Read Online The House Next Door by P. J. Night - Free Book Online

cobwebs on her armsand hands. She had walked through a giant spider web. Panicking, she began peeling the strands of the web away from her face and arms. “They’re all over me!” she screamed. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t seem to wipe all the strands of web from her.
    â€œStop it!” Alyssa demanded. She was standing before the heavy front door. She studied the ornately carved detail in the wood. There were engraved designs and sketched pictures of birds, rabbits, and other wildlife. But there was also something that looked like a word or name carved into the wood. She traced it with her finger. It looked like someone had scratched it away, and she couldn’t make out what it had once said. She placed her hand on the brass doorknob, expecting to have to shove the solid door open, but to her surprise, it was already ajar. Paul and Steve, she thought. With a slight nudge, it swung open. Amanda had finally managed to free herself from the web, and, together, Amanda and Alyssa walked through the door and into the house.
    As soon as Alyssa entered the foyer her cheeks burned with anger.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” she demanded.
    Paul and Steve stood before them, illuminated inthe beams of their flashlights.
    â€œCome on,” Paul said. “Don’t be mad! We just wanted to check out the house. It’s awesome, isn’t it?”
    For a moment, Alyssa was too curious to yell at the boys. Instead, she looked around at the foyer. It was filled with unfamiliar trinkets from many years ago. Large, tarnished bells hung on the wall. She quickly figured that they were once used on a horse’s harness before someone had turned them into a decoration. An old box, hanging on the opposite wall, displayed a collection of pewter spoons. And she spotted what looked like old brass or copper buttons on the foyer table. Pushing a feeling of dread out of her mind, she tried to focus on Paul and Steve.
    It was hard though because the house fascinated her—it was like she had stepped into a museum. They were all standing in a large square alcove that opened up into a living room with a few old, dusty armchairs and tables. Alyssa walked over to a soot-covered fireplace in the far corner. She peeked around that corner and into an adjacent room. It had to be the kitchen, judging from the dusty, outdated appliances she saw as she moved the beam of her flashlight around the room.A large staircase was to the left, winding up to the floor above them. Old moth-eaten rugs covered the floors. Faded black-and-white-toned photographs sat framed on the tables.
    Alyssa scanned the relics in the room until she stopped at the tall, ticking grandfather clock. It was by far the most stately piece of furniture in the room. Alyssa tilted her head and looked at it pointedly. It seemed to bring life into the otherwise lifeless house. Watching the small hand go around, she thought how remarkable it was that the old thing still worked after all these years. And then she noticed the time.
    â€œIt’s eleven fifteen!” Alyssa announced. “We have to leave now !”
    Alyssa turned to leave with Amanda on her heels. Amanda caught Paul’s eye. “It’s really not cool that you left. If our parents find out that we’re here, we’ll be grounded forever. If we’re grounded, you two are going down with us.”
    â€œRelax,” Paul replied. “No one will ever know we were gone.”
    â€œFamous last words,” replied Alyssa.
    â€œIt’s cool,” Steve said, turning to Paul. “This oldhouse is spooky-looking, but it’s actually kind of boring.”
    Alyssa relaxed for the first time since she’d left the safety of her own party. Everyone was finally on the same page. It was time to go. They headed for the door.
    â€œHey.” They heard an unfamiliar voice calling from behind them. “Leaving so soon?”

CHAPTER 8
    All four kids spun