by R. L. Stine
“He does not.”
“I should know, Hannah,” Cindy replied smugly. “Gil and I went out for six months and you’ve only been going with him for one.”
Gretchen could see that Cindy’s remark was like a slap in the face to Hannah. Hannah left Gil’s side and stormed into the kitchen.
Gretchen hurried after her. She found Hannah by the sink. She could see Hannah was upset. Her whole body was trembling.
“Don’t let Cindy get to you,” Gretchen advised. “She’s just jealous because Gil’s going out with you now.”
“I’ve known Cindy all my life and sometimes I hate her so much,” Hannah said through gritted teeth. “She thinks because she’s pretty and blond, she can get everything she wants. It’s not fair, Gretchen. It’s just not fair!”
“You’re not upset because Cindy is flirting with Gil, are you? There’s something else.”
“Yes,” Hannah reluctantly admitted.
“Want to tell me?”
“Cindy won the college scholarship I applied for,” Hannah whispered.
Gretchen’s heart ached for Hannah. She knew how much Hannah had been relying on that scholarship.
For weeks she’d been on pins and needles waiting to hear if she’d won it.
“I’m sorry,” Gretchen said softly.
Hannah turned away from the sink, facing Gretchen. “Her father has loads of money. He can afford to send her to any college she wants to go to. My parents can’t. That scholarship was my only chance!”
“But didn’t you apply for other scholarships?”
“That’s not the point!” Hannah snapped. “Cindy wasn’t even interested in that scholarship until she heard I was applying for it. It’s been that way ever since we were kids.”
Hannah uttered an angry sigh. “Cindy thinks she can get whatever she wants, no matter who she hurts. Well, she can’t! Sometimes I wish she was dead!”
Gretchen gasped. She had never seen Hannah so angry.
Hannah was always so warm and sensitive. She never said mean things about people—even when they deserved it.
But staring at Hannah now, Gretchen felt a chill. Her friend’s face was a mask of bitter anger.
“You don’t mean that,” Gretchen whispered.
Hannah sighed. “Don’t I? Don’t I?”
Chapter
8
“Hey, did you guys get lost in the kitchen or something?” Patrick cried as Gretchen and Hannah returned to the front room. “We thought we were going to have to send out a search team.”
“So, what’s next?” Marco asked.
“It’s time to open my presents!” Cindy gleefully announced.
“There they are.” Patrick pointed to the pile of gifts near the fireplace. “Go for it.”
Cindy hurried over to the presents. Gretchen took a seat on the couch to get a good view.
Gretchen watched her pick a small box wrapped in pink foil from the top of the pile and shake it. Then Cindy tore off the gift card and read it aloud. “From Gretchen,” she announced. “Let’s see. What could this be?”
She ripped off the paper and opened the box. “Great earrings. Thanks, Gretchen,” she called out.
Before Gretchen could reply, Cindy tossed the box aside and was eagerly opening her next gift. A bottle of perfume from Hannah.
“I love this perfume. Too bad it makes me break out,” she said.
She grabbed up the next present from Gil and Jackson. An envelope containing two tickets to a rock concert.
Everybody Gretchen knew was dying to see that show. But Cindy didn’t look too excited about it. “Hey, thanks, guys. Cool gift,” Cindy said. She dropped the tickets on top of her present pile.
Cindy is so self-centered and spoiled, Gretchen thought as she watched Cindy tear open her gifts. Everyone put a lot of time and thought into her presents, and she doesn’t even appreciate it.
“Hey, Cindy! I’m real sorry!” Patrick suddenly said. “I forgot to wrap your gift. I’ll have to give it to you later, okay?”
“Sure.” Cindy shrugged. She reached for the last box. A large white one.
Gretchen watched Cindy shake the large box. She noticed that there wasn’t any paper on the outside. Just a red stick-on bow on top.
Gretchen read the words scrawled on the top of the box in black marker: “To Cindy. From Marco.”
“The last present is yours,” Cindy told Marco as she shook the box. “I wonder what it is.”
“Open it and see,” he encouraged.
Cindy ripped off the red bow and lifted the lid of the box. She peeked inside—and her mouth dropped open in disgust.
“Ohhhh. Gross!” she moaned.
Chapter
9
“Yuck!” Cindy made a disgusted face.
“Hey, you’re welcome,” Marco laughed. “If you don’t like them, I’ll take them back.”
Cindy turned to Gretchen and Hannah. “He gave me a bunch of slasher movies,” she announced. She picked a videotape out of the box and read the title. “Bloodfest 4.”
Gretchen stared at the video. The cover had a picture of a half-dressed girl shrinking away from a long dagger, dripping blood.
Cindy groaned and made a face. “Ugh! How can any normal person watch that stuff?”
Gretchen just shrugged. She couldn’t believe how rude Cindy was being. Why couldn’t she pretend to like Marco’s gift instead of hurting his feelings?
“If you don’t want the videos, can I have them?” Patrick asked. “I’ll add them to my collection.”
Cindy waved a hand. “They’re yours.”
“I don’t believe her,” Marco muttered, shaking his head.
