Free Party Games by R. L. Stine Page A

ghost.”
    Eric’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?” Delia had never paid any attention to him before.
    She tugged at a strand of her white-blonde hair. “I watch Ghost Hunters every week,” she said. “It’s my favorite show.”
    â€œMaybe you’ll see ghosts on your scavenger hunt,” Brendan said. “This is the Fear family, after all. I know you all know the stories. We’re evil.”
    â€œSpeak for yourself,” Morgan chimed in.
    â€œBrendan is the most evil,” cousin Kenny said.
    Brendan ignored them. He held up a white envelope. “You all were given these envelopes at the door. Take them out now. This is your list of the things you need to find for the scavenger hunt.”
    I tore open my envelope and gazed down the list of objects:
    A bird skeleton
    A jar of silver bullets
    A mummy’s finger
    A black flower
    A stuffed rabbit
    A live tarantula
    Raven feathers
    A silver urn filled with ashes
    Totally weird.
    â€œYou’ll have to do a lot of exploring,” Brendan said over the muttered conversations around the room. “The objects you need to find have been hidden all over the house. And I have to apologize that a lot of the rooms and halls are dark. This is a summer house, and some of the generators have been turned off. Of course, finding things in the dark is more fun—right?”
    â€œDo you really have a mummy’s finger in this house?” April asked.
    Brendan nodded. “Doesn’t every house have a mummy’s finger?”
    â€œHey, how come Geena’s name is at the bottom of my list?” Eric demanded. “You mean I have to find Geena?”
    â€œEric, you’re at the bottom of my list,” Geena said, waving her piece of paper in front of him.
    â€œThat’s because you’re partners,” Brendan said. “We’re going to divide into twos. Your partner’s name is at the bottom of the page.”
    â€œYou mean I have to go into a dark room with Eric?” Geena cried.
    Patti pointed to Spider at the end of the line of kids. I guessed she and Spider were going to be partners. Could she stand to be separated from Kerry for an hour or more?
    â€œHey, Kenny and I are partners?” cousin Morgan said.
    â€œNo one else could stand to be with you,” Brendan said.
    â€œI can’t stand to be with him, either,” Kenny said.
    They gave each other playful shoves.
    â€œYour cousins are cute,” Delia said to Brendan. “If you shut your eyes.”
    Laughter all around.
    I raised my list and gazed at the name at the bottom of the page:
    Brendan .
    Brendan wanted me to be his partner.
    I knew this was an awesome party!
    Eric bumped up next to me. “Rachel, who’s your partner? Want to trade with Geena? Geena doesn’t like me. You and I—?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” I said. “Brendan is my partner.”
    Eric’s eyes went wide. He shouted: “Hey, Brendan—no fair. You can’t be in the game. You know where everything is hidden.”
    â€œNo, I don’t,” Brendan said. “I didn’t hide the objects. Some of the workers hid everything before you all arrived. I’m like you. I’m clueless. Really. I don’t know where anything is.”
    Some kids grumbled about that. “Brendan, who’s your partner?” Spider called.
    â€œRachel,” Brendan said.
    â€œOoh, Brendan—are you going to take Rachel up to the attic?” Delia said.
    That got a pretty good laugh. I could feel myself blushing. “No. I’m taking Brendan to the attic,” I said. It was a lame joke. But it made Brendan smile.
    â€œOkay, partner up, guys. We’ll meet back here in two hours,” Brendan said. “The team that collects the most items wins. If anyone gets lost, just scream for help. Probably, no one will hear you. But it’ll make you feel better.”
    He started toward me,