Read Online Party Games by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online Page B

first, I wasn’t sure if I’d really heard it or not. I thought it might be part of the music drifting down the hall.
    I took a few more steps and heard the cry more clearly.
    â€œHelp me! Is anyone there? Please—help me!”
    A young man’s voice. Randy, the boat pilot? Yes. It sounded like him.
    My breath caught in my throat. I heard him again, a muffled voice from somewhere nearby.
    â€œCan anyone hear me? Help me! Please —somebody.”
    I forced myself to breathe again and lurched toward the sound of the cries.
    â€œOh.” I let out a soft cry as two black-uniformed servants stepped in front of me.
    They eyed me suspiciously. I recognized Antonio instantly. The other one was tall and broad-shouldered, big like a football player, with curly blond hair. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips. “Can I help you?” he asked.
    â€œI … heard the shouts,” I said. “It sounded like Randy. The boat pilot. Like he was calling for help.”
    â€œI didn’t hear anything,” the server said. He turned to Antonio. “Did you hear anything?”
    Antonio shook his head. “No. I didn’t hear anything. Are you looking for the ladies’ room?”
    â€œYes,” I said. “But I heard someone. Really. He was calling for help. He … he sounded so frightened.”
    â€œWe’ll check into it,” Antonio said.
    â€œYeah. Right away,” his partner added.
    They stood side by side, blocking my path. Antonio pointed. “The ladies’ room—it’s right down there. On the right. You can’t miss it.”
    â€œBut—but—” I sputtered.
    â€œWe’re on it. Really. No worries,” Antonio said.
    I could see there was no point arguing with them. I turned and started to walk away. I was halfway down the hall when I heard Antonio’s shout:
    â€œEnjoy the party. Have a good one.”

 
    12.
    GHOST STORIES
    Â 
    The dance music was still pumping when I returned to the party room. I saw Eric dancing with April. He was going berserk, jerking his body around like a spastic robot, and she was standing there watching him, her hand to her mouth, obviously embarrassed.
    Eric, of course, cannot be embarrassed.
    April is shy and quiet. Eric isn’t her type at all. I wondered how he was able to drag her onto the dance floor. He probably did drag her.
    Morgan and Kenny, Brendan’s cousins, were slouched in a corner by themselves in their matching Benson School sweatshirts, beer glasses in their hands. I felt bad. They didn’t know anyone here, and they seemed totally uncomfortable. Morgan kept glancing at his phone, then shoving it back in his pocket.
    Maybe Brendan wasn’t kidding about them. Maybe they really were antisocial.
    I searched for Brendan. I was desperate to tell him about Randy’s cries for help and the two servers who had no intention of helping him. But I didn’t have a chance. The music cut off abruptly, and Brendan stood at the front of the room, waving his arms above his head to get everyone’s attention.
    It took a while for everyone to get quiet. Someone had spilled a plate of macaroni and cheese on the floor, and a waiter stooped to clean it up. Eric was still doing his insane dance moves even though the music had stopped.
    It was a little bit funny, but he wasn’t impressing April. She had already crept away from him, shaking her head, her hands balled into tight fists. He was so clueless, he didn’t even realize she had left.
    â€œI want to start,” Brendan said. “You know. Get things rolling.”
    We gathered in a tight group in front of him. Only his cousins held back, murmuring to themselves, not smiling.
    Brendan rubbed his hands together and flashed us a mad-scientist, gleeful grin. “My devious mind has a lot of ideas for tonight,” he said. “I’ve planned some awesome games.”
    â€œStop him! He’s