Free The Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith

stepped back as he put a hand on the sill and vaulted through. Matt followed him, then Meredith. Bonnie, who was wearing a mini, remained outside with Damon. She wished she’d worn jeans to school today, but then she hadn’t known she’d be going on an expedition.
    “You shouldn’t be here,” Vickie said to Stefan, almost calmly. “He’s coming to get me. He’ll get you too.”
    Meredith put an arm around her. Stefan just said, “Who?”
    “Him. He comes to me in my dreams. He killed Sue.” Vickie’s matter-of-fact tone was more frightening than any hysteria could have been.
    “Vickie, we’ve come to help you,” Meredith said gently. “Everything’s going to be all right now. We won’t let him hurt you, I promise.”
    Vickie swung around to stare at her. Shelooked Meredith up and down as if Meredith had suddenly changed into something unbelievable. Then she began to laugh.
    It was awful, a hoarse burst of mirth like a hacking cough. It went on and on until Bonnie wanted to cover her ears. Finally Stefan said, “Vickie, stop it.”
    The laughter died into something like sobs, and when Vickie lifted her head again, she looked less glassy eyed but more genuinely upset. “You’re all going to die, Stefan,” she said, shaking her head. “No one can fight him and live.”
    “We need to know about him so we
can
fight him. We need your help,” Stefan said. “Tell me what he looks like.”
    “I can’t see him in my dreams. He’s just a shadow without a face.” Vickie whispered it, her shoulders hunching.
    “But you saw him at Caroline’s house,” Stefan said insistently. “Vickie, listen to me,” he added as the girl turned away sharply. “I know you’re frightened, but this is important, more important than you can understand. We can’t fight him unless we know what we’re upagainst, and you are the only one, the
only
one right now who has the information we need. You have to help us.”
    “I can’t
remember
—”
    Stefan’s voice was unyielding. “I have a way to help you remember,” he said. “Will you let me try?”
    Seconds crawled by, then Vickie gave a long, bubbling sigh, her body sagging. “Do whatever you want,” she said indifferently. “I don’t care. It won’t make any difference.”
    “You’re a brave girl. Now look at me, Vickie. I want you to relax. Just look at me and relax.” Stefan’s voice dropped to a lulling murmur. It went on for a few minutes, and then Vickie’s eyes drooped shut.
    “Sit down.” Stefan guided her to sit on the bed. He sat beside her, looking into her face. “Vickie, you feel calm and relaxed now. Nothing you remember will hurt you,” he said, his voice soothing. “Now, I need you to go back to Saturday night. You’re upstairs, in the master bedroom of Caroline’s house. Sue Carson is with you, and someone else. I need you to see—”
    “No!” Vickie twisted back and forth as iftrying to escape something. “No! I can’t—”
    “Vickie, calm down. He won’t hurt you. He can’t see you, but you can see him. Listen to me.”
    As Stefan spoke, Vickie’s whimpers quieted. But she still thrashed and writhed.
    “You
need
to see him, Vickie. Help us fight him. What does he look like?”
    “He looks like the devil!”
    It was almost a scream. Meredith sat on Vickie’s other side and took her hand. She looked out through the window at Bonnie who looked back wide eyed and shrugged slightly. Bonnie had no idea what Vickie was talking about.
    “Tell me more,” Stefan said evenly.
    Vickie’s mouth twisted. Her nostrils were flared as if she were smelling something awful. When she spoke, she got out each word separately as if they were making her sick.
    “He wears … an old raincoat. It flaps around his legs in the wind. He makes the wind blow. His hair is blond. Almost white. It stands up all over his head. His eyes are so blue—electric blue.” Vickie licked her lips and swallowed, looking nauseated. “Blue is the color of