically feel
his breath on the back of my neck.
    The door has got to open! I told myself. It’s got to!
    I took a deep breath. Then I heaved my shoulder against the door. I uttered a
desperate groan as I pushed.
    Pushed.
    The caped man made a grab for me.
    I felt his hand brush my ankle.
    I kicked the hand away. Then I shoved my shoulder hard against the trapdoor.
    And it opened.
    “Yes!” A happy cry escaped my throat as I scrambled out into the alley.
    The cold air rushed against my hot face. I stumbled over something hard—a
stone or a brick. I didn’t stop to look. I ran through the narrow alley, to the sidewalk in front
of the store.
    My eyes swept back and forth. I searched for Chuck. No sign of him.
    Had the caped man followed me out the trapdoor? Was he chasing after me?
    I turned back to the alley. And saw only darkness.
    Then I took off, running fast, my feet practically flying over the pavement.
I shot across the street. Bright lights washed over me. A car horn honked,
making me jump about a mile! The car roared past.
    “Hey, Steve—!”
    Chuck stepped out from behind a tall evergreen shrub. “You made it!”
    “Yeah. I made it,” I replied, gasping for breath.
    “I—I didn’t know what to do!” he stammered.
    I shook my head. “So you just stood here?”
    “I waited for you,” he said. “I was kind of scared.”
    Big help.
    “Get going,” I urged, glancing back across the street. “He may be chasing
us.”
    We ran side by side, our breath steaming up into the cold night air. The
houses and dark lawns whirred past in a gray-black blur. We didn’t say another
word to each other.
    Three blocks later, I slowed down as we reached Chuck’s house. I leaned over and tried to shake away the sharp pain in my
side. I always get a pain like that when I run more than a few blocks.
    “See you!” Chuck cried breathlessly. “Sorry you didn’t get your mask.”
    “Yeah. It’s too bad,” I murmured glumly.
    I watched him run along the side of his house until he disappeared around the
back. Then I took a deep breath and took off again, jogging now, toward my house
on the next block.
    My heart was still racing in my chest. But I was starting to feel calmer. The
man in the black cape didn’t chase after us. In a few seconds, I would be safe
in my own home.
    Halfway up our driveway, I slowed to a stop. The pain in my side had faded to
a dull ache.
    I stepped into the yellow light from the front porch. I could hear my dog
Sparky barking inside the house. Sparky knew I was home.
    As I climbed onto the front stoop, a smile crossed my face.
    A very wide smile.
    I was pleased with myself. In fact, I was overjoyed. I felt like leaping in
the air. Or maybe doing a wild, crazy dance. Or crowing like a rooster. Or
tilting back my head and howling at the moon.
    The evening had been a total