Read Online The Dark Corner by Christopher Pike - Free Book Online

thought that would be better than being eaten alive, but after listening to Sorehead for a few minutes he wondered.
    â€œYou’ll be brought before a judge,” Sorehead explained as he led them through the horrible night of the Dark Corner. Demons surrounded them and kept trying to grab them. Adam and the others soon got tired of fending them off. Sorehead continued, “There will be a prosecutor and you will be defended by a lawyer. There is also a jury.”
    â€œWhich of these is a Gatekeeper?” Adam asked.
    â€œThey’re all Gatekeepers,” Sorehead said. “They change jobs. It gives them a little variety. Next week your lawyer might be a judge.”
    â€œYou mean, our lawyer is a demon?” Adam asked.
    â€œSure,” Sorehead said.
    â€œAnd the jury?” Sally asked.
    â€œAll demons,” Sorehead said. “You’re in the Dark Corner, after all. What do you expect?”
    â€œBut how can we be judged fairly if everyone’s a demon?” Adam asked.
    Sorehead chuckled. “What is this concern with fairness? We’re demons. We’re not supposed to be fair.” He paused and rubbed his head. “Whose idea was it to give me that cold red lemonade?”
    â€œIt was your counterpart in our world, Bryce Poole,” Watch said.
    â€œWhere is he now?” Sorehead demanded.
    â€œHe escaped through the portal,” Adam said. “He used your palm to open it.”
    Sorehead appeared momentarily angry, but then he laughed. “He escaped and left you behind! You’ve got to hand it to him, he’s got a lot of me in him.”
    â€œWe wouldn’t disagree with that,” Watch said, throwing Sally a look. But Sally looked too miserable to defend Bryce anymore.
    After a mile of walking they went into one of the huge red fissures that had opened in the ground. After traveling through a cinder-filled underground tunnel, they eventually came to a huge cavern. The space was surrounded by a volcanic pool. The glowing lava provided the chamber with its red glow, and also made it uncomfortably hot. The sweat that dripped off Adam’s forehead was from fear as well as from the heat.
    In the center of the chamber sat the judge, the prosecutor, and the twelve demon members of the jury. They were resting on seats carved of black volcanic stone. The judge’s seat was the highest of all, and the judge himself was a big fat demon with brilliant red hair and purple eyes. He was larger than most human adults. He sneered at them as they entered, and Adam received the distinct impressionthat he wasn’t on their side. On the table in front of him sat a large black book.
    Close to these demons was a massive silver-colored balance scale. It was old-fashioned in design, basically just two metal plates with a weight in the center to balance the two plates. Beside the far plate stood a tall thin demon. He oversaw a huge bag of thick gold coins. Adam had no idea what the scale was for, but figured he would learn soon enough. Sorehead ushered them before the judge and jury. There he smacked them each on the head.
    â€œBow your heads to the judge and act respectful,” Sorehead said. “Remember, you’re in a court of law.”
    Just before they did bow, they each glanced over at their lawyer. He was short and chubby and had a big cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth. His eyes were blood red and his hair was like straw that had been dipped in crude oil. He was a real sleaze.
    â€œCan’t we hire our own lawyer?” Sally muttered as she lowered her head.
    â€œYou can’t afford one,” Sorehead replied. “You should be grateful one has been appointed for you by the court. This guy’s name is Foulstew, and he’s not bad.”
    â€œWe should at least be given a human lawyer,” Watch grumbled, his head also down.
    Sorehead snorted. “He wouldn’t try too hard to defend you.”
    â€œWhy