Halloween Party

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  The Stepsister excerpt

  About the Author

  chapter

  1

  The tombstone loomed gray in the moonlight, its edges eroded into irregular shapes. Thick moss covered the words etched into its surface, except for a line at the bottom.

  DIED OCTOBER 31, 1884

  Terry Ryan tried to step quickly past the ancient monument, but his girlfriend, Niki Meyer, pulled on his hand to stop him. “Look, Terry,” she said. “The person in this grave died on this same day over a hundred years ago.”

  Niki stepped closer, her flashlight casting a dim yellow arc of light on the gravestone. Terry pulled his jacket tighter. The wind howled, sounding like the wail of a creature long dead. Somewhere something scratched and rattled against stone.

  I don’t believe I’m standing in the middle of the Fear Street Cemetery at night, Terry thought. He took Niki’s hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze. She turned to him, her beautiful dark eyes bright with excitement. In her red gown and black cape she looked like a medieval princess.

  “I wonder who all these people were,” she said, gesturing at the crumbling gravestones.

  “Early settlers of Shadyside, probably,” said Terry. “Nobody’s been buried here for years.”

  “It’s spooky here,” Niki said. “But kind of beautiful too. How do you suppose all those stories got started, about the living dead coming out of their graves?”

  “Just stories,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  The wind gusted, and Terry saw Niki shiver inside her cape. They began walking again, and Terry picked a path through the weed-choked lanes between the grave markers. With their every step, the ground creaked, a sound like breaking bones. Somewhere above them the wind shrieked, tearing at a branch. Terry stole a glance at Niki. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement.

  The howling wind doesn’t bother Niki, Terry thought. Niki had been nearly deaf since an accident in second grade. But she spoke so clearly and read lips so well, most people didn’t even realize she had a handicap.

  Niki herself never acted as if she was different from other kids. She never wanted special treatment at all. In fact—just the opposite. Niki was always ready for adventure.

  But was she ready for tonight?

  They were almost at the end of the shortcut that led to the edge of the graveyard. Beyond the cemetery’s stone wall Terry could see the outline of the old Cameron mansion. The tall trees around it were whipping from side to side. From this distance it looked as if the house were slowly shaking itself.

  The wooden gate at the edge of the wall hung open. Without realizing it, Terry began to walk a little faster. Niki tugged on his hand again. “I dropped my mask back there,” she said. “It’ll just take a second to get it.”

  Holding the flashlight on her feet, Niki quickly retraced her steps. “Not so fast,” Terry called, then he remembered she couldn’t hear him. She ducked behind the tombstone she’d been examining. “I’ve got it!” she called.

  Terry slipped on a moss-covered rock, then quickly pulled himself up and headed to the tombstone. Even if the scary stories weren’t true, he didn’t want to let Niki out of his sight. He had almost reached the tombstone when a sudden high-pitched scream split the air.

  “Niki!” he called. His heart thudding, he lunged behind the tombstone. Niki was there, brushing the dirt off her black silk mask. “What’s wrong?” she asked when she saw his face.

  “I heard a—” The scream was repeated. “There it is again!” he said. He put his arm around Niki and held her tight.

  The sound had come from the direction of the gate. He thought of going back the way they had come and walking around the cemetery. But it would take too long. Besides, he wanted to get out of the graveyard as soon as possible.

  With the flashlight in one hand and his other arm around Niki, Terry walked cautiously toward the gate. They had nearly reached it when a tall, dark figure suddenly jumped into the path in front of them.

  Niki let out a shriek and pressed tighter against Terry.

  Blocking the path was a figure from a nightmare. The thing’s black clothing hung in tatters. Its face—or what was left of it—seemed to be rotting away. And the flesh on its hands was peeling off the bones.

  This isn’t happening, Terry thought. That thing can’t be real.

  His hands shaking, he pushed Niki behind him and raised the flashlight threateningly. Can a weapon hurt the living dead? he wondered.

