Free The Haunting Hour by R.L. Stine

curtains was a small window, shaped like a triangle, high on the yellow stone wall.
    I scrambled over the cushions to the wall. The window was over my head. But I grabbed the sill with both hands and pulled myself up.
    I looked outside. In the far distance a red sun was setting over low hills of yellow sand. I stared down to a brick courtyard far below. It was a steep drop straight down. Nothing to break my fall.
    It was a tight fit, and the window was tiny. But I had no choice. I had to try it. It was my only chance to keep my brain from being pulled out of my nose and my body from being wrapped in hot tar and gauze.
    Huddled on the narrow sill, I swung my legs out the window. Then I slowly pushed my head out…my chest…my arms.
    I took a deep breath—and jumped, landing hard on my feet.
    â€œ Ow .” Pain shot up from both ankles. My legs folded. I fell to the pavement.
    Get up! I ordered myself. No time to waste.
    Ignoring the pain, I climbed to my feet. I searched the courtyard. No one here. But I knew that the High Priest would soon be sendingall of his men after me.
    My eyes scanned the wall of the building. It seemed to stretch forever. Was that a doorway down near the far end?
    I took off, running despite the pain that throbbed from my ankles. I needed someplace to hide, someplace where I could think. Where I could try to figure out my next move.
    I ducked into the darkness of the open doorway. I blinked hard, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dim light.
    I saw torches on the walls. And then, in their darting light, I saw the mummy case.
    I was back in the chamber where they had found me. I took a deep breath and held it, trying to slow my racing heart. The mummy case glowed dully in the dancing torchlight.
    Suddenly I had an idea. A desperate idea. But an idea.
    My sweaty hands slipped on the stone as I hoisted myself into the mummy case. Quickly I stretched out on my back and crossed my hands over my chest.
    The High Priest said I’ve had dreams before, I thought.
    But this is the dream. This isn’t real. I’m dreaming now .
    I’m dreaming that I’m in ancient Egypt. I’m dreaming that I’m a Prince who is about to be mummified.
    If I can fall asleep, I can dream myself back. I can wake up back in Cincinnati where I belong. If I can fall asleep, I can get myself back to Joanna’s birthday party.
    I shut my eyes. The stone case felt cool on my hot body. I tried to force myself to relax.
    â€œPlease—let me wake up in that mummy case in the science museum,” I begged out loud. “Please—let me wake up in the twenty-first century. Let me wake up in that mummy case….”
    I forced myself to breathe slowly…slowly….
    I tried to clear my mind.
    Darkness washed over me. A soothing, calm darkness.
    I don’t know how long I slept. But as I awakened, I heard voices.
    I gazed up and saw a low green ceiling over my head.
    Yes!
    I’m back, I realized. I wished myself back to the twenty-first century. What a horrifying dream I had!
    I felt so happy, I wanted to jump up and dance around the museum.
    But for some reason I couldn’t move.
    Why can’t I move? I wondered.
    The voices came closer. They were right above me now.
    Kids poked their heads over the mummy case. They gazed down at me.
    Who are those kids? I don’t know them. Where are my friends?
    â€œ Ooh , gross,” a boy said, shrinking back from me.
    â€œSick,” a girl beside him groaned. “Look at the putrid stains. He’s all decayed.”
    Wait. Why are they saying that? I thought.
    â€œBet he has worms crawling in him,” a boy said.
    â€œThat’s disgusting.”
    The faces disappeared. I stared up at the ceiling, thinking hard.
    And I knew what had happened. It took me a while, but I figured it out.
    Yes, I was back in Cincinnati. Yes, I was in the mummy case in the science museum.
    â€œNo!” I wanted to scream. “No! It