Free The Final Nightmare by Rodman Philbrick Page A

shadows.
    The image of Steve’s grin stayed behind my eyes like a photographic negative.
    In a panic we shone our flashlights in every direction.
    Cackling laughter sprang up and taunted us from every direction. Surrounded by the awful noise we huddled together, afraid to move.
    HEEEEE-HEEEE-HEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
    â€œ Get out! ” screamed the witch-ghost. “ Get out or die! ”
    â€œThere!” screamed Steve.
    Lucy and I pointed our flashlights. I caught a flash of black material slipping into the darkness, then lost it.
    Our light beams were shaking. My knees, too. I was ready to give up. I swept my flashlight around, looking for the stairs.
    Then something soft hit my face! I couldn’t see! I was blinded.
    The smell of death was filling my head and choking off my air.
    My breath stopped. Dead air flowed down my throat and froze my lungs.
    â€œAhhhh!” screamed Steve. “She got me!”
    I shook my head wildly but the clingy stuff stuck to my face.
    Then something grabbed my shoulder. In a panic I flailed my arms and jerked away.
    There were grunts of pain and rustling noises everywhere.
    â€œJason! Stop!” shouted Lucy. “Stay still.”
    I felt the soft, moldy stuff sliding across my face and then Lucy pulled it free. I gulped in air.
    â€œIt’s throwing things at us,” cried Lucy, holding up the dusty black scarf she’d pulled off my face.
    â€œShe hit me with a shoe,” shouted Steve. He was swinging away with his bat but not hitting anything. “The heel got me right in the eye!”
    â€œWait, Steve,” I said, grabbing his arm.
    His chest heaved.
    Anger raged in me like a fire. “Save your strength,” I said through clenched teeth. “We’re going to get her.”
    I hefted the fire extinguisher. “You two sweep the walls. And when you catch her in the light, keep her there!”
    Lucy and Steve nodded grimly.
    We advanced along the walls and shone our lights into every corner.
    â€œCome and get us, witch!” taunted Steve.
    â€œWe know you killed poor little Bobby!” Lucy added.
    â€œWe’re not afraid of you!” I joined in.
    But the witch-thing stayed out of sight.
    â€œMaybe if we go back to work,” I whispered. “Like we’re not afraid of anything.”
    â€œYeah,” said Steve, heaving a deep shaky breath. “That’ll bring her out.”
    We opened some more boxes. Lucy kept biting her lip and looking over her shoulder.
    I knew exactly how she felt. I was strung so tight I felt like another loud noise would snap me in two.
    Something squealed in pain. “ EEEeee —”
    The cry was cut off suddenly. We heard the sound of small bones crunching. Then low laughter came out of the dark.
    â€œ That was a rat, ” spoke the witch in a voice that echoed off the ceiling and floor. “ Next time it will be you .”
    Steve swung his light up while Lucy and I stood frozen in shock.
    We knew the creature wasn’t kidding. It wanted to squash us like rats.
    â€œThere,” yelled Steve. “There she is!”

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    â€œOver there!” cried Steve. “She disappeared behind those boxes!”
    Steve lunged after the witch, dragging Lucy and me with him. He started prodding boxes with his bat, a frown of furious concentration on his face.
    I kept my flashlight aimed over his shoulder, searching the darkness.
    â€œMaybe this isn’t such a good idea,” said Lucy, hanging back.
    â€œI know she’s there,” said Steve. “Unless she got on her broomstick and flew away, she’s back there somewhere.”
    â€œYes, but—” began Lucy.
    She didn’t get a chance to finish because a large box came shooting off the top of a tall stack, aimed right for Steve’s head.
    I gave him a shove but not quick enough. The box hit him and Steve went down with a painful OOOMF!
    The witch cackled with triumph.
    Something about that