Gretchen glanced around the room at her friends. Everyone looked sort of down. And this was supposed to be a great night. Their awesome all-night party.
“How about some music?” Gretchen suggested. “It’s way too quiet in here!”
“Good idea. Let’s crank it up. There’s no one around to complain,” Gil said.
Gretchen inserted a CD into the portable CD player and turned the volume as high as it would go. A heavy rock-and-roll beat filled the room. She felt the wooden floorboards vibrating under her feet.
“Excellent!” Hannah cried over the noise. She grabbed Gil by the hand and pulled him up to dance.
“Come on, Gretchen,” Marco urged.
“I don’t feel like it. Maybe later,” Gretchen stammered. “I feel sort of tired,” she added.
“Tired?” Marco cried. “You can’t be tired. This is an all-night party!”
Before Gretchen could refuse again, Marco took her by the arm and started dancing. Gretchen gave up and started to dance, too.
As they danced, Gretchen could see Cindy’s eyes locked on Gil and Hannah. Gil was whispering in her ear and Hannah had a smile on her face.
Gretchen wondered if Cindy was sorry she had broken up with Gil. She knew that Cindy had been the one to drop him.
It happened because Gil got into serious trouble. Some guys he used to hang out with decided to steal a car.
Cindy’s parents went ballistic when they found out. A few days later, Cindy broke up with Gil.
After that, Gil and Hannah started going out.
Gretchen couldn’t understand Hannah’s attraction to Gil. Sure, he was cute enough, with his high cheekbones, blue eyes, and jet-black hair.
But he wasn’t such a prize. Who wanted a boyfriend who was constantly coming on to his ex-girlfriend?
Gretchen’s eyes drifted away from Gil and Hannah. Patrick was stuffing his face with another hot dog.
Jackson leaned against the wall next to the fireplace. His arms were crossed over his chest.
His dark eyes were riveted on her.
Watching.
Following her every move.
Chapter
10
The song ended. Gretchen pulled away from Marco.
“I’m going outside to get some more wood for the fire,” she said.
/> “Want some help?” he offered.
Gretchen knew if Marco tagged along, they wouldn’t be gathering wood. He’d want the two of them to find a private spot and make out.
The thought made her stomach knot.
“No thanks,” Gretchen replied. What she really wanted was to get away from Marco—and Jackson—for a while.
She was really beginning to feel trapped inside the little cabin.
Grabbing a flashlight off the fireplace mantel, Gretchen headed for the door. She could feel Jackson’s gaze following her, but she didn’t turn around.
“We’ll walk out with you,” Hannah called. “Gil and I are going down to the boat dock to look at the stars.”
Gretchen rolled her eyes. Who did Hannah think she was fooling?
There weren’t any stars out. It was so obvious. She and Gil were going to make out.
“I’m not budging an inch,” Patrick sighed from the couch. “I ate too many hot dogs.” He burped loudly.
“Better make room for dessert,” Hannah said. “We’re going to cut Cindy’s birthday cake when we get back.”
“Do you know what you’re going to wish for?” Gretchen asked Cindy.
Cindy stared at Gil with determination. “I know exactly what I’m going to wish for.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Gil replied. “You just might get it.”
Cindy smiled coyly. “I’ll take that chance.”
Hannah tugged impatiently on Gil’s arm. “Come on, Gil. Let’s go.”
After lacing up her hiking boots, Gretchen snagged her denim jacket from the coatrack. She slipped into it and stepped onto the porch.
Gretchen took a deep breath. She felt surrounded by the night’s deep, velvety silence. So peaceful. So quiet. So different from inside the cabin.
She suddenly wished she didn’t have to go back.
Back to Marco.
Back to Jackson.
Gretchen stared up at the sky. It had stopped raining, but thick clouds still hovered above. Another storm was approaching.
I’d better get the firewood before it starts raining again, she thought.
Clicking on her flashlight, Gretchen hurried down the porch steps and made her way alongside the cabin to a nearby shed. She found a few pieces of wood inside and picked them up.
As she approached the back of the cabin, she heard loud voices. From in the kitchen.
Gretchen felt embarrassed eavesdropping. But she couldn’t resist.
She moved closer to the cabin wall and stood just below the kitchen window.
She couldn’t see inside. The window was too high. But she heard the voices clearly.
Two voices.
Male and female.
Raised and angry.
She recognized Cindy’s voice. But who was the boy?
She listened more closely.
Jackson.
But what could they be arguing about? Cindy and Jackson were only casual friends—weren’t they?
Gretchen listened hard. She couldn’t make out any words, but the argument sounded angry.
Then she heard a sharp sound that made her gasp in surprise.
A slap.
Chapter
11
Was it a slap?
Yes. Cindy cried out.
Alarmed, Gretchen lurched away from the window.
What should she do? Go back inside and check it out?
No. It wasn’t any of her business.
Besides, Patrick and Marco were still inside. If things got out of control between Cindy and Jackson, one of them would break it up.
Gretchen hurried away from the cabin. With the beam from her flashlight leading the way, she moved deeper into the forest, needing a little more time away from everyone.
