Read Online Fear by Francine Pascal - Free Book Online

sophisticated systems. If Tom could get out of his cell—and get Natasha out of hers—he was sure they could get away from this place. No matter how many times sadistic Carlo made Tom twitch, the trip was worth it.
    â€œI’ve changed my mind,” said Tom. “I don’t think we really have anything to talk about.”
    Carlo laughed. “It’s too late for that.”
    â€œThere’s nothing I can tell you that Loki doesn’t already know.” Tom pushed against the straps, but they held him tightly to the chair. “You want to know something, all you have to do is ask.”
    â€œThat may be true,” said Carlo, “but it’s a lot more fun this way.”
    Footsteps approached along the hallway. Tom twisted around as best he could in the chair and saw that the other guard was returning. In his arms was Natasha.
    There was a gag across her mouth and a rope around her wrists. Her clothing was stained with dirt. The usually pale skin of her arms was marked by dark bruises.
    Carlo turned toward her as the guard dragged her close. “Ahhh, now here is someone I was looking forward to seeing.” He reached out and ran a finger slowly down Natasha’s cheek. “Though I don’t think we’re going to do much talking.”
    Tom braced his feet and threw himself against the straps. The wood chair creaked but didn’t break. “She doesn’t know anything.”
    Carlo smiled. “I don’t care.” He patted Natasha’s cheek, then took her by the wrist. “Come along, sweetheart. Your boyfriend here wouldn’t want you to see him while he’s crying.”
    â€œCome back,” said Tom. “I’ll tell you—”
    The first shock from the batteries jerked back his head and chopped off his words. He could only watch as Carlo and the guard dragged Natasha away.

Monster Strobe
    THE APARTMENT WAS TOO SMALL. Way too small.
    Heather had never noticed it before, but the walls were really close together and there was no space. None at all. She paced from the front window to the kitchen. Down the hall. Through the living room. Back to the window.
    At first being sent home from school had seemed like no big deal. So what if she flunked a class? So what if she got thrown out? So what if she never went to college? None of that mattered. She wasn’t worried. She wasn’t scared.
    But something was. . . wrong. She couldn’t even remember what had happened at the school. Heather had been yelling at Megan, but she couldn’t remember why. After that. . . after that she wasn’t too sure. Gaia had been there and the vice principal. Had she really been suspended? Even that part wasn’t clear.
    She flexed her hands. All morning long, her hands had been kind of aching. Her legs, too. And there was this tingle. Almost like a cold shiver, but not quite.
    Heather made another lap through the rooms and ended up back at the front door. Then pop, she was in the kitchen. Her vision was going weird again. It wasn’t fuzzy, like she needed glasses. It was more like everything was moving in little jerks and starts. As if the whole world was being lit by some monster strobe that blinked on and off, on and off. One moment she was in the living room, the next she was in the hall, then at the door, all without moving through the space in between.
    It probably should have been frightening, but like so many other things, it wasn’t.
    There was a knock at the door. Good, thought Heather. At least something’s happening now. I was getting so bored.

Blinked
    â€œ. . . I THINK WE SHOULD ACT now,” said Josh.
    Heather blinked. “Josh? How?” She turned around. She was in the living room again.
    â€œWhen did you get here?”
    â€œFive minutes ago. Listen, Heather, you have to pay attention. You—”

Hard White Line
    THE KITCHEN THIS TIME. SHE was sitting in a chair across the table