Free Nightmare in Niceville by Amberle Cianne Page A

hands along the sticky and crumb-filled ground. No one spoke, not even Rachel, which was very surprising.
    Suddenly, there was a bang on the door and light poured into the dark room. Everyone froze. The light disappeared and everything was deathly silent. If someone was in here, I couldn’t hear their footsteps. Even if they were loud, I couldn’t hear anything over the pounding of my own heartbeat in my ears. A scuffling noise erupted through the awful silence, and I heard someone grunt. I felt my body lift into the air, and before I knew it, I was running. Scott was pulling me toward the exit of the theater. I didn’t know where everyone else went, but as long as I was with Scott I felt safe.
    Scott and I busted out of the theater and made an abrupt left turn into Theater Four. We ran halfway up the stairs, but he stopped. I looked past him and saw three more bodies sitting in their chairs as if they were still watching the movie. I gagged and my knees went weak. Scott grabbed me, helping me stand.
    Scott half-carried me down an aisle away from the bodies. He pulled me to the floor and lay down. As I lay down next to him, my hand brushed something sticky. I jerked away quickly, feeling bile rise in my throat.
    â€œWhere is everybody?” I whimpered.
    â€œI don’t know,” Scott whispered. “The second I heard someone coming, I grabbed you and ran. I’m sure everyone did the same. I’m sure they’re fine . . .” his voice trailed off.
    He suddenly scooted closer, took my face gently in his hands, and kissed me. It was just a small peck on the lips, but it made my face hot. My heart was already pounding in my chest from fear and running, and I was too scared to get butterflies.
    â€œSorry. I just wanted to make my feelings clear, in case you hadn’t noticed,” Scott whispered.
    â€œIts fine. I feel the same way,” I whispered back.
    He looked into my eyes, his forehead creased with worry. “I wanted to talk to you at school, but things just kept getting in the way. I was finally going to ask you out on a date tonight. So we could talk, ya know?” He was stuttering over his words. I giggled quietly, strange considering what was going on around us.
    â€œBut with what’s happened I . . . I feel rushed. And I’m not letting this get in the way, not anything else. Lily?” My heart fluttered when he said my name.
    â€œIf . . . when we make it out of here, will you honor me with a date?” he smiled. I quietly gasped. His smile was gorgeous.
    I thought back to Mrs. Earn’s seventh-grade math class. I was sitting next to Mark Halloway. Mark had tapped me on the arm and tossed a note onto my desk. Confused, I’d looked over at him. Mark jerked his thumb to the right. I leaned forward and saw Scott looking at me with a tiny smile on his face. I blushed and scooted down in my seat to read the note:
    Lily, do you want to get ice cream after school today?
    Under the question were two boxes where I could check “yes” or “no.” I was stunned. I’d looked back at Scott, and my eyes must have been ten times their normal size. Why would he want to hang out with me? I mean, we had talked at lunch and in the hall, but I had never guessed that he wanted to spend time with me. Scott had the biggest smile on his face. His teeth were dazzling next to his tan skin. I remembered my face heating up. I checked “yes,” then slid the paper under my work. But Mrs. Earn had been quicker.
    â€œLily! Would you like to share with the class what your little note says?” she screeched.
    â€œIt’s just a doodle,” I said and ripped up the paper.
    â€œYou’re lucky I don’t give you detention!” she said and turned back to the board. I scrunched into my seat, trying to be invisible. I didn’t look at anyone, not even Scott. Maybe that was why we never got ice cream.
    As I stared at him in the dark of the