Read Online The Confession by R.L. Stine - Free Book Online

over to the police, how can we do that? How can we ever get back to normal?”
    â€œShe’s right,” I argued. “If we turn Sandy in, one more life will be ruined.”
    â€œThanks, Julie,” Sandy said softly. He turned tothe others. “You all know me. You know I’m a good guy. You know I’m not a killer. I’m just a normal guy. And I’m your friend. We’re all good friends.”
    He swallowed hard. I could see he was choked with feeling.
    Taylor squeezed his waist. She raised her head and kissed his cheek.
    â€œYou know I’m not a killer,” Sandy repeated, his eyes moving around the room. “You know I’ll never ever kill again. Right? Right?”
    A week later, Sandy killed again.

Chapter
    13

    S andy killed again. But this time it was in a dream I had.
    In the dream, Hillary and I were running through an endless green field. And then suddenly, we were skating. Gliding over the field, faster and faster, our bodies leaning into a strong breeze that fluttered our hair and our sweaters.
    I remember thinking how strange it was that we could skate so well on grass. And then in the dream, the sky darkened. The grass turned blue, then black as deep shadows swept over us.
    We were running again. Running in fear now. I didn’t know what we were afraid of—until I saw Sandy step out from the trees.
    He raised his hands. He held two Rollerblades, laced together. He pulled the skates apart and snapped the laces tight.
    I’ll never forget the terrifying sound of that snap .
    I knew he was waiting to strangle Hillary and me. Strangle us both.
    But we kept running toward him anyway. As if cooperating with him. As if helping him murder us.
    We ran toward Sandy. He snapped the laces tight again.
    And I woke up. Drenched in sweat. My nightshirt stuck against my skin.
    Blinking myself alert, I heard the snap snap snap of the laces.
    And slowly realized I was hearing the snap of the venetian blinds as the wind tossed them against the frame of my bedroom window.
    I shivered. Picturing Sandy. Chubby little Sandy with his round, baby face.
    Now he was evil. Now he was an evil figure, come to scare me in my dreams.
    I squinted at the clock radio on my bed table. Only six-fifteen. The sky outside the window was still gray.
    I lowered my feet to the floor and started to climb out of bed. I knew I couldn’t get back to sleep. I didn’t want to go back to sleep.
    I didn’t want to dream again.
    â™¦ ♦ ♦
    I told Hillary about the dream after graduation rehearsal the next evening.
    Graduation rehearsal! Do you believe it?
    There are nearly three hundred seniors at Shadyside High. And I don’t think any of us actually believed we were graduating in a few weeks.
    We all acted as if it were a big joke at rehearsal. So much joking and goofing on each other, it was more like a free-for-all!
    Mr. Hernandez shouted his head off, but he couldn’t get us to quiet down or line up or anything. Finally, Ricky Shore stepped up to the auditorium mike and boomed at the top of his voice: “Let’s get ready to rummmmmmmble!”
    We all laughed. But for some reason, we also got quiet. The principal thanked Ricky for his help, ordered him off the stage, and started telling us what we had to do.
    Of course, we all sang the Shadyside High alma mater off-key, howling like dogs and laughing our heads off. And then some of the guys on the football team started blocking each other when it was time to line up. And that started more laughing and shouting.
    I guess we acted more like the kindergarten class than the senior class. But I think part of the reason was that most of us don’t really want to graduate.
    We don’t want to leave Shadyside High. It’s been our home for four years. We’ve had so many good times here. And we know that after we graduate, we won’t be together like this with all of our friends—ever again.
    The rehearsal