Free Halloween Party by R.L. Stine Page A

inspection, to be the head of a mannequin, covered with catsup.
    After he had got over his fright, Terry found the pendant around the mannequin’s neck. He’d laughed and added it to the rest of his loot.
    He heard a couple of other treasure hunters coming his way, then remembered that Justine had said her uncle Philip was preparing some surprises in the attic. He searched and found a narrow staircase leading upstairs.
    Mounting the dark, creaky stairs to the attic, his heart thudded with anticipation and a little thrill of fear. What treasures would he find up there? What scares? This was definitely the best party he’d ever been to.
    The attic was small and dusty, and filled with old boxes and trunks. Terry realized, from the thick layer of dust on the boxes and trunks, that they had been sealed up long ago.
    He switched on the overhead light and spotted a closet door. A perfect place to hide items on the list, he thought.
    Grinning to himself, Terry pulled open the door, then stopped and stared in shock.
    â€œNo! Oh, please— no! ”
    The room went white. Terry’s breath caught in his throat.
    He gripped the closet door to hold himself up and stared into the shadowy cubicle.
    â€œAlex? Alex?” he cried.
    Hanging from a rope was the limp body of the Silver Prince, his neck bent at an impossible angle. Sticky red blood was splattered over the front of the beautiful costume. It puddled onto the closet floor.
    Drip, drip, drip . . .

chapter

9
    I t’s another trick, Terry told himself.
    Please. Oh, please—let it be another trick.
    But the silver costume was real. And the blood continued to drip as he watched.
    Drip, drip, drip.
    A steady rhythm he knew he’d remember for the rest of his life.
    He was still staring at the bent form of his friend, trying to get the strength to go for someone, when he heard a voice behind him. “Whatcha got—oh, no!”
    It was David, horror on his face.
    â€œI just found him,” Terry said, his voice and hands shaking. “Maybe it’s another trick.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said David. “Don’t touch him. I’ll go for help.”
    â€œI’m coming with you.” Terry didn’t want to spend another second with Alex’s corpse.
    On the way down the stairs they ran into Ricky,Trisha, and Les. Quickly David told them what Terry had found.
    â€œWe’ve got to call an ambulance!” said Trisha. “Maybe he’s only hurt.”
    â€œIt’s more than that,” said David. “You didn’t see him. His neck—all the blood . . . ”
    Terry shuddered, remembering the ruined costume. He had had his problems with Alex, sure, but no one deserved to have something so terrible happen to him.
    â€œAt least call the police!” said Les.
    â€œFirst let’s tell Justine and her uncle what happened,” said David. “They’ll know what to do.”
    Justine and her uncle were sitting in front of the fireplace, talking together in low tones. When the frightened guests burst into the living room and explained what had happened, Justine jumped up at once, concern radiating from her lovely face.
    â€œYou call the police,” Philip told Justine. “I’ll see what the situation is.”
    â€œWait, Uncle Philip!” said Justine. “No police—yet.” Philip nodded and together with the others they ran up the two flights of stairs to the attic.
    â€œIt’s in here,” said Terry, leading the others to the closet. He braced himself for what he knew he was going to see and pulled open the door.
    There was nothing at all inside the closet.
    â€œI don’t believe this!” he cried.
    â€œWhere is he?” asked David at the same moment.
    â€œVery funny,” said Trisha angrily. “For your information, Terry, you’re not supposed to pull tricks on members of your own team!