Read Online The Final Nightmare by Rodman Philbrick - Free Book Online Page A

laid me down in the wagon.
    The wagon began to move.

27
    The wagon rolled on its squeaky wheels out of my room and down the hall.
    I was frozen in place. I couldn’t even turn my head to see if anyone—Sally? the witch-thing?—was following. But I heard no footsteps.
    â€œIf you’ll just let me up,” I whispered through clenched teeth, “I’ll come where you want. I promise.”
    But the ghosts weren’t listening.
    Between feeling silly and angry and scared out of my wits, I couldn’t think what to do. I was as helpless as a baby.
    As the wagon approached, the door to the attic stairs opened, spilling darkness over me. The stairway was inky black. The hairs on the back of my paralyzed neck prickled.
    Something was waiting for us up there. Something so terrible I couldn’t even think about it.
    Mentally I braced myself for a bumpy ride, but the wagon floated up the stairway.
    A faint yellow light beckoned from above.
    My heart felt like it was being squeezed between powerful hands. I wanted to scream but my throat stayed closed.
    The red wagon glided to a stop at the top of the stairs.
    This wasn’t the smashed-up attic I’d left this morning. It was a tiny windowless room with a small bed and a battered toy box and a rocking chair. Bobby’s old room.
    There was light, but it was a cold light. Light from long ago.
    Creeeak-creak .
    The rocking chair. There was someone in it.
    Suddenly I could move. Blood flowed into my muscles and I jumped out of the wagon.
    The rocking chair slowly swiveled toward me. Would it be Sally? Brought here as a warning? Or Bobby himself? Or—I shuddered—the witch?
    I gasped in shock. It wasn’t any of them.
    It was nothing. Just a stuffed teddy bear. And an old ratty one at that.
    What was this all about? Was the ghost scaring me just for the fun of it?
    The chair began to rock again. And as it rocked it moved across the floor toward me. The mangy teddy bear was staring at me with its beady little eyes.
    Eyes that looked almost alive.
    Time to get out of here. The thing gave me the serious creeps! I backed away. Feeling behind me for the doorway.
    The attic door slammed shut, barely missing my fingers.
    I whirled around and began tugging on the doorknob, though I already knew it was hopeless, trying to fight the house.
    My shoulder blades tensed an instant before I heard the voice behind me, as if something in me expected it.
    â€œ I am the secret .”
    It was a gruff, lispy voice, like a little kid trying to make his voice go deep.
    Slowly I turned around.
    The teddy bear was talking to me. And its button eyes were glowing.
    â€œ I am the secret, ” it said again, as if trying to convince me. “ Please save me .”
    I almost felt sorry for it, it was so mangy-looking and pathetic. It reminded me a little of Sally’s stuffed bunny, Winky.
    Except Winky never talked or made doors shut in your face.
    â€œLet me out of here,” I demanded forcefully.
    The bear slipped down until it was lying on the seat. It slid across the seat on its back and flopped over the edge. It waggled its feet and jumped to the floor. I stared in horrified fascination.
    One raggedy, mended ear fell forward over an eye as it looked at me. “ You can help, ” it said. Its mouth didn’t move.
    It took a shaky step toward me and fell over onto its face. “ Save me, ” it said into the floor.
    As the bear struggled upright, I scooted along the wall and crouched in a corner, pulling the rocking chair around like a barrier in front of me.
    The teddy bear hesitated, then got itself turned in my direction. Reaching out its arms, it marched toward me like a miniature zombie. “ Save me. Please save me .”
    Its soft, furry paw touched me.
    I shuddered as the teddy bear climbed onto my knee. Then instead of climbing higher, it slipped away.
    Surprised, I opened my eyes.
    The teddy bear was heading for the toy box.