  But before he could find out, the figure suddenly reached up and ripped its head off, revealing the grinning face of Murphy Carter. It took Terry a moment to realize that the gruesome head was only a mask.

  “Gotcha!” Murphy said. “Boy, you two were scared to death! You should have seen your faces.”

  “Yeah, sure,” said Terry, hoping his voice wasn’t shaking. “We knew it was you all along.”

  “Sure you did,” said Murphy. “And my grandmother’s the mayor of Shadyside.” He grinned at Niki, then gestured with one of the gloves that looked like a rotting hand. “Come on, let’s go,” he said. “We wouldn’t want to be late for this party.”

  chapter

  2

  Two Weeks Earlier

  Sometimes Terry thought he tried to do too many things. Sometimes he knew he did. That week alone, in addition to his regular schoolwork and after-school job, he had to turn in a science project and chair a student council meeting. He also promised his little sister he’d help her learn to ride her new bicycle.

  His head was so full of his projects, he had to twirl the combination on his locker twice before he could get it to open. And after he did, he realized he’d been meaning to clean out his locker.

  It was hard to believe so much junk could fit inside such a small space. Carefully Terry began to push aside his jacket, his tennis racket, half a dozen books, and the props for his science project. “It’s here somewhere,” he told himself. “I know it is.”

  “What’s somewhere?” asked a voice behind him. Terry turned, startled, to see Trisha McCormick standing behind him. Trisha was a short brunette with wiry hair and a bit of a weight problem. She was also the most friendly and enthusiastic person Terry knew.

  “Hi, Trisha,” he said. “What did you say?”

  “Who were you talking to?” asked Trisha.

  “Uh—myself,” said Terry. “I’m a real good listener.”

  “Sorry,” said Trisha, giggling. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

  “I was looking for my lunch,” Terry explained. “Aha! There it is!” Triumphantly he pulled the rumpled brown bag from the jumble, noting with dismay that one whole side of it was wet. Shoving the rest of the stuff back in his locker, he slammed the door. As he did, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor.

  “What’s that?” said Trisha.

  “I don’t know,” said Terry. He picked it up and examined it. It was a plain white envelope with a black border. On the front, in ornate lettering, was his name: Terry Ryan.

  “Would you hold my lunch?” he asked Trisha. Curious, he opened the envelope. Inside was a stiff white card with a picture of a coffin on it. Beneath the coffin was written
, “Reserved for YOU.”

  “A coffin?” Terry said, starting to laugh. “What is this—an ad for a funeral parlor?”

  “Turn it over,” Trisha said.

  Terry did as she suggested. The other side was filled with writing. “Hey,” he said.

  “It’s an invitation to a Halloween party at Justine Cameron’s place, right?” said Trisha.

  “Yeah,” said Terry. “How did you know?”

  “I got one too,” said Trisha. “Probably everyone in school did. But read what the invitation says. It’s really weird.”

  “‘All-Night Halloween Costume Party,’ ” Terry read. “All night. Hey, that’s cool! Where’s the weird part?”

  “Keep going,” said Trisha.

  “‘Special surprises,’ ” Terry read. “‘Dancing, games.’ I don’t see what’s so—”

  “Did you read where it is?” said Trisha.

  “‘Cameron mansion, eight P.M. Friday night, October thirty-first,’ ” Terry read. “So?”

  “So that’s the old Cameron mansion,” said Trisha. “The one that’s out behind the cemetery on Fear Street.”

  “You’re kidding! How can anyone have a party there? No one’s lived in that place for years,” said Terry.

  “Justine and her uncle live there now,” said Trisha. “They’re fixing it up. I know because my father’s firm is doing the electrical work.”

  “Wasn’t that house supposed to be haunted?” Terry asked.

  “Everything on Fear Street is supposed to be haunted,” said Trisha. “Here’s your squashed lunch back.”

