Free Fear Hall: The Beginning by R.L. Stine, Franco Accornero Page B

dry. My throat ached. Every muscle in my body quivered.
    I wiped sweat off my forehead with the sleeve of my nightshirt. Took deep breaths. Slower. Slower.
    Waited for my breathing to return to normal. And listened.
    Could I hear Eden’s gagged protests through the closet door? Could I hear the thud of her feet kicking the closet floor?
    No.
    Silence in the room now. Silence except for my wheezing breaths.
    Now what?
I asked myself.
    What do I do now?
    The fever had gone down. The heat had evaporated. Slipped away. I began to see clearly again.
    And to think clearly.
    Now what? Now what?
    I can’t hide her in the closet forever.
    What will I tell Angel and Jasmine?
    Why did I do this? What was I thinking?
    Maybe I should tell Darryl what I’ve done, I decided. Maybe he will have an idea of what to do next.
    â€œNo!” I cried out loud. “No!” I tugged the sides of my hair with both hands.
    Darryl will only want to kill her.
    Darryl thinks killing is the solution to all his problems. He has no other ideas.
    And I can’t allow that. I can’t. Eden is my friend, after all. One of my best friends.
    So I can’t tell Darryl. And I can’t tell Angel and Jasmine.
    So what can I do?
    I shut my eyes, struggling to think clearly.
    A sound across the room made me open them.
    â€œHuh?” I stared at the figure in the open doorway.
    Melanie.
    Melanie staring across the room at me, her mouth open, her eyes wide.
    How long had she been there? How much had she seen?

chapter 23
    â€œT he—the door was open,” Melanie stammered.
    â€œOh.” I stood up straight, pulling down my nightshirt. I could feel my face growing hot, and I knew I was blushing.
    Had she seen me drag Eden into the closet? Had she?
    I brushed my hair back from my forehead. It was matted down with sweat. “Hot in here,” I muttered.
    Melanie narrowed her eye» at me. “Are you okay?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s just so … hot,” I replied. “I don’t know. Maybe I have a temperature or something.”
    I turned my gaze to the closet door. Had I closed it all the way?
    How long had Melanie been standing there? Would I have to drag
her
into the closet too?
    Crazy question. But I still wasn’t thinking clearly. I still hadn’t caught my balance.
    â€œWhat do you want?” I blurted out. It sounded more hostile than I’d planned. “I mean … it’s kind of a busy morning,” I added. “I… overslept and—”
    â€œI just wanted to remind you about the dorm meeting tonight,” Melanie replied, still eyeing me suspiciously. “We’re going to try to get some answers about campus safety.”
    â€œGood,” I muttered.
    Melanie shook her head. “Two murders. Two kids killed so viciously,” she said with emotion. “It’s so awful. Can you imagine what their parents must be going through?”
    â€œNo,” I replied in a whisper, lowering my eyes. “I can’t imagine.”
    â€œI—I’m scared to walk across The Triangle at night,” Melanie confessed. She shuddered. Her dark bangs shuddered with her.
    She wore a navy-blue wool sweater pulled down over black leggings. She looked as perfect as ever.
    I brushed my hair back with my hands again. I knew I looked as if a hurricane had blown over me.
    â€œAnyway, we hope to get some answers tonight,” she said. “The dean promised to come. And someone from the local police. And the director of campus security.”
    â€œThat’s good,” I repeated awkwardly.
    â€œIt’s at seven tonight, Downstairs in the lobby,” she told me.
    â€œOkay. I’ll be there,” I replied. “I—I hope they catch the guy soon. We’re all total wrecks here.”
    Again, she narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you sure you’re okay, Hope?”
    I nodded. “Yeah. Sure. Just fine. I just have to get cleaned