Read Online My Best Friend Is Invisible by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online

on
her knees.
    Before she could climb up, a pillow floated from the floor. I stared in shock
as it pressed itself over Roxanne’s face.
    She uttered a muffled cry. “Help—I can’t breathe! The ghost—he’s smothering me!”
    “Nooooo!” A cry tore from my throat as I dove across the room to Roxanne.
    “Nooooo!” With a desperate grab, I ripped the pillow away. “Go haunt someone
else!” I screamed.
    Roxanne dropped to the floor.
    I tossed the pillow away and started toward her. But a cold hand tightened
around my arm. “Jeffrey—I’ve been waiting for you,” a hoarse
voice rasped.
    The Ghost of Hedge House!
    It talked! It talked to me!
    “I—I’m not Jeffrey!” I choked out.
    “Jeffrey—I’ve been waiting for you!” he moaned again.
    Then I felt myself being lifted off the floor.
    Before I could struggle free, the ghost jerked me back and forth—back and
forth—so hard I thought my neck would snap.
    I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight back.
    But his grip was so strong. I felt so helpless….
    A sour-smelling blanket rose up and wrapped itself tightly around me. I
couldn’t move my hands or legs!
    I kicked and squirmed—struggling against the rotted fabric. And finally
dropped facedown on the floor.
    A shrill laugh rang through the room.
    Roxanne and I staggered to our feet. We headed for the stairs.
    The ghost followed after us, moaning. “Jeffrey—I’ve been waiting
for you. Jeffrey—come back! I’ve waited so long!”
    We reached the second-floor landing—and the ghost grabbed me from behind. “I’ve got you now, Jef-frey!” came his raspy whisper. “I’ve waited so long in this old
house. So long…”
    His cold hands circled my neck.
    He tightened his grip. I couldn’t breathe!
    “I’m… not… Jeffrey,” I choked out.
    My last words.

 
 
25
     
     
    I thought they were my last words.
    Everything flared bright red. The dark room spun and tilted behind the
swirling red.
    Stars flashed in my eyes. So white and bright, my head ached. I tried to
blink them away.
    And they faded to black. Everything faded to black.
    The Ghost of Hedge House had another victim.
    But no.
    Not quite.
    A hand grabbed mine. Pulled me. Pulled me from the darkness.
    “Sammy—come on!” Roxanne pleaded in a terrified whisper. “Come on! You’re
okay! You’re okay!”
    And before I realized it, she had pulled me free. And we were running again.
Running down the stairs. Through the misty living room. Out the door. And into
the cold night.
    Breathing the air. The cool, sweet air.
    Breathing and running.
    Alive!
    Yes! Alive! Leaving the Ghost of Hedge House behind. And running. Running and
breathing.
    The air never smelled so good. The night never looked so beautiful.
    Roxanne ran straight to her house. I watched her throw open her front door.
She flew inside and slammed the door behind her.
    I jogged the rest of the way to my house. Burst breathlessly inside. And
checked the front door twice to make sure it was locked.
    My legs trembling, my whole body vibrating, shaking— alive! —I ran
up the stairs to my room.
    I sat down on my bed—and screamed in terror. Screamed at the black shirt
draped on my pillow.
    The black shirt of the one-armed ghost!

 
 
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    “It’s only a shirt,” a voice said calmly. “What’s your problem?”
    I jumped to my feet—and saw a plate hovering in the air. And a sandwich
vanishing, bite by bite.
    Brent!
    “Didn’t I do a great job?” Brent asked between bites. “Don’t I make an
awesome ghost?”
    I saw my desk chair slide out. “That was hard work!” he sighed. “Boy, am I
tired!”
    “You?” I shrieked. “That was you ?”
    “I know. I know. I was awesome,” he said. “Jef-frey—I’ve
been waiting for you!” Then he burst out laughing.
    “I—I—I—” I sputtered.
    “Don’t thank me,” Brent said. “Really. You don’t have to thank me. Now
you’ll have the best report in school. I told you I could help you. I told