Read Online The Secret Path by Christopher Pike - Free Book Online Page B

moves backward.”
    She nodded her approval. “But for you now it will stop. Without eyes, without day and night, time moves very slowly.” She took a steptoward them. “This is your last chance, Adam. Tell me where Sally is and I will let you go.”
    â€œDon’t you want to give me a last chance?” Watch asked.
    â€œShut your mouth,” the witch said. “While you still can. In a few minutes you won’t have one to shut.”
    â€œYou give me your word you’ll let me go?” Adam asked.
    â€œOf course,” she said.
    â€œThe promise of a witch is useless,” Watch said. “They’re all liars.”
    â€œAre you just saying that because she isn’t giving you a last chance?” Adam asked.
    â€œMaybe,” Watch admitted.
    Adam considered a moment. “You won’t let me go,” he finally said. “The moment you have Sally, you’ll cut my eyes out. You may as well take them now and save us both a lot of trouble.”
    A flash of anger crossed the witch’s face. But then she smiled and reached out and touched his chin with her long fingernails.
    â€œIt is no trouble for me to take my time with you,” she said softly. “And since you mentioneda pot of boiling water, I think I will have you take a bath before your operation. An especially hot one, one that will melt off your skin. What do you think of that?”
    Adam swallowed. “I prefer showers to baths.”
    The witch laughed and glanced at the knight. “Come, we must get everything ready for our brave boys.” She scratched Adam’s chin, drawing a drop of blood, just before she withdrew her arm and turned away. “We’ll see how brave they are when they start screaming.”
    Watch spoke up. “I don’t like baths or showers, ma’am.”
    â€œYou have no choice in the matter,” the witch called over her shoulder as she strode away, the black knight following her. They disappeared into another room.
    Adam apologized to Watch. “Sorry about volunteering you for the boiling pot.”
    Watch shrugged. “There could be worse things.”
    â€œSuch as?”
    Watch frowned. “I can’t think of anything worse at the moment.” He nodded to the hourglass. “That’s a fancy piece of magic there. Thewitch made a big deal of it. I wonder if it actually controls the movement of time in this dimension.”
    â€œI wondered the same thing,” Adam said.
    A minute of strained silence settled between them.
    â€œWhat are we going to do now?” Watch finally asked.
    â€œYou don’t have any brilliant ideas?”
    â€œNo. Do you?”
    Adam yanked at the chain that bound them. “No. It looks like this is the end.”
    Watch pulled at his chains, getting nowhere. “It does look hopeless. Sorry I talked you into taking the Secret Path. It wasn’t the best introduction to Spooksville.”
    â€œThat’s all right. It wasn’t your fault. I wanted to go.” Adam sighed, feeling tears fill his eyes. “I would just feel a little better to know that Sally was safe.”
    A voice spoke from above and behind them.
    â€œIsn’t that sweet,” Sally said.

16
    S ally was peering in through a barred window approximately twenty feet above their heads. She was dirty and tired-looking but otherwise no worse for wear.
    â€œSally!” Adam cried. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI’m trying to rescue you guys,” she explained. “But I haven’t found a way inside this stone house.”
    â€œYou should get out of here,” Adam said. “We’re doomed. Save yourself.”
    Watch cleared his throat. “Excuse me. I wouldn’t mind getting rescued.”
    Adam considered. “You’re right. If she can save us without getting caught, that might not be a bad idea.” He turned back to Sally. “Can’t you crawl in