Free The Evil Lives! by R.L. Stine Page B

along.
    They staggered apart, almost whimpering with fear. Amanda’s arm shot up as she tried to keep her balance. The flashlight beam waved wildly over Janine’s terrified eyes, the twisted tree branches, the soggy path.
    And Dustin’s face.
    â€œDustin!” Amanda cried.
    â€œHuh?” Janine gasped. When she saw Dustin, she sagged against Amanda, shaking all over.
    Dustin shaded his eyes against the beam of the flashlight. “You want to take that thing out of my face before I go blind?”
    Amanda lowered the light. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “You scared us to death!”
    â€œI didn’t mean to,” Dustin protested. He wore his maroon-and-white letter jacket and an old baseball cap over his sandy hair.
    Janine straightened up and tucked her tangled hair behind her ears. “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you call out or something?”
    â€œSorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Dustin stuffed his hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders against the chill. “What are you two doing here?”
    â€œYou first,” Amanda insisted. “What did you do—follow us?”
    â€œSort of,” he admitted.
    Janine snorted. “How can you ‘sort of’ follow somebody? Either you did or you didn’t.”
    â€œOkay, I did.” Dustin stepped closer to Amanda. “I have to talk to you,” he told her. “I tried to get to you after the pep rally, but the place had gone wild. Andthen I saw you and Janine leaving, so I came after you. I had to.”
    â€œThis isn’t exactly a good time. Or place,” Amanda snapped, taking a step back.
    â€œDon’t!” Dustin cried sharply. “Don’t run away from me. We have to talk! Now.”
    Amanda froze, frightened by the intense expression in his eyes. “Please, Dustin. I’m cold and tired and freaked out about Natalie. We can talk later. You can call me.”
    Dustin shook his head. “Now,” he repeated.
    â€œThis sounds like a major personal discussion,” Janine declared as she started down the path. “I really don’t want any part of it.”
    â€œNo—wait, Janine,” Amanda called. “I’m coming with you.”
    Janine stopped and glanced back, waiting.
    Amanda began to step around Dustin.
    He quickly moved in front of her, blocking her way.
    â€œDustin, I want to go home,” Amanda told him.
    â€œI’ll drive you,” he offered. “We’ll talk in the car.”
    â€œI don’t want to talk now!” she cried. “Get out of my way.”
    Amanda tried to step around him again, but he blocked her path.
    â€œMove!” she shouted angrily. “Dustin, move!” Furious and frightened, she wrenched her arm free and shoved him.
    Dustin staggered back.
    Amanda began to dart around him. But her left foot slid out from under her.
    She struggled to keep her balance, but the soft muck slithered underneath her feet and she began to fall.
    Her heels slid over the mud.
    She screamed and waved her arms wildly.
    But her hands grasped only air.
    Screaming again, Amanda toppled back—and plunged straight down into the gaping hole of Sarah Fear’s grave.

Chapter 18

GOOD-BYE, AMANDA
    A manda landed flat on her back with a force that knocked her breath out.
    Paralyzed, she squeezed her eyes shut.
    A warm current of air flowed around her, making her feel as if she were tucked in bed under a soft comforter.
    Not in bed, she told herself in a sudden panic. I’m in a coffin. Sarah Fear’s coffin!
    Her eyes snapped open. Her breath came rushing back. She gagged at the putrid, rotting smell.
    Clumps of muddy earth slipped from the sides of the grave and fell into the coffin. One landed on Amanda’s chest, another on her face.
    With a scream of terror, she grabbed fistfuls of the stinking dirt and flung it away.
    â€œAmanda!” Dustin peered