As she walked on, the light flickered and grew dim. She could barely see the trees in front of her.
Oh, no, Gretchen thought. The flashlight is dying.
She shook the flashlight until the batteries rattled. The beam of light grew strong again, and Gretchen sighed with relief.
I guess I’d better head back for the cabin. I don’t want to get caught out here in the dark with no way of finding my way back.
But before Gretchen could turn around, the light went out.
“Great,” Gretchen muttered.
She flicked the switch back and forth. She jiggled the batteries.
Nothing happened.
Gretchen sighed. She tried not to panic.
Ever since she was a little girl, she had been afraid of the dark.
Afraid of something lurking in the shadows.
Waiting.
Watching.
Stop it! she scolded herself. Stop scaring yourself.
Still, Gretchen didn’t like being by herself.
Especially with an escaped prisoner on the loose.
She turned and started walking back in the darkness.
As she walked, Gretchen listened to the sounds of the forest. The hooting of an owl. The chirping of crickets.
Then, far up ahead, through the trembling branches, Gretchen could see the lights from the cabin.
Okay, it’s not so far. I can make it.
Then she heard something else.
A scraping sound.
Up ahead of her.
Gretchen stopped. “Who’s there?” she called out.
No answer.
“Is anyone there?” she called again.
Still no answer.
“Marco, if that’s you, I don’t think it’s funny,” Gretchen called into the darkness.
No answer.
The scraping grew louder.
Gretchen felt her body trembling with fear. She held her breath and listened.
Something was out there.
Coming closer.
The sound vanished. Gretchen’s body sagged in relief. She took a gulp of air.
No one’s there. I’m freaking out over nothing. It was only an animal. That’s all.
She searched for the cabin lights again. But she couldn’t see them through the thick brush.
It’s out there, somewhere, she reassured herself. I know it.
She took a few steps forward, but stopped when another sound ripped through the silence of the night.
The sound of breathing.
Human breathing.
“Who’s there?” Gretchen cried out.
No answer.
But the breathing grew heavier.
Gretchen’s mouth turned dry. She stopped and leaned against a tree trunk. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs.
If it was Hannah or Gil or anyone else from the cabin, they’d answer.
Unless…
Unless it wasn’t someone from the cabin.
And if it wasn’t one of her friends…
Gretchen’s stomach tightened as she realized who it might be.
The escaped prisoner.
I’ve got to run, she decided. But before she could move, a figure leapt out of the woods.
And grabbed her.
Chapter
12
Gretchen opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.
Marco laughed.
“Gotcha again!” he exclaimed, holding her tightly.
“You idiot!” Gretchen shrieked.
She furiously pounded her fists on his chest. “You’re sick! You’re really sick!”
“Whoa—calm down,” Marco protested. “It was only a joke.”
“Joke? I told you about the escaped prisoner! What were you thinking?”
“Gretchen, lighten up.”
“Let me go!” Gretchen cried, struggling to break away from him. “Let me go!”
Marco dropped his arms and backed away. “What’s your problem? All night long you’ve been avoiding me. You act as if you don’t even want me here.”
“I don’t!” Gretchen blurted out.
“Huh?”
“You weren’t supposed to be here. I purposely didn’t invite you,” she ad
mitted.
Marco’s face grew tight as he stared at Gretchen. She’d seen that expression before. Right before he lost his temper.
Gretchen braced herself and watched his reaction.
“What did I do?” Marco asked.
“Nothing,” Gretchen replied, shaking her head. “It’s just that—” She stopped. She didn’t know how to explain.
But she had to tell him. “Listen, I didn’t invite you because I didn’t want to see you. I guess I don’t want to see you anymore.”
“Huh?” Marco took a step toward Gretchen. She backed away from him.
“What’s the matter, Gretchen?” Marco asked. He sneered at her. “Scared of me?”
“No. No, I’m not,” she replied, taking another step back.
His hand reached into the back pocket of his jeans. He pulled out a slim, shiny metal object.
Her eyes widened with shock and her breath caught in her throat.
A switchblade glistened in the palm of his hand.
Marco pressed a button, and the blade snapped out.
“What are you doing with that thing?” Gretchen cried. “Put it away.”
“I need it,” Marco answered quietly. “I need it.”
Gretchen inched away from Marco. She tried not to stare at the knife in his hand. But she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Marco,” Gretchen whispered. “Honest. Maybe I’m not so good at explaining these things. But we’re not right for each other. Can’t you see?”
Marco didn’t answer. He moved closer to Gretchen.
“I’ve used this knife before, and I’m going to use it again,” he whispered. “Tonight.”
Tonight?
“Marco—no!” Gretchen shrieked.
Marco swung his hand up high.
And plunged the knife into Gretchen’s chest.
Chapter
13
With a groan, Gretchen shut her eyes and waited for the stab of pain.
Her hands shot up to her chest.
She felt nothing. Nothing at all.
A sharp, slicing sound made her open her eyes.
“Ohh!” she cried out, realizing that Marco hadn’t stabbed her.
He had stabbed the switchblade into the bark of a tree behind her.