Read Online Wanted by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online Page A

happy for me,” he said. “I’m miles from home and look.” He pointed to the flat tire.
    I nodded. What did he want me to say?
    He waved a cell phone in front of me. “My phone is out of power. I can’t call anyone to come change the tire.” He squinted at me. “Do you have a phone I can use?”
    I shrugged. “Sorry.”
    â€œHey, how old are you? Aren’t you out awfully late by yourself?”
    Why was this guy asking me so many questions? The anger started to build up inside me.
    Stay calm. Stay in control.
    â€œI’m going to a party,” I lied in my raspy voice. “A few blocks from here. My parents know where I am.”
    He thought for a moment. “Would you do me a big favor?”
    â€œDo you mean an act of kindness?” I asked.
    That made him laugh. “Yeah, I guess. Could you stay here and watch my car? I’ve got a lot of valuable things in the trunk.”
    â€œStay here?” I said.
    â€œJust for a minute or two. I’m going to run over to those houses over there and see if anyone will let me use their phone. I can’t lock the car. The locks are broken.”
    â€œNo problem,” I grunted. “I’ll wait here. It’s an act of kindness, right?”
    He nodded. “Yes. Thank you.” He squinted at me. “Isn’t that mask really tight ?”
    â€œIt’s okay,” I said. “Really.”
    â€œOkay. Be right back.” He took off running. I spotted a house with its lights on about half a block away.
    I leaned my back against the SUV. I shut my eyes.
    I’m doing an act of kindness.
    If only I could fight off the evil power from the mask. The evil power that invaded my mind. I could feel it now, waves of evil, red-hot anger, muscle-gripping fury.
    I gritted my teeth. I tightened every muscle in my body. I concentrated … concentrated on pushing back my evil thoughts.
    But …
    â€œHere’s an act of kindness!” I howled.
    I bent down and gripped the flat tire in both hands. Then with all the strength of my unspeakable anger, I ripped the tire off the car!
    I heaved the tire into the street. It bounced to the other curb.
    Then I tossed back my head and laughed. I couldn’t keep the horrible laughter inside me.
    I could feel the blood pulsing in my veins now. Pulsing in my head. Throbbing like a crazy drumbeat.
    I leaned over the rear tire, grabbed it — and ripped it off the car. I heaved it beside the other one.
    Panting like an animal, I moved to the other side of the car. I pulled the other two tires off and slammed them to the ground.
    I turned and saw the young man returning, walking slowly down a driveway.
    Wiping my hands on the sides of my costume, I turned again and bolted away.
    I heard him call to me, but I didn’t look back. I ducked my head and ran into the late-night breeze. Ran to darkness.
    Darkness.
    Where I belonged.
    How can I do an act of kindness when the evil of the mask overpowers me each time?
    Is there a way to trick it?
    I stopped when I recognized the house across the street from me. Polly’s house. The lights still on. The living-room window glass shattered, glittering shards on the lawn.
    Polly’s house. Where my night of horror had started.
    And where it was about to continue.

“What are you doing here?”
    Polly’s mother dropped the vacuum cleaner hose and glared angrily at me.
    Polly had a plastic garbage bag in her hand. She was collecting pieces of glass and lumps of food off the floor. She had changed into jeans and a gray sweatshirt.
    The living room was still a horrible mess. The food table still lay on its side. The rug was stained and spotted with food and spilled drinks. It looked like a hurricane had blown through.
    Hurricane Lu-Ann.
    â€œGo away, Lu-Ann,” Polly said through gritted teeth. “Why did you come back? You’re not welcome here.”
    â€œI’ll call the police,”