  “Thanks,” said Terry. As he and Trisha walked to the lunchroom, he thought about some of the things he’d heard about Fear Street. Although perfectly ordinary people lived in some of its beautiful old houses, other homes were deserted and rumored to harbor evil spirits. Terrible things had happened on Fear Street—murders, mysterious disappearances. It seemed like the perfect spot for a Halloween party.

  “Why do you suppose Justine invited us to her party?” Trisha asked Terry at the cafeteria door.

  Terry shrugged. “Beats me,” he said. “I don’t even know her. I just know what she looks like.”

  Everyone in the school knew what Justine looked like, Terry thought. She was the most beautiful girl at Shadyside High—maybe in the whole town. Even the girls thought so. She was tall and slim, and looked more like a model than a student, with her long shiny blond hair and eyes as green as jade. Justine was a transfer student, new to Shadyside High, and so far, hardly anyone had gotten to know her—though most of the boys had tried.

  Terry was about to ask Trisha more about Justine when he spotted Niki sitting at a table by the door. He excused himself and slid in across from Niki so she’d be able to read his lips. “Hi, Funny Face,” he said, calling her by his special pet name.

  “Hi, Terry,” Niki said, giving him a big smile. Terry suddenly felt like the most important person in the world. Niki always had that effect on him. He’d been going with her six months now, and he still couldn’t believe his good fortune. Niki wasn’t the prettiest girl at Shadyside, or the smartest, but she was definitely the most special.

  When she came into a room, everybody automatically felt happier. When Niki smiled, her even white teeth flashing against her smooth olive skin, it was like the sun coming up.

  “Whatcha been up to?” Niki asked him.

  “Nothing much,” Terry said. “But look at this.” He handed her the invitation.

  “I got one too,” said Niki.

  “Maybe everyone in the school did,” said Terry.

  “I don’t think so,” said Niki. “No one else in my homeroom got one. And none of my friends, like Jade and Deena, were invited.”

  “I wonder why she invited us,” said Terry. “I don’t even know her. Do you?”

  “Not very well,” Niki admitted. “She’s in my gym class and I’ve played basketball with her. But we’ve hardly spoken to each other.”

  Terry opened his lunch, noting that the leak was coming from his meat loaf and tomato sandwich, which had somehow gotten completely smashed. “Ugh,” he said, looking at the gooey mess.

  “Here, have half of mine,” said Niki. She always ate the same thing—a peanut butter and banana sandwich with celery and carrot sticks on the side.

  “That’s okay,” said Terry. “Maybe I’ll get a hot dog from the vending machine.”

  “I can’t believe the junk you eat,” said Niki. “At least have some carrot sticks.”

  Terry took one and began to munch.

  “What are you going to go as?” asked Niki.

  “What?”

  “To Justine’s party. It’s a costume party, remember?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” said Terry. “Maybe we ought to just skip it. None of your friends are going. And we don’t really know Justine . . . . ”

  “So what?” said Niki. “I love costume parties. Besides, I’ve never been to a party on Fear Street.”

  “It would definitely be a first,” said Terry.

  “So it’s settled,” said Niki. “Besides, I’d like to get to know Justine better.”

  “What’s she like in gym?” Terry asked.

  “She’s the best athlete in the class,” said Niki. “She’s in really great shape. I asked her about it once, and she told me she lifts weights.”

  Terry let out a low whistle. “Whoa!” he said. “No wonder she’s so . . . ” He let the thought trail off.

  “She’s so what?” asked Niki. She had a dangerous glint in her eyes.

  “So—you know,” he said, stifling a grin. He looked closely at Niki to see if she was really upset or was just teasing him.

  “So—stacked?” Niki suggested.

  “Well, yeah,” said Terry.

  Niki burst out laughing. “You boys are all alike!” she said. “I wonder who Justine asked to the party as her date.”

  For the rest of the day no one talked about anything but Justine and her party. Everyone had heard about it, even though not that many people had been invited.

  Just before the bell rang for the last period, Lisa Blume stopped Terry in the hall. Lisa was assistant editor of the school paper, and she usually knew everything that was going on. In fact, she was a real gossip, except she called it being a reporter.

  “I hear you were invited to Justine’s party,” she said to Terry. “Why do you think she asked you?”

  “I don’t have any idea,” said Terry. “You’re the reporter—maybe you can tell me.”

  “My theory is she wants to get to know people better,” said Lisa. “But she’s shy about it because of all the awful stories about the house where she lives.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t you know?” said Lisa. “The last owners of the Cameron mansion were killed in some kind of accident years ago. The story is that no one could ever live there again because their spirits haunt the place.”

  “Nice story. So why is Justine living there?” asked Terry skeptically.

  Lisa shrugged. “According to my aunt, Justine is a distant cousin of the original owners. Her uncle inherited the place and decided to fix it up.”

  “I heard she lives there with her uncle.”

  “He’s her guardian,” said Lisa. “I guess her parents are dead or divorced or something. Supposedly, Justine and her uncle have lived all over the country and even in Europe.”

  Terry knew that Lisa’s information was usually right, but he didn’t see what Justine had to do with him and Niki. He was still puzzling the matter over in biology class when Ricky Schorr sat down next to him.

  Ricky was an obnoxious practical joker, and some people considered him the biggest dweeb in the whole school. Ricky’s thick black hair was uncombed as usual, and as usual he was wearing a tacky T-shirt no one else would be caught dead in. This one was stained with orange juice and said “Kiss Me, I’m a Martian.”

  “Hey, Schorr,” said Terry.

  “Yo, Terry
,” said Ricky. He set a rumpled paper sack down on the lab table separating them. “I heard you and Niki got invited to Justine’s party.”

  “That’s right,” said Terry.

  “So did I,” said Ricky.

  “Huh? No bull?” Terry was surprised. He couldn’t imagine why Justine had chosen him and Niki, but it was even weirder that she had asked Ricky and Trisha. None of them hung out together.

  “I wonder who else is going,” Ricky said. “Have you heard?”

  “Nope,” said Terry. “How’s your biology project coming?” he asked, deliberately changing the subject.

  “I’m just about done,” said Ricky. “In fact, I’ve got it in here.” He pointed to the paper sack.

  Terry looked at the sack in disbelief. It was throbbing and beginning to inch across the lab table. “I hate to tell you,” he said, “but your science project seems to be trying to escape.”

  Ricky opened the sack. Instantly a small green frog leapt out and began hopping along the table. Terry grabbed for it and held it distastefully in his hands. “This is your biology project, Schorr?” he said. “A frog?”

  “It’s not the whole thing,” said Ricky, looking hurt. He reached in the bag and pulled out a jar of murky water. “My project is on metamorphosis,” he said. “I’ve got tadpoles in here.”

  Terry gazed at the jar doubtfully. “You mean you had tadpoles,” he said. “Those aren’t moving.”

  “Let me see,” said Ricky. He took the jar and studied it closely, turning it first one way and then another. Then he shook it. “I guess I should have cut air holes in the lid,” he said finally. “Oh, well, that’s life, huh? Here today, slimy and disgusting tomorrow. I can always pick up some more at the pond.” Terry handed him the frog, and he shoved it and the jar of dead tadpoles back into the sack.

  “Great project, Schorr,” Terry said sarcastically.

  “Just call me Mr. Wizard,” Ricky said.

  “So who else is invited to the party?” Ricky asked after a moment.

  “I don’t know,” said Terry. “Trisha McCormick. I don’t know anyone else.”

  “Murphy Carter,” said Ricky.

  Murphy Carter was the first name on the list that made sense to Terry. Murphy was a linebacker on the football team and was known as an all-around party guy. But he had nothing in common with the rest of them.